1 Corinthians
Be sensitive to conscience
The word conscience is used 32 times in the New Testament, and it plays a big part in what we do or what we do not do in life. It is that part of us that either approves or condemns our actions. It is not necessarily governed by law but depends on knowledge. Therefore, the more spiritual …
Divisions in the Church
The first problem Paul addresses in the church at Corinth is division. He introduces the thoughts of this passage with an appeal for unity. Paul is emphasizing that as Christians we are a part of God’s family and share a unity that runs deeper than that of blood brothers and sisters. To speak …
The Diet of a Growing Christian
Up to this point, Paul has been talking about two kinds of people in the world: those who are natural (unsaved) and those who are spiritual (saved). Now he says there are two kinds of saved people: those who are mature and those who are immature, which he calls carnal (vv. 1-4). The …
Greetings and Thanksgiving
Paul wrote this letter to the Church in Corinth while he was visiting Ephesus during his third missionary journey (Acts 19:1- 20:1). While in Ephesus he had heard about problems in the Corinthian Church. He knew it well because he had spent 18 months there during his second …
Paul’s Closing Remarks
As Paul comes to the close of his letter, he talks about some of his friends who have helped him in the ministry. Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus were part of a committee sent from Corinth to Ephesus to confer with Paul about church problems. However, these men did more than share …
Effects of Denying the Resurrection
What does it mean when it says to be “baptized for the dead†(v. 29)? The Bible Knowledge Commentary says that “up to 200 explanations have been given for this verse. Some, such as the Mormons, believe it means "proxy baptism”, where a believer is baptized on behalf of a dead …
The Supremacy of Love
Unlike many of the spiritual gifts, love will never be outmoded, unnecessary, or eliminated (v. 8). Someday, every prophecy recorded in the Bible will be fulfilled, but love will remain relevant. Someday, the gift of tongues will no longer be necessary (perhaps because we will all once again …
Being a Servant To All Men
The sole reward that Paul desired was to be able to preach “the gospel of Christ without charge.†Someone might ask the question, with all the freedom in the world open to him, why did the apostle Paul restrict himself so severely? The answer is “that I might gain the more.” (v. 19) In other words, …
The Rights Of a Person Who Labors
People in the Corinthian Church were questioning Paul’s authority and rights as an apostle, so he gave his credentials (vv. 1-10). Paul saw and talked with the resurrected Christ who called him to be an apostle (Acts 9:3-18). Changed lives within the Corinthian Church were the evidence that …
God is looking for genuine humility
The Corinthians had split into various cliques, each following its favorite preacher (Paul, Apollos, Peter etc.). Each group believed it was the only one to have the whole truth, and thus felt spiritually proud. Paul told the groups not to boast about being tied to a particular preacher because each …