Reference: CORINTHIANS
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EPISTLE 1. This was written by Paul at Ephesus, about A.D. 57, upon the receipt of intelligence respecting the Corinthian church, conveyed by members of the family of Chole, 1Co 1:11, and by a letter from the church requesting advice, 1Co 7:1, probably brought by Stephanus, etc., 1Co 16:17. Certain factions had arisen in the church, using his name and those of Peter, Apollos, and of Christ himself, in bitter partisan contentions. In the first part of this letter he endeavors to restore harmony among them, by reuniting them to the great and sole Head of the church. He then takes occasion to put them on their guard against teachers of false philosophy, and resting their faith on the wisdom of men instead the simple but mighty word of God. He proceeds, in 1Co 5, to reprove them for certain gross immoralities tolerated among them, such as they had formerly practiced like all around them, but which he charges them to banish form the church of Christ. He replies to their queries respecting celibacy and marriage, and the eating of food offered to idols; and meets several errors and sins prevalent in the church by timely instructions as to disputes among brethren, decorum in public assemblies, the Lord's supper, the resurrection of believers, true charity, and the right use of spiritual gifts, in which the Corinthian Christians excelled, but not without a mixture of ostentation and disorder. He directs them as to the best method of Christian beneficence, and closes with friendly greetings.
EPISTLE 2. This was occasioned by intelligence received through Titus, at Philippi. Paul learned of the favor reception of his former letter, and the good effect produced, and yet that a party remained opposed to him-accusing him of fickleness in not fulfilling his promise to visit them; blaming his severity towards the incestuous person; and charging him with an arrogance and assumption unsuited to his true authority and his personal appearance. In the course of his reply he answers all these objections; he enlarges upon the excellence of the new covenant, and the duties and rewards of its ministers, and on the duty of the Corinthian Christians as to charitable collections. He then vindicates his own course, his dignity and authority as an apostle, against those who assailed him. His last words invite them to penitence, peace, and brotherly love. This epistle seems to have been written soon after the first.
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The house of Chloe told me, my brothers, that there are disputes among you.
Concerning the things that you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch (have sex with) a woman.
I am glad of the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus. For they have supplied what was lacking on your part.
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CORINTHIANS, Epistles to. St. Paul left Corinth A.D. 53 or 54, and went to Jerusalem. From Ephesus he wrote his First Epistle to the Corinthians, in the beginning of A.D. 56. In this epistle he reproves some who disturbed the peace of the church, complains of some disorders in their assemblies, of law suits among them, and of a Christian who had committed incest with his mother-in-law, the wife of his father, and had not been separated from the church. This letter produced in the Corinthians great grief, vigilance against the vices reproved, and a very beneficial dread of God's anger. They repaired the scandal, and expressed abundant zeal against the crime committed, 2Co 7:9-11.
To form an idea of the condition of the Corinthian church, we must examine the epistles of the Apostle. The different factions into which they were divided, exalted above all others the chiefs, ???? ???? ???? ?????????? [the very chiefest Apostles,] 2Co 11:5; 12:11, whose notions they adopted, and whose doctrines they professed to follow, and attempted to depreciate those of the opposite party. While, then, some called themselves disciples of Paul, Cephas, or Apollos, others assumed the splendid appellation of Christ's party. Probably they affected to be the followers of James, the brother of our Lord, and thought thus to enter into a nearer discipleship with Jesus than the other parties. The controversy, as we shall see from the whole, related to the obligation of Judaism. The advocates of it had appealed, even in Galatia, to Cephas and James, for the sake of opposing to Paul, who had banished Jewish ceremonies from Christianity, authorities which were not less admitted than his own. The question itself divided all these various parties into two principal factions: the partisans of Cephas and James were for the law; the friends of Paul adopted his opinion, as well as Apollos, who, with his adherents, was always in heart in favour of Paul, and never wished to take a part in a separation from him, 1Co 16:12. The leaders of the party against Paul, these ?????????????, [false apostles,] as Paul calls them, and ?????????????????? ??? ?????????? ???????, [transformers of themselves into the apostles of Christ,] who declared themselves the promulgators and defenders of the doctrines of Cephas, and James, were, as may be easily conceived, converted Jews, 2Co 11:22, who had come from different places,
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Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the good news: not with wisdom of words, lest the stake of Christ be emptied of its effect.
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God. This is so we might know the things that are freely given to us from God.
If you have a dispute with another [Christian] do you dare to go to a law court before judges who are ungodly? Why not let the holy ones decide who is right?
Concerning the things that you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch (have sex with) a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. read more. Let the husband fulfill his marital duties to his wife and also the wife to her husband.
Let the husband fulfill his marital duties to his wife and also the wife to her husband. The wife has no authority over her own body, but her husband does. Likewise also the husband has no authority over his own body, but his wife does.
The wife has no authority over her own body, but her husband does. Likewise also the husband has no authority over his own body, but his wife does. Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent for a time. That way you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer. Then come together again, that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent for a time. That way you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer. Then come together again, that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. But I speak this by concession and not by commandment. read more. I prefer that all men were as I am. But every man has his proper gift from God, one after this manner, and another after that.
I prefer that all men were as I am. But every man has his proper gift from God, one after this manner, and another after that. I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, it is good for them if they stay unmarried like me.
I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, it is good for them if they stay unmarried like me. But if they cannot control themselves, let them marry. It is better to marry than to be inflamed [with lust]. read more. To the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord commands do not let the wife depart from her husband. If she leaves, let her remain unmarried or become reconciled to her husband. A husband should not divorce his wife. To the others, I speak and not the Lord. If any brother has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him he should not divorce her. And the woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he is willing to live with her, she should not divorce him. For the wife sanctifies the unbelieving husband, and the husband sanctifies the unbelieving wife. Otherwise your children would be unclean. But now they are holy. If the unbelieving leave, let him leave. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases for God has called us to peace. Wife how do you know that you will save your husband? Husband how do you know whether you will save your wife? But as God has distributed to every person so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the congregations. Is any man called being circumcised? He should not become uncircumcised. Is any called who is not circumcised? He should not be circumcised.
Is any man called being circumcised? He should not become uncircumcised. Is any called who is not circumcised? He should not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing. Obey the commandments of God. read more. Each man should remain in the same condition in which he was called. Were you called being a slave? Do not let it worry you. But if you can become free, do so. He who is called in the Lord, being a slave, is the Lord's freeman. Likewise also he who is called, being free, is Christ's slave. You are bought with a price. Stop being slaves of men. Brothers, let every man remain in the condition in which he was called. Abide with God. Now concerning virgins I have no commandment from the Lord. Yet I give my opinion as one who has obtained the mercy of the Lord to be faithful.
Concerning things offered to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
If any man with knowledge sees you having a meal from an idol's temple, will the conscience of the weak one be emboldened (encouraged) to eat food offered to idols?
But I say, that the things that the nations sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God. I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. You cannot drink the cup of Jehovah and the cup of demons. You cannot be partakers of the Jehovah's Table and of the table of demons. (Malachi 1:12)
Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without asking questions for the sake of conscience.
But if any man says to you: This is offered in sacrifice to idols, do not eat for the sake of the one who said it and for conscience sake.
But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head. She is the same as if she had her head shaved. For if the woman were not covered, let her also be shaved. But if it is a shame for a woman to have her head shaved, let her be covered.
That is why the woman should have a sign of authority on her head because of the angels.
Now in this that I declare to you that I do not praise you. For you come together not for the better but for the worse.
Let women keep silent in the congregations. They are not permitted to speak. They must be in submission as it says in the law.
He was seen by Peter and then by the twelve apostles.
Then he was seen by James, and then by all the apostles.
But someone will say: How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?
Concerning our brother Apollos, I greatly desired him to come to you with the brothers but his will was not at all to come at this time. He will come when he has a convenient time.
I now rejoice, not because you were made sorry, but that you were made sorry to repentance; for you were made sorry after a godly fashion, that you might not suffer loss by us. For godly sorrow works repentance leading to salvation. This is a repentance that brings no regret: but the sorrow of the world works death. read more. This very thing that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it made in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, yes what vindication! You demonstrated yourself to innocent in the matter.
If someone comes and preaches another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or if you receive a different spirit, which you did not receive, or a different good news, which you did not accept, you do well to put up with him. For I do not consider myself inferior to the super apostles.
Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I!
I have become a fool in boasting. You have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended about you: for in nothing am I inferior to the most prominent apostles, though I am nothing.