1 Corinthians— Church Conduct
02.22.23
Let all things be done decently and in order. (1 Corinthians 14:40)
First Corinthians is the longest of Paul’s epistles and is an important book because it emphasizes order in the church. It is also a book of reproof.
Paul wrote to correct some problems and answer questions. It appears from the book of Acts that most of Paul’s converts in Corinth were Gentiles, with few Jews heeding the gospel.
The city of Corinth was a center for three things. First, trade—it was a bustling Grecian port city. Second, athletics—it had a great outdoor theatre with athletic games second only to the Greek Olympics. Third, idolatry—it possessed the great temple of Aphrodite with its temple prostitutes.
The church at Corinth was founded by Paul on his second missionary journey [Acts 18]. He lived with Priscilla and Aquila who were of the same trade, tentmakers. Though he faced many difficulties, Paul remained in the city for eighteen months. Apollos also ministered to the city. He was a great Christian Jewish orator who captured their imagination.
Unfortunately the church had many problems. There were two in particular: immorality, and divisions. The moral climate of Corinth had crept into the church. People divided their allegiance between Paul, Peter and Apollos. People criticized Paul for his employment (he was a tentmaker) and his preaching (they didn’t like his style).
The Corinthians came to Christ out of a grossly wicked environment. When Paul wrote of man’s debasement in Romans 1, he was writing from Corinth! Most of the population was in slavery (possibly two-thirds). God was able to save these folks out of a great quagmire of iniquity (6:9-11).
These new believers needed to learn how to live in righteousness. Paul wrote to reprove, correct and instruct them in righteousness. The new life in Christ calls for a new way of living. God’s wisdom, manifested to us in Christ, changes the believer in this thoughts, attitudes, and actions.
It is a very practical book and contains many important themes: the judgment seat of Christ (3:11-15), the Lord’s Supper (11:23-34), love [13], the exercise of spiritual gifts [12-14] and the resurrection [15].
The centrality of Christ as the essence, source, and means of the Christian life is stated clearly (1:30)— Of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.
He is Wisdom— at the heart of divine wisdom is the Cross, which is a source of stumbling to the Jews and is foolishness to the Greeks.
He is our Righteousness— moral sin was flagrant in their midst. The righteousness of Christ in one’s life is the antidote to sin of every kind.
He is our Sanctification— several questions in the book touch on the principle of being set apart from sin and to Christ: the marriage bond, meat offered to idols, the place of women in the church, disorders at the Lord’s table, and the misuse of the spiritual gifts.
He is our Redemption— Jesus rose from the dead! This forms the foundation of the promise of the redemption of the body for the believer. Have you placed your faith in the risen Christ?