FIRST CORINTHIANS
The apostle Paul is the writer of this epistle. In Acts 18, we read of the
founding of the church at Corinth. Paul labored there personally for eighteen
months. During the later part of his stay in Ephesus he wrote this first letter
to the Corinthian church, see Ch. 16:5-8.
The theme of the epistle is Christian conduct. The Corinthian believers had
written Paul a letter concerning marriage and the use of meats offered to idols,
Chs. 7 & 8. In his reply, he not only enlightened them on those matters, but
passed judgment on certain discrepancies which existed in the church.
The epistle may be divided into nine parts as follows:
1. Ch. 1:1-9. The believers position in grace.
2. Ch. 1:10 to Ch. 4. Living beneath our position.
3. Chs, 5 and 6. Wrong living rebuked.
4. Chs. 7 and 8. Concerning marriage and idolatry.
5. Chs. 9 and 10. Concerning Christian ministry, and the conduct of believers.
6. Ch. 11. Concerning the Lords Supper.
7. Chs. 12 to 14. Concerning spiritual gifts.
8. Ch. 15. A treatise on resurrection.
9. Ch. 16. Closing instructions and greetings.
THE BELIEVERS POSITION IN GRACE.
Position and state are two different things. The first is the result of the work
of Christ. Through faith in Him we become heirs of God, are enriched in all
utterance and knowledge, and come behind in on gifts, Ch.1:4-7. So often one
meets Christians whose outward anointing is very profuse, but their inward state
is quite barren. It takes time and application to live up to all God’s
expectation.
LIVING BENEATH OUR POSITION.
The Corinthian believers were spiritually immature. There was a contention among
them because of their spiritual fathers. Some said they were of Paul, some of
Apollos, some of Cephas, and some even said they were of Christ, Ch.1:12. Such
statements are childish and spring out of lack of fellowship with God. On the
other hand, the Corinthians rather gloried in the wisdom of this world, so that
Paul had to tell them that it was nothing but foolishness in God’s sight, v.20.
All we need for our souls spiritual welfare is found in Christ, Who of God is
made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption,
v.30.
In ministry, Paul saw one great need and that was to rely on the demonstration
of the Spirit rather than on mere human effort, so that people’s faith would be
in God and not in man, Ch.2:4-5. The apostle did not infer that only people of
ignorance would be Christians, but that God’s wisdom is of a much higher order
than mans. A believer really knows more than an unbeliever, for he is in touch
with two worlds and therefore possesses fuller knowledge, vs. 9-10, 12. The
Corinthian believers with all their learning in worldly wisdom were not ready
for the meat of the Word, Ch.3:2. To Paul, this was a source of disappointment
for he knew how much they were missing. He warned them, however, that as he had
laid a good foundation for their faith, they should take heed how they built
thereupon. Someday every believer’s work would be made manifest. The results
fall into two groups: gold, silver, precious stones, and hay, wood, and stubble,
v.12. The first group might be regarded as the result of living and laboring in
the Spirit, while the other is the result of mere human wisdom, or that which
springs from man who is of the earth, earthy.
God’s fire will decide how we have lived. We shall either just barely make it,
or else have an abundant entrance into glory, vs.14-15. Having become temples of
God, v.16, a responsibility rests upon every believer to make good, for His
glory.
In their human narrowness the Corinthian believers presumed to judge Paul’s
ministry. He told them to judge nothing before the time, but to leave all such
matters to Christ, Who will give everything His attention at His coming,
Ch.4:3-5. To show his concern for them, Paul called himself their father in the
gospel. He was not like an ordinary teacher of which there were many, and he
entreated them to follow his example in all things, v.15-16. To silence those
who were inclined to be puffed up, the apostle warned them that he would come to
them and not judge according to their speech, but according to how much real
poser they possessed, vs.18-19.
WRONG LIVING REBUKED.
Paul was a strong advocate of the message of Salvation by Grace for the
Gentiles, and not by the works of the law of Moses. In order, however, to follow
up his message, he saw the need of further teaching. For this reason he wrote
his epistles. The Corinthian believers needed this stern treatment, for some one
of their number was guilty of fornication, and the others had failed to deal
with the matter, Ch.5:1-2. The apostle exercised his authority in Christ and
turned the guilty member over to Satan, that through an experience of physical
suffering he might get right with God, vs.3-5, the plan evidently worked, for in
his second epistle, Paul extends a pardon to the guilty brother, 2 Cor. 2:6-11.
Another matter which called for correction was the fault of brother going to law
with brother. Paul told them that they should learn to suffer wrong, and if
anything of a serious nature needed attention they should settle it among
themselves, and not go to law before the unbelievers, Ch.6:1-8. They were also
exhorted to shun the sins of the body, and especially to have nothing to do with
fornication. Their bodies had become temples of the Holy Ghost, and they should
aim to glorify God not only in their spirits, but in their bodies also,
vs.19-20.
CONCERNING MARRIAGE AND IDOLATRY.
In Ch.7 Paul mingles personal advice with the Word of God in such a clear and
perfect manner. Marriage can be regarded as something in which God is properly
concerned, and by careful study of the chapter one can live without bondage and
in all purity before the Lord.
The Corinthian Christians were troubled about the eating of meat offered to
idols. Paul wrote them that the idol was nothing, Ch.8:4, or in other words the
meat was just ordinary meat, for the presence of the idol could have no effect
upon it, v.8. For the sake of those, however, whose consciences were sensitive
in the matter, one must be charitable, and if by eating others were stumbled, it
would be better to refrain, vs.9-13.
CONCERNING CHRISTIAN MINISTRY, AND THE CONDUCT OF BELIEVERS.
There were those who criticized Paul for giving his entire time to the ministry,
which of course hindered him from doing other work. He answered such by claiming
liberty to do as he pleased in the matter, Ch.9:1-6. Then he quoted what Moses
said, “Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treads out the corn,”
Deuteronomy 25:4, and applied it to the Gospel ministry for this age “that they
which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel”, v.14. Paul then described
his method of laboring for the Lord. He became all things to all men, that he
might save some, v.22. The apostle kept strict watch over his body, so that not
only should he succeed as a minister, but also be an example to others by his
life to the very end, v.27.
To the Corinthians he quoted Israel’s experiences in the wilderness, that they
might learn from their example to refrain from the things for which many of the
Israelites were overthrown, Ch.10:1-12. Every one is tempted, but God is
faithful and will strengthen every tried soul that they may win out through
Christ, Who is the way of escape, v.13. A word of warning was given that they
should treat with utmost reverence the partaking of the Lords Supper. Strict
separation was enjoined upon them in order that real fellowship with Christ
might be their happy experience, vs.16,20. Further instruction was given
regarding meat offered to idols, how that they were free to eat it, but only if
their liberty did not give occasion to a weaker brother to stumble, vs.22-33.
CONCERNING THE LORDS SUPPER.
In Ch. 11:1-16, we have a word concerning the covering for a woman’s head.
Different countries have different customs. In Bible lands a married woman wore
a veil as a sign of subjection to her husband, v.10. In this country the wearing
of a wedding ring denotes that a woman is married. All eastern women were
married, therefore, Paul felt that in the church it was better for her to be
humble in her appearance, even though in Christ she was not inferior to the man.
He said, however, that the church did not enforce the custom, v.16. The apostle
felt there was a need of dealing with their faulty way of observing the Lords
Supper. They have been eating a regular meal in the church in the observance,
each one bringing his own food, vs. 20-22. Paul then told the origin of
partaking of the bread and wine, and exhorted them to discern the Lords body
when they ate, that they might receive the healing for their bodies as part of
the blessing God intended. Also, that they should wait one for the other and all
partake together, vs.23-26, 29-30,33.
CONCERNING SPIRITUAL GIFTS.
In studying the next three chapters, it would be well to bear in mind two or
three vital points. The first is that as a result of the ascension of Christ,
God has given gifts unto men, Ephesians 4:8. The second is that the gifts and
calling of God are without repentance, Romans 11:29, and the third is to decide
what are gifts. In Ch.12, we read of the manifestation of the Spirit which is
given to every man, v.7, and that there are three distinct forms of
manifestations. There are Diversities of Gifts, and Differences of
Administrations, and Diversities of Operations. All are not gifts, but those
which are gifts, God gives and does not afterwards withdraw.
By a more careful study one discovers that prophecy in its various forms such as
speaking with tongues, interpretation of tongues, and speaking inspirationally
in the mother tongue, is quite freely distributed throughout the body,
Ch.14:1,31. Also that healing is very generously divided among the members of
the body, only with some it is more pronounced than with others, Luke 9:2,
10:1-9; Mark 16:17-18; James 5:16.
In Ch.12:29-30, the office rather that the gift is the subject, but from the
foregoing scriptures one can readily see that prophecy and healing are God’s
Gifts to the church, and every member of the body can participate more or less
in such activity. ADMISTRATION may be classed as an activity of the Spirit in
and through the church in His administrative capacity. He is the representative
of Christ with a twofold mission to convince the world and to teach the
believer. God has always revealed Himself to man in an hour of need. By “the
word of wisdom....the word of knowledge...and discerning of spirits” the working
of Satan can be discovered, and thwarted, or completely overthrown, as the Holy
Ghost counsels the Christian worker concerning things which are ordinarily
hidden from him. This is a more common experience than some imagine, and through
the same we have differences of administrations. There are nine forms of the
manifestation of the Spirit. Three come under prophecy one is healing, and there
are three in administrations; the Word of Wisdom, the Word of Knowledge, and
Discerning of Spirits. They are Faith and the Working of Miracles. From
beginning to end faith is a gift of God, but there are times when a special
quickening in the faith which is by Him, Acts 3:16, will bring deliverance to
one who apparently is not at the time asking for it, and the one so used
disclaims any personal effort in the matter. This is an operation of the Holy
Spirit. Working of miracles is in the same class. Such should not be confined
only to healing. Christ performed other kinds of miracles, and He said, “The
works that I do shall ye do also.” The only miracle worker is the Holy Ghost. We
must be open to His direction, and pliable in His hands, and then He may at
times see fit to OPERATE through us in such a way.
The balance of Ch.12 teaches the need of unity, so that all the members of the
body shall have coordinate action, for a perfect expression of Christ in His
present ministry among men, v.25a. Ch.13 does not teach as some thin, the
preeminence of love as a gift, but the need that all manifestations of the
Spirit be exercised in love, for that is the more excellent way.
Ch. 14 urges balance. We should so conduct ourselves in the Spirit that the
outsider will not regard our meetings as equivalent to attending the circus, but
be so impressed with the presence of divine power that he will report that God
is in you of a truth, v.25. Women were commanded not to chatter in a meeting,
and if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home.
A TREATISE ON RESURRECTION.
Some in the church at Corinth were skeptical concerning the resurrection of the
dead. To enlighten them, Paul dealt with the subject at length. He declared that
what he taught was authentic. His message was that Christ died for our sins, was
buried, and rose again the third day according to the scriptures, Ch.15:3-4.
As proof that He arose there was the testimony of certain individuals and small
groups of disciples, and also of over five hundred brethren to whom the Lord
appeared at one time. Paul also was fully persuaded of the fact, for he had
contact with the risen Christ himself, v.5-8.
It was very important for Jesus to rise from the dead, for the matter of
deliverance from our sins would otherwise be uncertain, v.17. We may be very
sure that He indeed arose, v.20, and because of it we have the guarantee of our
own future resurrection, v.23. The next thing after that will be the reign of
Christ which will culminate in the complete subjection of the rebellious world
to God, vs.24-28.
Concerning the resurrection Paul further said that it can be illustrated by the
sowing and growing of grain. As a bare grain it has one kind of a body, but when
it grows God gives it a different body. Between the two appearances of these
bodies there transpires a death, out of which come the new life, vs. 35-38. In
the same way the resurrection body will be in a class by itself, vs.42-44. At
present it is a mystery. None but Christ has had the experience, but the day
will come when “the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and the living shall be
changed,” vs. 51-53. In the meantime every believer is exhorted to be
“steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.”
CLOSING INSTRUCTIONS AND GREETINGS.
In closing his epistle, Paul gave a few directions concerning an offering for
the needy saints in Jerusalem. He also promised the church in Corinth a visit as
soon as it was convenient, and closed by saying, “If any man love not the Lord
Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema (accursed), Maranatha (our Lord cometh),” Ch.
16:22.