The Scriptures —Study 10 — 1 Corinthians 13

Study 10 From The Book of 1 Corinthians Is: 1 Corinthians 13

The Apostle has urged the believers at Corinth to be zealous to possess the more excellent of the gifts (12:31), but before going on to explain what he means by this (chapter 14), he pauses to point out that spiritual gifts are of profit only when exercised in love.

1.      Verses 1-3. Why is love so all-important? In what ways does Paul show further in verses 8-13 that love is greater than all other gifts? How may it find expression in my life? Cf. 1 Jn. 4:7, 12; Gal. 5:22, 23.

2.      In verses 4-7 there are fifteen ways of describing love. Write them in a column and then try to put opposite each a single word summarizing it, and, if possible, an incident in Jesus’s life illustrating it. Then ask yourself: is this found in me?

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The Scriptures —Study 9 — 1 Corinthians 12

Study 9 From The Book of 1 Corinthians Is: 1 Corinthians 12

1.      List the different kinds of gift and of service which Paul mentions in this chapter. On what principle are they given, and for what purpose? What responsibility does the possession of such a gift put upon the person who has it?

2.      Consider how the character of the human body illustrates both the unity and the diversity of the Church.  What other lessons does the apostle draw from this illustration?   

Note.  Verse 1-3.  The necessary and decisive test of the presence of the Spirit of God in those exercising spiritual gifts is loyalty to Jesus as Lord. Cf. I Jn. 4:1-3.

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The Scriptures —Study 8 — 1 Corinthians 11:2-34

Study 8 From The Book of 1 Corinthians Is: 1 Corinthians 11:2-34

This chapter deals with tow irregularities in public worship.  The first concerns the proper way for women to dress when they take part in public worship.  The second concerns unchristian behaviour at the social meal, which was the occasion of the observance of the Lord Supper.

1.      What were the arguments that Paul brought forward to insist that in Corinth women should be veiled in public worship? How far are these arguments of permanent validity? May their application vary where prevailing social customs differ from those of Paul’s day? 

2.      What (according to verses 23-26) is the central significance of the Lord’s Supper?  What were the causes of some receiving it unworthily?  See verses 17-22 and 27-32.  How can we make our reception more worthy?

Notes

1.      Verse 10. ‘Because of the angels’: Christian worship was probably regarded as conducted in their presence and open to their view.

2.      Verse 10. The veil was both a symbol of authority, reminding the woman that her husband was her head, and also a sign of her modesty and chastity, for no respectable woman was seen without one in Corinth at that time.                            

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The Scriptures —Study 7— 1 Corinthians 10:1-11:1

Study 7 From The Book of 1 Corinthians Is: 1 Corinthians 10:1-11:1

1.      10:1-13. The people of Israel, who came out of Egypt, enjoyed similar privileges to those of Christians.  What lessons then can we learn from their failures?   Why is the inevitability of temptation no occasion for despair? 

2.      Paul distinguishes between eating in an idol temple (verse 14:22), and eating meats bought in the market, which had been offered before an idol (verses 23-30). Why does he condemns the former, but permit the latter, except in the circumstances of verses 28, 29?  What principles does he lay down, in conclusions, to guide Christians in all such matters?

    

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Search The Scriptures —Study 6— 1 Corinthians 8 and 9

Study 6 From The Book of 1 Corinthians Is:1 Corinthians 8 and 9

The Church in Corinth had asked about the eating of food which had been offered before an idol. Picture yourself as a Christian in Corinth, invited to a social banquet in a temple, or seated as a guest in the house of a non-Christian friend, and offered food which had been resented in sacrifice to an idol. 

1.      8:1-13. Using the knowledge of truth as their sole guide (such truth as is stated in verses 4-6), what decision did the Corinthians come to about eating food offered to Idols? Did Paul agree?  List the reasons why he also says that in certain circumstances he would abstain from such eating.

2.      9:1-27. What basic principles which should govern Christian action does Paul here illustrate from his own conduct? In particular what rights does he show Christian workers to have, and what are his reasons for not using them?

Notes

1.      8:12 ‘Wounding… when it is weak’: note the contrast. What requires tender handling is brutally treated.  Cf. 9:22.  ‘The weak’: i.e, those whose grasp of Christian truth is feeble and who are timid in exercising their liberty in Christ. Cf. Rom. 14:1-3.

2.      8:13. This declaration is conditional and personal, not absolute and general. The significance of this should not be overlooked. Cf. 10:27-30.

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The Scriptures —Study 5— 1 Corinthians 7

Study 5 From The Book of 1 Corinthians Is: 1 Corinthians 7

In this chapter Paul is answering specific questions about marriage. These questions had been sent to him by the church at Corinth. His instructions are strict in view of the moral laxity of pagan Corinth and the ‘distress’ etc. referred to in verses 26-35. He shows that marriage and the single life are equally permissible and that each person must find out in which state God intents him to live (see verse 7).

1.      Why did Paul remain single (verses 7, 8)? See verses 25-35. Are his reasons relevant for us today?

2.      In verses 17-24 Paul is dealing with the wider question of the Christian’s position in the society of his day.  What rule is laid down for the Christian three times in these verses?  How does this apply to us? 

3.      Gather out Paul’s practical teaching about married life (2-5, 10-16) and compare his more theological treatment in Eph. 5:22-33.

Notes

1.      Verse 14.  These seems to have been a fear in some minds that continued union with an unbeliever after conversion to Christ might be defiling to the Christian partner. Paul says the opposite can happen.

2.      Verses 17-24.  Being ‘called’ in this section refers not to a person’s place and function in human society, but to God’s call through Christ to sinners.

3.      Verses 26, 28, 29, 31-35. The trying and transitory character of this present world, the added anxieties of married life, and desire to give undivided devotion to the Lord may provide reasons for abstaining from unnecessary change or involvement.

4.      Verses 36-38. A difficult section. Paul was probably advising a young man about his fiancée. But he could have been advising a father or guardian about a girl under his care.          

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The Scriptures —Study 4— 1 Corinthians 5 and 6

Study 4 From The Book of 1 Corinthians Is: 1 Corinthians 5 and 6

1.      Notice in chapter 5 the distinction in the attitudes enjoined towards sinning Christians and sinning non-Christians.  What special actions are here demanded of the local church, and why are such actions necessary?

2.      6:12-20.   These verses stress the permanent significance of the Christian’s body. List the points here mentioned.  What does it mean to glorify God in your body? What kind of actions are (a) appropriate, and (b) undesirable or even unthinkable?

3.      6:1-11. What reasons does Paul give here for viewing the public washing by Christians of their dirty linen as a denial of the Church’s mission in the world?

Notes

1.      5: 2. ‘Arrogant’: or ‘puffed up’. Used often by Paul in this letter (4:18, 19; 5:2; 8: 1; 13:5).

2.      5:5 Paul implies that physical affliction may follow excommunication.

3.      5: 6-8. Paul enforces his point by referring to the Passover practice of searching out and destroying all the old leaven before (not after) the Passover Lamb is eaten.  See Ex. 12:14, 15, 19. 

            

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