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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadVernon McGee Thru The Bible: 46 - 1 CORINTHIANS
Subjects in this Topic:
WRITER: Paul
DATE: A.D. 55-57 (more likely 57)
PLACE: Ephesus
SUBJECT: The Lordship of Jesus (1Co_1:2-3, 1Co_1:7-10)
BACKGROUND:
Carnal Corinth was the sin center of the Roman Empire in Paul’s day. It was labeled “Vanity Fair.” Its location was about 40 miles west of Athens on a narrow isthmus between Peloponnesus and the mainland. It was the great commercial center of the Roman Empire with 3 harbors, of which two were important — Lechaeum, about 1 1/2 miles to the west, and Cenchreae, about 8 1/2 miles to the east.
196 B.C. Rome declared it a free city.
146 B.C. It rebelled and was totally destroyed by Mummius, the consul.
46 B.C. Julius Caesar rebuilt the city in great elegance, re- storing it to its former prominence.
However, even its ruins were lost to history for many years, and a fishing village was built over them. In 1928, an earthquake uncovered them, and now much of the city has been excavated.
The temple of Aphrodite, built on the Acrocorinthus, was attended by 1,000 priestesses of vice, actually nothing more than prostitutes. The city was given over to licentiousness and pleasure. The Isthmian games were conducted here.
Against this corrupt background, Paul preached the gospel in Corinth, founded the church, and wrote two epistles to the church at Corinth: 1 and 2 Corinthians.
Read Act_18:1-18 for the account of Paul’s visit to Corinth.
OUTLINE:
I. Salutation and thanksgiving, 1Co_1:1-9
II. Concerning conditions in the Corinthian church, 1Co_1:10 — 1Co_16:9
A. Concerning DIVISIONS and party spirit, 1Co_1:10 — 1Co_4:21
1. Centrality of Christ crucified
Corrects divisions, 1Co_1:10-31
2. Clarity of Holy Spirit
Corrects human wisdom, 2
3. Correct conception of God
Clarifies Christian service, 3
4. Conditions of Christ’s servants
Constrain Christian conduct, 4
B. Concerning SCANDALS in the Corinthian church, Chapters 5, 6
1. Impurity,5
2. Lawsuits among members, 6
C. Concerning MARRIAGE, Chapter 7
D. Concerning CHRISTIAN LIBERTY, 1Co_8:1 — 1Co_11:1
1. Liberty of the minister, 9
2. Liberty is not license, 1Co_10:1 — 1Co_11:1
E. Concerning WOMAN’S DRESS, 1Co_11:2-16
F. Concerning the LORD’S TABLE, 1Co_11:17-34
G. Concerning SPIRITUAL GIFTS, Chapters 12 — 14
1. Endowment of gifts, 12
a. Gifts are given to maintain unity in diversity, 1Co_12:1-11
b. Members of human body compared to gifts of Holy Spirit, 1Co_12:12-31
2. Energy of gifts — Love, 13
3. Exercise of gifts, 14
a. Gift of prophecy is superior to gift of tongues, 1Co_13:1-22
b. Order in local church for exercise of any gift, 1Co_13:23-40
H. Concerning the GOSPEL, Chapter 15
1. Prominence of resurrection in the gospel, 1Co_15:1-4
2. Proofs of resurrection, 1Co_15:5-19
3. Parade of resurrection, 1Co_15:20-28
a. Christ, the firstfruits
b. Those who are Christ’s (the church)
c. Old Testament saints, Tribulation saints
d. Kingdom set up, Christ reigning
e. Death destroyed
f. Christ returns to His place in the Trinity
4. Program and pattern of resurrection, 1Co_15:29-50
5. Power of resurrection, 1Co_15:51-58
I. Concerning COLLECTIONS, 1Co_16:1-9
III. Closing exhortations and benediction, 1Co_16:10-24
COMMENT:
First Corinthians is obviously Paul’s answer to a previous letter that he had written to the Corinthians (1Co_5:9). They sent a delegation with a letter (1Co_7:1; 1Co_16:17) and 1 Corinthians is Paul’s reply concerning the conditions in the Corinthian church. It is a letter of correction of errors and confirmation of truth.
I. Salutation and thanksgiving, 1Co_1:1-9
In these first 9 verses of the introduction, the Lord Jesus Christ is mentioned 6 times. This is a Christ-centered epistle of which 1Co_1:9 is the very heart:
“God is faithful” — although men, including believers, are not.
“Ye were called” is the “high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phi_3:14).
“Fellowship” (koinonian) is one of the most important and versatile words of Christian faith. It means anything that believers share together concerning the things of Christ.
see hyperlink
“His Son” — He is God the Son; here it is His relationship to the
Father.
“Jesus” — His human name.
“Christ” — His title (Messiah, Anointed).
“Our Lord” — He is our Lord; this is our relationship to Him.
“Fellowship” — “Fellowship” (koinonia) can also mean “partnership,” which is how I believe it is used here. There is partnership in business, in love, and in marriage. This is a combination of:
1) Mutual concern — Christ is interested in us; we are interested in Him.
2) Mutual commitment — His resources are ours. We are committed to Him; He to us.
3) Mutual compassion — He accommodates Himself to our weakness. His power is ours. (This is reflected in Isa_63:9, a verse that I believe has been mistranslated. It should be: “In all their affliction He was not afflicted.”)
When I am weak and weary, He waits.
When I stumble and fall, He picks me up.
In view of this, all the rest of 1 Corinthians is a parenthesis until we
come to 1Co_15:58:
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmov able, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
II. Concerning conditions in the Corinthian church, 1Co_1:10 — 1Co_16:9
A. Concerning DIVISIONS and party spirit, 1Co_1:10 — 1Co_4:21
1. Centrality of Christ crucified corrects divisions, 1Co_1:10-31
Divisions were being caused by believers following different leaders of the church. They formed cliques around certain men:
Paul — Proud pupils
Cephas — Chummy cult
Apollos — Adoring admirers
They were exalting the wisdom of the world, which is contrary to the wisdom of God. The gospel of the cross is the wisdom of God. (See author’s booklet, “The Cross Divides Men.”)
“Them who are called” (1Co_1:24) are those Jews who do not find the cross a stumbling block and those Gentiles who do not find it foolishness but see in it the power and wisdom of God. They are “the called” for they hear and respond to the gospel.
Christ is the wisdom of the believer as well as his righteousness, sanctification, and redemption (1Co_1:30).
1) Positional sanctification (in Christ), 1Co_1:2, 1Co_1:30(the Corinthians were sanctified)
2) Practical sanctification (by the Holy Spirit), 1Th_4:3-8; Rom_15:16
3) Permanent (eternal) sanctification, 1Th_5:23; Heb_10:10, Heb_10:14
2. Clarity of Holy Spirit corrects human wisdom, 2
1Co_2:1-5 — Paul’s approach to sophisticated and sinful Corinth is not by the wisdom of the world, but is the unvarnished declaration of Jesus Christ (His person) and Him crucified (His work). See 1Co_15:1-4. Paul personally is weak and afraid (1Co_2:3). The faith of the Corinthian Christians stands in the power of God (1Co_2:5).
1Co_2:6-8 — Paul’s message is the wisdom of God, not the wisdom of the world.
1Co_2:9 — Wisdom of the world comes through the eye gate, the ear gate, and through human reasoning (see Isa_64:4).
1Co_2:10 — The wisdom of God comes through the revelation of the Holy Spirit.
1Co_2:11 — No man can understand the things of God until the Holy Spirit teaches him.
1Co_2:12 — The believer has the Holy Spirit of God to teach him.
1Co_2:13-14 — The unbeliever is unprepared to receive the things of God, for he does not have the Holy Spirit to teach him. Therefore, his conclusion is that the wisdom of God is foolishness.
1Co_2:15 — The spiritual man is in contrast to the natural man. He understands divine truth but is misunderstood by the natural man.
3. Correct conception of God clarifies Christian service, 3
1Co_3:1-10 — Carnality of the Corinthian Christians is evident by the divisions among them. Proof of their carnality is “envying, strife and divisions.”
Paul designates the human family thus:
1) Natural man
a) Jew
b) Gentile
2) Believer (“called one”; Christian)
a) Carnal
b) Spiritual
Paul and Apollos were not divided.
1Co_3:11-23 — Conditions on which rewards are given.
1Co_3:11 — Salvation is the foundation that is already put down. Therefore, no man can work for salvation.
1Co_3:12 — The believer can work for a reward. There are 6 materials with which he can build on the foundation.
1Co_3:13 — Fire tests every man’s work. Gold, silver, and precious stones are purified by fire. Wood, hay, and stubble are consumed by fire.
1Co_3:14 — When works survive the fire, rewards are given.
1Co_3:15 — When works are consumed by fire, the believer is saved, but he receives no reward.
1Co_3:16-20 — The believer’s body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.
1Co_3:21-23 — All things and all believers are the possession of every other believer. We rob ourselves when we limit ourselves to one individual or a narrow circle.
4. Conditions of Christ’s servants constrain Christian conduct, 4
1Co_4:1-5 — Faithfulness is the supreme virtue of a servant. All believers are judged in 3 courts:
1) Others (lower court) — my paraphrase of 1Co_4:3 is: “But, as a matter of fact, it matters very little to me what you, or any man, thinks of me.”
2) One’s conscience (higher court) — Paul did not even judge himself, but that did not justify him before God.
3) One and only Master (supreme court) — see 2Co_5:10 and Rom_14:12. Believers, as stewards, are judged for faithfulness. Christ will find something to praise in each believer.
1Co_4:6-21 — Suffering of apostles is a spectacle to the world and angels, also an incentive to other believers. Note (1Co_4:17) the personal esteem Paul had for Timothy.
B. Concerning SCANDALS in the Corinthian church, Chapters 5, 6
1. Impurity, 5
1Co_5:1 — “Commonly” means “actually; factually” and not a matter of gossip. It was a sordid story of a man who took his father’s wife, his stepmother. The church in Corinth had ignored it and were “puffed up” (1Co_5:2).
Paul commands them to do two things:
1) Deliver the guilty party unto Satan (1Co_5:5). (Job and Peter were delivered over to Satan for different reasons. See also 1Ti_1:20.)
2) Refuse fellowship with the guilty (1Co_5:11, 1Co_5:13). For the result, see 2Co_2:4-11; 2Co_7:12.
2. Lawsuits among members, 6
1Co_6:1 — Differences between believers should be settled by other believers. The basis for this is 3-fold:
1) Saints will judge the world (1Co_6:2);
2) Saints will judge angels (1Co_6:3);
3) Unrighteousness is not in the kingdom (1Co_6:9).
1Co_6:19-20 — The human body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.
C. Concerning MARRIAGE, Chapter 7
1Co_7:1 — They had written to Paul concerning this problem.
1Co_7:2-6 — Paul is not commending the single above the married state. In the Roman world, a wife was a chattel, a workhorse.
Generally, a man had several wives — one had charge of the kitchen, another of the living area, and perhaps another was in charge of the clothing. The man went to the temple of Aphrodite for sex. Paul says that a man must have one wife whom he loves. Paul lifts the slave state of womanhood to that of a partner with man in love.
1Co_7:7 — We assume Paul was unmarried.
1Co_7:8 — However, Paul was not a bachelor; he was a widower. We know that he had been a member of the Sanhedrin (Act_26:10) and that all members were required to be married.
F. W. Farrar writes in his Life and Work of St. Paul:
“The other question which arises is, Was Saul married? Had he the support of some loving heart during the fiery struggles of his youth? Amid the to-and-fro contentions of spirit which resulted from an imperfect and unsatisfying creed, was there in the troubled sea of his life one little island home where he could find refuge from incessant thoughts?
“Little as we know of his domestic relations, little as he cared to mingle mere private interests with the great spiritual truths which occupy his soul, it seems to me that we must answer this question in the affirmative.”
“A Jew, who has no wife is not a man” (Gen_5:2, Yebhamoth, f. 63,1).
1Co_7:8-9 — There is no reason why the unmarried and widowers should not marry. Paul was a widower who had not married again.
1Co_7:10-40 — Paul discusses husband-wife relationships. If a husband has an unbelieving wife, or vice versa, and the unbeliever departs, the believer is not bound. Some interpret this as grounds for divorce. It at least is the grounds for a legal separation (1Co_7:15). The ideal and practical is for them to continue living together as man and wife.
1Co_7:20-24 — A person is to begin a new life with God the day he is born again. The mistakes and sins of the past are forgiven. If he is divorced, he is the same as an unmarried person. It is best to remain single if the person can be happy in that state.
D. Concerning CHRISTIAN LIBERTY, 1Co_8:1 — 1Co_11:1
The Bible condemns certain practices as wrong — Pro_6:16-19; Gal_5:19-21. The Bible commends certain practices as right — prayer, teaching, doing good, etc. There is a thin grey line concerning doubtful and questionable practices about which the Bible has nothing to say either way.
Chapter 8 — The eating of meat was a questionable practice.
1Co_8:1 — Knowledge — blows up
Love — builds up
1Co_8:4 — Meat offered to idols was repugnant and wrong to a Jew.
Meat offered to idols was later placed for sale in heathen temples. In fact, the best meat could be bought there. The Gentile was not offended in eating this meat; the Jew was. Should the Gentile believer serve meat offered to idols to his Jewish guest? The answer is no (1Co_8:13), although there is nothing wrong with meat (1Co_8:4, 1Co_8:8). The reason: a Christian is motivated by love (1Co_8:9, 1Co_8:11-12).
1. Liberty of the minister, 9
1Co_9:1-6 — Liberty in personal matters.
1Co_9:7-18 — Liberty in public ministry. (Live by the gospel, 1Co_9:14.)
1Co_9:19-22 — Liberty to become a servant of all. (Relationship to others for the gospel’s sake, 1Co_9:20-23.)
1Co_9:23-27 — Liberty to strive for a reward. (Running and boxing to receive a crown.)
2. Liberty is not license, 1Co_10:1 —