Abuse of the common meal, sexual immorality, and claims of spiritual superiority over one another were just a few of the many issues that plagued the church at Corinth. And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 27 But God chose what the world thinks foolish to shame the wise, and God chose what the world thinks weak to shame the strong. The Corinthian Church was divided into four factions: Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. What were the issues in the Corinthian Church? Then Paul followed up with a brief review of Israels failures in the Old Testament in the early verses of chapter 10. His method was to proclaim in clear and simple words the truths of the gospel, rather than to use sophisticated trickery or manipulation: 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world by its wisdom did not know God, God was pleased to save those who believe by the foolishness of preaching. meal. Certainly these things are not right! In fact, there is a problem in almost every chapter of the book. For this man is a Roman. 27 And the commander came and said to him, Tell me, are you a Roman? And he said, Yes. 28 And the commander answered, I acquired this citizenship with a large sum of money. And Paul said, But I was actually born a citizen. 29 Therefore those who were about to examine him immediately let go of him; and the commander also was afraid when he found out that he was a Roman, and because he had put him in chains (Acts 22:22-29). Do you not know that we shall judge angels? Now I say this, that each of you says, I am of Paul, or I am of Apollos, or I am of Cephas, or I am of Christ (1 Corinthians 1:1012). All things are lawful for mebut I will not be controlled by anything (1 Corinthians 6:12). So sacrificially share food with one another when you celebrate how Jesus sacrificed his life for you. Is it needed? But all of the problems stemmed from one central problem. You can also change some of your preferences. What were the issues in the Corinthian Church? Problems arose around the Lord's Supper in the Corinthian church because wealthier members were eating the food before the lower class members arrived after long work hours. The Jews brought Paul before Gallio and accused him of preaching a gospel that was contrary to the law, presumably Jewish law (see verse 15), but if so, then also contrary to the protections afforded by Roman law. 1:104:21; 8:111:1; 15), but sometimes the solution presupposes the gospel (e.g., 1 Cor. I believe that Paul is saying, True, everything that is lawful I could (in theory) practice within the law. What! Unlike most of his other epistles, Paul plunges right into the heart of the practical problems that were affecting this church, and the first of these, the problem of . Should Christian Parents Send Their Children to Public Schools? Paul sets his right to support aside, not because it is wrong, but because it will further the cause of the gospel. The one theme that drives everything Paul writes in 1 Corinthians is the gospel. Pauls letters to the Christians in Corinth address his concerns on an urgent matter, which is the widespread immorality that was linked with the paganism of Corinth. What did the cross mean? Chapters 1-4 dealt with divisions in the church. So dont boast in particular church teachers because they are merely servants of Christ. And our topic this morning is going to focus on spiritual gifts, especially as they relate to our time together in worship. The Corinthian church was confused about spiritual gifts. Anyone anywhere in the world with an Internet connection will be able to use and print out the NET Bible without cost for personal study. Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? 2 Corinthians 12Amplified Bible, Classic Edition. This site uses cookies. Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, you cannot refuse them without impacting how our site functions. Religious snobs have the desire to be a member of a select few people who have the belief that they are the spiritually superior ones. I do not want you to be partners with demons. Their reasoning went like this: There is but one God, and no others. For the moment, however, he allows their reasoning to go unchallenged. Wait until the Lord comes. No Comments . The Lord's Supper was affected by the divisions between rich and poor and an overall general misunderstanding. 9 And let us not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by snakes. Related Topics: Bibliology (The Written Word), Robert L. (Bob)Deffinbaugh graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with his Th.M. The Gospel Initiative's mission is to support the Church's mission in creating a compelling, compassionate, and credible gospel presence in contemporary society.. We conduct ongoing research and host conferences related to the most difficult issues in our society. And if any would quibble with these restrictions, Paul wants his readers to know that this is his consistent teaching and practice: 17 For this reason, I have sent Timothy to you, who is my dear and faithful son in the Lord. You can find the sermon outlines for these 12 sermons in my book. Today, the city of Corinth is officially under the Church of Greece (part of the Greek Orthodox Church) under the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece. Christians could then be persecuted and driven out of Achaia, with no interference from the Roman government. And if the world is to be judged by you, are you not competent to settle trivial suits? Most likely the delegation carried the letter (Corinthians B) back to the church, but Timothy was also sent to Corinth by Paul to deliver instruction (Acts 19:22; 1 Cor. Paul wrote to the believers living in this city to give them God's answers to these many problems: The Problem of Divisions in the Church (1 Cor. Sermon 2: What about Divisions in the Church? I titled the series Questions from Corinth, following the idea Paul was answering questions the Corinthian church faced. Why doesnt Paul squelch this line of reasoning immediately? Be willing to give up your rights for the sake of the gospel. So run to win. Heres how the gospel solves the 10 main problems Paul addresses in 1 Corinthians. How could one boast in anything or anyone else? Some more affluent Corinthian Christians were abusing the Lords Supper by marginalizing poor Christians. He will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the motives of hearts. There was very little understanding of the ways of this new religion in town, Christianity. The first has to do with the different roles of men and women in the church. Paul cannot be saying here that everything is lawful. The one who judges me is the Lord. Even in the morally corrupt society of the Roman Empire, Corinth was known for its excessive moral decay. Gospel solution. Smug self-indulgence was also the underlying factor in chapters 5-7. Christ died for our sins, and God bodily resurrected him. Paul wanted to remind the Corinthians they were no longer like the world. 1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, just as God has shown us mercy, we do not become discouraged. 2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? Because of the success of the gospel in Corinth, the Jews were beginning to feel threatened. He will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church. He and his wife, Jenni, have four daughters. The Christian teachings went against the grain of everything they knew of religion. Pauls first epistle to the church at Corinth reads like a Christian websites FAQ page. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. So then, no more boasting about mere mortals! She was supposed to be the goddess of sensual love and pleasure. This is nothing other than the handiwork of a sovereign God: The kings heart is in the hand of the Lord like channels of water; he turns it wherever he wants (Proverbs 21:1). In chapter 5, sin is boldly practiced in church and in society, and no one bothers to rebuke or correct this man. Isnt it amazing the way God fulfills His promises? 26 So I do not run uncertainly or box like one who hits only air. (And dont become a bondservant of men because God bought you with a price: Christ crucified.) When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia (18:5), they must have brought a contribution from the saints there (Philippians 4:15-16) because Paul was now able to devote himself completely to preaching the word. The Corinthian Christians could wear (or not wear) head coverings in a way that defiantly flouted Gods beautiful design for husbands and wives. In spite of all the issues that troubled Paul in the Corinthian Church, the apostle did not want to ignore his responsibility and duty to being their spiritual leader. 1 Corinthians 1-4 - Division in the Church It is well known that division in the church of Corinth was over leadership. It is not until chapter 10 that Paul exposes this error for what it is. What was the issue in the Corinthian church that led Paul to discuss the problem of the weaker brother? Among other things, archaeologists have discovered there clay representations of human genitals that were offered to Asclepius, the god of healing.. The structure of 1 Corinthians moves systematically from one topic to the next. Issue 3 (1 Cor. To him this was just one more squabble among Jews about the interpretation of their laws. 6 Instead, does a Christian sue a Christian, and do this before unbelievers? People from all over the Mediterranean world converged in Corinth. It all seemed like a brilliant scheme. But he did bodily resurrect Christ and therefore will bodily resurrect believers. And whats humorous is our culture has adopted the phrase nailed it to describe those results when thats really the opposite, Russell Herman was a carpenter who lived in the state of Illinois. Therefore, he called them to take action: In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:4-5). Your body matters, because God will raise it up like he raised the Lord. And its rarely understood in our world today. The Jews had lost ground by this maneuver. The case against Paul was formally presented, and the time had come for Paul to speak in his defense. The other apostles except for Paul and Barnabas chose to exercise that right. So dont boast in particular church teachers because they are merely servants of Christ. Some Corinthian Christians were tolerating incest. Divisions may be caused by corrupt leaders, but they also tend to expose true leaders: For there must in fact be divisions among you so that those of you who are approved may be evident (1 Corinthians 11:19). we preach about a crucified Christ, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles. (1 Corinthians 6:18). Chapter 13 is not a random insert, but part of that topic. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. When you come together, each one has a song, has a lesson, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. To deny the resurrection of the dead means that there is no future hope; it also means that there will be no future judgment. The people could not or would not detach themselves from the world they lived in. 11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who calls himself a Christian who is sexually immoral, or greedy, or an idolater, or verbally abusive, or a drunkard, or a swindler. When you have a sin problem, the gospel solves it. Christ crucified (1 Cor. Problem. People choose the church they attend for very self-indulgent reasons. For they were all drinking from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ. Are we really stronger than he is? He emphasizes the significance of showing forgiveness to others, as well as Gods new agreement, which originates from the Spirit of the living God (2 Corinthians 3:1), the significance of being a follower of Christ and giving generously to Gods people in Jerusalem, and he concludes by sharing his own story of how God transformed his life (Sandmel, 1979). Problem. It is interesting to notice that in Acts 18:17 it is Sosthenes who is the president of the synagogue. I count 15 distinguishable problems that Paul addresses in 1 Corinthians: partisanship, with the Corinthians factionalizing behind rival leaders (1:10-4:21; 16:10-18); incest (5:1-13); prostitution (6:12-21); celibacy within marriage (7:1-7); Christians married to one another asking about divorce (7:8-11, 39); Christians married to pagans asking 5-Members going to pagan courts to settle disputes, Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord, For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of, Now I say this, that each of you says, I am of Paul, or I am of. And I tried to present these problems as some of what we face now. Gifts that are not exercised in love are not only useless, but annoying (a clanging cymbal 13:1). Read the Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:10-17. In I Corinthians 5:1-8, Paul takes the Corinthians to task for accepting an immoral person as a member of their congregation. And it seemed to set aside the very narrow ruling of the Jerusalem church leaders. Note the element of pride here and also the element of divisiveness. The problem is that they looked with pride on false apostles, while they looked with disdain on the sufferings and humble service of men like Paul (1 Corinthians 4:9-13). Paul turns the tables on those who sought to elevate the gift of tongues above all others by declaring that it was the lesser gifts that were given more honor to compensate for their apparent insignificance. If you feel an answer is not 100% Bible based, then leave a comment, and we'll be sure to review it. Jesus gave his body and blood for the church, so dont despise it. On the night Jesus was betrayed he . Paul reminds us that while there may not be other gods, there are demons, and they are very much involved in heathen worship. Its possible the Corinthian church had sent a list of questions to the man who had spent a year and a half planting and nurturing the new church. Fine, Paul responds, lets grant your premise for a few moments. Even if you had the right to eat meats offered to idols, that right should not be exercised if doing so would cause a weaker brother (who believes eating these meats is sin) to stumble. Even if this practice were lawful (which, in truth, it is not), you should not do it because of others.. When he left Corinth the apostle to the Gentiles made his way to Ephesus, where his initial ministry was very brief (Acts 18:19-21). 389 See Acts 18:8. 12 True, there is nothing to be gained by it, but [as I am obliged] to boast, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. None of them grew up in a Christian home. For one thing, it sounds so spiritual. When you celebrate the Lords Supper, you proclaim his death until he comes. Perhaps this was because Crispus became a believer and chose to continue to associate with Paul. Specifically, we are not free to practice immorality. But in the end, it was merely sophisticated reasoning which justified disobedience. Consequently Paul and others who went about preaching the gospel did so with Romes protection. Anytime you bring the world into the church you will bring the worlds problems, too. 25 And when they stretched him out with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman and uncondemned? 26 And when the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and told him, saying, What are you about to do? 4 My conversation and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith would not be based on human wisdom but on the power of God (1 Corinthians 2:1-5). I believe that the Corinthian culture, like our own, resisted and rejected the roles that were assigned to men and women in the church. 1 Corinthians 8 Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that "We all possess knowledge." But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. . So that, as it is written, Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord (1 Corinthians 1:31). , Ive learned over the years that most Christians have a favorite Bible verse. He then pointed out that even the heathen denied certain bodily appetites for some goal like winning a race: 24 Do you not know that all the runners in a stadium compete, but only one receives the prize? Then, as he is responding to inquiries that have been received from Corinth, he discusses topics such as sexual immorality, marriage and celibacy, the behavior of women, the appropriateness of eating meat that has been given to gods, and the deserving acceptance of the Eucharist. Some Corinthian Christians were bringing lawsuits against one another. Boast in the Lord. 12 Now I mean this, that each of you is saying, No wonder Paul devoted one chapter of the epistle (13) to the essential ingredient of love. list of problems in the corinthian church. The Problem of Divisions in the Church (1 Cor. Paul wrote to demand higher ethical and moral standards." Quoted source Chapter Summary After Paul heard troubling reports about the church in Corinth and received a letter that the church wrote him, he responded by writing 1 Corinthians. 5 But God was not pleased with most of them, for they were cut down in the wilderness. You dont have the right to do whatever you want with your body, because God owns it, and he owns it because he redeemed you at the cost of his Sons life. 32 Do not give offense to Jews or Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I also try to please everyone in all things. Both of those chapters center on spiritual gifts. No doubt a number of them severed their ties with the synagogue and identified themselves with Paul, who had moved his headquarters next door. It was at this critical moment in time that God gave Paul direct guidance by means of a night vision. (3) We should not seek our own glory, but the glory of God. He does not cite the decree of the Jerusalem Council. Why did Paul rebuke the Corinthians in the Bible? Dont wrong and defraud your own brothers, because the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God. Even so there were a number of Jewish converts, including Crispus, the president of the synagogue, who believed, along with his entire household.389. 1:17; 4:15; 9:12, 14, 16, 18, 23; 15:12), and the concept permeates the entire letter. The man carried on his sin publicly, before the church (Did he bring this wife to church?) Gallios ruling enabled Paul to remain on in Corinth without being harmed, under Romes protection. Is there no one among you wise enough to settle disputes between fellow Christians? The one theme that drives everything Paul writes in 1 Corinthians is the gospel. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of, What! Political Opinion? A husband and wifes life of faithful love is designed to point to greater things, but so is their sexual union. (1 Corinthians 5:1-2). What shall I say to you? how much sperm does a 15 year old produce. God graciously gives singleness to some and marriage to others. Be willing to give up your rights for the sake of the gospel. They are proud and smug because of their associations, especially with their leader, and they look down upon those who are not in their group. He is not saying, for example, Murder is lawful, and so is robbery and using cocaine. He has just given a list of some of the sins which condemn the one who persists in practicing them: 9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Back in chapter 12, Paul closed out that chapter by telling the Corinthians to earnestly desire the best, When Mozart was a young man living at home with his father, it is said that he enjoyed playing a trick on his father from time to time. list of problems in the corinthian church. The Gospel Coalition supports the church by providing resources that are trusted and timely, winsome and wise, and centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ. And what does it mean for us? Christians who sit weekly at the Lords Table should have no part in the heathen rituals in which meat is offered to idols. The idea of someone sacrificing their life for others was foreign to a society of self-centered people. If you go to a neighbors house and meat is served, eat it without raising agonizing questions. Sexual morality was a real problem in the church at Corinth. From there Paul went to Thessalonica (Acts 17:1-9), and then on to Berea (17:10-15). The level of hypocrisy that exists in Corinth is astounding. You can block or delete them by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. Do you not know that we shall judge angels? Some considering Paul their authority, other Apollos, others Peter, and still others accepted only Jesus as their authority. 1:23) and risen (1 Cor. Real Questions. Dont make your brother stumble, because Christ died for that brother. What determines immorality and how immorality affects our churches. (5) Just because something is lawful, does not mean that it is profitable, to me or to others. Given the difficult circumstances of that day, Paul encourages the saints not to be so distracted by earthly matters (including family) that heavenly things are given second place (7:25-31). The women are to remain silent in the church meeting. Why do you not rather accept wrong?