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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While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions and came to Ephesus. He found some disciples
And this went on for two years, so that all the inhabitants of the province of Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of the Lord.
Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for three years I did not stop warning each one of you with tears.
For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers, by members of Chloe's household, that there are quarrels among you.
I will come to you after I pass through Macedonia-for I will be traveling through Macedonia-
I am delighted over the presence of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, because these men have made up for your absence.
For out of an extremely troubled and anguished heart I wrote to you with many tears-not that you should be hurt, but that you should know the abundant love I have for you.
I had no rest in my spirit because I did not find my brother Titus, but I said good-bye to them and left for Macedonia.
So we urged Titus that, just as he had begun, so he should also complete this grace to you.
Thanks be to God who put the same diligence for you into the heart of Titus. For he accepted our urging and, being very diligent, went out to you by his own choice. read more. With him we have sent the brother who is praised throughout the churches for his gospel ministry.
Hastings
CORINTHIANS, FIRST EPISTLE TO THE
1. Occasion of the Epistle.
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They trample the heads of the poor on the dust of the ground and block the path of the needy. A man and his father have sexual relations with the same girl, profaning My holy name.
But everyone who hears these words of Mine and doesn't act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.
because He was teaching them like one who had authority, and not like their scribes.
"I assure you: Among those born of women no one greater than John the Baptist has appeared, but the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
But He told them, "Not everyone can accept this saying, but only those it has been given to.
When they had appointed elders in every church and prayed with fasting, they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
that you abstain from food offered to idols, from blood, from eating anything that has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these things, you will do well. Farewell.
A woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God, was listening. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was spoken by Paul.
When Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with preaching the message and solemnly testified to the Jews that the Messiah is Jesus.
Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed the Lord, along with his whole household; and many of the Corinthians, when they heard, believed and were baptized.
Then they all seized Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the judge's bench. But none of these things concerned Gallio.
A Jew named Apollos, a native Alexandrian, an eloquent man who was powerful in the Scriptures, arrived in Ephesus.
and stayed three months. When he was about to set sail for Syria, a plot was devised against him by the Jews, so a decision was made to go back through Macedonia.
and stayed three months. When he was about to set sail for Syria, a plot was devised against him by the Jews, so a decision was made to go back through Macedonia.
but we sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread. In five days we reached them at Troas, where we spent seven days.
Now from Miletus, he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church.
This man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.
What should we say then? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may multiply?
For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one.
Timothy, my co-worker, and Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my fellow countrymen, greet you.
For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers, by members of Chloe's household, that there are quarrels among you. What I am saying is this: each of you says, "I'm with Paul," or "I'm with Apollos," or "I'm with Cephas," or "I'm with Christ."
What I am saying is this: each of you says, "I'm with Paul," or "I'm with Apollos," or "I'm with Cephas," or "I'm with Christ." Is Christ divided? Was it Paul who was crucified for you? Or were you baptized in Paul's name?
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel-not with clever words, so that the cross of Christ will not be emptied [of its effect].
Where is the philosopher? Where is the scholar? Where is the debater of this age? Hasn't God made the world's wisdom foolish?
Where is the philosopher? Where is the scholar? Where is the debater of this age? Hasn't God made the world's wisdom foolish?
but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles.
but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles.
Brothers, consider your calling: not many are wise from a human perspective, not many powerful, not many of noble birth.
When I came to you, brothers, announcing the testimony of God to you, I did not come with brilliance of speech or wisdom.
However, among the mature we do speak a wisdom, but not a wisdom of this age, or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.
We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people.
and you belong to Christ, and Christ to God.
Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the saying: "Nothing beyond what is written." The purpose is that none of you will be inflated with pride in favor of one person over another.
when we are slandered, we entreat. We are, even now, like the world's garbage, like the filth of all things.
turn that one over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the Day of the Lord.
I wrote to you in a letter not to associate with sexually immoral people- by no means referring to this world's immoral people, or to the greedy and swindlers, or to idolaters; otherwise you would have to leave the world.
For what is it to me to judge outsiders? Do you not judge those who are inside?
Does any of you who has a complaint against someone dare go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest cases?
Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest cases? Do you not know that we will judge angels-not to speak of things pertaining to this life? read more. So if you have cases pertaining to this life, do you select those who have no standing in the church to judge? I say this to your shame! Can it be that there is not one wise person among you who will be able to arbitrate between his brothers? Instead, brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers! Therefore, it is already a total defeat for you that you have lawsuits against one another. Why not rather put up with injustice? Why not rather be cheated? Instead, you act unjustly and cheat-and this to brothers!
Some of you were like this; 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. "Everything is permissible for me," but not everything is helpful. "Everything is permissible for me," but I will not be brought under the control of anything.
"Everything is permissible for me," but not everything is helpful. "Everything is permissible for me," but I will not be brought under the control of anything. "Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods," but God will do away with both of them. The body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. read more. God raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power. Do you not know that your bodies are the members of Christ? So should I take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Absolutely not!
Do you not know that your bodies are the members of Christ? So should I take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Absolutely not! Do you not know that anyone joined to a prostitute is one body with her? For it says, The two will become one flesh. read more. But anyone joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. Flee from sexual immorality! "Every sin a person can commit is outside the body," but the person who is sexually immoral sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body.
About the things you wrote: "It is good for a man not to have relations with a woman."
I command the married-not I, but the Lord-a wife is not to leave her husband.
About virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I do give an opinion as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy.
But she is happier if she remains as she is, in my opinion. And I think that I also have the Spirit of God.
About food offered to idols: We know that "we all have knowledge." Knowledge inflates with pride, but love builds up.
For if somebody sees you, the one who has this knowledge, dining in an idol's temple, won't his weak conscience be encouraged to eat food offered to idols? Then the weak person, the brother for whom Christ died, is ruined by your knowledge. read more. Now when you sin like this against the brothers and wound their weak conscience, you are sinning against Christ. Therefore, if food causes my brother to fall, I will never again eat meat, so that I won't cause my brother to fall.
Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?
Don't we have the right to be accompanied by a Christian wife, like the other apostles, the Lord's brothers, and Cephas?
Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its fruit? Or who shepherds a flock and does not drink the milk from the flock?
If others share this authority over you, don't we even more? However, we have not used this authority; instead we endure everything so that we will not hinder the gospel of Christ.
In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should earn their living by the gospel.
What then is my reward? To preach the gospel and offer it free of charge, and not make full use of my authority in the gospel.
Do you not know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.
Now I want you to know, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, all passed through the sea,
and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from a spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ.
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape, so that you are able to bear it. Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.
Be imitators of me, as I also am of Christ.
Be imitators of me, as I also am of Christ. Now I praise you because you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you.
But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since that is one and the same as having her head shaved.
This is why a woman should have [a symbol of] authority on her head: because of the angels.
Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not really to eat the Lord's Supper.
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: on the night when He was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread,
You know how, when you were pagans, you were led to dumb idols-being led astray.
And God has placed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, next, miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, managing, various kinds of languages.
the women should be silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak, but should be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, they should ask their own husbands at home, for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church meeting.
But everything must be done decently and in order.
that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
Now if Christ is preached as raised from the dead, how can some of you say, "There is no resurrection of the dead"?
Now about the collection for the saints: you should do the same as I instructed the Galatian churches.
and perhaps I will remain with you, or even spend the winter, that you may send me on my way wherever I go.
In this confidence, I planned to come to you first, so you could have a double benefit,
I call on God as a witness against me: it was to spare you that I did not come to Corinth.
But their minds were closed. For to this day, at the reading of the old covenant, the same veil remains; it is not lifted, because it is set aside [only] in Christ.
So even though I wrote to you, it was not because of the one who did wrong, or because of the one who was wronged, but in order that your diligence for us might be made plain to you in the sight of God.
Now I am giving an opinion on this because it is profitable for you, who a year ago began not only to do something but also to desire it.
For I know your eagerness, and I brag about you to the Macedonians: "Achaia has been prepared since last year," and your zeal has stirred up most of them.
Look at what is obvious. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should remind himself of this: just as he belongs to Christ, so do we.
This is the third time I am coming to you. On the testimony of two or three witnesses every word will be confirmed.
for the husband is head of the wife as also Christ is head of the church. He is the Savior of the body.
for the husband is head of the wife as also Christ is head of the church. He is the Savior of the body.
Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus: To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons.
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God's will, and Timothy our brother:
So we wanted to come to you-even I, Paul, time and again-but Satan hindered us.
Hymenaeus and Alexander are among them, and I have delivered them to Satan, so that they may be taught not to blaspheme.
I do not allow a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; instead, she is to be silent.
They have deviated from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and are overturning 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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After this, he left from Athens and went to Corinth,
And he stayed there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions and came to Ephesus. He found some disciples
And this went on for two years, so that all the inhabitants of the province of Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of the Lord.
Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for three years I did not stop warning each one of you with tears.
Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, in order to know what has been freely given to us by God.
I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.