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In the previous study we spent a fair bit of time examining the early life of the apostle Paul and how (and why) it came to be that he was the one who founded the church in the city of Corinth. We did not spend any time at all examining the city of Corinth itself. The type of city it was … whether it was a center for any kind of cult worship, whether it was a modern commercial city or any other details … I have skipped intentionally. Any bearing that the city of Corinth would have upon the members of this local church will be addressed later on in the book.
Paul's opening Salutation/Greeting and purpose for writing this epistle. I Cor. 1:4 - 9
In verse 3 Paul wishes for God's favor to be upon them – grace or favor from the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. The concept of Jesus being God was still relatively new. For us the concept of the Trinity has always been around. Even so, it is important to stay refreshed and reminded of who our God is and what He is like. So, even though the Holy Spirit is left out this time, Paul equates God the father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul is wishing 'grace' upon them, and yet he thanks God for the evidences that God has already shown Grace (favor) upon them.
Favored them how? What was the evidence?
Paul's refers to 'enrichment' of speaking and knowledge. He is really referring to the evidence of spiritual gifts. God had 'favored them' by distributing 'Gifts' upon or in them. (Verses 4 and 5)
In this case Paul is pointing out only two gifts – to be able to speak things that came directly from God and to be able to know things that came directly from God. Both the speaking and the knowing took no effort of their own. That is what a spiritual gift is … a spiritual ability that is given to us that requires no effort on our part. We will talk more about this later … but for now you need to know that after you accepted Jesus as your Saviour, the Holy Spirit implanted a spiritual gift into you. Some believers have said, “But I just don't know what mine is!” I cannot tell you what your unique gift is, but it is something that comes very easy to you … and it is an ability that you did not have before you accepted Jesus. You may have to just live for Jesus day by day and in your interactions with other believers and even nonbelievers, … begin to notice that ability that God has given you. It will be an ability that in some way is uplifting to others. We will talk about the term 'edifying' in a future study session.
The phrase in verse 6 – 1Co 1:6 according as the testimony of the Christ was confirmed in you, is talking about Salvation. So what Paul is saying … the testimony of Christ … or should we say, The fact that you are saved … is proven by the spiritual gifts that you have been given.
It is important to say that these are not the only evidences of Salvation, as some branches of Christianity will try to use as proof. Several denominations teach that, particularly the gift of tongues, must be present in your life, or you are not saved.
Jesus said that we are to be 'known by our fruit'. So the evidences or proofs of conversion really involve all of your life, not just whether you speak in tongues or not.
To be sure, it is the Holy Spirit that comes to indwell us that produces evidences in our lives. At the time we received Christ into our heart, we actually received the Holy Spirit into our heart. And when the Holy Spirit takes up residence in our heart … the fruit of the Spirit begins to characterize who we are.
What is the list of traits that we call the 'fruit of the Spirit'?
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,Ga 5:23 gentleness and self-control.
We must not fall into the trap of examining one another's 'faith' or 'belief' by looking for a single spiritual gift. Instead we are told, By their fruits you will know them. Matthew7:16 By their fruit you will recognise them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
Paul goes on to say in verse 7, 'As a matter of fact … you have so many gifts that you are not falling behind any other churches … you are probably leading the way. And it is good to hear that you are waiting and longing for the coming of Jesus.
And will you make it to the end? Yes … but it will be by His power … He will confirm you and keep you strong right to the end. He is the one who will see to it that you are blameless at the judgment day. (v8 and 9)
It is not by your efforts but it is God who accepted you into fellowship with Jesus who is the faithful one.
Thus far Paul's words are encouraging. What comes next is quite different.
In verse 10 he has a good reason to emphasize that they should have no divisions in the church. In verse 11 we see that good reason.
He has heard from someone of the household of Chloe … that there are divisions and arguments taking place.
But this is not Paul's only news from Corinth. Consider this verse which is coming up in chapter 7: 1Co 7:1 ¶ Now for the matters you wrote about:
Paul had received at least one letter from them. They wanted his take on several things. For example, marriage vs singleness, do women need to wear head coverings in church, should a Christian eat food that has been dedicated to the name of some idol? And many other questions. But in none of their writing did they indicate that they were fighting among themselves to the extent that they did not even want to associate with others who did not agree with them.
But Paul does not even acknowledge the letter they sent until chapter 7. Instead he deals with his 'other' source of information … news from Chloe.
So who is Chloe? This is not super important that we know who she is, but as far as we know she was a significant believer in the church at Corinth and someone from her house has met with Paul and told him what in now going on in the church. She is very likely an older woman that we could call a 'Matriarch'. And it is also very likely that it was one of Chloe's adult sons who brought the news.
1Co 16:17 I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you.
So I simply put two and two together … He has heard from Chloe's house … and he has had the above mentioned visitors. I am assuming that it was not two different sets of visitors.
Now, what IS this troubling news that they brought to Paul that prompted him to write this book (letter, epistle)?
First of all – it was the news that specific groups were forming, partly based on the names of certain men.
1Co 1:12 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."
Again, let's 'pull up' our mental a picture of the church. Because they are meeting in numerous house churches, do not picture one big church meeting with various seating sections. The 'Paul' supporters all sit way over on the left. The Apollos people on the right. Cephas followers (who is this? ...another name for the Apostle Peter) sitting in the middle. Way up front and center are those who dislike being identified with a 'name' and so they simply call themselves followers of Jesus.
No, that is the wrong picture. Instead picture a number of households scattered throughout Corinth who have in common that they respect and revere the apostle Paul. Picture a dozen or more house churches in Corinth who admire Apollos … etc.
The groups were actually like small denominations.
Are you familiar with the definition of the word? … here is an online definition:
1. Denomination A class, or society of individuals, called by the same name; a sect; as, a denomination of Christians.
2. Denomination That by which anything is denominated or styled; an epithet; a name, designation, or title; especially, a general name indicating a class of like individuals; a category; as, the denomination of units, or of thousands, or of fourths, or of shillings, or of tons.
3. Denomination The act of naming or designating.
First of all, what would be wrong with allowing the house churches to sort of 'group themselves' by affinity to a particular person? It is wrong for at least two reasons:
The first reason has to do with the very core of division … and that is pride.
Before we talk about the uniqueness of churches, let's talk about the uniqueness of people.
In life, I want to be seen as unique in some way. That is, I want to be set apart from everybody else. I want to be noticed. I want to be respected. I want to be remembered. I want to be different in some way.
And so I may dress differently … on purpose. I may do my hair in a specific way. I may seek to excel in some skill that stands out from others. I may offer my services tirelessly .. so people will know who I am.
Businesses succeed by being special in some way. Their product is better or cheaper
Paul knocks the wind out of my sail by pointing out … who are you really?
He starts out by saying … the preachers you are following … Paul, Apollos, Peter, who are they really?
I will jump ahead and pull a verse out of chapter 3 ...
1Co 3:5 ¶ What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe--
Notice the word 'only'.
Back in chapter 1 and verse 13 Paul is expressing shock that they are making the leader so important that they would dare to name their group after that leader.
Paul was not flattered because some people wanted to name their group after him, and so he says these words 1 Corinthians 1:13-18.
Paul says, 'I am nothing … a nobody … a mere vessel used by God.'
What is implied is … and Apollos is a 'nobody'. And so is Peter a 'nobody'. (and so are presents day pastors and popes).
Regarding Apollos … was he flattered that some groups were naming themselves after him? What we know of him is that he was quite an 'orator'.1
And we know that he had an independent streak in him.2 It would not surprise me that his 'followers' would be arrogant and proud of their leader. Paul, on the other hand was not 'eloquent' in his speech.
He says this about himself … 1Co 2:2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.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 and fear, and with much 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 men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.
And regarding Peter … there is no evidence that he was ever in Corinth serving as a pastor. So why would people name their groups after him? Simply because Peter was considered the apostle to the 'Circumcised' … the Jews. And so Jewish believers who did not want to give up Jewish ways, hid behind Peter's name.3
Paul goes on to say that God uses 'nobodies' on purpose (as long as they realize they are nobodies. The moment they think they are 'somebodies' their usefulness to God is forfeited). - 1Cor. 1:19,20 God actually turns worldly wisdom upside-down by making the Gospel 'unreasonable' by human standards.
Paul says the Jews look for something backed by miracles … Mt 12:38 ¶ Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from You."
Mt 16:1 ¶ Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven.
That was their Jewish history. (It is interesting that, even though Jesus literally gave hundreds of signs … they still rejected Him)
And the Greeks only listened to someone with a long string of degrees after their name.
1:23 The Jews would not accept a 'dead Messiah'. He was supposed to be a mighty deliverer. And the Greeks could not accept a 'believe in Jesus, your saviour' … it made sense to them that a person had to work for and earn any position with the gods.
But when Jews OR Greeks get saved … it all makes sense. 1:24,25
Not only (Paul goes on to say) are your previous leaders 'nobodies' … but just take a look at yourselves.
1:26 God chooses nobodies. Why? Because if these nobodies do something remarkable … God will get the credit. (1Cor 1: 27 – 2:5)
When a person boasts about who he or she is … when a church boasts about who they are … credit is stolen from God.
Probably the biggest reason has to do with 'testimony'. What do I mean? Another word that fits pretty well here is 'reputation'. The church in a city … whether they are made up of fifty house churches or whether it is one big church with 800 people in it … has a reputation in the city. What does the non-churched world see when they look at the church.
“Why are there so many different churches in town and they don't get along which each other. Each one thinks they are better than the other. Which church is right, anyway?”
What does the world NEED to see?
The church needs to stand out as a beacon … a bright light shining in a dark place. These verses say it all:
John 1:5 ¶ And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
John 12:46 "I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.
1John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
1Jo 2:9 He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.
Romans 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
Ephesians 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
Philippians 2:15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
John 13:35 "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
Denominationalism had its roots in the city of Corinth. Paul is doing his best to 'stamp it out'. History shows us that a major division came to the church when Roman Catholicism came into being in the sixth century. They tried to use force to bring about unity and uniformity. The unity that the church needs, must come from within. It starts in your heart and mine. We need to accept who we are … nobodies ... saved by the marvelous, wonderful favor of God! We will learn so much more about accepting one another as we get into this book.
In cities today churches of various denominations work independently of one another. What can we do to link ourselves with other genuine believers who are not part of our 'church?'
And what is the church in our town … in God's eyes? God sees one church, meeting in various buildings and homes … but only one church. If we can really let this sink in, our behaviour will change. We will begin to include the others in what we are doing. We will pray … not only for the requests that spring up for our local assembly, but we will be concerned for those out side of this local company of believers. And in all of that, we will shine more brightly, together … and be an attraction to those in the dark.
1Ac 18:24 A certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus.
21Co 16:12 Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to come to you with the brethren, but he was quite unwilling to come at this time; however, he will come when he has a convenient time.
3Ga 2:8 (for He who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles),
Paul's opening Salutation/Greeting and purpose for writing this epistle. I Cor. 1:4 - 9
In verse 3 Paul wishes for God's favor to be upon them – grace or favor from the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. The concept of Jesus being God was still relatively new. For us the concept of the Trinity has always been around. Even so, it is important to stay refreshed and reminded of who our God is and what He is like. So, even though the Holy Spirit is left out this time, Paul equates God the father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul is wishing 'grace' upon them, and yet he thanks God for the evidences that God has already shown Grace (favor) upon them.
Favored them how? What was the evidence?
Paul's refers to 'enrichment' of speaking and knowledge. He is really referring to the evidence of spiritual gifts. God had 'favored them' by distributing 'Gifts' upon or in them. (Verses 4 and 5)
In this case Paul is pointing out only two gifts – to be able to speak things that came directly from God and to be able to know things that came directly from God. Both the speaking and the knowing took no effort of their own. That is what a spiritual gift is … a spiritual ability that is given to us that requires no effort on our part. We will talk more about this later … but for now you need to know that after you accepted Jesus as your Saviour, the Holy Spirit implanted a spiritual gift into you. Some believers have said, “But I just don't know what mine is!” I cannot tell you what your unique gift is, but it is something that comes very easy to you … and it is an ability that you did not have before you accepted Jesus. You may have to just live for Jesus day by day and in your interactions with other believers and even nonbelievers, … begin to notice that ability that God has given you. It will be an ability that in some way is uplifting to others. We will talk about the term 'edifying' in a future study session.
The phrase in verse 6 – 1Co 1:6 according as the testimony of the Christ was confirmed in you, is talking about Salvation. So what Paul is saying … the testimony of Christ … or should we say, The fact that you are saved … is proven by the spiritual gifts that you have been given.
It is important to say that these are not the only evidences of Salvation, as some branches of Christianity will try to use as proof. Several denominations teach that, particularly the gift of tongues, must be present in your life, or you are not saved.
Jesus said that we are to be 'known by our fruit'. So the evidences or proofs of conversion really involve all of your life, not just whether you speak in tongues or not.
To be sure, it is the Holy Spirit that comes to indwell us that produces evidences in our lives. At the time we received Christ into our heart, we actually received the Holy Spirit into our heart. And when the Holy Spirit takes up residence in our heart … the fruit of the Spirit begins to characterize who we are.
What is the list of traits that we call the 'fruit of the Spirit'?
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,Ga 5:23 gentleness and self-control.
We must not fall into the trap of examining one another's 'faith' or 'belief' by looking for a single spiritual gift. Instead we are told, By their fruits you will know them. Matthew7:16 By their fruit you will recognise them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
Paul goes on to say in verse 7, 'As a matter of fact … you have so many gifts that you are not falling behind any other churches … you are probably leading the way. And it is good to hear that you are waiting and longing for the coming of Jesus.
And will you make it to the end? Yes … but it will be by His power … He will confirm you and keep you strong right to the end. He is the one who will see to it that you are blameless at the judgment day. (v8 and 9)
It is not by your efforts but it is God who accepted you into fellowship with Jesus who is the faithful one.
Thus far Paul's words are encouraging. What comes next is quite different.
In verse 10 he has a good reason to emphasize that they should have no divisions in the church. In verse 11 we see that good reason.
He has heard from someone of the household of Chloe … that there are divisions and arguments taking place.
But this is not Paul's only news from Corinth. Consider this verse which is coming up in chapter 7: 1Co 7:1 ¶ Now for the matters you wrote about:
Paul had received at least one letter from them. They wanted his take on several things. For example, marriage vs singleness, do women need to wear head coverings in church, should a Christian eat food that has been dedicated to the name of some idol? And many other questions. But in none of their writing did they indicate that they were fighting among themselves to the extent that they did not even want to associate with others who did not agree with them.
But Paul does not even acknowledge the letter they sent until chapter 7. Instead he deals with his 'other' source of information … news from Chloe.
So who is Chloe? This is not super important that we know who she is, but as far as we know she was a significant believer in the church at Corinth and someone from her house has met with Paul and told him what in now going on in the church. She is very likely an older woman that we could call a 'Matriarch'. And it is also very likely that it was one of Chloe's adult sons who brought the news.
1Co 16:17 I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you.
So I simply put two and two together … He has heard from Chloe's house … and he has had the above mentioned visitors. I am assuming that it was not two different sets of visitors.
Now, what IS this troubling news that they brought to Paul that prompted him to write this book (letter, epistle)?
First of all – it was the news that specific groups were forming, partly based on the names of certain men.
1Co 1:12 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."
Again, let's 'pull up' our mental a picture of the church. Because they are meeting in numerous house churches, do not picture one big church meeting with various seating sections. The 'Paul' supporters all sit way over on the left. The Apollos people on the right. Cephas followers (who is this? ...another name for the Apostle Peter) sitting in the middle. Way up front and center are those who dislike being identified with a 'name' and so they simply call themselves followers of Jesus.
No, that is the wrong picture. Instead picture a number of households scattered throughout Corinth who have in common that they respect and revere the apostle Paul. Picture a dozen or more house churches in Corinth who admire Apollos … etc.
The groups were actually like small denominations.
Are you familiar with the definition of the word? … here is an online definition:
1. Denomination A class, or society of individuals, called by the same name; a sect; as, a denomination of Christians.
2. Denomination That by which anything is denominated or styled; an epithet; a name, designation, or title; especially, a general name indicating a class of like individuals; a category; as, the denomination of units, or of thousands, or of fourths, or of shillings, or of tons.
3. Denomination The act of naming or designating.
First of all, what would be wrong with allowing the house churches to sort of 'group themselves' by affinity to a particular person? It is wrong for at least two reasons:
The first reason has to do with the very core of division … and that is pride.
Before we talk about the uniqueness of churches, let's talk about the uniqueness of people.
In life, I want to be seen as unique in some way. That is, I want to be set apart from everybody else. I want to be noticed. I want to be respected. I want to be remembered. I want to be different in some way.
And so I may dress differently … on purpose. I may do my hair in a specific way. I may seek to excel in some skill that stands out from others. I may offer my services tirelessly .. so people will know who I am.
Businesses succeed by being special in some way. Their product is better or cheaper
Paul knocks the wind out of my sail by pointing out … who are you really?
He starts out by saying … the preachers you are following … Paul, Apollos, Peter, who are they really?
I will jump ahead and pull a verse out of chapter 3 ...
1Co 3:5 ¶ What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe--
Notice the word 'only'.
Back in chapter 1 and verse 13 Paul is expressing shock that they are making the leader so important that they would dare to name their group after that leader.
Paul was not flattered because some people wanted to name their group after him, and so he says these words 1 Corinthians 1:13-18.
Paul says, 'I am nothing … a nobody … a mere vessel used by God.'
What is implied is … and Apollos is a 'nobody'. And so is Peter a 'nobody'. (and so are presents day pastors and popes).
Regarding Apollos … was he flattered that some groups were naming themselves after him? What we know of him is that he was quite an 'orator'.1
And we know that he had an independent streak in him.2 It would not surprise me that his 'followers' would be arrogant and proud of their leader. Paul, on the other hand was not 'eloquent' in his speech.
He says this about himself … 1Co 2:2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.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 and fear, and with much 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 men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.
And regarding Peter … there is no evidence that he was ever in Corinth serving as a pastor. So why would people name their groups after him? Simply because Peter was considered the apostle to the 'Circumcised' … the Jews. And so Jewish believers who did not want to give up Jewish ways, hid behind Peter's name.3
Paul goes on to say that God uses 'nobodies' on purpose (as long as they realize they are nobodies. The moment they think they are 'somebodies' their usefulness to God is forfeited). - 1Cor. 1:19,20 God actually turns worldly wisdom upside-down by making the Gospel 'unreasonable' by human standards.
Paul says the Jews look for something backed by miracles … Mt 12:38 ¶ Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from You."
Mt 16:1 ¶ Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven.
That was their Jewish history. (It is interesting that, even though Jesus literally gave hundreds of signs … they still rejected Him)
And the Greeks only listened to someone with a long string of degrees after their name.
1:23 The Jews would not accept a 'dead Messiah'. He was supposed to be a mighty deliverer. And the Greeks could not accept a 'believe in Jesus, your saviour' … it made sense to them that a person had to work for and earn any position with the gods.
But when Jews OR Greeks get saved … it all makes sense. 1:24,25
Not only (Paul goes on to say) are your previous leaders 'nobodies' … but just take a look at yourselves.
1:26 God chooses nobodies. Why? Because if these nobodies do something remarkable … God will get the credit. (1Cor 1: 27 – 2:5)
When a person boasts about who he or she is … when a church boasts about who they are … credit is stolen from God.
Probably the biggest reason has to do with 'testimony'. What do I mean? Another word that fits pretty well here is 'reputation'. The church in a city … whether they are made up of fifty house churches or whether it is one big church with 800 people in it … has a reputation in the city. What does the non-churched world see when they look at the church.
“Why are there so many different churches in town and they don't get along which each other. Each one thinks they are better than the other. Which church is right, anyway?”
What does the world NEED to see?
The church needs to stand out as a beacon … a bright light shining in a dark place. These verses say it all:
John 1:5 ¶ And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
John 12:46 "I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.
1John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
1Jo 2:9 He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.
Romans 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
Ephesians 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
Philippians 2:15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
John 13:35 "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
Denominationalism had its roots in the city of Corinth. Paul is doing his best to 'stamp it out'. History shows us that a major division came to the church when Roman Catholicism came into being in the sixth century. They tried to use force to bring about unity and uniformity. The unity that the church needs, must come from within. It starts in your heart and mine. We need to accept who we are … nobodies ... saved by the marvelous, wonderful favor of God! We will learn so much more about accepting one another as we get into this book.
In cities today churches of various denominations work independently of one another. What can we do to link ourselves with other genuine believers who are not part of our 'church?'
And what is the church in our town … in God's eyes? God sees one church, meeting in various buildings and homes … but only one church. If we can really let this sink in, our behaviour will change. We will begin to include the others in what we are doing. We will pray … not only for the requests that spring up for our local assembly, but we will be concerned for those out side of this local company of believers. And in all of that, we will shine more brightly, together … and be an attraction to those in the dark.
1Ac 18:24 A certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus.
21Co 16:12 Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to come to you with the brethren, but he was quite unwilling to come at this time; however, he will come when he has a convenient time.
3Ga 2:8 (for He who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles),