By
Bishop Elijah H. Hankerson III, BA, MA, DD
LESSON NOTES:
I.
THE KEY TO UNDERSTANDING
THE ENTIRE BIBLE. If
you understand that the Bible is written to show us how humanity was created
for God, fell into sin, was reconciled through Christ (who was the product of a
family) and God will restore everything through His sacrifice on the Cross;
then you have the message of the entire Bible.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21 17Therefore
if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away;
behold, all things are become new. 18And all things are of God, who
hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the
ministry of reconciliation; 19To wit, that God was in Christ,
reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them;
and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20Now then we
are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in
Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21For he hath made him to
be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God
in him.
II.
PAUL’S MINISTRY TO THE GENTILES. This included the founding of the churches in the city of
Corinth.
Acts 9:15
15But the LORD said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen
instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the
people of Israel.
Acts 22:17-21
17"When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple,
I fell into a trance 18and saw the LORD speaking to me. 'Quick!' he
said. 'Leave Jerusalem immediately, because the people here will not accept
your testimony about me.' 19"'LORD,' I replied, 'these people
know that I went from one synagogue to another to imprison and beat those who
believe in you. 20And when the blood of your martyr Stephen was
shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who
were killing him.' 21"Then the LORD said to me, 'Go; I will
send you far away to the Gentiles.' "
Acts 26:17
17I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them.
Romans 11:13
13I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I take pride in my ministry
Galatians 1:15-16
15But when God, who set me apart from my mother's womb and called me
by his grace, was pleased 16to reveal his Son in me so that I
might preach him among the Gentiles,
my immediate response was not to consult any human being.
III.
THE FOUNDING OF THE CHURCH AT CORINTH.
Acts 18:1-18
18 After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native
of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife
Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul
went to see them, 3 and
because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. 4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the
synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.
5 When
Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself
exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. 6 But when they opposed Paul and became
abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, “Your
blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will
go to the Gentiles.”
7 Then
Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a
worshiper of God. 8 Crispus, the
synagogue leader, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and
many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized.
9 One
night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10 For I am with you, and no one is going
to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” 11 So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a
half, teaching them the word of God.
12 While
Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews of Corinth made a united
attack on Paul and brought him to the place of judgment. 13 “This man,” they charged, “is persuading
the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.”
14 Just
as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to them, “If you Jews were making a
complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for
me to listen to you. 15 But
since it involves questions about words and names and your own law—settle the
matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things.” 16 So he drove them off. 17 Then the crowd there turned on
Sosthenes the synagogue leader and beat him in front of the
proconsul; and Gallio showed no concern whatever.
18 Paul
stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and
sisters and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and
Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchreae because
of a vow he had taken.
A.
PAUL FOUNDS THE CHURCH AT CORINTH AT THE END OF HIS FIRST
EVANGELISTIC JOURNEY
B.
PAUL’S STRATEGY WAS TO GO TO A CITY AND SPEAK TO THE JEWS
FIRST; THEN HE WOULD REACH OUT TO THE GENTILES.
Romans 1:16 16For I am not ashamed of the gospel,
because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes:
first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.
C.
THE JEWISH CROWD AT CORINTH WAS PRETTY VIOLENT.
1.
THEY TRIED TO GET PAUL CHARGED BEFORE THE CIVIC LEADER.
2.
THEY BEAT THE LEADER OF THE SYNAGOGUE.
D.
PAUL DEVELOPED THIS CHURCH AFTER A YEAR AND A HALF OF
PREACHING AND TEACHING THE WORD. His
message was that Jesus is the Messiah.
E.
9 KEY PEOPLE IN THE
FOUNDING OF THE CHURCH AT CORINTH.
1.
AQUILA. He makes tents, just
like Paul. Paul and he support themselves financially through this means. He is
from a place called Pontus (in Asia Minor). He is a Jews. He and his wife lived
in Rome. But, they had to leave Rome, because the Emperor had expelled all Jews
from the city. He and his wife Priscilla became travel team members with Paul.
They were pretty consecrated and oversaw a church in their house.
Acts 18:18 18Paul
stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sisters and
sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had
his hair cut off at Cenchreae because of a vow he had taken.
1 Corinthians 16:19 19The
churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla greet
you warmly in the LORD, and so does the church that meets at their house.
2.
PRISCILLA. She
along with her husband were pretty consecrated to the Lord’s work. She had to
be a strong woman of God, as sometimes they are mentioned with her name first.
a.
SHE AND HER HUSBAND MENTORED A POWERFUL PREACHER BY THE NAME OF
APOLLOS. Apollos was very influential
in the church at Corinth. He was such a great speaker that people put him on
the same level as Paul. But, through the ministry of this powerful couple Apollos
ministry went to another level.
Acts 18:24-26
24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native
of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough
knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the
Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus
accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue.
When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and
explained to him the way of God more adequately.
Acts 19:1 1While
Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at
Ephesus. There he found some disciples.
1 Corinthians 1:12-13 12What
I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I
follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas"; still another,
"I follow Christ." 13Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified
for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?
1 Corinthians 3:4-6
4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and
another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings?
5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is
Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has
assigned to each his task. 6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered
it, but God has been making it grow.
1 Corinthians 3:21-23
21 So then, no more boasting about human
leaders! All things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or
the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, 23 and you are of Christ, and Christ is
of God.
1 Corinthians 4:5-7
5 Therefore judge nothing before the
appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to
light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart.
At that time each will receive their praise from God.
6 Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied
these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from
us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.” Then you
will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other. 7 For who
makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not
receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did
not?
1 Corinthians 16:12
Now about our
brother Apollos: I strongly
urged him to go to you with the brothers. He was quite unwilling to go now, but
he will go when he has the opportunity.
Titus 3:13
Do everything you
can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on
their way and see that they have everything they need.
b.
SHE AND HER HUSBAND EVENTUALLY WIND UP BACK
IN ROME.
Romans 16:3 3Greet
Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus.
c.
LATER ON SHE AND HER HUSBAND ARE FOUND AT
EPHESUS.
2 Timothy 4:19 19Greet
Priscilla and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus.
3.
CLAUDIUS. He
was the Roman emperor and at this time commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. There
was so much commotion between Jews who believed in Jesus and those that did
not. So Claudius just said for all of the Jews (whatever they believed) to get
out of town.
4.
SILAS. Originally Barnabas
was Paul’s lead team member. After the confusion between he and Paul; Silas
became Paul’s main ministry partner.
Acts 15:36-40 36Some
time later Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the believers
in all the towns where we preached the word of the LORD and see how they are
doing." 37Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with
them, 38but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had
deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. 39They
had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and
sailed for Cyprus, 40but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the
believers to the grace of the LORD.
a.
SILAS WAS A PRAYING MAN AND A WORSHIPPER.
Acts 16:25-26 25About
midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other
prisoners were listening to them. 26Suddenly there was such a
violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all
the prison doors flew open, and everyone's chains came loose.
b.
SILAS WAS A LEADER.
Acts 15:22
Then the apostles and elders, with the
whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch
with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, men who were leaders among the
believers.
c.
HE WAS A PROPHET.
Acts 15:32
Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and
strengthen the believers.
d.
HE WAS A GREAT PREACHER.
Acts 18:5
When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted
himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the
Messiah.
e.
PETER HAD HIGH REGARD FOR SILAS.
1 Peter 5:12
With the help
of Silas, whom I regard as
a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and
testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.
5.
TIMOTHY. He
was a protégé of Paul and eventually became the bishop of Ephesus. His mother
was Jewish and his dad a Gentile.
Acts
16:1-3 1Paul
came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose
mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek. 2The
believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. 3Paul wanted to
take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who
lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
1
Corinthians 4:17 17For
this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the LORD. He will remind you of my
way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every
church.
1 Timothy 1:2 2To Timothy my true son in the
faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our LORD.
1
Timothy 1:18 18Timothy,
my son,
I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about
you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well,
2
Timothy 1:2 2To
Timothy, my dear son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and
Christ Jesus our LORD.
6.
TITIUS JUSTUS. He
was a Gentile that was supportive of Paul’s ministry. Once Paul got evicted
from the synagogue; he allowed Paul to have service in his house.
7.
CRISPUS. He
was a leader in the synagogue. He believed the message preached by Paul and He was personally baptized by Paul.
1 Corinthians 1:14 14I thank God that I did not
baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius,
8.
GALLIO. He was a high ranking
Roman official. He was reputed to be a philosopher and also the mentor of Nero
the Emperor. To his credit he did not action against Paul and the Christians at
Corinth.
9.
SOSTHENES. He
was the chief leader of the synagogue. The text really does not say why he was
beaten. But, obviously he supported the ministry of Paul and was also
converted; as he is later listed as a very prominent member of the Corinthian
church.
1 Corinthians 1:1 1Paul, called to be an apostle of
Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,
IV.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE
CHURCH(S) AT CORINTH. Corinth was so large that the congregation was most
likely made up of multiple house churches.
A.
THE CHURCH WAS MADE UP OF
JEWS AND GENTILES.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 9Or
do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be
deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who
have sex with men 10nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor
slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11And that
is what some of you were. 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.
1 Corinthians 7:18-19 18Was
a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become
uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be
circumcised. 19Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is
nothing. Keeping God's commands is what counts.
1 Corinthians 8:7 7But
not everyone possesses this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to
idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been
sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled.
1 Corinthians 12:12 12Just
as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so
it is with Christ.
B.
THE MEMBERS WERE NOT VERY
PROMINENT PEOPLE. Some
were even slaves.
1 Corinthians 1:26 26Brothers and sisters, think of
what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human
standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.
1 Corinthians 7:21-23 21Were you a slave when you were
called? Don't let it trouble you-although if you can gain your freedom, do so. 22For
the one who was a slave when called to faith in the LORD is the LORD's freed
person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ's slave. 23You
were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings.
C.
THERE WERE A FEW PROMINENT
MEMBERS AT CORINTH. Paul
wrote Romans from Corinth. By that time Erastus the city treasurer of Corinth
was a member of the church.
Romans 16:23 Amplified Bible (AMP).[1]
23 Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole
church here, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus,
greet you.
1.
THE SOCIAL DIFFERENCE OF
THE MEMBERS LED TO ABUSE AT THE LORD’S SUPPER AND THE LOVE FEAST (A MEAL THEY
WOULD HAVE IN CONJUNCTION WITH COMMUNION). Some members were full and drunk (they did
drink wine) and others had little to nothing.
1 Corinthians 11:17-34
17 In the following directives I have no praise
for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 18 In the
first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are
divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. 19 No doubt there have to be differences
among you to show which of you have God’s approval. 20 So then, when you come together, it is not
the Lord’s Supper you eat, 21 for
when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private
suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. 22 Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in?
Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have
nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not
in this matter!
23 For I received from the Lord what I also
passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when
he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is
my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the
cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in
my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink
this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
27 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the
cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the
body and blood of the Lord. 28 Everyone ought to examine
themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without
discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 30 That is why many among you are weak and
sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But
if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under
such judgment. 32 Nevertheless,
when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so
that we will not be finally condemned with the world.
33 So then, my brothers and sisters, when you
gather to eat, you should all eat together. 34 Anyone
who is hungry should eat something at home, so that when you meet
together it may not result in judgment.
And
when I come I will give further directions.
D.
WOMEN WERE INTEGRATED IN
THE MINISTRY OF THIS CHURCH. He gave some guidelines for this (praying and
prophesying). However, there was a different situation regarding “asking
questions.” Paul gave some prohibitions on this.
1 Corinthians 11:2-16
2 I
praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the
traditions just as I passed them on to you. 3 But I want you to realize that the head of
every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of
Christ is God. 4 Every man
who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. 5 But every woman who prays or
prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as
having her head shaved. 6 For
if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off;
but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head
shaved, then she should cover her head.
7 A
man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God;
but woman is the glory of man. 8 For
man did not come from woman, but woman from man; 9 neither
was man created for woman, but woman for man. 10 It
is for this reason that a woman ought to have authority over her own head,
because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless,
in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 12 For as woman came from man, so also man is
born of woman. But everything comes from God.
13 Judge
for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head
uncovered? 14 Does
not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a
disgrace to him, 15 but
that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her
as a covering. 16 If anyone
wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the
churches of God.
1 Corinthians 14:34-35
34 Women
should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to
speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. 35 If they want to inquire about something,
they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman
to speak in the church.
E.
THE CHURCH EVENTUALLY
BECAME PRETTY DIVIDED (1 Corinthians 1-4). This causes Paul to later threaten to visit
them with a rod of correction.
1 Corinthians 1:10-17
10 I
appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no
divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and
thought. 11 My
brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that
there are quarrels among you. 12 What
I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow
Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow
Christ.”
13 Is
Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of
Paul? 14 I
thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so no one can say that you were baptized
in my name. 16 (Yes, I also
baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if
I baptized anyone else.) 17 For
Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with
wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
1 Corinthians 2:1-5
2 And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I
did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the
testimony about God. 2 For
I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him
crucified. 3 I came to
you in weakness with great fear and trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with
wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on human
wisdom, but on God’s power.
1 Corinthians 3:1-4
3 Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live
by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in
Christ. 2 I
gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for
it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You
are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you,
are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and
another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings?
1 Corinthians 4:14-21
14 I
am writing this not to shame you but to warn you as my dear children. 15 Even if you had ten thousand guardians in
Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your
father through the gospel. 16 Therefore
I urge you to imitate me. 17 For
this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who
is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus,
which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.
18 Some
of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you very soon, if
the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only how these arrogant
people are talking, but what power they have. 20 For
the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. 21 What do you prefer? Shall I come to you
with a rod of discipline, or shall I come in love and with a gentle
spirit?
V.
THE PURPOSE OF 1
CORINTHIANS. Paul
used the technology of the time (letters) to answer other concerns within the
church.
A.
MORAL ISSUES IN THE CHURCH
(1 Corinthians 5-6).
1. SEXUAL SIN.
1 Corinthians 5:1-5
5 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you,
and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his
father’s wife. 2 And
you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and have put
out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this? 3 For my part, even though I am not
physically present, I am with you in spirit. As one who is present with
you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord
Jesus on the one who has been doing this. 4 So
when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord
Jesus is present, 5 hand
this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his
spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.
2.
LAWSUITS.
1 Corinthians 6:1-3
6 If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to
take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people? 2 Or do you
not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world? And if you are to
judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels?
How much more the things of this life!
B.
INSTRUCTIONS ON MARRIAGE (1
Corinthians 7).
1 Corinthians 7:1-2
7 Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to
have sexual relations with a woman.” 2 But
since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations
with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband.
C.
ADDRESSING QUESTIONABLE
PRACTICES (1 Corinthians 8-10).
1.
EATING FOOD SACRIFICED TO
IDOLS.
1 Corinthians 8:1-6
8 Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “We all
possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. 2 Those who think they know something do
not yet know as they ought to know. 3 But
whoever loves God is known by God.
4 So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that
“An idol is nothing at all in the world” and that “There is no God but
one.” 5 For
even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed
there are many “gods” and many “lords”), 6 yet
for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things
came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ,
through whom all things came and through whom we live.
1 Corinthians 10:25-30
25 Eat
anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, 26 for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and
everything in it.”
27 If
an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put
before you without raising questions of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been
offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who
told you and for the sake of conscience. 29 I
am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours. For why is my
freedom being judged by another’s conscience? 30 If I take part in the meal with
thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?
2.
CONTROVERSY OVER WHETHER
PAUL SHOULD GET SUPPORT OR NOT.
1 Corinthians 9:1-6
9 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen
Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? 2 Even though I may not be an apostle to
others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the
Lord.
3 This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. 4 Don’t we have the right to food and drink? 5 Don’t we have the right to take a believing
wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s
brothers and Cephas? 6 Or
is it only I and Barnabas who lack the right to not work for a living?
D.
INSTRUCTIONS ON WORSHIP
SERVICES (1 Corinthians 11-14).
1 Corinthians 12:7-11
7 Now
to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a
message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the
same Spirit, 9 to another
faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one
Spirit, 10 to another
miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing
between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,and to
still another the interpretation of tongues.11 All these
are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each
one, just as he determines.
1 Corinthians 13:1
13 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not
have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
1 Corinthians 14:1-5
14 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the
Spirit, especially prophecy. 2 For
anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God.
Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. 3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people
for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. 4 Anyone who speaks in a
tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies
the church. 5 I would like
every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you
prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in
tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.
E.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RESURRECTION (1 Corinthians 15).
1 Corinthians 15:12-17
12 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the
dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the
dead? 13 If
there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been
raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15 More than that, we are then found to be
false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised
Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not
raised. 16 For if the dead
are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your
faith is futile; you are still in your sins.
F.
PERSONAL INSTRUCTIONS (1
Corinthians 16). He
addresses a special offering and various assignments he wants fulfilled.
1 Corinthians 16:1-4
16 Now about the collection for the Lord’s people: Do what
I told the Galatian churches to do. 2 On
the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of
money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no
collections will have to be made. 3 Then,
when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you
approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. 4 If it seems advisable for me to go also,
they will accompany me.
VI.
THE PURPOSE OF 2
CORINTHIANS. False
teachers had caused the entire church(es) at Corinth to turn against Paul.
Between 1 and 2 Corinthians there was much negotiation and possibly another
letter written. Most of the church had come back around. But, there were a few
stragglers who were yet against Paul’s leadership. Paul writes this letter to
affirm his apostleship. He gives all of the proofs of the validity of his
ministry.
A.
HE IS A MAN OF INTEGRITY.
2 Corinthians 1:12
12 Now
this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted
ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with
integrity and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on
worldly wisdom but on God’s grace.
B.
HE IS A FORGIVING LEADER.
2 Corinthians 2:5-7
5 If
anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved
all of you to some extent—not to put it too severely. 6 The punishment inflicted on him by the
majority is sufficient. 7 Now
instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be
overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.
C.
FOUNDING THE CHURCH IS HIS
CREDENTIAL.
2 Corinthians 3:1-3
3 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need,
like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter, written on
our hearts, known and read by everyone. 3 You
show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not
with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of
stone but on tablets of human hearts.
D.
HE HAS SUFFERED FOR THE
CHURCH.
2 Corinthians 4:7-12
7 But
we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing
power is from God and not from us. 8 We
are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not
in despair; 9 persecuted, but
not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the
death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our
body. 11 For we who are
alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his
life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So
then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
E.
HIS MINISTRY IS ABOUT
RECONCILIATION.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21
17 Therefore,
if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[ The
old has gone, the new is here! 18 All
this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and
gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that
God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against
them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s
ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We
implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be
sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
F.
HE HAS SUFFERED FOR HIS
CHILDREN; BUT THE CHILDREN HAVE BEEN ABUSIVE.
2 Corinthians 6:3-12
3 We
put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be
discredited. 4 Rather,
as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in
troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in
beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and
hunger; 6 in purity,
understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere
love; 7 in truthful
speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in
the right hand and in the left; 8 through
glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded
as impostors; 9 known, yet
regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not
killed; 10 sorrowful, yet
always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having
nothing, and yet possessing everything.
11 We
have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. 12 We are not withholding our affection from
you, but you are withholding yours from us.
G.
HIS CHILDREN SHOULD BE
HOLY.
2 Corinthians 7:1-4
7 Therefore, since we have these promises, dear
friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body
and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
2 Make
room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no
one, we have exploited no one. 3 I
do not say this to condemn you; I have said before that you have such a place
in our hearts that we would live or die with you. 4 I have spoken to you with great frankness;
I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our
troubles my joy knows no bounds.
H.
HE WANTS THEM TO GIVE IN A
SPECIAL OFFERING.
2 Corinthians 8:1-7
8 And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace
that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their
overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as
they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the
privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. 5 And they exceeded our expectations: They
gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to
us. 6 So we
urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also
to completion this act of grace on your part. 7 But since you excel in everything—in faith,
in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have
kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
I.
HE BRAGGED ON THEIR
GENEROSITY AND DOES NOT WANT TO BE EMBARRASSED.
2 Corinthians 9:1-11
9 There is no need for me to write to you about this
service to the Lord’s people. 2 For
I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to
the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were
ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action. 3 But I am sending the brothers in order
that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that
you may be ready, as I said you would be. 4 For
if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to say
anything about you—would be ashamed of having been so confident. 5 So I thought it necessary to urge the
brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the
generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous
gift, not as one grudgingly given.
6 Remember
this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows
generously will also reap generously. 7 Each
of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not
reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you
abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you
need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As
it is written:
“They
have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;
their righteousness endures forever.”
their righteousness endures forever.”
10 Now
he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and
increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so
that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity
will result in thanksgiving to God.
J.
PAUL ANSWERS THE SLANDER OF
HIS MINISTRY.
2 Corinthians 10:7-11
7 You
are judging by appearances. If anyone is confident that they belong to
Christ, they should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much
as they do. 8 So
even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for
building you up rather than tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of it. 9 I do not want to seem to be trying to
frighten you with my letters. 10 For
some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is
unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.” 11 Such people should realize that what we
are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present.
K.
HIS SUFFERINGS MAKE HIM
MORE QUALIFIED THAN THE SUPER APOSTLES.
2 Corinthians 11:5-33
5 I
do not think I am in the least inferior to those “super-apostles.”[6 I
may indeed be untrained as a speaker, but I do have knowledge. We
have made this perfectly clear to you in every way. 7 Was it a sin for me to lower myself in
order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge? 8 I robbed other churches by receiving
support from them so as to serve you. 9 And
when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the
brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept
myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so. 10 As surely as the truth of Christ is in
me, nobody in the regions of Achaia will stop this boasting of
mine. 11 Why? Because I do
not love you? God knows I do!
12 And
I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under
those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they
boast about. 13 For
such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as
apostles of Christ. 14 And
no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his
servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what
their actions deserve.
16 I
repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then tolerate me
just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting. 17 In this self-confident boasting I am not
talking as the Lord would, but as a fool. 18 Since
many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will boast. 19 You gladly put up with fools since
you are so wise! 20 In
fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or
takes advantage of you or puts on airs or slaps you in the face. 21 To my shame I admit that we were too
weak for that!
Whatever anyone else dares
to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they
Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am
out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much
harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more
severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the
forty lashes minus one. 25 Three
times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three
times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have
been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow
Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in
the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have
often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone
without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides
everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I do not feel
weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?
30 If
I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who
is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying. 32 In Damascus the governor under King Aretas
had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me. 33 But I was lowered in a basket from a
window in the wall and slipped through his hands.
L.
HIS WORKING OF MIRACLES
VALIDATES HIS APOSTOLIC MINISTRY OVER THE SUPER APOSTLES.
2 Corinthians 12:11-13
11 I
have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been
commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the “super-apostles, ”even
though I am nothing. 12 I
persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including
signs, wonders and miracles. 13 How
were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to
you? Forgive me this wrong!
M.
PAUL IS COMING TO TOWN; IF
THE DISOBEDIENCE IS NOT HANDLED, HE WILL BE VERY HARSH.
2 Corinthians 13:1-4
13 This will be my third visit to you. “Every matter must be
established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” 2 I already gave you a warning when I was
with you the second time. I now repeat it while absent: On my return I
will not spare those who sinned earlier or any of the others, 3 since you are demanding proof that Christ
is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is
powerful among you. 4 For
to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s
power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live
with him in our dealing with you.
VII.
PRAYER FOR SALVATION. As we close, if you have not received this
Jesus pray this simple prayer:
"Father, I know that I
have sinned against You. Please forgive me. Wash me clean. I promise to trust
in Jesus, Your Son. I believe that He died for me—He took my sin upon Himself
when He died on the cross. I believe that He was raised from the dead. I
surrender my life to Jesus today.
"Thank You, Father, for Your gift of
forgiveness and eternal life. Please help me to live for you. In Jesus' name,
Amen."
[1] https://classic.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+18%3A8%2CRomans+16%3A23&version=AMP. (Accessed, May 15, 2020).
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