Reference: Corinthians, First Epistle To The
Easton
was written from Ephesus (1Co 16:8) about the time of the Passover in the third year of the apostle's sojourn there (Ac 19:10; 20:31), and when he had formed the purpose to visit Macedonia, and then return to Corinth (probably A.D. 57).
The news which had reached him, however, from Corinth frustrated his plan. He had heard of the abuses and contentions that had arisen among them, first from Apollos (Ac 19:1), and then from a letter they had written him on the subject, and also from some of the "household of Chloe," and from Stephanas and his two friends who had visited him (1Co 1:11; 16:17). Paul thereupon wrote this letter, for the purpose of checking the factious spirit and correcting the erroneous opinions that had sprung up among them, and remedying the many abuses and disorderly practices that prevailed. Titus and a brother whose name is not given were probably the bearers of the letter (2Co 2:13; 8:6,16-18).
The epistle may be divided into four parts:
(1.) The apostle deals with the subject of the lamentable divisions and party strifes that had arisen among them (1-4).
(2.) He next treats of certain cases of immorality that had become notorious among them. They had apparently set at nought the very first principles of morality (5; 6).
(3.) In the third part he discusses various questions of doctrine and of Christian ethics in reply to certain communications they had made to him. He especially rectifies certain flagrant abuses regarding the celebration of the Lord's supper (7-14).
(4.) The concluding part (15; 16) contains an elaborate defense of the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead, which had been called in question by some among them, followed by some general instructions, intimations, and greetings.
This epistle "shows the powerful self-control of the apostle in spite of his physical weakness, his distressed circumstances, his incessant troubles, and his emotional nature. It was written, he tells us, in bitter anguish, 'out of much affliction and pressure of heart...and with streaming eyes' (2Co 2:4); yet he restrained the expression of his feelings, and wrote with a dignity and holy calm which he thought most calculated to win back his erring children. It gives a vivid picture of the early church...It entirely dissipates the dream that the apostolic church was in an exceptional condition of holiness of life or purity of doctrine." The apostle in this epistle unfolds and applies great principles fitted to guide the church of all ages in dealing with the same and kindred evils in whatever form they may appear.
This is one of the epistles the authenticity of which has never been called in question by critics of any school, so many and so conclusive are the evidences of its Pauline origin.
The subscription to this epistle states erroneously in the Authorized Version that it was written at Philippi. This error arose from a mistranslation of 1Co 16:5, "For I do pass through Macedonia," which was interpreted as meaning, "I am passing through Macedonia." In 1Co 16:8 he declares his intention of remaining some time longer in Ephesus. After that, his purpose is to "pass through Macedonia."
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And it happened in the time Apollos was at Corinth, Paul was passing through the higher parts to Ephesus. And finding certain disciples,
And this happened over two years, so that all those living in Asia heard the Word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
Therefore watch and remember that for the time of three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.
For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brothers, by those of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
But I will come to you when I pass through Macedonia; for I am going through Macedonia.
I am glad at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus; for these supplied your lack.
For out of much trouble and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have more abundantly to you.
I had no rest in my spirit because I did not find Titus my brother. But taking my leave of them, I went from there into Macedonia.
for us to call on Titus, that even as he began before, so he would also complete this grace to you also.
But thanks be to God, who put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you. For indeed he accepted the entreaty. But being more earnest, of his own accord he went to you. read more. And we have sent with him the brothers whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;
Hastings
CORINTHIANS, FIRST EPISTLE TO THE
1. Occasion of the Epistle.
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panting after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor, and turning aside the way of the meek. And a man and his father will go in to the same woman, to defile My holy name.
And everyone who hears these sayings of Mine and does not do them shall be compared to a foolish man who built his house on the sand.
For He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Truly I say to you, Among those who have been born of women there has not risen a greater one than John the Baptist. But the least in the kingdom of Heaven is greater than he.
But He said to them, Not all receive this word, except those to whom it is given.
And having hand-picked elders for them in every church, and had prayed with fastings, they commended them to the Lord into whom they believed.
that you abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which, if you keep yourselves, you shall do well. Be prospered.
And a certain woman named Lydia heard us, a seller of purple of the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God; whose heart the Lord opened, so that she attended to the things which were spoken by Paul.
And when Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.
And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house. And hearing this, many of the Corinthians believed and were baptized.
And all the Greeks seized Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio did not care for any of these things.
And a certain Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus.
And spending three months there, there being a plot against him by the Jews, being about to sail into Syria, he proposed to return through Macedonia.
And spending three months there, there being a plot against him by the Jews, being about to sail into Syria, he proposed to return through Macedonia.
And after the days of Unleavened Bread, we sailed away from Philippi and came to them at Troas in five days, where we stayed seven days.
And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church.
And there were four virgin daughters to this one, who prophesied.
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin so that grace may abound?
For I say, through the grace given to me, to every one who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think. But set your mind to be right-minded, even as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Timothy my fellow worker, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater my kinsmen, greet you.
For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brothers, by those of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. But I say this, that every one of you says, I am of Paul, and I of Apollos, and I of Cephas, and I of Christ.
But I say this, that every one of you says, I am of Paul, and I of Apollos, and I of Cephas, and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you, or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel; not in wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.
Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the lawyer of this world? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the lawyer of this world? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block, and to the Greeks foolishness.
but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block, and to the Greeks foolishness.
For you see your calling, brothers, that not many wise men according to the flesh are called, not many mighty, not many noble.
And I, brothers, when I came to you, did not come with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring to you the testimony of God.
But, we speak wisdom among those who are perfect; yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, that come to nothing.
These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.
And these things, brothers, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that you might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, so that no one of you may be puffed up against one another.
being defamed, we entreat. We are made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.
to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
I wrote to you in the letter not to associate intimately with fornicators; yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then you must go out of the world.
For what is it to me to also judge those who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside?
Do any of you dare, when you have a matter against another, to go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? Do you not know that the saints shall judge the world? And if the world shall be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
Do you not know that the saints shall judge the world? And if the world shall be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels, not to mention the things of this life? read more. If, then, you truly have judgments of the things of this life, set those who are least esteemed in the church to judge. For I speak to your shame. Is it so that there is not a wise one among you, not even one in your midst who shall be able to judge between his brother? But brother goes to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. Indeed then there is already on the whole a failure among you, that you have lawsuits with yourselves. Why not instead be wronged? Why not instead be defrauded? But you do wrong and defraud, and these things to brothers.
And such were some of you. But you are washed, but you are sanctified, but you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. All things are lawful to me, but not all things profit. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
All things are lawful to me, but not all things profit. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. Meats for the belly and the belly for meats, but God shall destroy both it and them. But the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord is for the body. read more. And God has both raised up the Lord, and also will raise us up by His own power. Do you not know that your bodies are the members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them the members of a harlot? Let it not be!
Do you not know that your bodies are the members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them the members of a harlot? Let it not be! Or do you not know that he being joined to a harlot is one body? For He says, The two shall be one flesh. read more. But he being joined to the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits fornication sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit in you, whom you have of God? And you are not your own, for you are bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.
Now concerning what you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
And to the married I command (not I, but the Lord), a woman not to be separated from her husband.
But concerning virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord. Yet I give my judgment, as one who has obtained mercy from the Lord to be faithful.
But she is happier if she so remains, according to my judgment. And I also think that I have the Spirit of God.
But concerning the sacrifices to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.
For if anyone sees you who have knowledge sitting in an idol temple, will not the weak one's conscience be lifted up so as to eat things sacrificed to idols? And on your knowledge the weak brother will fall, he for whom Christ died. read more. And sinning in this way against your brothers, and wounding their conscience, being weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food offends my brother, I will eat no flesh forever, that I do not offend my brother.
Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?
Do we not have authority to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brothers of the Lord do, and Cephas?
Who serves as a soldier at his own wages at any time? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who feeds a flock and does not partake of the milk of the flock?
If others have a share of this authority over you, rather should not we? But we have not used this authority, but we endured all things lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.
Even so, the Lord ordained those announcing the gospel to live from the gospel.
What then is my reward? That when I preach the gospel I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel.
Do you not know that those running in a race all run, but one receives the prize? So run, that you may obtain.
And, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea.
and all drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank of the spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.
No temptation has taken you but what is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but with the temptation also will make a way to escape, so that you may be able to bear it. Therefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
Be imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ.
Be imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ. But I praise you, brothers, that you remember me in all things, and you keep the doctrines as I delivered them to you.
But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled dishonors her head; for that is even the same as if she were shaved.
For this reason the woman ought to have authority on her head because of the angels.
Therefore when you come together into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper.
For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which he was betrayed took bread;
You know that being led away, you nations were led to dumb idols.
And God set some in the church, firstly, apostles; secondly, prophets; thirdly, teachers, then works of power, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, kinds of languages.
Let your women be silent in the churches; for it is not permitted to them to speak, but to be in subjection, as the Law also says. And if they desire to learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home; for it is a shame for a woman to speak in a church.
Let all things be done decently and in order.
and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures;
But if Christ is proclaimed, that He was raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
And concerning the collection for the saints, as I charged the churches of Galatia, so also you do.
And it may be that I will stay with you, and even spend the winter with you, so that you may set me forward wherever I go.
And in this confidence I intended to come to you before, so that you might have a second benefit,
And I call God as witness to my soul that in order to spare you I have not yet come to Corinth.
(But their thoughts were blinded; for until the present the same veil remains on the reading of the old covenant, not taken away.) But this veil has been done away in Christ.
Then, though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did wrong, nor on account of the one who suffered wrong, but for the sake of revealing our earnestness on your behalf, for you before God.
And in this I give my judgment; for this is profitable for you, who began before, not only to do, but also to be willing a year ago.
For I know your eagerness, of which I boast to Macedonia on your behalf, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal has aroused the greater number.
Do you look at things according to appearance? If anyone has persuaded himself that he is Christ's, let him think this again as to himself, that as he is Christ's, even so we are Christ's.
I am coming to you this third time. In the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.
For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.
For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.
Paul and Timothy, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons.
Therefore we desired to come to you, truly I, Paul, both once and twice; but Satan hindered us.
Among these are Hymeneus and Alexander, whom I have delivered to Satan so that they may learn not to blaspheme.
But I do not allow a woman to teach, or to exercise authority over a man, but to be in silence.
who have erred concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past, and who overthrow the faith of some.
Smith
Corinth'ians, First Epistle to the,
was written by the apostle St. Paul toward the close of his nearly three-years stay at Ephesus,
which, we learn from
probably terminated with the Pentecost of A.D. 57 or 58. The bearers were probably (according to the common subscription) Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus. It appears to have been called forth by the information the apostles had received of dissension in the Corinthian church, which may be thus explained: --The Corinthian church was planted by the apostle himself,
in his second missionary journey.
seq. He abode in the city a year and a half.
A short time after the apostle had left the city the eloquent Jew of Alexandria, Apollos, went to Corinth,
and gained many followers, dividing the church into two parties, the followers of Paul and the followers of Apollos. Later on Judaizing teachers from Jerusalem preached the gospel in a spirit of direct antagonism to St. Paul personally. To this third party we may perhaps add a fourth, that, under the name of "the followers of Christ,"
sought at first to separate themselves from the factious adherence to particular teachers, but eventually were driven by antagonism into positions equally sectarian and inimical to the unity of the church. At this momentous period, before parties had become consolidated and that distinctly withdrawn from communion with one another, the apostle writes; and in the outset of the epistle, 1Cor 1-4:21, we have this noble and impassioned protest against this fourfold rending of the robe of Christ.
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And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the Word of God among them.
And it happened in the time Apollos was at Corinth, Paul was passing through the higher parts to Ephesus. And finding certain disciples,
And this happened over two years, so that all those living in Asia heard the Word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
Therefore watch and remember that for the time of three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.
But we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit from God, so that we might know the things that are freely given to us by God.
I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.