A Daily Bible Study in 7-Day Sections With a Summary-Commentary, Discussion Questions, and Daily Application
Salutation
1:1 From Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Sosthenes, our brother, 1:2 to the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, and called to be saints, with all those in every place who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours. 1:3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!
Thanksgiving
1:4 I always thank my God for you because of the grace of God that was given to you in Christ Jesus. 1:5 For you were made rich in every way in him, in all your speech and in every kind of knowledge—1:6 just as the testimony about Christ has been confirmed among you—1:7 so that you do not lack any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1:8 He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1:9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into fellowship with his son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Divisions in the Church
1:10 I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to agree together, to end your divisions, and to be united by the same mind and purpose.
1:11 For members of Chloe’s household have made it clear to me, my brothers and sisters, that there are quarrels among you. 1:12 Now I mean this, that each of you is saying, “I am with Paul,” or “I am with Apollos,” or “I am with Cephas,” or “I am with Christ.”
1:13 Is Christ divided? Paul wasn’t crucified for you, was he? Or were you in fact baptized in the name of Paul? 1:14 I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 1:15 so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name! 1:16 (I also baptized the household of Stephanus. Otherwise, I do not remember whether I baptized anyone else.)
1:17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—and not with clever speech, so that the cross of Christ would not become useless.
The Message of the Cross
1:18 For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1:19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will thwart the cleverness of the intelligent.” 1:20 Where is the wise man? Where is the expert in the Mosaic law? Where is the debater of this age? Has God not made the wisdom of the world foolish?
1:21 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.
1:22 For Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks ask for wisdom, 1:23 but we preach about a crucified Christ, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles.
1:24 But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.
1:25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
1:26 Think about the circumstances of your call, brothers and sisters. Not many were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were born to a privileged position.
1:27 But God chose what the world thinks foolish to shame the wise, and God chose what the world thinks weak to shame the strong.
1:28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, what is regarded as nothing, to set aside what is regarded as something, 1:29 so that no one can boast in his presence.
1:30 He is the reason you have a relationship with Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 1:31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
Lord, Your gift to us may have been communicated through a fellow human but it is You-alone Whom we should worship. May I keep my eyes on You and not on human leaders.
Paul reiterated one of the titles of Christians as “saints”, noting their parity “… with all those in every place who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.”
Paul affirmed that the believers in Corinth had received the indwelling Holy Spirit of God and therefore “… were made rich in every way in Him”.
[Note: Paul didn’t list any special gifts, he merely celebrated that they were filled with the presence of the Holy Spirit and therefore had access to very gift God gives to all believers—in order to serve Him.]
Paul confronted them for their idolatry of leaders “I am with Paul, or I am with Apollos, or I am with Cephas, or I am with Christ”, challenging them “Is Christ divided?”
[Note: A letter of reference from an established leader, e.g. when Barnabas spoke on Paul’s behalf or Paul spoke on behalf of Cephas, may lend to one some degree of credibility, but when any Christian leader allows him or herself to be idolized in the same manner as Paul criticized they are clearly in rebellion against the Word of God.]
Paul reminded them that they were not saved as a result of a mere pagan-like emotional response to “miraculous signs”, as many of the Jews demanded, or clever-sounding human wisdom, as the Greeks sought. For those who accepted the invitation of the Lord “Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.”
Paul also reminded them that most Christians were not from clever or powerful or wealthy backgrounds, as one might expect of the traditional identity of persons in a royal family, but rather were children “adopted” based on their faith-response to the truth of God. After their faith-response they were “called” or ‘invited’ or ‘summoned’ to be His children for an eternity beyond-time.
In verse 1:24 Paul used the Greek term κλητοις which from the Greek/Hebrew reference at Bible.org means:
1) called, invited (to a banquet) 1a) invited (by God in the proclamation of the Gospel) to obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom through Christ 1b) called to (the discharge of) some office 1b1) divinely selected and appointed
Please note that the primary definition is “invited” and is not “compelled”. with a secondary
definition “divinely selected and appointed”, a lesser or weaker alternative yet one that still implies a standard-applied rather than a role imposed (as is the case with predestination).
The Lord God levels the social boundaries and traditions, making all who are in His family peers, and providing gifts for ministry to all.
How can Christ truly be preached and people still make idols of the preacher?
The Enemy uses our worldly conditioning to create distractions and dissension inside of the family of believers; looking at mere humans as idols requires one to look away from God.
When have you experienced or observed the idolatry of a religious leader?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you someone in the business, entertainment, religious, or political world at whom you tend to look at in awe and to whom you give too much power to influence choices that you make.
Today I will reconsider fashion choices I would not make were Jesus standing visibly before me, or entertainment choices, or language I know Jesus would find disagreeable, or political actions in opposition to Biblical teaching, or priority-given to the less-important to the detriment of the more-important (perhaps man’s traditions or buildings or religious institutions). I will ask a fellow believer to pray in agreement that I break free of any human influence that leads me away from Jesus as the only Lord of my life.
2:1 When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come with superior eloquence or wisdom as I proclaimed the testimony of God.
2:2 For I decided to be concerned about nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 2:3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and with much trembling.
2:4 My conversation and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 2:5 so that your faith would not be based on human wisdom but on the power of God.
Wisdom from God
2:6 Now we do speak wisdom among the mature, but not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are perishing.
2:7 Instead we speak the wisdom of God, hidden in a mystery, that God determined before the ages for our glory. 2:8 None of the rulers of this age understood it. If they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
2:9 But just as it is written, “Things that no eye has seen, or ear heard, or mind imagined, are the things God has prepared for those who love him.”
2:10 God has revealed these to us by the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
2:11 For who among men knows the things of a man except the man’s spirit within him? So too, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.
2:12 Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things that are freely given to us by God.
2:13 And we speak about these things, not with words taught us by human wisdom, but with those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people.
2:14 The unbeliever does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him. And he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
2:15 The one who is spiritual discerns all things, yet he himself is understood by no one.
2:16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to advise him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Lord, You have given to humankind a very simple and repeated Word of Your wisdom—to listen to and obey You and You will provide a way back—yet we have refused to listen and obey. May I listen and obey, not merely rest on Your assurance of my salvation, but to share with others Your Gospel.
Paul avoided the use of human wisdom or clever persuasion but the pure Word of God, “… Jesus Christ, and Him crucified … so that your faith would not be based on human wisdom but on the power of God.”
[Note: Paul draws a clear line of delineation between what is taught to potential seekers and “baby” believers and what to “the mature”. A non-believer has no chance, without the indwelling Holy Spirit, of comprehending “wisdom” but only the simple saving message of power of God. The baby believer is capable of moving beyond that but few ever choose to do so.]
He taught that believers received the indwelling Spirit of God so that He may teach the things that have been hidden for a time, things that the unbeliever cannot comprehend or accept.
[Note: Paul affirms the “personhood” of the Holy Spirit in verses 2:10-11 “God has revealed these things to us by the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the things of a man except the man’s spirit within him? So too, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.”]
Paul also explained the difference between a saved and unsaved person, the reason why he elsewhere teaches that a believer and unbeliever should never marry and never be joined in a business partnership, the unbeliever will never understand the reasons why a believer lives as he or she does.
[Note: There is no Biblical concept as “missionary dating” or “missionary dealing”.]
The Lord God provides wisdom that cannot be found in any human source.
What was the key difference, as Paul presented it, between expectations between the unsaved (perhaps those considering-Christ), baby/new believers, and more-mature believers?
There are different perspectives and priorities between a saved versus an unsaved person and that has an impact on a business partnership or a marriage relationship.
In the fellowships with which you have been familiar, was it clear that the leadership understood Paul’s teaching as to differences between unsaved people versus baby believers versus mature believers?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you anything about the way that you interact with "baby" believers, more-mature believers, and non-believers that needs to change. Are my expectations appropriate to what Paul taught about these three different populations? Do I choose my words and the nature of my interactions appropriately?
Today I will alter my interaction, as the Holy Spirit leads, so that I am a more-valuable instrument in His ministry.
Immaturity and Self-deception
3:1 So, brothers and sisters, I could not speak to you as spiritual people, but instead as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 3:2 I fed you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready. In fact, you are still not ready, 3:3 for you are still influenced by the flesh. For since there is still jealousy and dissension among you, are you not influenced by the flesh and behaving like unregenerate people? 3:4 For whenever someone says, “I am with Paul,” or “I am with Apollos,” are you not merely human?
3:5 What is Apollos, really? Or what is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, and each of us in the ministry the Lord gave us.
3:6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused it to grow.
3:7 So neither the one who plants counts for anything, nor the one who waters, but God who causes the growth. 3:8 The one who plants and the one who waters work as one, but each will receive his reward according to his work.
3:9 We are coworkers belonging to God. You are God’s field, God’s building. 3:10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master-builder I laid a foundation, but someone else builds on it. And each one must be careful how he builds.
3:11 For no one can lay any foundation other than what is being laid, which is Jesus Christ.
3:12 If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, 3:13 each builder’s work will be plainly seen, for the Day will make it clear, because it will be revealed by fire. And the fire will test what kind of work each has done. 3:14 If what someone has built survives, he will receive a reward. 3:15 If someone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
3:16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? 3:17 If someone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, which is what you are.
3:18 Guard against self-deception, each of you. If someone among you thinks he is wise in this age, let him become foolish so that he can become wise.
3:19 For the wisdom of this age is foolishness with God. As it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness.”
3:20 And again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”
3:21 So then, no more boasting about mere mortals! For everything belongs to you, 3:22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future. Everything belongs to you, 3:23 and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.
Lord, You teach through mere humans but the Word of truth is still from You alone. May I be watchful not to allow respect for a good teacher to take my eyes off of You-alone.
Because the Corinthians had resisted separation from the world they had not grown—Paul expressed frustration that he could not lead them to greater maturity because they lacked a foundation upon which to build.
Paul used an agricultural illustration, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused it to grow.” The human servants are nothing, what is important comes from God alone. “So then, no more boasting about mere mortals!”
Paul called them to seek maturity “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?
Finally, Paul warned against self-deception, that baby-believers must never imagine themselves to be wise or mature or strong in-their-flesh, but only wise, mature, and strong becaue of what they have received from the Lord God.
The reason so many who attend fellowships, mislabeled "churches", do not grow is because they look to other humans and their institutions to give growth instead of the Lord God.
When you think about your early walk with Christ and some of the ways that you “got out ahead” of God, presuming maturity, strength, and/or wisdom you did not yet possess—and how the enemy used that to lead you into some difficult situations—what role did the support of fellow believers and the power and wisdom of the Holy Spirit play in moving you to maturity?
Spiritual growth is a voluntary partnership between the believer and the Holy Spirit.
When have you observed the idolatry of human leaders in a religious context?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place your life where you are either looking too much to a human leader than directly to God, are resisting the Holy Spirit’s obvious efforts to lead you to greater maturity, or are presuming upon more maturity than you have yet received from the Lord God.
Today I will humbly acknowledge where I am repeatedly finding myself in overwhelming situations. I will ask a fellow believer to pray in agreement that I reconcile myself to a more Biblical standing.
The Apostles’ Ministry
4:1 One should think about us this way—as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
4:2 Now what is sought in stewards is that one be found faithful. 4:3 So for me, it is a minor matter that I am judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4:4 For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not acquitted because of this. The one who judges me is the Lord.
4:5 So then, do not judge anything before the time. Wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the motives of hearts. Then each will receive recognition from God.
4:6 I have applied these things to myself and Apollos because of you, brothers and sisters, so that through us you may learn “not to go beyond what is written,” so that none of you will be puffed up in favor of the one against the other. 4:7 For who concedes you any superiority? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you received it, why do you boast as though you did not?
4:8 Already you are satisfied! Already you are rich! You have become kings without us! I wish you had become kings so that we could reign with you! 4:9 For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to die, because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to people.
4:10 We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, we are dishonored! 4:11 To the present hour we are hungry and thirsty, poorly clothed, brutally treated, and without a roof over our heads. 4:12 We do hard work, toiling with our own hands. When we are verbally abused, we respond with a blessing, when persecuted, we endure, 4:13 when people lie about us, we answer in a friendly manner. We are the world’s dirt and scum, even now.
A Father’s Warning
4:14 I am not writing these things to shame you, but to correct you as my dear children.
4:15 For though you may have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, because I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
4:16 I encourage you, then, be imitators of me.
4:17 For this reason, I have sent Timothy to you, who is my dear and faithful son in the Lord. He will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.
4:18 Some have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you. 4:19 But I will come to you soon, if the Lord is willing, and I will find out not only the talk of these arrogant people, but also their power.
4:20 For the kingdom of God is demonstrated not in idle talk but with power.
4:21 What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline or with love and a spirit of gentleness?
Lord, You expect anyone in leadership to be as humble as those whom they are entrusted to lead. May I always remember my complete reliance upon You for everything of value in my life.
Paul taught that “… what is sought in stewards is that one be found faithful.”
He rejected those who condemned him for some worldly reason, saying “The one who judges me is the Lord …”
Paul warned teachers to “… learn not to go beyond what is written.”
He challenged them to avoid pride since nothing they had of eternal value came from their own resources “… What do you have that you did not receive?”
Paul explained his authority to oversee them “… I became your Father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”
He offered to serve as a role model of one who was himself humbled by the Lord God “… I have sent Timothy to you… He will remind you of my ways in Christ… I encourage you, then, be imitators of me. ”
Paul cautioned them that Jesus did not come to start a debating-society or a religious institution but rather came with the power to set the captives of sin free and to transform people from meaningless pawns of Satan to purposeful instruments of hope “… the kingdom of God is demonstrated not in idle talk but with power.”
He warned that none should presume to judge the eternal standing of another but to wait and allow the Lord to do so at the Final Judgment.
Paul noted that he and Apollos held themselves to the same standard of humility that they asked of others.
Faithfulness to the Word, nothing added or subtracted, is a high priority.
What is the evidence, or lack of evidence, in your current fellowship of a powerful call to all believers to emphasize growth in faithfulness to God and to the priorities of Christ?
Among the religious leaders whom you have observed, do they show the level of humility modeled by Paul or have they fallen prey to a temptation-to-pride?
When have you observed a humble and Biblically-faithful leader—what impact did that have on the health of the fellowship?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place in your walk with the Lord God where your faithfulness is weak and that you instead turn to worldly sources for provision and ‘wisdom’.
Today I will humbly ask a fellow believer to pray in agreement with me for greater surrender to the Lordship of Christ through the Holy Spirit.
Church Discipline
5:1 It is actually reported that sexual immorality exists among you, the kind of immorality that is not permitted even among the Gentiles, so that someone is cohabiting with his father’s wife.
5:2 And you are proud! Shouldn’t you have been deeply sorrowful instead and removed the one who did this from among you?
5:3 For even though I am absent physically, I am present in spirit. And I have already judged the one who did this, just as though I were present.
5:4 When you gather together in the name of our Lord Jesus, and I am with you in spirit, along with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5:5 turn this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.
5:6 Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast affects the whole batch of dough? 5:7 Clean out the old yeast so that you may be a new batch of dough—you are, in fact, without yeast. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
5:8 So then, let us celebrate the festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of vice and evil, but with the bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth.
5:9 I wrote you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people. 5:10 In no way did I mean the immoral people of this world, or the greedy and swindlers and idolaters, since you would then have to go out of the world.
5:11 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. Do not even eat with such a person.
5:12 For what do I have to do with judging those outside? Are you not to judge those inside?
5:13 But God will judge those outside. Remove the evil person from among you.
Lord, You offered us salvation for the same reason that You set-apart Israel, to draw us into an intimate and righteous relationship with You. May I be watchful that I hold myself and fellow-believers accountable for right-relationship rather than pointing fingers at the unsaved.
Paul expressed shock and disappointment that “… sexual immorality exists among you, the kind of immorality that is not permitted even among the Gentiles … someone is cohabiting with his father’s wife”
He challenged them for and attitude of pride rather than of deep sorrow. Their attitude was much like that of Israel when they criticized their pagan neighbors, or the Pharisees when they prayed pridefully that they were glad not to be like “those others”.
Paul instructed them to “ … turn this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord”
He warned them that … a little yeast affects the whole batch” so they needed to remove him from the fellowship, that allowing unrepentant believers, actively engaged in behaviors offensive to God, will poison the spiritual well-being of the entire fellowship.
Paul instructed them do “ … not 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 … judge those inside … Remove the evil person from among you”, to expel an unrepentant member for sexual misbehavior.
Paul challenged the institutional arrogance of a local fellowship that was more proud of their numbers and their vaunted-tolerance than of their maturity and righteousness.
Paul called for discipline to be exercised by the local fellowship as a warning to others that the same discipline faced them if they were engaged in unrepentant sin.
The Lord God wants us to make two connected-choices, first to repent and to accept His restorative-gift of salvation, and second to surrender to His active Lordship.
What is likely to happen in a situation where an unrepentant believer, actively engaged in behaviors offensive to God, is offered loving reconciliation but refuses and is expelled. Will others decide to break-away from their sin, confess and seek forgiveness, and be reconciled?
How can one criticize the sin of the unsaved, who lack the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, and then engage in (or tolerate in other believers) the very same sin?
When have you observed a situation where an unrepentant believer, actively engaged in behaviors offensive to God, was not expelled but allowed to remain. What was the result?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a member of your fellowship who is resisting God’s call to repent of their evil conduct.
Today I will pray for a member of my fellowship who is resisting God’s call to repent of their evil conduct, who has been disciplined, and who is therefore also resisting the opportunity to be reconciled and restored to full fellowship. Or, I will pray for leaders to accept God’s wisdom and that they will deal appropriately with an unrepentant believer-in-sin who is poisoning the fellowship.
Lawsuits
6:1 When any of you has a legal dispute with another, does he dare go to court before the unrighteous rather than before the saints?
6:2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you not competent to settle trivial suits?
6:3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? Why not ordinary matters!
6:4 So if you have ordinary lawsuits, do you appoint as judges those who have no standing in the church?
6:5 I say this to your shame! Is there no one among you wise enough to settle disputes between fellow Christians? 6:6 Instead, does a Christian sue a Christian, and do this before unbelievers?
6:7 The fact that you have lawsuits among yourselves demonstrates that you have already been defeated. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 6:8 But you yourselves wrong and cheat, and you do this to your brothers and sisters!
6:9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! The sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, passive homosexual partners, practicing homosexuals, 6:10 thieves, the greedy, drunkards, the verbally abusive, and swindlers will not inherit the kingdom of God.
6:11 Some of you once lived this way. 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.
Flee Sexual Immorality
6:12 “All things are lawful for me”—but not everything is beneficial. “All things are lawful for me”—but I will not be controlled by anything.
6:13 “Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food, but God will do away with both.” The body is not for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.
6:14 Now God indeed raised the Lord and he will raise us by his power.
6:15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Should I take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never!
6:16 Or do you not know that anyone who is united with a prostitute is one body with her? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”
6:17 But the one united with the Lord is one spirit with him. 6:18 Flee sexual immorality! “Every sin a person commits is outside of the body”—but the immoral person sins against his own body.
6:19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 6:20 For you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.
Lord, because Your Holy Spirit dwells in every believer, we have each become “… the temple of the Holy Spirit”. May I be mindful that there are many things that I choose which offend Him and some places He will not go with me.
Paul chastised the Corinthians for the absence of Christian conciliation, reconciliation, remediation and arbitration but for instead taking one another before a non-Christian authority for the judgment of disputes.
He reminded them that those who are unrepentant in their sin would not be allowed into Heaven.
Paul reminded them that the repentance of believers is a testimony to their salvation, so the corollary was also true, the absence of repentance testified to the absence of salvation.
Paul again challenged them to live righteously as the children of God, and dwelling-place of the Holy Spirit of God, honoring rather than dishonoring their bodies.
The very Holy Spirit of the Lord God dwells in every believer.
How does knowing that the Holy Spirit of God dwells in you help you to make more God-honoring choices?
There is power from viewing every decision with a true sense of the presence of Jesus and the Holy Spirit of God—in the context that they see you as already sanctified and made holy in Heaven.
When have you experienced of observed believers taking fellow believers to court? What was the consequence to the fellowship, or fellowships, involved? What was the context of the perceptions of the community?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a bad choice you made because you forgot that the Holy Spirit lives in you and desires that you not take Him into unrighteousness.
Today I will revisit a bad choice that I have been making from the prayerfully-considered perspective that Jesus and the Holy Spirit of God see me as already sanctified and made holy in Heaven. I will describe that experience with a fellow believer and ask them to pray in agreement that I will bring all of my decisions into the same context.
Celibacy and Marriage
7:1 Now with regard to the issues you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”
7:2 But because of immoralities, each man should have relations with his own wife and each woman with her own husband.
7:3 A husband should give to his wife her sexual rights, and likewise a wife to her husband.
7:4 It is not the wife who has the rights to her own body, but the husband. In the same way, it is not the husband who has the rights to his own body, but the wife.
7:5 Do not deprive each other, except by mutual agreement for a specified time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then resume your relationship, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
7:6 I say this as a concession, not as a command. 7:7 I wish that everyone was as I am. But each has his own gift from God, one this way, another that.
7:8 To the unmarried and widows I say that it is best for them to remain as I am.
7:9 But if they do not have self-control, let them get married. For it is better to marry than to burn with sexual desire.
7:10 To the married I give this command—not I, but the Lord—a wife should not divorce a husband 7:11 (but if she does, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband), and a husband should not divorce his wife.
7:12 To the rest I say—I, not the Lord—if a brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is happy to live with him, he should not divorce her.
7:13 And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is happy to live with her, she should not divorce him.
7:14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified because of the wife, and the unbelieving wife because of her husband. Otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy.
7:15 But if the unbeliever wants a divorce, let it take place. In these circumstances the brother or sister is not bound. God has called you in peace.
7:16 For how do you know, wife, whether you will bring your husband to salvation? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will bring your wife to salvation?
The Circumstances of Your Calling
7:17 Nevertheless, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each person, so must he live. I give this sort of direction in all the churches. 7:18 Was anyone called after he had been circumcised? He should not try to undo his circumcision. Was anyone called who is uncircumcised? He should not get circumcised. 7:19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Instead, keeping God’s commandments is what counts.
7:20 Let each one remain in that situation in life in which he was called. 7:21 Were you called as a slave? Do not worry about it. But if indeed you are able to be free, make the most of the opportunity.
7:22 For the one who was called in the Lord as a slave is the Lord’s freedman. In the same way, the one who was called as a free person is Christ’s slave. 7:23 You were bought with a price. Do not become slaves of men.
7:24 In whatever situation someone was called, brothers and sisters, let him remain in it with God.
Remaining Unmarried
7:25 With regard to the question about people who have never married, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my opinion as one shown mercy by the Lord to be trustworthy.
7:26 Because of the impending crisis I think it best for you to remain as you are.
7:27 The one bound to a wife should not seek divorce. The one released from a wife should not seek marriage.
7:28 But if you marry, you have not sinned. And if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face difficult circumstances, and I am trying to spare you such problems.
7:29 And I say this, brothers and sisters: The time is short. So then those who have wives should be as those who have none, 7:30 those with tears like those not weeping, those who rejoice like those not rejoicing, those who buy like those without possessions, 7:31 those who use the world as though they were not using it to the full. For the present shape of this world is passing away.
7:32 And I want you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord.
7:33 But a married man is concerned about the things of the world, how to please his wife, 7:34 and he is divided. An unmarried woman or a virgin is concerned about the things of the Lord, to be holy both in body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the things of the world, how to please her husband.
7:35 I am saying this for your benefit, not to place a limitation on you, but so that without distraction you may give notable and constant service to the Lord.
7:36 If anyone thinks he is acting inappropriately toward his virgin, if she is past the bloom of youth and it seems necessary, he should do what he wishes; he does not sin. Let them marry.
7:37 But the man who is firm in his commitment, and is under no necessity but has control over his will, and has decided in his own mind to keep his own virgin, does well.
7:38 So then, the one who marries his own virgin does well, but the one who does not, does better.
7:39 A wife is bound as long as her husband is living. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes (only someone in the Lord). 7:40 But in my opinion, she will be happier if she remains as she is—and I think that I too have the Spirit of God!
Lord, Your greatest desire is that we be in the most-intimate relationship with You, but You will share us with a peer-believer in marriage. May I always has as my first love the Lord God.
Paul calls each to serve God as best they can as He found and saved them “… as God has called each person, so must he [or she] live”, slave or free, married or single, to not be obsessed with altering their worldly condition but to focus on how to best serve the Lord.
He reiterates that the Lord God does not want people to be divorced but that He does allow for divorce, in two illustrations in the case of the unbeliever choosing to leave the believing spouse, and the other the one who divorces a believing-spouse may not marry another so long as the spouse lives—but they may re-marry their spouse.
[Note: Deuteronomy describes a limitation to marrying a former spouse who has been married to another since the divorce. It does not describe “marriage” such that one may consider a ‘marriage-equivalent’ relationship as fitting the limitation. There is no language describing if the restriction of marriage to another exists if the former spouse marries another.]
Paul explains that his recommendation of singleness is “Because of the impending crisis … I want you to be free from concern …”, that he wants them to be undistracted by a spouse or children, and less vulnerable to threats against their loved ones.
[Note: Paul’s reference to getting married is not intended to suggest that people with a lust problem rush into marriage, as that would continue within the marriage and likely tear it apart. He was speaking mostly to engaged couples who - in those times - were all-but married and were highly tempted. Thus his reference to “his virgin” in verse 7:38]
There is potential for a healthier new perspective in the lives of believers if they will place the Lord God ahead of romantic relationships.
How are romantic relationships, both as youth and adults, distracting from spiritual maturity and how does that remain even in a Biblical-Christian marriage?
Reflect upon the
It is important for a couple in marital conflict to engage more-mature members of the fellowship to assist them in an intentional process of reconciliation with a limited time of separation—to prevent a third-party romance from interfering while they are weak and apart.
When have you experienced or observed a romantic relationship interfering with a healthy relationship with the Lord God?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a current, or past, circumstance where a romantic relationship interfered with your relationship with the Lord God.
Today I will pray that I will place God first, in my marriage, or if single in every relationship—that I will desperately seek God instead of a fellow human.
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated - http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2011 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study— “1 Corinthians” — prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in December of 2011. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
Food Sacrificed to Idols
8:1 With regard to food sacrificed to idols, we know that “we all have knowledge.” Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
8:2 If someone thinks he knows something, he does not yet know to the degree that he needs to know.
8:3 But if someone loves God, he is known by God.
8:4 With regard then to eating food sacrificed to idols, we know that “an idol in this world is nothing,” and that “there is no God but one.”
8:5 If after all there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords),
8:6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we live, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we live.
8:7 But this knowledge is not shared by all. And some, by being accustomed to idols in former times, eat this food as an idol sacrifice, and their conscience, because it is weak, is defiled.
8:8 Now food will not bring us close to God. We are no worse if we do not eat and no better if we do.
8:9 But be careful that this liberty of yours does not become a hindrance to the weak.
8:10 For if someone weak sees you who possess knowledge dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience be “strengthened” to eat food offered to idols?
8:11 So by your knowledge the weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed.
8:12 If you sin against your brothers or sisters in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.
8:13 For this reason, if food causes my brother or sister to sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I may not cause one of them to sin.
Lord, You are the only True God, all other claims to “god” are false and are of the Enemy, the devil. May I be careful to never give-away power to any sort of an idol nor to confuse a brother or sister through carelessness in the use of things that they still associate with idols.
Idols are nothing in reality but to the unsaved and the immature believer some are confused by the things associated with them.
Paul challenged the more mature believers to be alert to the potential that their conduct may have, thought not necessarily bad in and of itself, to the easily confused unsaved person or immature believer.
It is better to avoid being observed or known to engage in some activities if they may be used by the Enemy to harm the vulnerable—it is a voluntary sacrifice as an act of caring about others.
The Lord God is the only True God and all others are deceivers.
How could actions, places, and words be used by the Enemy to confuse potential believers about Christ or His power to bring freedom from sin?
How might an immature believer or a potential believer be confused watching you yelling at a clerk in a store or at a referee at a ball game, behaving disrespectfully toward your spouse, mistreating your children, asking someone to help you to cheat on your taxes, downloading entertainment or other computer-base software illegally, observing you drunk in a bar room or wasting God’s money in a casino or on lottery tickets, boasting, gossiping, lying. or threatening a brother or a non-believer with legal or physical or social violence?
When have you observed a believer being careless in their choices? Did it confuse you or someone else about the Lord God or about the nature of that person’s faith?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place where your “witness for Christ” needs some help.
Today I promise to partner with Him to repent (turn away) and mature. I will ask a fellow believer to pray in agreement and to walk with me to greater maturity.
The Rights of an Apostle
9:1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?
9:2 If I am not an apostle to others, at least I am to you, for you are the confirming sign of my apostleship in the Lord.
9:3 This is my defense to those who examine me. 9:4 Do we not have the right to financial support?
9:5 Do we not have the right to the company of a believing wife, like the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas?
9:6 Or do only Barnabas and I lack the right not to work? 9:7 Who ever serves in the army at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its fruit? Who tends a flock and does not consume its milk?
9:8 Am I saying these things only on the basis of common sense, or does the law not say this as well? 9:9 For it is written in the law of Moses, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” God is not concerned here about oxen, is he? 9:10 Or is he not surely speaking for our benefit? It was written for us, because the one plowing and threshing ought to work in hope of enjoying the harvest. 9:11 If we sowed spiritual blessings among you, is it too much to reap material things from you?
9:12 If others receive this right from you, are we not more deserving? But we have not made use of this right. Instead we endure everything so that we may not be a hindrance to the gospel of Christ.
9:13 Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple eat food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar receive a part of the offerings? 9:14 In the same way the Lord commanded those who proclaim the gospel to receive their living by the gospel.
9:15 But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing these things so that something will be done for me. In fact, it would be better for me to die than—no one will deprive me of my reason for boasting! 9:16 For if I preach the gospel, I have no reason for boasting, because I am compelled to do this. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 9:17 For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward. But if I do it unwillingly, I am entrusted with a responsibility. 9:18 What then is my reward? That when I preach the gospel I may offer the gospel free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights in the gospel.
9:19 For since I am free from all I can make myself a slave to all, in order to gain even more people.
9:20 To the Jews I became like a Jew to gain the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) to gain those under the law.
9:21 To those free from the law I became like one free from the law (though I am not free from God’s law but under the law of Christ) to gain those free from the law.
9:22 To the weak I became weak in order to gain the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that by all means I may save some.
9:23 I do all these things because of the gospel, so that I can be a participant in it.
9:24 Do you not know that all the runners in a stadium compete, but only one receives the prize? So run to win.
9:25 Each competitor must exercise self-control in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one.
9:26 So I do not run uncertainly or box like one who hits only air. 9:27 Instead I subdue my body and make it my slave, so that after preaching to others I myself will not be disqualified.
Lord, You call a few to a higher-level of sacrificial ministry, though You call every believer to a lifetime of daily ministry. May I be watchful for faithful servants who may have needs, in addition encouragement and prayer, which You wish me to help meet.
Paul reminded them that the true Christian is “compelled” to preach Christ.
He observed that among the apostles, the Lord’s [biological/legal] brothers, and Cephas only he and Barnabas were without “the company of a believing wife.”
Paul addressed the reasonable and Biblical expectation that the members of a fellowship provide for the needs of those sent by God to lead them.
Paul concluded that he chose not to accept regular support [he did accept occasional gifts, especially when imprisoned] so that he was unencumbered by human expectations.
If ministry were simplified to parallel the apostle Paul’s, "preaching nothing but Christ and Him crucified" (to the unsaved) and challenging the saved to a Biblical standard of maturity, perhaps the opportunities for manipulation might be reduced.
How might a pastor, or others in ministry leadership be supported so that they are not distracted by unmet physical needs, yet are protected from institutional manipulation?
The sacrifices made by all of the early leaders called by Jesus are a stark contrast to the way that many of us complain of the least inconvenience.
When have you observed a highly-structured religious organization, with salaried pastors and staff, begins to misuse the pastor and staff’s financial and organizational dependence to manipulate how they functioned as leaders?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a leader or leader to whom I should give special support for their ministry for the Lord God.
Today I will consider how I support the spiritual leaders of my fellowship. If I believe that they were called to leadership and are being Biblically-faithful in their teaching then I will invest in their effectiveness for Christ. If I am a leader I will reflect upon the stewardship of the support God has led His children to provide and be certain that my choices do not impose unnecessary burdens upon those whom I serve.
Learning from Israel’s Failures
10:1 For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea, 10:2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 10:3 and all ate the same spiritual food, 10:4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they were all drinking from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ.
10:5 But God was not pleased with most of them, for they were cut down in the wilderness.
10:6 These things happened as examples for us, so that we will not crave evil things as they did.
10:7 So do not be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.”
10:8 And let us not be immoral, as some of them were, and twenty-three thousand died in a single day.
10:9 And let us not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by snakes.
10:10 And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel.
10:11 These things happened to them as examples and were written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the ages have come.
10:12 So let the one who thinks he is standing be careful that he does not fall.
10:13 No trial has overtaken you that is not faced by others. And God is faithful: He will not let you be tried beyond what you are able to bear, but with the trial will also provide a way out so that you may be able to endure it.
Avoid Idol Feasts
10:14 So then, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. 10:15 I am speaking to thoughtful people. Consider what I say. 10:16 Is not the cup of blessing that we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread that we break a sharing in the body of Christ? 10:17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all share the one bread. 10:18 Look at the people of Israel. Are not those who eat the sacrifices partners in the altar?
10:19 Am I saying that idols or food sacrificed to them amount to anything? 10:20 No, I mean that what the pagans sacrifice is to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be partners with demons. 10:21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot take part in the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 10:22 Or are we trying to provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we really stronger than he is?
Live to Glorify God
10:23 “Everything is lawful,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is lawful,” but not everything builds others up.
10:24 Do not seek your own good, but the good of the other person.
10:25 Eat anything that is sold in the marketplace without questions of conscience, 10:26 for the earth and its abundance are the Lord’s.
10:27 If an unbeliever invites you to dinner and you want to go, eat whatever is served without asking questions of conscience.
10:28 But if someone says to you, “This is from a sacrifice,” do not eat, because of the one who told you and because of conscience—10:29 I do not mean yours but the other person’s. For why is my freedom being judged by another’s conscience?
10:30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I blamed for the food that I give thanks for? 10:31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.
10:32 Do not give offense to Jews or Greeks or to the church of God, 10:33 just as I also try to please everyone in all things. I do not seek my own benefit, but the benefit of many, so that they may be saved.
Lord, You gave Adam and Eve freedom to make choices in the Garden and they chose wrongly, and continuously over history You did so with humankind. May I learn from history and make an intentional effort to not repeat the errors of the past.
Paul reminded the believers that Christ was the “rock” from which the people who followed the leadership of Moses “drank the water of life”, but many were rebellious and the consequence was death.
In 1Cor10:9 he identified Numbers 21:5-9 as a direct reference to Christ, a testimony to the pre-existence of Christ that also occurs in Jude 5.
Paul explained the purpose of the Lord God allowing choices and consequences in the Old Testament times “These things happened to them as examples and were written for our instruction …”
He gave them a word of wisdom to prevent them both from arrogant or careless failure “No trial has overtaken you that is not faced by others. And God is faithful: He will not let you be tried beyond what you are able to bear, but with the trial will also provide a way out so that you may be able to endure it.” 1 Cor. 13
Paul warned them to not participate in activities honoring evil, while the mere physical elements (food and drink) may be harmless, the sociological and spiritual elements are not.
He reinforced the teaching of freedom-with-responsibility for Christians; one may freely “Eat anything that is sold in the marketplace without questions of conscience …” and may also eat freely when the guest of an unbeliever, but should an immature believer raise a concern that the food had been sacrificed to idols one should refrain from eating in their presence. [Note: Paul is not intending to say that everything in the marketplace is equally healthy, as relates to “taking care of the Temple”, but is clearly restricting his meaning to spiritual matters or “conscience”.]
There is nothing new about the ways that we "set ourselves up to fail" through choices that are clearly not God-honoring and/or are carelessly made without pausing to consult God though His indwelling Holy Spirit.
How does a believer separate the "tests" or faithfulness to which Paul referred from the day-to-day challenges of life in a fallen world? Isn’t there a difficult balance between freedom and responsibility?
There is great value in the assurance and strength-for-endurance-in-righteousness which flows from the promise of God in 1 Cor. 10:13.
When have you found the Lord God’s assurance in 1 Cor. 10:13 just what you needed to endure a difficult life-challenge?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you one area of your life where you all-too-often repeat a poor decision and set yourself up to fail as a good witness to Christ and as a more-mature believer pursuing an intentionally-righteous life.
Today I will ask a fellow believer to pray in agreement that I recognize the gift of discernment which is promised by the Holy Spirit for those who need it, and for the courage to repent and to mature.
11:1 Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.
Women’s Head Coverings
11:2 I praise you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions just as I passed them on to you.
11:3 But I want you to know that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ.
11:4 Any man who prays or prophesies with his head covered disgraces his head.
11:5 But any woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered disgraces her head, for it is one and the same thing as having a shaved head.
11:6 For if a woman will not cover her head, she should cut off her hair. But if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, she should cover her head.
11:7 For a man should not have his head covered, since he is the image and glory of God. But the woman is the glory of the man. 11:8 For man did not come from woman, but woman from man.
11:9 Neither was man created for the sake of woman, but woman for man.
11:10 For this reason a woman should have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.
11:11 In any case, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 11:12 For just as woman came from man, so man comes through woman. But all things come from God.
11:13 Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?
11:14 Does not nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace for him, 11:15 but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering.
11:16 If anyone intends to quarrel about this, we have no other practice, nor do the churches of God.
The Lord’s Supper
11:17 Now in giving the following instruction I do not praise you, because you come together not for the better but for the worse. 11:18 For in the first place, when you come together as a church I hear there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. 11:19 For there must in fact be divisions among you, so that those of you who are approved may be evident. 11:20 Now when you come together at the same place, you are not really eating the Lord’s Supper. 11:21 For when it is time to eat, everyone proceeds with his own supper. One is hungry and another becomes drunk. 11:22 Do you not have houses so that you can eat and drink? Or are you trying to show contempt for the church of God by shaming those who have nothing? What should I say to you? Should I praise you? I will not praise you for this!
11:23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night in which he was betrayed took bread, 11:24 and after he had given thanks he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 11:25 In the same way, he also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, every time you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
11:26 For every time you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
11:27 For this reason, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
11:28 A person should examine himself first, and in this way let him eat the bread and drink of the cup. 11:29 For the one who eats and drinks without careful regard for the body eats and drinks judgment against himself.
11:30 That is why many of you are weak and sick, and quite a few are dead.
11:31 But if we examined ourselves, we would not be judged. 1
1:32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned with the world.
11:33 So then, my brothers and sisters, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 11:34 If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, so that when you assemble it does not lead to judgment. I will give directions about other matters when I come.
Lord, You value men and women equally, but assign to them differing roles within Your fellowship. You also desire that we honor one-another and that we do not dishonor times set-apart for special worship of You. May I be careful to respect and to teach respect.
Paul addressed a local conflict, but one with meaning to all of the churches [fellowships of believers]; how to manage the relationship of (believing) husbands and wives within the church [fellowship of believers].
He noted that those who chose to be joined in [Biblical Christian] marriage agreed that the male would be the spiritual leader of the home and within the church [fellowship of believers] the wife would not act without consultation with him.
[Note 1: Paul carefully qualifies this instruction in three ways; it appears to be confined to married couples - extrapolating to all males and females in the church is awkward and not required by the text, verse 11:3 demands that the husband be submitted to Christ as a condition of his authority, and verses 11:11-12 that the husband and wife recognize their interdependence from both the order of Creation and the process of physical birth.]
[Note 2: Paul’s instructions re. the “covering” of the head appears to be illustrative rather than regulatory else he would have included instructions to define the type of covering. Given Paul’s repeated emphasis upon “freedom” from legalism such a regulation would clearly have been contradictory.]
Paul addressed another local conflict; when believers gathered in fellowship some arrived hungry without food or drink, others brought and hoarded their food and/or drink, in this way there were “haves” and “have-nots”, hungry and gorged, sober and drunk believers in the midst of a gathering Jesus had commanded for the worship of God.
Paul instructed that people eat prior to arriving for fellowship so that “the Lord’s Supper” [perhaps a euphemism here for worship] be the focus and not mere human dining.
[Note: Even if Paul were not using “the Lord’s Supper” here as a euphemism for worship he was still instructing them as to how they might remove a terrible distraction which was compromising the quality of their fellowship with one another and with God.]
Paul gives a good example of the distractions people brought to a time of worship for the gathered believers - similar distractions still happen today.
What are some ways that the verses about men and women can be misunderstood and misapplied out of their full Biblical context?
There is a Biblical context of marriage and understanding that is critical for potential married couples. The “elders” must be involved in a process of prayer and teaching prior to any decision to seek marriage to avoid allowing emotions to overwhelm good judgment.
When have you experienced or observed couples so overwhelmed by romantic thoughts that they failed to consult the Lord God—and the pastor, “elders”, and their peers all failed to counsel them to slow down and seek His wisdom?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you His desire for you in respectful worship, honoring one-another, and/or responsible choices in romantic relationship.
Today I will, if I am a single person involved in any sort of romantic or potentially romantic relationship, ask a fellow believer to pray in agreement that I will consult one or more persons who meet the Biblical qualification of “elder” prior to making any decisions to consider engagement and marriage.
Today, if I am married I will prayerfully reflect upon God’s teaching to discover the following:
If I am the husband my life is increasingly submitted to Christ such as to earn the right to be trusted as the spiritual leader of my home;
If I am the wife that I honor Christ in the way that I honor my husband.
Today I will also look closely to discover if there is anything about my attitude, clothing, or participation in our fellowship which may create a distraction—and repent of it.
Spiritual Gifts
12:1 With regard to spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 12:2 You know that when you were pagans you were often led astray by speechless idols, however you were led. 12:3 So I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
12:4 Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit.
12:5 And there are different ministries, but the same Lord.
12:6 And there are different results, but the same God who produces all of them in everyone.
12:7 To each person the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the benefit of all.
12:8 For one person is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, and another the message of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 12:9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 12:10 to another performance of miracles, to another prophecy, and to another discernment of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.
12:11 It is one and the same Spirit, distributing as he decides to each person, who produces all these things.
Different Members in One Body
12:12 For just as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body—though many—are one body, so too is Christ.
12:13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Whether Jews or Greeks or slaves or free, we were all made to drink of the one Spirit. 12:14 For in fact the body is not a single member, but many.
12:15 If the foot says, “Since I am not a hand, I am not part of the body,” it does not lose its membership in the body because of that.
12:16 And if the ear says, “Since I am not an eye, I am not part of the body,” it does not lose its membership in the body because of that.
12:17 If the whole body were an eye, what part would do the hearing? If the whole were an ear, what part would exercise the sense of smell?
12:18 But as a matter of fact, God has placed each of the members in the body just as he decided.
12:19 If they were all the same member, where would the body be? 12:20 So now there are many members, but one body. 12:21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you,” nor in turn can the head say to the foot, “I do not need you.” 12:22 On the contrary, those members that seem to be weaker are essential, 12:23 and those members we consider less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our unpresentable members are clothed with dignity, 12:24 but our presentable members do not need this. Instead, God has blended together the body, giving greater honor to the lesser member, 12:25 so that there may be no division in the body, but the members may have mutual concern for one another.
12:26 If one member suffers, everyone suffers with it. If a member is honored, all rejoice with it.
12:27 Now you are Christ’s body, and each of you is a member of it.
12:28 And God has placed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, gifts of healing, helps, gifts of leadership, different kinds of tongues. 12:29 Not all are apostles, are they? Not all are prophets, are they? Not all are teachers, are they? Not all perform miracles, do they? 12:30 Not all have gifts of healing, do they? Not all speak in tongues, do they? Not all interpret, do they?
12:31 But you should be eager for the greater gifts.
And now I will show you a way that is beyond comparison.
Lord, You give us gifts because You have chosen to do Your work through us as a blessing to others (and to us in passing). May I always remember that Your gifts are for others, they do not make me special, and are not intended to bring any fame or glory to me.
Paul addressed the matter of spiritual gifts, beginning with the reminder that many had been “led astray” by “speechless idols” when they “were pagans” and that he did not want them to again be led astray a believers.
Paul noted that all gifts are given by God “for the benefit of all”, the different gifts come from the same Spirit, and the different ministries with different results belong to one Lord.
Paul lists several gifts:
Paul noted that the Holy Spirit was the distributing source “… as He decides to each person, Who produces all these things.” and that every part of the “body” of believers was equally valuable and to be equally honored and valued.
Paul also provided a chronology of God’s provision to the fellowship; apostles, prophets, teachers, miracles, gifts of healing, helps, gifts of leadership, different kinds of tongues. Note: This is not intended to be a hierarchy of value.]
Paul then noted that no one received all of the gifts and no gift was common to all, that that they should seek after “the greater gifts” [defined in chapter 14 as those which “instruct others” such as prophesy rather than the more self-focused gift of tongues].
[Note: This is the first place in the NT where a form of the general gift of tongues is referenced that is in need of “interpretation”, in this case because it is a private communication with God not usually intended for public utterance.]
The Lord God’s often-repeated priority is that all that we do, including the use of the gifts He provides, is that they be used by Him to serve others through us.
How have the various gifts the Lord God has given you, and how He has used them to mature you, been an encouragement to you to then teach others?
Paul upon accountability, through independent interpretation and balance, to keep “experiential emotionalism” and “show-boat boasting” away from the fellowship.
When have you observed the misuse of gifts, displayed as a way to draw attention to the person, rather than to bless others and to bring glory to the Lord God?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you any way that your use of His gifts has somehow drifted into a self-serving and/or attention-getting tool.
Today I will prayerfully reflect on the gifts God has given me and with the help of the Holy Spirit discern if my use of those gifts mostly serves others and brings glory to God or tends to be more self-serving and/or draw attention to me. I will ask a fellow believer to pray in agreement that I persevere in realigning my priorities as necessary.
The Way of Love
13:1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but I do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
13:2 And if I have prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
13:3 If I give away everything I own, and if I give over my body in order to boast, but do not have love, I receive no benefit.
13:4 Love is patient, love is kind, it is not envious. Love does not brag, it is not puffed up.
13:5 It is not rude, it is not self-serving, it is not easily angered or resentful.
13:6 It is not glad about injustice, but rejoices in the truth.
13:7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
13:8 Love never ends. But if there are prophecies, they will be set aside; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be set aside.
13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part, 13:10 but when what is perfect comes, the partial will be set aside.
13:11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. But when I became an adult, I set aside childish ways.
13:12 For now we see in a mirror indirectly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known.
13:13 And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Lord, You have chosen to use us in Your great plan and give to us gifts and talents and opportunity. May I be alert to opportunity, generous with talents, and careful to give You all-glory for gifts.
At the conclusion of Chapter 12 Paul wrote “12:31 But you should be eager for the greater gifts. And now I will show you a way that is beyond comparison.”
Having just explained the purpose and value of the “gifts of the Holy Spirit” he then placed them in proper Biblical perspective.
He concluded that by comparison none of the gifts have any implicit value, the only things of lasting and implicit-value are “… faith, hope, and love” … “But the greatest of these is love.”
Paul further explained that where love was absent in the exercise of spiritual gifts a wrong heart-attitude poisoned and nullified the value of the gifts—because the expression and impact of love was their purpose.
He listed examples of what love looked like in practice; “patient … kind … not envious … does not brag … not puffed-up … not rude … not self-serving … not easily angered or resentful … not glad about injustice … rejoices in the truth … bears all things [without complaining based on 1 Cor. 10:13], believes all things [of the Lord], hopes all things [promised by God], endures all things [that come from life in this fallen world and additional specific attacks because one is a Christian].
Paul noted that all things but love will come to an end as they only have temporary value outside of Heaven, that as maturity grows so does our ability to love well, and though we are limited in our vision and comprehension now - in Heaven we will “know fully”.
Gifts are only given as a tool of the Lord God’s expression of love through saving-grace.
Study some examples of individuals and circumstances with fellowships where believers have demonstrated right and loving and wrong and unloving attitudes.
The attribute of love in our lives is blessed by the Lord God.
When have you observed the misuse of gifts?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal a wrong attitude in you with a love-attitude.
Today I will prayerfully seek an opportunity to replace a wrong attitude in me with a love-attitude. I will share the experience and the result with a fellow believer.
Prophecy and Tongues
14:1 Pursue love and be eager for the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.
14:2 For the one speaking in a tongue does not speak to people but to God, for no one understands; he is speaking mysteries by the Spirit.
14:3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouragement, and consolation.
14:4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds himself up, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.
14:5 I wish you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be strengthened.
14:6 Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I help you unless I speak to you with a revelation or with knowledge or prophecy or teaching?
14:7 It is similar for lifeless things that make a sound, like a flute or harp. Unless they make a distinction in the notes, how can what is played on the flute or harp be understood? 14:8 If, for example, the trumpet makes an unclear sound, who will get ready for battle? 14:9 It is the same for you. If you do not speak clearly with your tongue, how will anyone know what is being said? For you will be speaking into the air.
14:10 There are probably many kinds of languages in the world, and none is without meaning.
14:11 If then I do not know the meaning of a language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me.
14:12 It is the same with you. Since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, seek to abound in order to strengthen the church.
14:13 So then, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.
14:14 If I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive.
14:15 What should I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing praises with my spirit, but I will also sing praises with my mind.
14:16 Otherwise, if you are praising God with your spirit, how can someone without the gift say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? 14:17 For you are certainly giving thanks well, but the other person is not strengthened.
14:18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you, 14:19 but in the church I want to speak five words with my mind to instruct others, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.
14:20 Brothers and sisters, do not be children in your thinking. Instead, be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.
14:21 It is written in the law: “By people with strange tongues and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people, yet not even in this way will they listen to me,” says the Lord.
14:22 So then, tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers.
14:23 So if the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and unbelievers or uninformed people enter, will they not say that you have lost your minds?
14:24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or uninformed person enters, he will be convicted by all, he will be called to account by all.
14:25 The secrets of his heart are disclosed, and in this way he will fall down with his face to the ground and worship God, declaring, “God is really among you.”
Church Order
14:26 What should you do then, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each one has a song, has a lesson, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all these things be done for the strengthening of the church.
14:27 If someone speaks in a tongue, it should be two, or at the most three, one after the other, and someone must interpret.
14:28 But if there is no interpreter, he should be silent in the church. Let him speak to himself and to God.
14:29 Two or three prophets should speak and the others should evaluate what is said.
14:30 And if someone sitting down receives a revelation, the person who is speaking should conclude.
14:31 For you can all prophesy one after another, so all can learn and be encouraged.
14:32 Indeed, the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets, 14:33 for God is not characterized by disorder but by peace.
As in all the churches of the saints, 14:34 the women should be silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak. Rather, let them be in submission, as in fact the law says.
14:35 If they want to find out about something, they should ask their husbands at home, because it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in church.
14:36 Did the word of God begin with you, or did it come to you alone?
14:37 If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, he should acknowledge that what I write to you is the Lord’s command. 14:38 If someone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.
14:39 So then, brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid anyone from speaking in tongues.
14:40 And do everything in a decent and orderly manner.
Lord, You give most gifts so that You may bless others through us, and You give a few rare gifts that are primarily for our communication with You. May I always seek what is best for others and what matures my relationship with You.
Paul explained that the form of tongues where people spoke “by the Spirit” to God was good for them (in their private communications with Him) but was not a blessing to others; however, the gift of prophesy was given to bless others, so while the gift of private-tongues was good - prophesy was preferred. [Note: The form of tongues described in Acts was different in nature as it was a known language and given for the benefit of others.]
He allowed that with an interpreter one may communicate “… with a revelation, with knowledge, with prophesy, or with teaching” [using the spiritual form of tongues] but that “…in the church [among gathered believers—he specified] I [Paul] want to speak five words with my mind to instruct others, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.”
Paul noted that a gathering of believers all speaking in spirit-tongues, visited by non-believers or the “uninformed” [immature/incompletely discipled believers], would not be edifying for believers; however, such an activity may be a sign of power, albeit confusing, to unbelievers.
He said that the same gathering filled with prophesy would “convict” the uninformed and the unbeliever, calling them “to account”. Paul explained “The secrets of his heart [the listener] are disclosed, and in this way he will fall down with his face to the ground and worship God, declaring, “God is really among you.”“
Paul called for order, peace, and priorities in the gatherings of believers; a song and a lesson, very few [if any] speaking in spirit-tongues (and only when an interpreter is present), at most two or three prophets [if any] (with what they say evaluated by fellow believers), and if a revelation comes to someone they are to be heard. The goal is learning and encouragement.
He addressed the conduct of wives in fellowship gatherings, re-emphasizing his prior teaching as to wives not challenging or displacing their husbands in a public gathering but inquiring of them in privacy at home.
Paul noted that once submitted to the headship of their Christ-honoring husband [this is not about husbands in rebellion or unsaved husbands] a wife must not then presume to have headship-knowledge or unique knowledge from the Lord God.
He concluded with the reminder that his teaching would only be affirmed and understood by “a prophet or spiritual person”.
Paul communicated the Lord God’s emphasis upon what is most valuable to others and on the need for accountability for the right-use of gifts among believers.
What are the keys to Paul’s guidelines for the expression of the spiritual gifts in a fellowship gathering?
Paul’s emphasized that during fellowship gatherings the wife of a leader respect her husband and reserve comments and questions for home. He also noted that a husband who is deserving of submission must himself first be submitted to Christ.
When have you observed the misuse of spiritual gifts?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to me any place in my public worship where my practice of spiritual gifts may disrupt order and/or serve me more than others, This may include teaching where someone else has been appointed to teach, forcing myself into a role in worship music where others are meeting the need and are doing so in a more culturally-relevant way, etc.
Today I will be more-certain that my gifts are never exercised in public without accountability and evaluation. I will celebrate where God has used those gifts to bless others and mature where I may have misused the gifts in any way.
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated - http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2011 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study— “1 Corinthians” — prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in December of 2011. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
Christ’s Resurrection
15:1 Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel that I preached to you, that you received and on which you stand, 15:2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
15:3 For I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received—that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, 15:4 and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures, 15:5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 15:6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 15:7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.
15:8 Last of all, as though to one born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also. 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me has not been in vain. In fact, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God with me. 15:11 Whether then it was I or they, this is the way we preach and this is the way you believed.
No Resurrection?
15:12 Now if Christ is being preached as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead? 15:13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 15:14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is futile and your faith is empty.
15:15 Also, we are found to be false witnesses about God, because we have testified against God that he raised Christ from the dead, when in reality he did not raise him, if indeed the dead are not raised. 15:16 For if the dead are not raised, then not even Christ has been raised.
15:17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is useless; you are still in your sins.
15:18 Furthermore, those who have fallen asleep in Christ have also perished.
15:19 For if only in this life we have hope in Christ, we should be pitied more than anyone.
15:20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
15:21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also came through a man.
15:22 For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.
15:23 But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; then when Christ comes, those who belong to him.
15:24 Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when he has brought to an end all rule and all authority and power. 15:25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
15:26 The last enemy to be eliminated is death.
15:27 For he has put everything in subjection under his feet. But when it says “everything” has been put in subjection, it is clear that this does not include the one who put everything in subjection to him.
15:28 And when all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will be subjected to the one who subjected everything to him, so that God may be all in all.
15:29 Otherwise, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, then why are they baptized for them?
15:30 Why too are we in danger every hour? 15:31 Every day I am in danger of death! This is as sure as my boasting in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord.
15:32 If from a human point of view I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, what did it benefit me? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.
15:33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” 15:34 Sober up as you should, and stop sinning! For some have no knowledge of God—I say this to your shame!
The Resurrection Body
15:35 But someone will say, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” 15:36 Fool! What you sow will not come to life unless it dies. 15:37 And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare seed—perhaps of wheat or something else. 15:38 But God gives it a body just as he planned, and to each of the seeds a body of its own.
15:39 All flesh is not the same: People have one flesh, animals have another, birds and fish another.
15:40 And there are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies. The glory of the heavenly body is one sort and the earthly another.
15:41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon and another glory of the stars, for star differs from star in glory.
15:42 It is the same with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable.
15:43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 15:44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
15:45 So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living person”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
15:46 However, the spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and then the spiritual.
15:47 The first man is from the earth, made of dust; the second man is from heaven.
15:48 Like the one made of dust, so too are those made of dust, and like the one from heaven, so too those who are heavenly.
15:49 And just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, let us also bear the image of the man of heaven.
15:50 Now this is what I am saying, brothers and sisters: Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.
15:51 Listen, I will tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—15:52 in a moment, in the blinking of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
15:53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.
15:54 Now when this perishable puts on the imperishable, and this mortal puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will happen,
“Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
15:55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”
15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
15:57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
15:58 So then, dear brothers and sisters, be firm. Do not be moved! Always be outstanding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
Lord, Your gift of salvation is both necessary and unique. May I not question Your means but rather celebrate Your grace.
Paul reminded his readers that they must hold fast to his teaching that Christ not only came as the Biblically-prophesied redeemer but He both died and was resurrected - for without the resurrection He accomplished nothing that could alter their eternal destinies as sinners hopelessly condemned.
Paul continued his argument by using two illustrations; the first is that Jesus will return as the One Who conquered death and will then remove the Enemy and finally turn His “Church” over to the Father, in this Paul wants them to see that the resurrection is critical to the power of Christ to save.
The second illustration is the odd practice of some in Corinth who practiced substitutionary—baptisms for the dead—to publicly affirm their confessions of faith while living.
[Note: One may not be baptized for another as a substitutionary act of obedience nor may one do so to cause the retroactive salvation of another. Such an absurd notion is reportedly part of the Mormon cult practices.]
In this second case Paul again notes that baptism merely symbolizes the death and resurrection of Christ and the saved persons agreement to themselves die to the world and surrender to the Lordship of Christ here and in Heaven.
Paul reminded them that without the resurrection the Christian faith is empty and everything sacrificed due to it is wasted - people may as well have partied until they died as they had not and could not be redeemed from their sins.
Paul addressed a point of confusion about the resurrection as it applied to the physical body; first he noted the fundamental difference between humans and the rest of “fleshy” creation, humans are unique, animals are unique, birds and fish are unique, second he noted that our human form will be replaced with an immortal and imperishable spiritual form.
Death is powerless.
There is an obvious silliness to the practice of “baptism in place on behalf of the dead” —it displays the eccentricities some people impose upon the clear and simple message of Christ.
Would it not be folly to surrendering ones worldly-life for the sacrificial-life of a genuine Christian faith unless one was assured of the saving power of the resurrection?
The bodies of humankind (beginning with Adam and Eve) came first and then the Lord God added a spirit. At the resurrection our spirits will be preserved but our bodies will be replaced.
Describe your baptism and your voluntary surrender, death-like, to everything of this fallen- world in exchange for Christ-alone.
Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you of one especially powerful moment where the He touched you and reminded you of His presence.
Today I will share my faith-testimony with one or more other Christians, including my baptism experience and highlights of my early walk with Christ.
A Collection to Aid Jewish Christians
16:1 With regard to the collection for the saints, please follow the directions that I gave to the churches of Galatia: 16:2 On the first day of the week, each of you should set aside some income and save it to the extent that God has blessed you, so that a collection will not have to be made when I come. 16:3 Then, when I arrive, I will send those whom you approve with letters of explanation to carry your gift to Jerusalem. 16:4 And if it seems advisable that I should go also, they will go with me.
Paul’s Plans to Visit
16:5 But I will come to you after I have gone through Macedonia—for I will be going through Macedonia—16:6 and perhaps I will stay with you, or even spend the winter, so that you can send me on my journey, wherever I go. 16:7 For I do not want to see you now in passing, since I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord allows. 16:8 But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, 16:9 because a door of great opportunity stands wide open for me, but there are many opponents.
16:10 Now if Timothy comes, see that he has nothing to fear among you, for he is doing the Lord’s work, as I am too. 16:11 So then, let no one treat him with contempt. But send him on his way in peace so that he may come to me. For I am expecting him with the brothers.
16:12 With regard to our brother Apollos: I strongly encouraged him to visit you with the other brothers, but it was simply not his intention to come now. He will come when he has the opportunity.
Final Challenge and Blessing
16:13 Stay alert, stand firm in the faith, show courage, be strong. 16:14 Everything you do should be done in love.
16:15 Now, brothers and sisters, you know about the household of Stephanus, that as the first converts of Achaia, they devoted themselves to ministry for the saints. I urge you 16:16 also to submit to people like this, and to everyone who cooperates in the work and labors hard.
16:17 I was glad about the arrival of Stephanus, Fortunatus, and Achaicus because they have supplied the fellowship with you that I lacked. 16:18 For they refreshed my spirit and yours. So then, recognize people like this.
16:19 The churches in the province of Asia send greetings to you. Aquila and Prisca greet you warmly in the Lord, with the church that meets in their house. 16:20 All the brothers and sisters send greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.
16:21 I, Paul, send this greeting with my own hand.
16:22 Let anyone who has no love for the Lord be accursed. Our Lord, come!
16:23 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.
16:24 My love be with all of you in Christ Jesus.
Lord, You send Your instruments of the gospel where You choose them to labor, and You bless obedience while You do not bless disobedience. May I be ready to serve, careful to pursue obedience, and receive the Holy Spirit’s wisdom to recognize the difference.
Paul referenced a voluntary collection for the fellowship at Jerusalem. [Note: This is gift-giving, not tithe-related.]
Paul reminded them to do all things in love, as he had previously described in his letter, and to welcome those who come to serve them.
He encouraged them to “Stay alert” to threats to the true teaching [a warning he had previously given in greater detail], to “stand firm in the faith”, to “show courage” [a step beyond having courage is to demonstrate evidence of it], and to be strong.
In verse 16:19 Paul made specific reference to Aquila and Prisca and “the church” [fellowship of believers] “that meets in their house”.
[Note: To this point there has been no positive reference in the NT to fellowship resources such as buildings, staff, or to elaborate local or associational/denominational dogma.]
Paul challenged us to "do all things in love". What would that look like in your life? What might it change?
There are threats to Biblical truth that we have all experienced or observed in fellowships, or in books and media represented as “Christian”, but which are not Biblical-Christian. How does that bad teaching cause confusion and conflict?
There are examples of “standing firm” (e.g. against pressures to go along to get along with the world instead of living as God teaches), showing the courage which we receive from the Holy Spirit (e.g. speaking boldly for Christ, in an appropriate context, even when it may make some people uncomfortable), and being strong (even when others panic).
When have you experienced a small group and/or a home-based fellowship? How did that increased-level of intimacy contribute to your growth as a mature believer and deepen your ability to know and to be known, to care and to be cared for by fellow believers?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place in your life where you struggle to "do all things in love".
Today I will ask a fellow believer to pray in agreement with me to change. It may be my attitude toward a certain person, the way I approach politics or sports, a tendency to hold people at a distance, a too-shy or too-bold style which keeps me from speaking truth when I should (which is unloving as it allows people to remain in darkness) or prompts me to cross boundaries and bully or displace others inappropriately, or some other unloving characteristic or habit.
Salutation
1:1 From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God that is in Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia. 1:2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!
Thanksgiving for God’s Comfort
1:3 Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 1:4 who comforts us in all our troubles so that we may be able to comfort those experiencing any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
1:5 For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow toward us, so also our comfort through Christ overflows to you.
1:6 But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort that you experience in your patient endurance of the same sufferings that we also suffer.
1:7 And our hope for you is steadfast because we know that as you share in our sufferings, so also you will share in our comfort.
1:8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, regarding the affliction that happened to us in the province of Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of living. 1:9 Indeed we felt as if the sentence of death had been passed against us, so that we would not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead.
1:10 He delivered us from so great a risk of death, and he will deliver us. We have set our hope on him that he will deliver us yet again, 1:11 as you also join in helping us by prayer, so that many people may give thanks to God on our behalf for the gracious gift given to us through the help of many.
Paul Defends His Changed Plans
1:12 For our reason for confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that with pure motives and sincerity which are from God—not by human wisdom but by the grace of God—we conducted ourselves in the world, and all the more toward you.
1:13 For we do not write you anything other than what you can read and also understand. But I hope that you will understand completely 1:14 just as also you have partly understood us, that we are your source of pride just as you also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.
1:15 And with this confidence I intended to come to you first so that you would get a second opportunity to see us, 1:16 and through your help to go on into Macedonia and then from Macedonia to come back to you and be helped on our way into Judea by you. 1:17 Therefore when I was planning to do this, I did not do so without thinking about what I was doing, did I? Or do I make my plans according to mere human standards so that I would be saying both “Yes, yes” and “No, no” at the same time?
1:18 But as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” 1:19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, the one who was proclaimed among you by us—by me and Silvanus and Timothy—was not “Yes” and “No,” but it has always been “Yes” in him. 1:20 For every one of God’s promises are “Yes” in him; therefore also through him the “Amen” is spoken, to the glory we give to God.
1:21 But it is God who establishes us together with you in Christ and who anointed us, 1:22 who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a down payment.
Why Paul Postponed His Visit
1:23 Now I appeal to God as my witness, that to spare you I did not come again to Corinth. 1:24 I do not mean that we rule over your faith, but we are workers with you for your joy, because by faith you stand firm.
Lord, You are the one true God and You give us comfort, deliverance from danger, and purpose in Your service. May I rest in Your comfort, be bold knowing that You are with me, and encouraged that You choose to use me—in my obedience—for Your good purposes.
Paul celebrated the blessedness of the Lord Who comforts those who suffer - for His name - so that they may in turn comfort others who suffer.
He illustrated with his own experience —reaching the point where he “despaired even of living” but that God comforted and delivered him -- he then solicited their prayers that God would again deliver him.
Paul emphasized that it was he-alone (not the Lord God) who had communicated an intention to come to them but that he found his course altered by God. [He wanted to leave no opportunity for the Enemy to misrepresent the facts and thereby create doubt as to the perfect record of God’s promise-keeping.]
Paul appealed to God to assure them in the Spirit that he was being fully honest with them about his desire to visit and his valid reason to postpone that visit.
The pure heart of Paul. He was intentionally-careful to assure that nothing imperfect in him could be imposed upon the perfection of God in the minds of those over whom God had given him spiritual authority.
How many times can you recall, in the Bible and reported by people whom you know, that the Lord God has comforted His children in times of trouble?
Paul’s certainty was remarkable - that the Lord God Who had comforted and delivered Him in the past would do so again and his intentional-request for the believers in Corinth to pray in-agreement - so they might share in God’s miracle for Paul.
When have you, or someone you know well, experienced God’s comfort and delivery from a time of trouble?
Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you of His provision of comfort and deliverance in your life.
Today I will share the story of God’s comfort and delivery in my life with a fellow believer as a means of celebration and encouragement.
2:1 So I made up my own mind not to pay you another painful visit. 2:2 For if I make you sad, who would be left to make me glad but the one I caused to be sad?
2:3 And I wrote this very thing to you, so that when I came I would not have sadness from those who ought to make me rejoice, since I am confident in you all that my joy would be yours.
2:4 For out of great distress and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not to make you sad, but to let you know the love that I have especially for you.
2:5 But if anyone has caused sadness, he has not saddened me alone, but to some extent (not to exaggerate) he has saddened all of you as well.
2:6 This punishment on such an individual by the majority is enough for him, 2:7 so that now instead you should rather forgive and comfort him. This will keep him from being overwhelmed by excessive grief to the point of despair.
2:8 Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him.
2:9 For this reason also I wrote you: to test you to see if you are obedient in everything.
2:10 If you forgive anyone for anything, I also forgive him—for indeed what I have forgiven (if I have forgiven anything) I did so for you in the presence of Christ, 2:11 so that we may not be exploited by Satan (for we are not ignorant of his schemes).
2:12 Now when I arrived in Troas to proclaim the gospel of Christ, even though the Lord had opened a door of opportunity for me,
2:13 I had no relief in my spirit, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said good-bye to them and set out for Macedonia.
Apostolic Ministry
2:14 But thanks be to God who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and who makes known through us the fragrance that consists of the knowledge of him in every place.
2:15 For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing—2:16 to the latter an odor from death to death, but to the former a fragrance from life to life. And who is adequate for these things?
2:17 For we are not like so many others, hucksters who peddle the word of God for profit, but we are speaking in Christ before God as persons of sincerity, as persons sent from God.
Lord, You walked with Adam and Eve, spoke to Noah and Jacob, gave the Law to Israel via Moses, proclaimed the coming of the Messiah via Isaiah and John the Baptist, came in human form as Jesus the Christ, and when He returned Home You indwelt believes as the Holy Spirit. It has always been You showing us the way Home from the Fall, You empowering human leaders to exhort and to teach, and You Who transforms us from death to life. May I gift You all of the glory and all of myself.
Paul further explained that he wanted to avoid a second visit where his need to challenge them to deal with extreme sin in their fellowship might harm their sense of joy in the Lord and damage his relationship with them.
Paul reminded them that their obedience “in everything” required them to offer forgiveness to the member who had sinned so blatantly so as to not cause him grief which could lead to “despair”.
Paul added an odd and incompletely explained parenthetical in 2:12-13 where he acknowledges a provision from the Lord of “a door of opportunity” in Troas “to proclaim the gospel of Christ” yet due to the absence of Titus he “had no relief in his spirit” and thus moved on to Macedonia. [It is reasonable to speculate that he may have been paralleling his experience of longing for the positive encouragement of a brother (for affirmation) to that of the fellowship in Corinth struggling due to the failed visit of Paul. It may also be that there was some cultural affirmation of his call to minister in Troas that could come through Titus and not directly to Paul alone. Recall Jesus’ instruction to the disciples that should they not be welcomed in a town they should move on as the Holy Spirit had not yet prepared it.]
Paul concluded with a celebration that those who are “speaking in Christ before God as persons of sincerity, as persons sent from God” are a “sweet aroma of Christ to God” in the midst of the saved and the unsaved alike.
The challenge of Paul was to be obedient to God in all things, not just the comfortable or convenient, but in all things.
Isn’t it an amazing presence of the Lord God through His Holy Spirit that when a person speaks so purely from the Word of God, not in style but in integrity of content and life-example, that they are a "sweet aroma of Christ to God"?
How would you decide when discipline and "putting-out" an unrepentant sinner had been concluded and you would deliver forgiveness without any confusion that about the intent of the fellowship; that it was in no way downplaying or endorsing the seriousness of unrepentant sin?
When have you had an experience where you’d planned a challenging ministry outreach, and believed that God had prepared it, but the absence of a partner in that ministry caused you to hesitate and/or postpone?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you one area where you have chosen comfort or convenience over obedience to God
Today I will ask a fellow believer to pray in agreement with me for the strength and persistence to take a new step toward maturity in my walk.
A Living Letter
3:1 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? We don’t need letters of recommendation to you or from you as some other people do, do we?
3:2 You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone, 3:3 revealing that you are a letter of Christ, delivered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on stone tablets but on tablets of human hearts.
3:4 Now we have such confidence in God through Christ.
3:5 Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as if it were coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, 3:6 who made us adequate to be servants of a new covenant not based on the letter but on the Spirit, for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
The Greater Glory of the Spirit’s Ministry
3:7 But if the ministry that produced death—carved in letters on stone tablets—came with glory, so that the Israelites could not keep their eyes fixed on the face of Moses because of the glory of his face (a glory which was made ineffective), 3:8 how much more glorious will the ministry of the Spirit be?
3:9 For if there was glory in the ministry that produced condemnation, how much more does the ministry that produces righteousness excel in glory!
3:10 For indeed, what had been glorious now has no glory because of the tremendously greater glory of what replaced it.
3:11 For if what was made ineffective came with glory, how much more has what remains come in glory!
3:12 Therefore, since we have such a hope, we behave with great boldness, 3:13 and not like Moses who used to put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from staring at the result of the glory that was made ineffective.
3:14 But their minds were closed. For to this very day, the same veil remains when they hear the old covenant read. It has not been removed because only in Christ is it taken away.
3:15 But until this very day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their minds, 3:16 but when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.
3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is present, there is freedom.
3:18 And we all, with unveiled faces reflecting the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, which is from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
Lord, You replace he Law with Grace. May I praise You with my life for that freedom.
Paul observed that he no longer required a letter of reference since the very existence of a fellowship of believers in Corinth, the fruits of his faithful service to God, was his living reference. [The Net translator’s Notes speculate that this was in response to some apparent challenge to his credentials.]
The “new covenant” was not, Paul reminded them, a new law (“for the letter kills”) it was of “the Spirit [Who] brings life”.
Paul reminded them that Moses bore a shadow of the glory of God when he returned from the mountain and his ministry, the bringing of the Law, also possessed Glory. He elaborated that such glory faded as it was associated with the conviction of the Law—which none but Jesus could ever have kept perfectly. Paul then compared it to the “ministry of the Spirit” —which replaced the ineffectiveness of the Law with “the ministry that produces righteousness”.
He observed that the same veil that Moses bore to keep the Israelites from staring at his shining face, rather to focus them on the Law, is like the veil on the hearts of those who hear the words of Moses yet fail to see Christ in them.
Paul concluded, noting that the presence of the Spirit [in every true believer] transformed one from the glory of the promise given to Moses into the fulfillment of that promise in Christ.
The credentials of Paul are found in the testimony of those whom God had drawn near in salvation and discipleship as a result of his faithful service.
How do you explain to someone considering-Christ, or a new (or stuck at new) believer the amazing transition from pre-resurrection to post-resurrection where God delivered His new covenant of grace - displacing the old covenant of law?
Freedom from the convicting and impossible-to-achieve challenge of the Law into the completing and freedom-bringing blessing of grace is an incredible gift of the Lord God.
Your experience of being "veiled" from a full appreciation of, and empowerment by, the Lord God—which comes only from salvation and the indwelling Holy Spirit. What happened when you finally surrendered and received the gift of salvation?
Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you of your experience of transition from “veiled” to “seeing clearly” as a result of your salvation.
Today I will share with a potential believer, via E-mail (or other electronic communication), letter, phone call, or face-to-face conversation, my experience of transition from "veiled" to "seeing clearly" as a result of my salvation.
Paul’s Perseverance in Ministry
4:1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, just as God has shown us mercy, we do not become discouraged.
4:2 But we have rejected shameful hidden deeds, not behaving with deceptiveness or distorting the word of God, but by open proclamation of the truth we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience before God.
4:3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing, 4:4 among whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe so they would not see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God.
4:5 For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake.
4:6 For God, who said “Let light shine out of darkness,” is the one who shined in our hearts to give us the light of the glorious knowledge of God in the face of Christ.
An Eternal Weight of Glory
4:7 But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that the extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.
4:8 We are experiencing trouble on every side, but are not crushed; we are perplexed, but not driven to despair; 4:9 we are persecuted, but not abandoned; we are knocked down, but not destroyed, 4:10 always carrying around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our body.
4:11 For we who are alive are constantly being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our mortal body.
4:12 As a result, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
4:13 But since we have the same spirit of faith as that shown in what has been written, “I believed; therefore I spoke,” we also believe, therefore we also speak.
4:14 We do so because we know that the one who raised up Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus and will bring us with you into his presence.
4:15 For all these things are for your sake, so that the grace that is including more and more people may cause thanksgiving to increase to the glory of God.
4:16 Therefore we do not despair, but even if our physical body is wearing away, our inner person is being renewed day by day.
4:17 For our momentary, light suffering is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison
4:18 because we are not looking at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen. For what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.
Lord, You give so much to use and ask that we be careful to tell Your story truthfully, and that we be humble at all times. May I be found faithful in both.
Paul contrasted the positive virtue of faithfulness to the Word against the sin of those who engage in “shameful hidden deeds … behaving with deceptiveness … distorting the Word of God”.
He reminded them that those who are unable to perceive “the light of the glorious gospel” are those “who do not believe”, that it is God Who said “Let light shine out of darkness” Who “shined in our hearts to give us the light of the glorious knowledge of God in the face of Christ.”
Paul re-emphasized the need for humility, using the illustration of “clay jars” to describe believers [especially those who dedicate themselves to preaching and teaching Christ], and noted that “the extraordinary power belongs to God”.
Paul provided a checklist of struggles and of the Lord God’s power:
Paul observed two final things; that many more are joining in “thanksgiving … to the glory of God”, and that “our momentary, light suffering, is producing for us an eternal weight of glory”
It is an amazing truth that, despite our humble standing as like the simple clay jar of Paul’s time, God chooses to pour Himself out through us. We have a responsibility to remain humble as none of it is from us.
How should believers respond to the problem of people claiming the name of Christ and then engaging in “shameful hidden deeds … behaving with deceptiveness … distorting the Word of God”?
It is humbling to read the list Paul provided of struggles faced by serious Christians and of the provision of God.
When have you experienced the Lord God causing "light [to] shine out of darkness" through you for the benefit of another?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you an example in your life from the list Paul provided of struggles faced by Christians
Today I will celebrate together with a fellow believer the awesome God who makes provision for me.
Living by Faith, Not by Sight
5:1 For we know that if our earthly house, the tent we live in, is dismantled, we have a building from God, a house not built by human hands, that is eternal in the heavens.
5:2 For in this earthly house we groan, because we desire to put on our heavenly dwelling, 5:3 if indeed, after we have put on our heavenly house, we will not be found naked.
5:4 For we groan while we are in this tent, since we are weighed down, because we do not want to be unclothed, but clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
5:5 Now the one who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment.
5:6 Therefore we are always full of courage, and we know that as long as we are alive here on earth we are absent from the Lord—5:7 for we live by faith, not by sight.
5:8 Thus we are full of courage and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
5:9 So then whether we are alive or away, we make it our ambition to please him.
5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be paid back according to what he has done while in the body, whether good or evil.
The Message of Reconciliation
5:11 Therefore, because we know the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade people, but we are well known to God, and I hope we are well known to your consciences too. 5:12 We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may be able to answer those who take pride in outward appearance and not in what is in the heart.
5:13 For if we are out of our minds, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.
5:14 For the love of Christ controls us, since we have concluded this, that Christ died for all; therefore all have died.
5:15 And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised.
5:16 So then from now on we acknowledge no one from an outward human point of view. Even though we have known Christ from such a human point of view, now we do not know him in that way any longer.
5:17 So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away—look, what is new has come!
5:18 And all these things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation.
5:19 In other words, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting people’s trespasses against them, and he has given us the message of reconciliation.
5:20 Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His plea through us. We plead with you on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God!”
5:21 God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God.
Lord, You created us to dwell in the Garden of Eden, and after the Fall destroyed that in the new Heaven and the new Earth where there is no sin and there is no temptation. May I remember that I was not made for the imperfect place and that it is right that I never feel quite at home here.
Paul challenges his readers to acknowledge their temporary physical condition in fallen bodies in a fallen world and our natural groaning for Heaven.
He reminds them that the indwelling Holy Spirit of God is a “down payment” from God upon our guaranteed place in Heaven.
He notes that once we are saved we are eternal citizens of Heaven and while here we are “absent from the Lord”, therefore we live “by faith” [in the Lord Who awaits our arrival] “not by sight” [because we cannot see Him].
He challenges his readers to “make it our ambition to please Him”, whether on earth or in Heaven, and to chose carefully what we do “while in the body”.
[Note: Paul used himself as an example in these verses and stood as a role model for those who would follow. He said as much in his instructions to the Corinthians about singleness and also when writing to Timothy and Titus.]
Paul notes that the world judges by human appearance and that he had seen Christ on the road to Damascus, but that now all believers must join him in seeing Christ and fellow believers through the eternal perspective of Heaven.
Paul wrote the following series of steps to understanding:
Paul challenged us to "make it our ambition to please Him", whether on earth or in Heaven, and to chose carefully what we do "while in the body".
How do Paul’s steps to understanding help you?
Paul’s words are encouraging—it is appropriate that we “groan” for Heaven as the new person-in-Christ that we are no longer belongs to this world, that we live by faith having not seen Christ but knowing Him through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, and that we be intentional about seeing everything through the lens of Heaven and not earth.
When have you had an experience where viewing things here on earth through the lens of Heaven brought comfort and understanding where before there was fear and confusion?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a particularly challenging relationship in your life to which He wants me to apply this subset of Paul’s steps to understanding; “… the ministry of reconciliation … not counting people’s trespasses against them … the message of reconciliation”.
Today I will submit to the Holy Spirit as He walks with me through the process of reconciliation. I will share the result with a fellow believer, whom I will also ask (in advance), to pray for courage and wisdom as I do this.
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated - http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2011 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study— “1-2 Corinthians” — prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in December of 2011. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.
God’s Suffering Servants
6:1 Now because we are fellow workers, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 6:2 For he says, “I heard you at the acceptable time, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” Look, now is the acceptable time; look, now is the day of salvation!
6:3 We do not give anyone an occasion for taking an offense in anything, so that no fault may be found with our ministry. 6:4 But as God’s servants, we have commended ourselves in every way, with great endurance, in persecutions, in difficulties, in distresses, 6:5 in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in troubles, in sleepless nights, in hunger, 6:6 by purity, by knowledge, by patience, by benevolence, by the Holy Spirit, by genuine love, 6:7 by truthful teaching, by the power of God, with weapons of righteousness both for the right hand and for the left, 6:8 through glory and dishonor, through slander and praise; regarded as impostors, and yet true; 6:9 as unknown, and yet well-known; as dying and yet—see!—we continue to live; as those who are scourged and yet not executed; 6:10 as sorrowful, but always rejoicing, as poor, but making many rich, as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
6:11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart has been opened wide to you.
6:12 Our affection for you is not restricted, but you are restricted in your affections for us.
6:13 Now as a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts to us also.
Unequal Partners
6:14 Do not become partners with those who do not believe, for what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship does light have with darkness?
6:15 And what agreement does Christ have with Beliar? Or what does a believer share in common with an unbeliever?
6:16 And what mutual agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For we are the temple of the living God, just as God said, “I will live in them and will walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
6:17 Therefore “come out from their midst, and be separate,” says the Lord, “and touch no unclean thing, and I will welcome you, 6:18 and I will be a father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters,” says the All-Powerful Lord.
Lord, You have drawn us near to You and indwell us through Your Holy Spirit, and so we have become eternally-separated from the world and it’s temporary Prince, Satan. May I avoid “partnerships” with unbelievers, as they cannot comprehend why I make many of the decisions that I do, and avoid “partnership” with anything that is sinful.
Paul described the sacrifices he had made to be certain that nothing in him could give cause for anyone to question his preaching and teaching of Christ.
He challenged them “… not to receive the grace of God in vain” but to accept and live in the freedom of grace and making sacrifices—so that they neither squander the gift through unrighteous living or fail to make it attractive to others.
He also challenged them “Do not become partners with those who do not believe…” because they cannot comprehend the reasons that a believer chooses righteous and sacrificial living in the absence of the Holy Spirit and His inspiration of the Word of God.
Paul ascribes great importance to an intentionally faithful witness for the presence and power of the Lord God through His Holy Spirit in a believer’s daily walk.
How might one not “…receive the grace of God in vain”? List some ways that a believer may live in grace and avoid drifting into life choices which misrepresent Christ.
Paul’s challenge was to “… not become partners with those who do not believe”, which refers to both business and romance.
When have you had an experience "partnered" with a non-believer where they simply could not comprehend your Holy Spirit-guided choices for righteousness over profit or fame or pleasure.
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place in your life where you drift into non-Christlike choices
Today I will ask a fellow believer to pray in agreement with me that I accept the wisdom and strength of the Holy Spirit to repent and move toward maturity through more righteous living.
Self-Purification
7:1 Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that could defile the body and the spirit, and thus accomplish holiness out of reverence for God.
7:2 Make room for us in your hearts; we have wronged no one, we have ruined no one, we have exploited no one. 7:3 I do not say this to condemn you, for I told you before that you are in our hearts so that we die together and live together with you.
A Letter That Caused Sadness
7:4 I have great confidence in you; I take great pride on your behalf. I am filled with encouragement; I am overflowing with joy in the midst of all our suffering.
7:5 For even when we came into Macedonia, our body had no rest at all, but we were troubled in every way—struggles from the outside, fears from within. 7:6 But God, who encourages the downhearted, encouraged us by the arrival of Titus.
7:7 We were encouraged not only by his arrival, but also by the encouragement you gave him, as he reported to us your longing, your mourning, your deep concern for me, so that I rejoiced more than ever.
7:8 For even if I made you sad by my letter, I do not regret having written it (even though I did regret it, for I see that my letter made you sad, though only for a short time).
7:9 Now I rejoice, not because you were made sad, but because you were made sad to the point of repentance. For you were made sad as God intended, so that you were not harmed in any way by us.
7:10 For sadness as intended by God produces a repentance that leads to salvation, leaving no regret, but worldly sadness brings about death.
7:11 For see what this very thing, this sadness as God intended, has produced in you: what eagerness, what defense of yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what deep concern, what punishment! In everything you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.
7:12 So then, even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did wrong, or on account of the one who was wronged, but to reveal to you your eagerness on our behalf before God.
7:13 Therefore we have been encouraged. And in addition to our own encouragement, we rejoiced even more at the joy of Titus, because all of you have refreshed his spirit. 7:14 For if I have boasted to him about anything concerning you, I have not been embarrassed by you, but just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting to Titus about you has proved true as well.
7:15 And his affection for you is much greater when he remembers the obedience of you all, how you welcomed him with fear and trembling. 7:16 I rejoice because in everything I am fully confident in you.
Lord, You convict us of sin, which makes us sad due to the unease of the Holy Spirit within. May I respond with renewed vigor toward righteousness rather than sulking like Cain or Judas or even King David (before he repented because he had a teachable-heart).
Paul issues yet another call to righteous living “… let us cleanse ourselves from everything that could defile the body and spirit, and thus accomplish holiness out of reverence for God.”
He notes that while in Macedonia he was “troubled in every way--struggles from the outside, fears from within” but that the arrival of Titus and word of caring from the fellowship in Corinth encouraged him.
He also notes that his letter of challenge brought them to repentance and therefore led to maturity rather than his fear that it might have caused them to withdraw.
He describes their treatment of Titus “… you have refreshed his spirit”, followed by “… you welcomed him with fear and trembling”, an indication that they were concerned that he would find them to be making an intentional effort to live rightly before God.
Paul’s role model for leaders “… we have wronged no one, we have ruined no one, we have exploited no one.”
What things “…could defile the body and spirit” and how may one may drift into them? How does one avoid and/or escape them?
The is great power for good in the encouragement of fellow believers.
When has a word of rebuke, though hard to hear, helped you to recognize a problem and to move toward repentance?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a fellow believer who needs a word of encouragement.
Today I will encourage a fellow believer. I will also thank a fellow believer who was, in the past, the Lord God’s messenger of rebuke—and as a result I repented and became a more mature believer.
Completing the Collection for the Saints
8:1 Now we make known to you, brothers and sisters, the grace of God given to the churches of Macedonia, 8:2 that during a severe ordeal of suffering, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in the wealth of their generosity. 8:3 For I testify, they gave according to their means and beyond their means. They did so voluntarily, 8:4 begging us with great earnestness for the blessing and fellowship of helping the saints.
8:5 And they did this not just as we had hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and to us by the will of God.
8:6 Thus we urged Titus that, just as he had previously begun this work, so also he should complete this act of kindness for you. 8:7 But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, and in all eagerness and in the love from us that is in you—make sure that you excel in this act of kindness too. 8:8 I am not saying this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love by comparison with the eagerness of others.
8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that although he was rich, he became poor for your sakes, so that you by his poverty could become rich.
8:10 So here is my opinion on this matter: It is to your advantage, since you made a good start last year both in your giving and your desire to give, 8:11 to finish what you started, so that just as you wanted to do it eagerly, you can also complete it according to your means. 8:12 For if the eagerness is present, the gift itself is acceptable according to whatever one has, not according to what he does not have. 8:13 For I do not say this so there would be relief for others and suffering for you, but as a matter of equality.
8:14 At the present time, your abundance will meet their need, so that one day their abundance may also meet your need, and thus there may be equality, 8:15 as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”
The Mission of Titus
8:16 But thanks be to God who put in the heart of Titus the same devotion I have for you, 8:17 because he not only accepted our request, but since he was very eager, he is coming to you of his own accord. 8:18 And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his work in spreading the gospel. 8:19 In addition, this brother has also been chosen by the churches as our traveling companion as we administer this generous gift to the glory of the Lord himself and to show our readiness to help. 8:20 We did this as a precaution so that no one should blame us in regard to this generous gift we are administering.
8:21 For we are concerned about what is right not only before the Lord but also before men.
8:22 And we are sending with them our brother whom we have tested many times and found eager in many matters, but who now is much more eager than ever because of the great confidence he has in you. 8:23 If there is any question about Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; if there is any question about our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, a glory to Christ. 8:24 Therefore show them openly before the churches the proof of your love and of our pride in you.
Preparing the Gift
9:1 For it is not necessary for me to write you about this service to the saints, 9:2 because I know your eagerness to help. I keep boasting to the Macedonians about this eagerness of yours, that Achaia has been ready to give since last year, and your zeal to participate has stirred up most of them. 9:3 But I am sending these brothers so that our boasting about you may not be empty in this case, so that you may be ready just as I kept telling them.
9:4 For if any of the Macedonians should come with me and find that you are not ready to give, we would be humiliated (not to mention you) by this confidence we had in you. 9:5 Therefore I thought it necessary to urge these brothers to go to you in advance and to arrange ahead of time the generous contribution you had promised, so this may be ready as a generous gift and not as something you feel forced to do.
9:6 My point is this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously.
9:7 Each one of you should give just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, because God loves a cheerful giver.
9:8 And God is able to make all grace overflow to you so that because you have enough of everything in every way at all times, you will overflow in every good work. 9:9 Just as it is written, “He has scattered widely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness remains forever.”
9:10 Now God who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your supply of seed and will cause the harvest of your righteousness to grow. 9:11 You will be enriched in every way so that you may be generous on every occasion, which is producing through us thanksgiving to God, 9:12 because the service of this ministry is not only providing for the needs of the saints but is also overflowing with many thanks to God.
9:13 Through the evidence of this service they will glorify God because of your obedience to your confession in the gospel of Christ and the generosity of your sharing with them and with everyone. 9:14 And in their prayers on your behalf they long for you because of the extraordinary grace God has shown to you.
9:15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
Lord, You call upon believers to give from hearts of gratitude and love, not coerced by political or religious leaders. May I be found generous without coercion, seeking-out what are the needs, giving as Your blessing to others from the surplus You have given to me.
Paul reports the generosity of the Macedonian fellowship, even as they were impoverished, and the past generosity of the Corinthian fellowship to the Macedonians. He asks that they “… complete it according to your means”.
One may observe in this chapter the origins of a couple of elements of philosophy in the vernacular of many cultures with a historic awareness of Paul’s writing; “What goes around comes around”, and caring for the poor.
Paul discusses “equity”, not in a political-socialist construct where it is forced upon an unwilling populace by a secular authority, but in a purely voluntary way and for those with whom they shared a Christian faith.
Paul reminds them that today they are generous toward the brothers in Macedonia during their financially troubled times and tomorrow the circumstances may be reversed.
Paul notes that he has delegated oversight of the distribution of their donated funds to someone generally held in high esteem for his independence and integrity so as to prevent any cause for distrust or false accusation that could undermine the primary mission of sharing Christ.
Paul observes that God wants them to give based on a loving response to the observed necessity among their brothers and sisters in Macedonia and not begrudgingly out of an artificial sense of duty so that God may bless them and provide also for them.
A blessing comes to both the giver and the recipient when assistance is provided from a heart of love for brothers and sisters.
In what ways has caring for others, with an expectation of returned-favors distorted Paul’s message, especially in the hands of non-believers and governments?
In what ways may you and your fellowship support believers whom you know to be truly in need as you avoid diverting God’s resources to non-believers and causes that are not of Christ.
When have you given sacrificially to assist a believer, not asking to be recognized and not anticipating any worldly blessing, and God blessed you in some way that was even more than you blessed another.
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a way to bless a fellow believer in need
Today I will assist a fellow-believer, asking for no recognition, seeking no reward. I will pray for them in their need that others will also come alongside.
Paul’s Authority from the Lord
10:1 Now I, Paul, appeal to you personally by the meekness and gentleness of Christ (I who am meek when present among you, but am full of courage toward you when away!)—10:2 now I ask that when I am present I may not have to be bold with the confidence that (I expect) I will dare to use against some who consider us to be behaving according to human standards.
10:3 For though we live as human beings, we do not wage war according to human standards, 10:4 for the weapons of our warfare are not human weapons, but are made powerful by God for tearing down strongholds. We tear down arguments 10:5 and every arrogant obstacle that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to make it obey Christ.
10:6 We are also ready to punish every act of disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.
10:7 You are looking at outward appearances. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should reflect on this again: Just as he himself belongs to Christ, so too do we.
10:8 For if I boast somewhat more about our authority that the Lord gave us for building you up and not for tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of doing so.
10:9 I do not want to seem as though I am trying to terrify you with my letters, 10:10 because some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but his physical presence is weak and his speech is of no account.” 10:11 Let such a person consider this: What we say by letters when we are absent, we also are in actions when we are present.
Paul’s Mission
10:12 For we would not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who recommend themselves. But when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding.
10:13 But we will not boast beyond certain limits, but will confine our boasting according to the limits of the work to which God has appointed us, that reaches even as far as you. 10:14 For we were not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach as far as you, because we were the first to reach as far as you with the gospel about Christ.
10:15 Nor do we boast beyond certain limits in the work done by others, but we hope that as your faith continues to grow, our work may be greatly expanded among you according to our limits, 10:16 so that we may preach the gospel in the regions that lie beyond you, and not boast of work already done in another person’s area.
10:17 But the one who boasts must boast in the Lord. 10:18 For it is not the person who commends himself who is approved, but the person the Lord commends.
Lord, You call for unity and for a process of accountability and discipline among believers in fellowships, and that all is done with the recognition that You are the source of truth and the object of worship. May I encourage unity-in-truth and be unafraid to discipline those who refuse to be accountable, to confess, and to repent of sin.
Paul asked them to recognize that he had been consistent in letters and when physically present—that he had challenged them about the same matters of righteousness—and that he had done so as God has commanded, intentionally avoiding any human-based alterations to His Word.
He explained that those he needed to discipline would only be effectively disciplined when the rest of the fellowship had completed their confession and repentance and were in-agreement with the discipline. [Constable’s Notes from bible.org observes that even today there is little point to a leader attempting discipline of a member of a fellowship unless the fellowship is in-agreement.]
Paul provided a checklist for them to evaluate his methods:
Paul addressed an apparent problem with others who boasted about themselves and who were accountable only to themselves, saying “they are without understanding”.
He notes that within the area of influence assigned by God he had pressed to the edge and prayed that their maturity would result in further growth within that same area.
Paul concluded with a double challenge, that one boast only in the Lord, and that one is only approved by the Lord and never by his own claims about himself.
Paul’s instruction that “… we take every thought captive to make it obey Christ”. Every sin begins with a thought, David on the roof of the castle, Peter reacting fearfully and denying Christ, Ananias and Sapphira lying about their gift to God’s ministry.
In what ways may the Lord God use knowledge of Christ to tear down the strongholds of ignorance and arrogant human wisdom? Perhaps referring to non-Biblical religions, the zealotry of proponents of the theory of evolution, of people in fellowships who value man-made traditions over the truth of God?
There is a perplexing problem when some in leadership are arrogant and boastful yet careless with the Word of God; not only does that cause them to fail those who trust them, it also brings confusion about and shame to the name of Christ.
When have you experienced or observed a situation where a leader’s careful witness of an intentionally righteous life has reinforced their teaching of God’s Word? How that impacted your faith and walk in a positive way?
Ask the Holy Spirit to “shine a light and reveal any dark place” in my life.
Today I will take a hard look at my thought life for any dark places—as the Holy Spirit guides—then I will repent (turn away) from it/them. I will ask a fellow believer to pray in agreement for a fearless look and a courageous response. I share with them my victory through Christ.
Paul and His Opponents
11:1 I wish that you would be patient with me in a little foolishness, but indeed you are being patient with me! 11:2 For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy, because I promised you in marriage to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.
11:3 But I am afraid that just as the serpent deceived Eve by his treachery, your minds may be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
11:4 For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus different from the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit than the one you received, or a different gospel than the one you accepted, you put up with it well enough!
11:5 For I consider myself not at all inferior to those “super-apostles.” 11:6 And even if I am unskilled in speaking, yet I am certainly not so in knowledge. Indeed, we have made this plain to you in everything in every way.
11:7 Or did I commit a sin by humbling myself so that you could be exalted, because I proclaimed the gospel of God to you free of charge? 11:8 I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so that I could serve you! 11:9 When I was with you and was in need, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia fully supplied my needs. I kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so.
11:10 As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be stopped in the regions of Achaia. 11:11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!
11:12 And what I am doing I will continue to do, so that I may eliminate any opportunity for those who want a chance to be regarded as our equals in the things they boast about. 11:13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
11:14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 11:15 Therefore it is not surprising his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will correspond to their actions.
Paul’s Sufferings for Christ
11:16 I say again, let no one think that I am a fool. But if you do, then at least accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little. 11:17 What I am saying with this boastful confidence I do not say the way the Lord would. Instead it is, as it were, foolishness. 11:18 Since many are boasting according to human standards, I too will boast. 11:19 For since you are so wise, you put up with fools gladly.
11:20 For you put up with it if someone makes slaves of you, if someone exploits you, if someone takes advantage of you, if someone behaves arrogantly toward you, if someone strikes you in the face. 11:21 (To my disgrace I must say that we were too weak for that!) But whatever anyone else dares to boast about (I am speaking foolishly), I also dare to boast about the same thing. 11:22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. 11:23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am talking like I am out of my mind!) I am even more so: with much greater labors, with far more imprisonments, with more severe beatings, facing death many times. 11:24 Five times I received from the Jews forty lashes less one. 11:25 Three times I was beaten with a rod. Once I received a stoning. Three times I suffered shipwreck. A night and a day I spent adrift in the open sea. 11:26 I have been on journeys many times, in dangers from rivers, in dangers from robbers, in dangers from my own countrymen, in dangers from Gentiles, in dangers in the city, in dangers in the wilderness, in dangers at sea, in dangers from false brothers, 11:27 in hard work and toil, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, many times without food, in cold and without enough clothing. 11:28 Apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxious concern for all the churches. 11:29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not burn with indignation? 11:30 If I must boast, I will boast about the things that show my weakness.
11:31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is blessed forever, knows I am not lying. 11:32 In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of Damascus in order to arrest me, 11:33 but I was let down in a rope-basket through a window in the city wall, and escaped his hands.
Lord, You gave us life with You in the Garden of Eden—Satan manipulated Eve (then Adam) into destroying that, You gave us Jesus and His saving truth—Satan manipulated many into lying about that to confuse people, and You gave us Your Word so that we could know the difference between truth and lies. May I be a good Berean and, in with the guidance of Your Holy Spirit, check the teaching of everyone against You whole Word.
Paul took on the “false apostles”, sarcastically labeling them “super-apostles”. As he had previously warned them - believers must beware the deception of the Enemy, just as he had deceived Eve.
He noted, as he had previously, the skills of the “super-apostles” at speaking were not matched by their felicity to Christ; he declared that they taught “another Jesus … a different spirit … a different gospel” and he cautioned them to remember that “… even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.”
Paul wondered if maybe not requiring the Corinthians to contribute something to his support may have undermined his credibility with them, or perhaps their need for an investment in his teaching, since the “super-apostles” were accepting support and were being trusted by many. He refused to alter his no-support policy as it was a buffer against efforts to manipulate him.
He listed his many sacrifices for Christ, in order to neutralize the false worldly claims of the false apostles in their deceptive efforts to supplant him.
Paul’s admonition that we beware deceivers and that we ask the Holy Spirit to give us the discernment to root-out the subtle deceptions of smooth-talking leaders whose representation of Christ may be careless or worse.
What are some of the positives and negatives of giving - as it impacts your sense of investment in, and ownership of, the success of God’s ministry?
When has a gifted orator captured your imagination but caused you to accept something you later discovered to be untrue? How might you have better defended yourself against that false teacher or teaching?
When have you experienced a situation where someone who had sacrificed much for the ministry of Christ and was protected from false attack because of their history of faithful service?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a false teachers who needs to be exposed and expelled and a true teachers who needs to be recognized and supported.
Today I will pray for faithful leaders among believers and that the Lord God’s message will be received with new vigor. I will share a word of encouragement with one who has been especially faithful.
Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh
12:1 It is necessary to go on boasting. Though it is not profitable, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 12:2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago (whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows) was caught up to the third heaven. 12:3 And I know that this man (whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows) 12:4 was caught up into paradise and heard things too sacred to be put into words, things that a person is not permitted to speak. 12:5 On behalf of such an individual I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except about my weaknesses.
12:6 For even if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I would be telling the truth, but I refrain from this so that no one may regard me beyond what he sees in me or what he hears from me, 12:7 even because of the extraordinary character of the revelations. Therefore, so that I would not become arrogant, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to trouble me—so that I would not become arrogant. 12:8 I asked the Lord three times about this, that it would depart from me. 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me.
12:10 Therefore I am content with weaknesses, with insults, with troubles, with persecutions and difficulties for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.
The Signs of an Apostle
12:11 I have become a fool. You yourselves forced me to do it, for I should have been commended by you. For I lack nothing in comparison to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.
12:12 Indeed, the signs of an apostle were performed among you with great perseverance by signs and wonders and powerful deeds.
12:13 For how were you treated worse than the other churches, except that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this injustice!
12:14 Look, for the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you, because I do not want your possessions, but you. For children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.
12:15 Now I will most gladly spend and be spent for your lives! If I love you more, am I to be loved less?
12:16 But be that as it may, I have not burdened you. Yet because I was a crafty person, I took you in by deceit!
12:17 I have not taken advantage of you through anyone I have sent to you, have I? 12:18 I urged Titus to visit you and I sent our brother along with him. Titus did not take advantage of you, did he? Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit? Did we not behave in the same way? 12:19 Have you been thinking all this time that we have been defending ourselves to you? We are speaking in Christ before God, and everything we do, dear friends, is to build you up.
12:20 For I am afraid that somehow when I come I will not find you what I wish, and you will find me not what you wish. I am afraid that somehow there may be quarreling, jealousy, intense anger, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.
12:21 I am afraid that when I come again, my God may humiliate me before you, and I will grieve for many of those who previously sinned and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and licentiousness that they have practiced.
Lord, You called and equipped and sent the apostle Paul, yet the Corinthians preferred false teachers. May I always be careful to “test the Spirit” before trusting any leader.
Paul reiterated that his boasting was only in Christ because there is no limit to the sacrifices any true Christian would make for the cause of Jesus.
He testified to the comfort and provision of God to those who trust Him - no matter what.
Paul reminded them in a third-person style that he could boast of having been taken up “to the third heaven” but noted that such would not benefit anyone and so, unlike the super-apostles, he would not.
He shared with them that God had allowed him to suffer “a thorn in the flesh … a messenger of Satan to trouble me--so I would not become arrogant” then shared “I asked the Lord three times about this, that it would depart from me. But He said to me, “My grace is perfect [or perfected] in weakness … Therefore I am content with weaknesses, with insults, with troubles, with persecutions, and difficulties for the sake of Christ”
Paul clarified for them that he had not been defending himself but “… speaking in Christ before God, and everything we do, dear friends is to build you up.”
He expressed a concern that upon his visit there may be disappointment and conflict because they were stuck in their sin, that the Lord God might “humiliate” him in order to teach them, and that it would be his duty to discipline them.
The tension between Paul’s humility before Christ and his need to expose the false teachers though comparison of faith-walk credentials.
Isn’t the challenge of confronting believers who are stuck in sin, with the hope that they will confess and repent, and the fear that they will defend and rebel what causes many in leadership to look the other way—to avoid conflict?
Paul’s "thorn in the flesh from Satan" was not revealed in a specific form of the thorn so would remain a principle, humility, and not a distraction.
When have you experienced a situation where a thorn in your flesh was used by God to keep you from arrogance? Perhaps a visible flaw, a flaw in your speech, a flaw in your ability to master some area of learning, or a limitation on your income.
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a thorn in your flesh, from which I have been pleading with God for relief, but which is your ‘humbleness-thorn’.
Today I will cease asking for relief and will instead thank Him for my ‘humbleness-thorn’. I will share this with a fellow believer.
Paul’s Third Visit to Corinth
13:1 This is the third time I am coming to visit you. By the testimony of two or three witnesses every matter will be established.
13:2 I said before when I was present the second time and now, though absent, I say again to those who sinned previously and to all the rest, that if I come again, I will not spare anyone, 13:3 since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak toward you but is powerful among you.
13:4 For indeed he was crucified by reason of weakness, but he lives because of God’s power. For we also are weak in him, but we will live together with him, because of God’s power toward you.
13:5 Put yourselves to the test to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize regarding yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you—unless, indeed, you fail the test!
13:6 And I hope that you will realize that we have not failed the test! 13:7 Now we pray to God that you may not do anything wrong, not so that we may appear to have passed the test, but so that you may do what is right even if we may appear to have failed the test.
13:8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the sake of the truth.
13:9 For we rejoice whenever we are weak, but you are strong. And we pray for this: that you may become fully qualified.
13:10 Because of this I am writing these things while absent, so that when I arrive I may not have to deal harshly with you by using my authority—the Lord gave it to me for building up, not for tearing down!
Final Exhortations and Greetings
13:11 Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice, set things right, be encouraged, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.
13:12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. 13:13 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
13:14 [[EMPTY]]
Lord, You are the arbiter of good and evil, right and wrong, You bless obedience and withhold blessing for disobedience, You encourage righteousness and punish unrighteousness. May I choose to live a Biblically-disciplined life so that I do not have to be-disciplined by You.
Paul predicted that his third visit would be one in which they would be without excuse and one where “I will not spare anyone since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me.”
He challenged them to test themselves as possessing the presence of God though the Holy Spirit and that His power was visible in their right-living.
Paul warned them to apply what he had told them in his letter and to get themselves right before the Lord God so that when he arrived he would not have to “deal harshly” with them using his “authority” because “… the Lord gave it to me for building up, not tearing down!”
Paul concluded the final chapter of his second letter to the Corinthians with several exhortations and greetings:
And finally a prayer of blessing or “benediction”:
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”
Paul’s desire that his authority from God be used to build up, yet his recognition that it may need to be used as a rod of discipline for the well-being of the fellowship. Discipline is part of the process of discipleship and if we do not discipline ourselves then the Lord God may choose to bring discipline upon us.
Why would those who were under the leadership authority of one called by the Lord God constantly challenge his authority? Did they not understand that the Lord God had empowered Paul to chastise and discipline them as necessary?
Paul’s exhortation was for them to rejoice, to set things right, to be encouraged, to agree with one another, and to live in peace.
Share your heart-reaction to Paul’s closing prayer. Does the Holy Spirit stir your spirit when you read those words?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal, from my words and deeds and heart any evidence that once agreeing to submission to the leader under whose shepherding the Lord God has placed me I am then challenging his authority and/or teaching.
Today, unless I have a Biblical cause to raise such a challenge—and I am doing so respectfully and through the proper Biblical process—I will repent of any form of rebellion and I will seek forgiveness and reconciliation.
All Bible text is from the NET unless otherwise indicated - http://bible.org
Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. Careful attention has been given to cite that source where it has been quoted directly or closely paraphrased. Feedback is encouraged where credit has not been sufficiently assigned.
Note 2: When NET text is quoted in commentary and discussion all pronouns referring to God are capitalized, though they are lower-case in the original NET text.
Commentary text is from David M. Colburn, D.Min. unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2011 by David M. Colburn. This is a BibleSeven Study— “1-2 Corinthians” — prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in December of 2011. This text may be used for non-profit educational purposes only, with credit; all other usage requires prior written consent of the author.