kjv@1Corinthians:1:1@ Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
kjv@1Corinthians:1:2@ Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
kjv@1Corinthians:1:3@ Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
kjv@1Corinthians:1:4@ I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;
kjv@1Corinthians:1:5@ That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;
kjv@1Corinthians:1:7@ So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
kjv@1Corinthians:1:8@ Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
kjv@1Corinthians:1:9@ God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
kjv@1Corinthians:1:10@ Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
kjv@1Corinthians:1:11@ For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
kjv@1Corinthians:1:12@ Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
kjv@1Corinthians:1:13@ Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
kjv@1Corinthians:1:14@ I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;
kjv@1Corinthians:1:16@ And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
kjv@1Corinthians:1:17@ For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
kjv@1Corinthians:1:18@ For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
kjv@1Corinthians:1:19@ For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
kjv@1Corinthians:1:20@ Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
kjv@1Corinthians:1:21@ For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
kjv@1Corinthians:1:22@ For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
kjv@1Corinthians:1:23@ But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
kjv@1Corinthians:1:24@ But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
kjv@1Corinthians:1:25@ Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
kjv@1Corinthians:1:26@ For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
kjv@1Corinthians:1:27@ But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
kjv@1Corinthians:1:28@ And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
Notice here that Paul has not yet concluded his discussion of the Church's division. This is not him getting side tracked. He is using the explanation of worldly knowledge verses spiritual knowledge as part of a larger address of what ails the church.
Ensamples they are, written for our admonition. Let's look at just the pure mathematics of probability. It is immensely more probable that we are beset by one of these traits than not. Idolaters, fornicators, tempters of Christ, murmurers, each trait more diverse and profound than first glance; and there are more. If one today thinks he stands he should take heed lest he fall. God knows this and is faithful. He has made a means to escape and bear it!
We often look for clear and concrete guidelines when it comes to the many grey areas of life. Concrete guidelines are not always found. No clearer principal exits however than the conscience of others and the profitability to souls being moved/directed toward the kingdom of God. If it offends, set aside any personal liberty for the moment. Do all to the glory of God.
There will always be a tension between the sexes that the mischievousness can manipulate into near frenzy. The fact is that Paul could have said anything about male female relations, gone any direction with it and still have been sharply criticized. In the culture to which Paul was specifically addressing certain customs took on profound spiritual meaning. Their assembly was being torn on both sides by the debate over these roles as related to public worship. The debate inflamed them to the point that meaningful worship and assembly ceased. Our culture is plagued by much the same debate and sadly to much the same end. What then is the principal to follow? Subjection for the sake of worship. Do not let your liberty inflame the conscience of a weaker believer or your worship get in the way of everyone else's. And remember if allowed into worship that God is not the author of chaos.
There is concern over the way this congregation views and implements it's Holy Communion. This is not to be a drunken party nor a food line, it is a solemn partaking symbolically of the flesh and blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Anything other, anything reason less becomes a curse or judgement.
Interesting tid bits that should not be overlooked. There are divisions today just as there were back then. We are to look at divisions as a means to observe who is approved, they will stand out all the more. Also, the churches are judged within so that they will not be judged without; if so what happens when they are unwilling to accept judgment? Also, there seems to be a connection between the misuse of the Holy Communion and sickness even fatal sickness.
The building/edification of the congregation is the key to spiritual gifts. If they do not build others of what use are they in the assembly. Tongues publicly require interpretation and prophecy clear spiritual revelation.
All things are to be done decently and in order, everything done to the edifying. Notice that even if a word of knowledge were to come to you sitting that there is a time and a patience and an order. The earlier church I sense was a much more organic and participatory fellowship than we would allow for today. Perhaps we should lighten up on the reigns a bit!
Without any doubt the central core of the Gospel is that Christ died for our sins according to scriptures, buried and raised the third day according to scriptures, witnessed by many and ascended to where all things have been put under subjection to Him and He to the Father. It is not just that He did it, it is that the scriptures all along said that He was going to do it. Of this core in particular the resurrection can not be separated without voiding the remainder.
It is asked by many "how could it be that God is righteous when He allows this and that and there is such pain and obvious corruption"? A mystery is revealed here about how this corrupt life that God has planted in becomes righteous, what is incorruptible must be born out of what is corruptible much like a seed of grain. We tend to look at this life as if this were all that there is and not see the eternal purposes for which God has set our paths on. This explains much about God's patience and love and forgiveness even when considering the events/actions of the day as they appear to our simple minds.
I may have mentioned before that the long distance transfer of monies was dangerous business back in this day. Not only did the actual envoy have to be fully trusted, I assume that diversions and disguises and stealth's had to be planned to avoid being robbed. Larger volumes of money may have to be sent out by multiple and less obvious means. A charitable Christian church was no doubt a target for thieves and a good place for them to plant conspiring informants. Paul's public announcement may itself be a ruse. This is my hunch and not a revelation. Would it be wrong if he did?
If the church in Jerusalem was in urgent need of this gifting it was likely that they were going to have to be patient. Things were moving at the pace of the old world and various considerations were having to be made. Amongst all this wonderful doctrine and teaching the real world remains. I think that it is a refreshing to see that they were working through issues much like we have to today.
Just days ago we had read kjv@1Corinthians:15 that the righteousness of God in putting us through this corruption was to break us down, have us die to ourselves that we might germinate to a spiritual plant/being (be born again). Here it says similarly the travail God has given the sons of men to be exercised with. From the observation from heaven it is a unnecessary and righteous thing and from our sense it is a grievous and sorrowful thing. This is because of the weight with which we invest ourselves into making something carnal out of this present corruption. We do not see the things under heaven as they were before nor the things as they will be. All is vanity, but, God submitted us to this vanity because of a much greater righteous hope kjv@Romans:8:20-23.
Should now we Gentiles glory that we have done better than Israel in obeying the Lord? No, no man shall glory except in Christ kjv@1Corinthians:1:27-31
2012 - pBiblx2 Field Wise Bible System Version 2.0.9d - GPL3
