I Corinthians 1
From Theologica
Contents |
Overview
Introduction (1:1-9)
Salutation and description of the writer and readers (1:1-3)
1:1 - Author and Authority
Paul, called as an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God and Sosthenes our brother
Observation
- First we see that the letter claims Paul as its author.
- We also see that Paul is laying claim the title of Apostle of Jesus Christ; he furthermore claims that the title was given to him by the will of God.
- Paul was called as an apostle (Acts 9), he did not request it; he did not seek it out.
- Sosthenes was with Paul as of the writing. Possibly acting as Paul's hands for writing.
- Sosthenes is only mentioned in this verse and in Acts 18:17
Interpretation
Application
1:2 - To whom it may concern
To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:
Observation
- The letter is being sent to the church in Corinth.
- Paul further specifies 1) "the church of God" and 2) "those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus", 3) "saints by calling"
- Specific focus is given to this
- Paul further specifies 1) "the church of God" and 2) "those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus", 3) "saints by calling"
- Attention is given to the unity of the church by the inclusion of the phrase "with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours."
Interpretation
- Are those who have not been sanctified not being written to?
- That seems to be the case since this letter concerns the conduct of the local church; not evangelism.
- I think the emphasis however is not to single a group out, but rather show that the group at Corinth is one with the universal church.
- Paul emphasizes unity early on. This will be a theme throughout.
Application
1:3 - Heavenly Salutations
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Observation
- Not only Does Paul claim authority to write this letter, but he is claiming that God is extending the Corinthians greetings through this letter.
- Not just greetings, but both grace (or favor) and peace
Interpretation
- In this verse, Paul is saying that this letter is divinely inspired.
- This is reason to consider this book for canonization.
- Having in mind that the church in Corinth has a lot of issues it is comforting to know that God still extends His grace and peace to them.
Application
- I Corinthians is an inspired book of the Bible
- God most likely is extending His peace and grace to my church in spite of its imperfections and lack of unity.
Thanksgiving for the effects of God’s grace (1:4-9)
1:4 - Continual Thanks
I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus,
Observation
- Paul was continually thankful for the Corinthians
- For their salvation
Interpretation Application
- We should be thankful for the salvation of others
- Praise for what we are thankful for should be a continuing process
1:5 -
Observation
Interpretation
Application
Divisions in the Church (1:10-4:21
1:17
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void.
Observation
- Why was Paul sent to Corinth?
* Not to baptize, but to preach the gospel
- How was he to do it (ie preach the gospel)
* Not in cleverness of speech * Why? * So that he would not nullify the power of the cross
- Paul was focused on what his purpose was.
+++ Questions:
- What is the gospel?
- How does cleverness of speech interfere with the gospel?
* see I Cor 2:1-2,4 * rhetorical tricks * additional promises (everything will be better, money, etc.) * anything you say outside of truth (charm persuasion)
++ 1:18
> For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
+++ Observation:
- The unsaved
* see the gospel as foolishness * and yet we are to proclaim it to them?
- The saved
* see the cross as the power of God
> A Greek philosopher named Heraclitus first used the term Logos around 600 B.C. to designate the divine reason or plan which coordinates a changing universe. This word was well suited to John’s purpose in John 1. +++ Questions:
- Why would they see the cross as foolishness?
* miracles (healing, resurrection, etc.) are "impossible" * we have to do something (i.e. some work) to be good * The worst criminals shouldn't be forgiven while the best can still go to Hell
- Why do we see it (the cross) as the power of God?
* display of all of His perfections * our salvation * conquering of death and sin and Satan * fulfillment of 4,000 years of prophecy
- How did the Roman world view the cross?
++ 1:19 > For it is written, > “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, > And the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.” +++ Observation:
- Quoting [[[Isaiah]]] 29:14 -
> And the wisdom of their wise men will perish, > And the discernment of their discerning men will be concealed
+++ Questions: ? How does God destroy "Wisdom" and "cleverness"?
- With truth
- By allowing earthly wisdom to show it has no foundation and no answers
* Think enlightenment * Think about how the enlightenment and the reformation diverged
- By allowing to to display its ever-changing nature
* the 'sciences' continually reevaluate their truths * They don't want to believe, so they will cling to their 'wisdom', regardless of the truth show them.
++ 1:20 > Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? +++ Observation:
- Where are the wise?
- They have shown themselves to be anything but
- Our knowledge is continually being undercut and reestablished with new philosophies/theories
- We have been show time and again that our theories are wrong, but still we cling to them
* evolution, big bang, etc.
- We choose to be fools
++ 1:21 > For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. +++ Observation:
- Conclusion of the 1:18-21 argument
- The //arche// - without it all is relative
- Through the world's wisdom, excluding God, it cannot find the //arche//
* Modern science tries to understand things from a strictly natural context. At the outset they disallow anything which is supernatural. Therefore, will can never come to the conclusion that God exists, because He has been eliminated as even a possibility
- God designed it that way (see questions)
- The foolishness of the message (lit. preaching) preached
* has nothing to do with preaching
* What is the preaching/message preached?
* The gospel ("We preach Christ crucified...")
- God was pleased to save those who believe His "foolish" message?
+++ Questions:
- Why would God design the world in such a way that it could not come to know Him from a purely natural starting point?
- Why was God pleased to save those who believe His "foolish" message?
++ 1:22 > For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; +++ Observation:
- Jews ask for signs (lit. attesting miracles)
> But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet; (Matthew 12:39)
- Greeks search for wisdom
- This is what they are doing. Jews were/are looking for spiritual proof and gentiles were/are looking for wisdom
* But the answer which God gave them was not satisfactory to them * The Jews were looking for something else, not a suffering servant * The gentiles are looking for wisdom, but the resurrection of a man defies wisdom * God answered their questions, but they didn't want to hear it
++ 1:23 > but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, +++ Observation:
- Our message: "Christ crucified"
* That's it. * No need for "cleverness of speech." see v1:17
- A stumbling block for Jews. Why?
* They were/are waiting for something other than a suffering servant * political, earthly leader * Looking for an answer through the law, * regardless of being the chosen people, they are still subject to the same fallenness as the rest of us. * Didn't want to give up on the system already in place. (think Nicodemus)
- Foolishness to gentiles
* Romans saw Christianity as being equivelant to atheism (it's a new religion) * Is it that gentiles could not believe in a resurrection? * Crucifixion was reserved for the worst of criminals. * Did they then think Jesus a criminal?
+++ Questions:
- How is/was the gospel foolishness to gentiles?
- How is/was the gospel a stumbling block to Jews?
++ 1:24 > but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. +++ Observation:
- 1:23 and 1:24 seem to be an expansion upon 1:18
- Also brings to mind the difference between the spiritual and fleshly minds in Romans 8:5-8.
> For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. --Romans 8:5-8
- Only to the called does the gospel make sense.
- Who are the called?
* Those who believe in God (Rom 8:28)
+++ Quesitons:
- How is Christ the power of God?
* Rom 1:16 says the gospel is the power of God. How is it? * * "power is perfected in weakness" (II Cor 12:9) * "...that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil," (Heb 2:14)
- How is Christ the wisdom of God?
++ 1:25 > Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. +++ Observation:
- God is not foolish in any sense of the word. He makes no mistakes. He is infinitely wise and intelligent.
* How then can Paul speek of the "foolishness of God"? * Answer: hyperbole. Used for the purpose of highlighting man's own foolishness and inability to understand God.
- The same is true of God's "weakness"
+++ Questions:
