Notes on 1&2Corinthians

1Corinthians 1:17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

When we operate in our own wisdom, there is no room for the wisdom of God.

Ch.46 I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers,[a] that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. 

The Word of God is our equalizer, putting us all on the same page.

7 For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?

Everything is a gift of grace. We earn nothing - and even what we give, should be given freely to others, because freely we have received it

9 For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. Vs.9-13 Compare with 2Corinthians 4:7-12:  I always understood it as with all the Apostles, following in the footsteps of the Lord, laying down their lives so that others may hear - and live! Paul talks about this in 1Corinthians 4; and throughout his life and those of Peter, James, John and the other Apostles and Church fathers, we see this. In turn, we who hear should hopefully follow in their footsteps - dying to our flesh constantly; laying down our lives for others. For those we disciple, death should be at work in us, to produce life in them.

The Christian life is one of death to the old self. Freely we receive the life of Christ; freely we must give, for those who haven’t.

13 when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.

As you would expect to be, as the spearhead for the Gospel of Christ, against the Prince of this world. As John reminds us in 1John 5:19 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

14 I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children.

15 For though you have countless guides (ten thousand instructors- NKJV) in Christ, you do not have many fathers.

A father, like a shepherd, never relinquishes responsibility for the flock; a guide can preach a sermon or teach a session and then go home and attend to his own affairs; but a father can never cease to be a father, just as someone with a pastor’s heart, never loses sight or burden for his sheep. A guide can travel the world, teaching, speaking, exhorting hundreds…thousands…and not remembering one: A father…a pastor…a shepherd…knows each one of his sheep by name, and cares for each one. See John Ch.10; Ch.21:15-17 and 1Samuel 17:28, 34-37

A guide is likely to be known and heralded by many; a pastor…a father…only by his own.

A guide may have thousands of followers;

A pastor? Just a few sheep (1Samuel 17:28)

A guide has often already received his/her reward in this life; a father…a pastor…looks for his reward in the next. Let each one of us judge for ourselves: Who is doing the greater work in the eyes of the Lord? Only the Lord knows a person’s heart - But know this: He does not measure greatness as we do. Whether our churches are big or small, we must honor our pastors.

Ch.5:5 you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.

This would be like the prodigal son: Let the world do its worst to him…but pray for him.

7 Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.8 Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

If we are to continue in deliberate sin - or allow sin to continue in our community of believers, it is as if we are crucifying Christ again. And if we do not deal in sincerity and truth, with the sin in our lives and communities, it will spread like leaven…our old natures must be put to death - although they sometimes die hard. 1John 1:5-10

9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. See John 17:14-17

12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church[b] whom you are to judge? 13 God judges[c] those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.” See Matthew 7:1-5

This is the difference between a righteous judgment, by a mature believer, who tests and judges their own heart before the Lord; and an unrighteous one. We are accountable, each to the other; and we judge by the standards of the Word of God - beginning with our own lives. Matthew 18:15-17; Galatians 6:1; Ephesians 5:11-14

This is backed up in the next chapter:

6 When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? 2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! 4 So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? 5 I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers, 

Whenever we attack and hurt one another, we must come to the realization that we are hurting those who Christ has died for…the Body of Christ - we are hurting Christ.

7 To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? 8 But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even your own brothers!

Matthew 5:43-46; Romans 12:17-21

9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous[b] will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,[c] 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

This is a perfect example of the righteousness of God, at work in our lives.

Ch.7

God has called you[b] to peace. 16 For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

Here is the perfect example of a people waiting expectantly for the return of Christ. Accepting that they are sojourning for a temporary time - so that even in areas such as an unequally yolked marriage can be endured with joy.

17 Only let each person lead the life[c] that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches.18 Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. 19 For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. 20 Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called.21 Were you a bondservant[d] when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.)22 For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. 23 You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. 24 So, brothers,[e]in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.

Because our condition in this world is temporary: Because, whether slave or free; married or single; circumcised or uncircumcised; we all belong to Christ: In him, we are alive, free and complete.

Ch. 8

Enduring Word Comentary 

Things offered to idols: The meat offered on pagan altars was usually divided into three portions. One portion was burnt in honor of the god, one portion was given to the worshipper to take home and eat, and the third portion was given to the priest. If the priest didn’t want to eat his portion, he sold it at the temple restaurant or meat market.

i. The meat served and sold at the temple was generally cheaper. Then, as well as now, people loved a bargain (including Christians).

c. Things offered to idols: The issue raised many questions for the Corinthian Christians: Can we eat meat purchased at the temple meat market?

Christian behavior is founded on love, not knowledge; and the goal of the Christian life is not knowledge, but love.

Both knowledge and love have an effect on our lives in that each of them make something grow. The difference between puffs up and edifies is striking; it is the difference between a bubble and a building. Some Christians grow, others just swell!

13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

2Corinthians1

7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.

Why does God allow us to suffer? That we may be comforted; he does not entirely shield us from the tribulation of this world, but rather, in him we are exposed to it; that we will run from this world, and toward Him. That we will be Christ’s possession in the midst of this dark world (John 17:9-19)

9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. 10 He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.

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12 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold,13 not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. 

So the “outcome” of this first covenant…this first glory…is Christ and him crucified 

This, they couldn’t look upon…or accept: Such is still the case at the time of Paul’s writing.

The cross is, after all, an offense to those who think that by their own efforts, they can keep the perfect Law of God

18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit

We have unveiled faces: Which means that we do not hide the glory of the Cross, that was revealed to us: Rather, we reveal this glory- the glory of Salvation by Grace - for all to see! Ch.5:18-21

4:6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

The mystery of Genesis 1 and John 1, is in here somewhere…

11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.

We see this pattern emerging again and again in the lives of the apostles: only through suffering and death (whether actual or metaphorical) can the true life of Christ be seen. We must die to our natural lives, in order for the glory of Christ’s supernatural life to shine through.

…that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.(Ch.5)

Ch.6 Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.2 For he says,

“In a favorable time I listened to you,
    and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”

Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

See Psalm 118:23-24

14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

Again, here is the mystery of Genesis ch.1

15 What accord has Christ with Belial?[b] Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,

“I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them,
    and I will be their God,
    and they shall be my people.

17 

Therefore go out from their midst,
    and be separate from them, says the Lord,
and touch no unclean thing;
    then I will welcome you,

18 

and I will be a father to you,
    and you shall be sons and daughters to me,
says the Lord Almighty.”

See Revelation 18:4-5

Ch.7 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body[a] and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

 For this purpose, John scribes the Revelation of Jesus Christ: that we may know that the judgment of evil is eminent - and we may separate ourselves in and through Christ, for this purpose: this is the holy fear of the Lord.

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3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.

Here is the difference between walking in the flesh: our literal earthly bodies; and walking after the flesh: our old carnal ways 

5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.

How do we do this? By continuing to walk before the Lord, humbly, blamelessly (not hiding sin but confessing it) and in love. (Micah 6:8)

7 Look at what is before your eyes. If anyone is confident that he is Christ's, let him remind himself that just as he is Christ's, so also are we.

When we walk with our eyes open, would we be so quick to accuse one whom is also walking with the Lord (no matter how much they appear to be struggling?)

8 For even if I boast a little too much of our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be ashamed.

The authority of the Apostle, is for building up the Church - he wields authority for our benefit - not for his own. And when we read these letters of authority 2000 years later, we too are built up, as part of the same Body of believers.

15 We do not boast beyond limit in the labors of others. But our hope is that as your faith increases, our area of influence among you may be greatly enlarged, 16 so that we may preach the gospel in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in another's area of influence.

Here is the classic ripple effect: where ripples create more ripples - as the Gospel is spread from land to land; people to people…ripples spread out to merge with other ripples, which in turn, spread out to become great waves on the see: nor one person’s work - but many: the best example being us now, who 2000 years later, have also heard, through their written words, this Gospel - and we in turn, continue to proclaim that Gospel…so that in, through and because of Jesus Christ, our message goes on and on…

17 “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 18 For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

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3 But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

Here is the difference between desiring to “be like God” in wisdom and knowledge (Genesis 3) and desiring to be Christ like, in holiness and righteousness.