Well, it is easy to get bogged down in this epistle! 1.5 hours, so not too long, but easy to let your mind wander on tangents when considering some of the topics! Important to recognise before starting that this letter was written in reply to a letter the Corinthians sent to Paul. He's written to them before, too, and was hoping to see them again soon - having founded the church there on his previous journey. For more background, see here.
Interesting that all the word art is from the same chapter in 1 Corinthians! By far the most widely recognised chapter of Paul's letters, due to its popularity at weddings, it is good as a stand-alone, but the context grants us to understand the full meaning of the author - more on that later.
I haven't properly used the study guides linked in the intro, but I did have a glance through. The method he uses of arranging the passages into 'inversion patterns', is quite useful at understanding Paul's arguments and the way he expresses some thoughts. Do note, as with any study guide (and indeed my own writing), the comments and categorisations made are interpretive, and may not always be accurate. Always when consulting sources other than the Bible we must check them with Scripture, and be willing to discard anything that does not agree with Scripture, while utilising the insights and comments that are in agreement with Scripture to understand it more fully. For instance, I did notice one point glancing through where two of his comments contradicted themselves, within a page of one another - we are all fallible! Use this and other study guides wisely, and pray that the Spirit of God would help you understand and not misinterpret His Word.
As Paul is replying to the letter sent him by the Corinthian believers, we see answers to questions asked commonly in many churches and societies even today. Man throughout history still struggles with the same vices! Again and again, he calls them to behave in a certain way - not calling them to a set of rules or laws, but pointing them to their identity in Christ. Sometimes it is clear he is responding to a direct question. Other times, he may be responding to an issue he has heard about within the church and needs to address. Sometimes, I get the feeling that as he discusses things, it reminds him of another linked truth that should be taught while he thinks of it - so possibly not answering a direct question, but providing a fuller idea of Christ-like behaviour while he is on the topic. There are some things that are specific to the Corinthian situation, and we must be careful to understand the situations presented. Most of the teaching is universal, just as the body of Christ is universal.
Ultimately, it is a call to live up to the new life they are in. A reminder of how they died to the flesh, and now are joyful slaves to Christ. A prompt to show the love to others, just as Christ showed it to them. An encouragement to live in the light of the assurance of resurrection - assured because Christ rose and conquered death.
Before I continue from overall theme to connecting this theme to the different parts of the book, I should mention that this book is, unfortunately, possibly one of the most controversial in the Bible - at least, it seems to be more divisively argued over than any other book in my experience. The book even starts out teaching about the wrongness of dividing the church (over things that should not divide)! Don't get me wrong - I don't think we should gloss over important issues. The truth matters - and we should not be afraid to make waves and offend some, if it is for the right cause-the cause of upholding the truth of God's word.
The issues were important enough for Paul to write in detail about - we cannot dismiss them! But we must be careful to understand them, in light of the culture, the overall theme and message of the Bible, and the unchanging principles of God. Seeking to understand other people's interpretation of these passages, showing them in love and grace our understanding by means of Scripture, and seeking together God's intended meaning - changing our position not based on emotion or feeling, but reasoned argument from Scripture.
Anyway, enough about how to argue! Let's get to the text!
We begin with Paul giving his standard greeting, and then praising God for the testimony he has heard from the Corinthians, that they are enriched in many things (spiritually), reminding them that they are in the fellowship of Christ.
Then moving into the teaching, he starts with the problem of disunity. How can he fix any other problems if this is not fixed first? Note that he does not call them to unite, disagreeing with each other. No, he calls them to unite, remembering Who it is they really follow, and identify themselves with Christ, and not with any other man - He died that all might be united under Him.
While he is talking of the cross, he reminds them of its message, and how all are equal under the cross - none gain salvation by their own wisdom! Salvation cannot be for our own glory, only His. Having declared this worldy wisdom useless, he reminds them of the heavenly wisdom, which is revealed through His Spirit, and that cannot be understood by the world, but only by mature believers.
Returning to the main subject at hand, after this brief but important tangent, he remarks that they are not yet mature believers, ready to understand this wisdom, because they are still hung up on thinking themselves better because they follow one human leader and not another - forgetting the God through Whom they came to salvation. They may have the right foundation, but if they do not continue to build on it with quality materials (grow and mature spiritually), then it will all count for nothing at the end, and they will keep their salvation, but receive no reward in heaven. We are God's temple - does He not deserve quality craftsmanship?
Paul then reminds them of his own example, and the other apostles. Contrasting his own attitude and conduct with their superior attitude, he grows sarcastic, mocking their thoughts of grandeur to provoke them to change. Concluding, he begs them to change.
Beginning the next topic, he contrasts again, but this time he even holds them up against the pagan culture of the area. He shows there should be differences because of their identity in Christ, but no - they are imitating the world around them in matters of sexual immorality, litigation, and disputes amongst believers. Note the difference in response they should have to an unbeliever in sin compared with a believer who consistently sins.
He confirms the necessity of sexual relations in marriage, and the sanctity of the marriage, while condemning the corruptions of God's purpose for sex, reminding them that as they are one with Christ how can they seek to bring Christ into such immoral acts? Singleness is praised for those who are called to singleness, and marriage is honoured for those called to marriage - each should live according to the call of God. Those that chose to marry are told to marry believers ('in the Lord' 7:39), but if already married to an unbeliever, allow God to work His purpose through that and don't seek to leave.
As in Romans, the issue of conscience comes up, and love towards other believers should be shown, but not setting an example where they might stumble. Also encouraging us not to engage in activities where participation in it is considered by those around us to be supporting idols (or any false religion), whenever we are aware of it.
Yes, we are free to do certain things, without offending ourselves, but for the benefit of those around, we choose to not do certain things, or to do other things. We see Paul leading by example in this, and in different situations he behaves in different manners to be more accepted by those around - but by no means compromising the law of Christ. All things may be allowed, but not all things benefit, and some may be injurious to others. Seek there good, where you can, and not your own 'rights'.
The women are commended for keeping the signs of submission and femininity in that culture, and it is noted that the men should not take use these things as if they were women - let each embrace the role God has given them, exemplified through the example of Christ submitting to God, so men are subject to Christ, and women submissive to their husbands.
Again, we see their pride and 'cliquishness' evident in the Lord's supper, where no concern is shown for the poor, and they are more concerned with their own wants and pride than God - Who is what the celebration of the Lord's supper should be about! Anyone treating the remembrance of the Lord flippantly is better to not participate at all than to profane it in this way and be displeasing to God. A reminder of the sacrifices in the Old Testament, where God was displeased with the sacrifices made because of the attitude of the people. We must treat each other in love and as equals, showing concern for all!
Moving on to gifts in the church, Paul points out throughout the chapter that all gifts are necessary, working together - everyone doing the same thing would not work. Note in 12:31 it appears to say we should desire the best gifts (in most translations). However, translators note that the phrase can be a statement of fact, or a command. In English, it looks like a command, but this would contradict the rest of the chapter - it is better read as a statement of what they were doing (wrongly). "But (you) earnestly desire the best gifts (which I have just taught you is wrong). And I will show you a more excellent way" (Parts in brackets added as comments to illustrate, ESV version)
This more excellent way is shown to be love. All these gifts are nothing without love. Contrary to the gifts, which are given to people according to their roles they need to complete, love is required by all, granted to all, and should be shown by all.
Having put the gifts granted in perspective, shown in the light of love, he returns to specific gifts to show their purpose. It is not wrong to desire gifts, we seek to be useful for God's purposes - but we should not seek showy gifts for our own benefit, but seek edifying gifts to build others up. We must in humility accept the gifts God has granted us, and use them for His purposes. Note Paul's sarcasm again in 14:5, basically saying if you are all going to seek a single gift (which he just spoke against, hence why he is being sarcastic), then at least let it be a gift that is building up the church. He continues to compare tongues (foreign languages) and preaching, and the benefits (or not) of each, finally giving a few rules for when tongues or prophecy is present in the church.
Acts shows that the sign of tongues was literal languages that could be understood and interpreted, but we should note that in pagan worship in Corinth, there were some 'oracles' that spoke in gibberish that was supposed to be the gods speaking, and this gibberish would then be interpreted. Paul may be speaking against people taking this practice into the local church and speaking gibberish, hence his emphasis on speaking, praising, praying, and singing with the mind, and not just 'spirit'.
The principles for tongues, when they were around, seems to be fourfold: they are signs for unbelievers in the church - they are therefore no use for when only believers are present. They must be done with interpretation, in orderly fashion, and not more than 2 or 3. Prophesy (meaning preaching of the word) was for the believers, and followed the same rules of order in speaking. Order was important with the respective roles of women and men in the church, also - Paul is counter-cultural in stating that the women should learn with the men, but remaining within the submissive role and not speaking (seems to imply speaking up front) in the church.
Paul concludes the main teaching with a reminder of the gospel, and the importance of the resurrection of Christ. He, many of the other disciples, and more than 500 can attest to the resurrection, and he translates this confidence to our own resurrection from the dead. He points out that if this crucial fact is missing from the gospel, then our life is futile - so it's a good thing that it is so sure! Death no longer holds fear for us. Christ has conquered death, and granted us victory through Him.
Almost like a postscript, he encourages generosity towards the believers in Jerusalem. He is not wanting a show of generosity when he arrives (as their pride might incline them to do), but regular collection while he is not with them - not a prescribed amount, but each as God has been generous to them, so they should be generous with God's money for His purposes.
He concludes explaining his own plans, and people who will be visiting them shortly. Writing the final greeting himself, he expresses his love to them in the lord Jesus Christ.
Lord, how grateful we are that we know Your love! Your death provided a way for us to enter Your family, not on our own merits that we might boast, but equally destitute before You. We pray for Your help to live boldly, uprightly, in unity with fellow believers. Not conforming to the desires or attractions of this world, whether they be lust, pride, strife - but conforming to Your unchanging standard and shining example. Thank you for servant like Paul who have gone before us, from whom we can learn, and imitate, even as they imitate You. Help us to love like You love Lord, serving others with the gifts You grant, in the role You have designed for us, in humility, embracing the responsibility of serving You, and desiring in our hearts to build upon the foundation You have laid with quality, everlasting materials, that will not perish like this world with its desires. O Lord come! We wait in great anticipation for the blessed moment when we see Your face! Thank You for the confidence we can have in You, Your death, Your resurrection, and Your Word.
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