Yes, you are absolutely correct. Those are two different Greek words for our English word another. We don't catch that in our English bibles. That's why I love studying the Greek text so much. I'm glad I could help!
The concluding section, which is the fourth one, is Chapter 16 Verses 10 to 24. In Verses 10 to 12, he talks about the mission of Timothy. He's going to send Timothy to them.
The manner of those who serve is that Paul says notice the household of Stephanus. They are addicted to the things of the Lord. And he says find those people and follow those people!
Verses 19 and 20, the mention of greetings.
And then the message of Paul as he signs off in Verses 21 through 24.
That is the introduction to 1 Corinthians. I will share my introduction to 2 Corinthians with you soon.
There are two main sections in 1 Corinthians. In 1 Corinthians Chapter 1 Verse 10 through Chapter 6 Verse 20, Paul addresses the problems in the church that were reported to him by those from the house of Chloe.
In 1 Corinthians Chapter 7, beginning at Verse 1 through Chapter 16 Verse 9, Paul answers the questions that were delivered to him from the delegation from Corinth. Those are the two main sections. There are four sections all together.
INTRODUCTION:
1 Corinthians Chapter 1 Verse 1 to 9 is the introduction. We are introduced to the manuscript authors, Paul and Sosthenes. We have the mentioning of thanks by Paul, very important information.
CORRECTION:
The first main section is the section of correction, Chapter 1 Verse 10 through Chapter 6 Verse 20.
Chapter 1 is the message of the gospel.
Chapter 2 is the method of the gospel.
Chapter 3 is the ministry of the gospel.
Chapter 4 is the messenger of the gospel.
Chapter 5 is the mandate of the gospel.
Chapter 6 is the morality of the gospel.
INSTRUCTION:
The second main section, which is actually the third, is the instructional part, where Paul is answering their questions.
Chapter 7 is the marriage instructions for Gentiles.
Chapters 8 through 10, the meat offered to idols, and freedom for the believer.
Chapter 11, the meal of the Lord.
Chapters 12 through 14, the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Chapter 15, the meaning of the resurrection.
Chapter 16, Verses 1 through 9, the money collected for the saints in Jerusalem.
And so, this is normal to be SARKINOS. It's a babe in Christ. So, he says that because of that, I fed you with milk and not meat because you are not able to receive it. But he says that even now you're not able to.
Verse 3 says "For you are yet SARKIKOS, abnormal flesh." He says it's been five years. By now, I should have been able to start sharing the meat with you. But you are just as carnal now as you were when you first received the Lord!
Carnal is not just a spiritual condition. Remember, its flesh. That's what the word means. You are functioning according to a normal human being and not spiritual.
"For you are yet carnal, SARKIKOS, for as there is among you envying and strife and divisions, are you not SARKIKOS, and walk according to men? For while one says I am of Paul, and another, I am of Apollos, are you not carnal, SARKIKOS?"
Wait till he rips on us about the divisions in the body of Christ. According to God's word, every believer is under one name, and that's Jesus Christ! We chose all the other names to divide ourselves up. And Paul says that's carnal.
So, the spiritual condition of the church to whom Paul is writing is a very carnal church. They are very fleshy people. They are not spiritual at all. They are emotional. They live off of emotional energy. And they handle all the business of the church and the events of the church according to the human, not according to the Spirit of God or the bible.
This is information that you need to know before you begin reading 1 Corinthians because there is information at the beginning of Chapter 1 that you need to compare.
VII: THE SPIRITUAL CONDITION OF THE CHURCH IN CORINTH:
Notice this scripture. This is 1 Corinthians 3:1-4. This section of scripture tells us the spiritual condition of the church in Corinth. Paul says in Verse 1 "And I brethren, I could not speak to you as unto spiritual." When he came there, they were babes in Christ. So, he could not talk to them as spiritually mature people. He says, "But as unto carnal."
Now there are two Greek words for carnal. The only difference in the two words is one letter. We have SARKINOS, and SARKIKOS. It is the word for flesh. That's what the word carnal means.
In the oldest manuscripts (not in the Textus Receptus), but in some of the older manuscripts, the first word here in Verse 1 of Chapter 3 is SARKINOS. "I could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as to SARKINOS, fleshly, even as unto babes in Christ."
So, he says you just received the Lord and you're very young in the Lord and you don't understand those things, so I cannot speak spiritual things to you. I had to speak as unto fleshly people. In Verse 2, he says I have fed you with milk and not with meat. For hitherto, that is up to now, you were not able to bear it, neither yet now are you able.
Approximately five years after Paul visited Corinth, he's writing to them, and what he's saying is that carnal, SARKINOS, is a normal condition. When a person first receives Christ, they are a babe in Christ. They don't know the things of the Lord. They don't have any spiritual development because they've just been born of the Spirit of God.
VI: THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FIRST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS:
Every problem in the modern-day church is addressed in 1 Corinthians.
The second point (and I'm giving you my opinion), but we are living in what I call the Corinthian church age where the majority of the body of Christ functions like the church the church in Corinth.
We, just as the Corinthians, we do not know the difference between the ministry of God's Spirit and emotional energy! Some people think that if you can "feel" the emotion of the meeting, that's the power of the Holy Spirit. No, it's not! But that's what the Corinthians thought. They called it the moving of the Spirit. They didn't call it emotion because they didn't know the difference between the flesh and the Spirit.
If there's ever been an era in Christianity where Christians have not understood the difference between the flesh and the Spirit, it's our generation, the age in which we live. The normal philosophy is that the church considers the whole person as a Christian, human and spirit. And you have to try and get your flesh involved, and the human involved, and the emotions involved, and all you have to do is dedicate your human efforts to God and you're doing right. No, you're not. Not according to God's word!
1 Corinthians is the longest letter written by Paul. The believers in the church in Corinth were mostly Gentiles. The style of 1 Corinthians mostly addresses the Gentiles about their corruption. There are very few Hebraisms in 1 Corinthians.
V: HOW IT WAS PREPARED:
Paul wrote it. This delegation that came to Paul that told him of all the problems, they went back to Corinth and they delivered the manuscript back. But this delegation that came up, they reported the problems and they also delivered some questions that the church had for Paul.
And those are the two main sections in 1 Corinthians that I'll show you in a moment. One addresses the problems, and one addresses the questions. 1 Corinthians 5:9 indicates that Paul wrote a letter prior to 1 Corinthians. But that is a lost letter. We do not have that one. And some actually believe that there are two lost letters that Paul wrote to Corinth. So, if Paul wrote four, we only have two!
Paul evangelized Corinth during his second missionary journey beginning at Acts 18:1. Paul wrote 1 Corinthians after being visited by some from the house of Chloe.
1 Corinthians is a letter of correction. Paul wrote 1 Corinthians to address the corruption that was in the church.
Now the city of Corinth was so corrupt that any immoral person found anywhere in the Roman Empire was called a Corinthianized person. So, no matter where you were, you could have been in Rome, and somebody would say "There's a Corinthianized person!" Everybody knows what Corinth means, corruption and sin!
And these Gentiles, the church in Corinth, mostly and mainly Gentiles, had to come out from that atmosphere. They had church in Corinth. It was pagan worship and prostitution was part of the worship service. And people brought their families. And this was a constant seven day a week influence on that city!
And so now these people have received Christ, and they're gathering together as followers of Jesus after He has saved them, but they still have to live in this environment. They are in a community where this is all the people do, is participate in perversion and corruption as part of their worship, and it's part of their lifestyle. So, they had a great struggle in the church there because a lot of the problems that they struggled with was in the church in Corinth.
It was written around 55 A.D. during Paul's third missionary journey. It was written from Ephesus according to Acts 18:10. And Paul wrote both 1 and 2 Corinthians to these people about three to five years after evangelizing them.
So, when he stopped off at Corinth during his first visit, many people were saved, and of course the riots started so he left. On his third missionary journey, he came straight to Ephesus. And he was there for quite some time and that's where he met up with Sosthenes because Sosthenes left after the riot. And Paul met him there. And so, the two of them were there.
And also, we're going to hear from the household of Chloe. The household of Chloe is going to make a trip. They know that Paul is in Ephesus. It's about three to five years after Paul made his visit on his third missionary journey. And so, a delegation leaves Corinth to go talk to Paul about the problems in the church. And that's what we are studying. We are studying about the problems in the church.
It's interesting that Paul said in 2 Timothy 3:16 that all scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness.
The book of Romans follows in line with that. Romans is the book of doctrine. All the doctrines of the Christian faith are established in the book of Romans. 1 and 2 Corinthians is for reproof, to present to them their guilt. For correction, we have the book of Galatians. And then from Ephesians down to Philemon, we have instruction in righteousness.
These books are not in chronological order according to when Paul wrote them, but they are in order, and I hate to say this, but in matter of importance. If I were going to choose which one of Paul's letters to start with, I would start with Romans because that's the doctrine of the Christian faith.
The next one in importance is 1 Corinthians. If you take Romans and 1 Corinthians together, you've got the doctrine, and you've got the correction about the doctrine, about the misuse of it.
I: ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Paul is the author. His inscription is on all 13 of his letters. Also, from Sosthenes, who is a convert from Corinth who came with Paul. He got saved in Corinth when Paul visited there. What happened was that Sosthenes started a riot in Corinth to try and get Paul beat up by the crowd. Well, it backfired because the crowd started beating up Sosthenes.
So Sosthenes was taken in by Paul and some of the other Christians to doctor him up and help him. And because of that, Sosthenes received Christ. And so, he now was in danger because they were after him because they already beat him up. When Paul went over into Ephesus, Sosthenes met him there. In fact, Ephesus is where 1 Corinthians was written from.
So Sosthenes is there in Ephesus with Paul, and because the Christians in Corinth to whom Paul is writing know Sosthenes, he gives them his greeting as well.
The reason I periodically presents this is not to divide but to show that some of what we are saying is the same thing.
For instance, There is no marked separation between the Old and New Testament as far as what and whom the blood of Christ covers.
The difference is those sacrifices pointed forward to one who would come and be slain for the sins of the whole world.
We look back at it.
I often emphasize that if we set the salvation topic aside and let the scripture give us its chronological order of the end times scenario we all come up to the 7 year tribulation with the last half being the great tribulation. Most agree up to that point.
But then they argue about the rapture.
Well if we set the rapture argument aside for a second and focus on the tribulation period and what chronologically comes after it using Revelation 20:1-4. we come to the Millennium.
Lets get clarity on what is going on here!
After the tribulation period and after the rapture when the salvation issue has been already settled. Shouldn't we be expecting judgment on the inhabitants of the earth?
If the kingdom here on earth has already started, chronologically the first 1000 years of the kingdom Satan is Chained!
Jesus is literally sitting on David's throne ruling with a rod of iron FROM JERUSALEM, and we too rule and reign with Christ upon the earth.
Isaiah 11:1-12.
Isaiah 60:1-12.
There is 100's of these verses of a kingdom here on earth.
This haven't happened yet, Christ is not reigning here on earth in Jerusalem and we're not reigning with him. ( We are pilgrims and sojourners in a foreign land.)
Furthermore, If this happened at the cross, none of the conditions mentioned in the OT concerning the kingdom has been met.
And, the 1000 years have expired!
When did Revelation 20:7-8 occur?
Spiritualizing the scriptures is a must for those who hold certain views.
We are told in ( Rev. 1:7) "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him". He ((cometh with clouds)).
How can those that pierced Him see Him?
( John 5:28-29) v28 "all that are in the graves shall hear his voice". v29 "And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation". This happens when we meet our Lord ((in the clouds)) in ( 1 Thess 4:16-17) Those that have done evil come forth out of their graves to the resurrection of damnation which will be the wrath of God ( Jn 3:36) "the wrath of God abideth on him"
Now we look at ( Rev. 14:14-16) v14 "And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and ((upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man)), having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle" v15 "for the time has come for thee to reap; for the (harvest) of the earth is ripe" v16 "and the earth was reaped". The (harvest) is the rapture, the taking of the church the one shall be taken and the other left ( Mt 24: 40-42).
( Rev. 1:7) "He cometh with clouds" ( 1 Thess 4:16-17) "Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them ((in the clouds)), to meet the Lord in the air" ( Rev 14:14-16) The (harvest) of the church He sat on the cloud, also He is called the Son of man in these verses.
Now a look at ( Mt 24:29-31) v30 "And then shall (appear) the sign of the Son of man in heaven" v30 "and they shall see ((the Son of man coming in the clouds)) v31 "with power and great (glory)"
v29 "Immediately after the tribulation" the Son of man (appears) in the clouds with power and great (glory)
( Col 3:4) "appear with him in (glory)"
( 1 Pet 5:4) "when the chief Shepherd shall (appear) ye shall receive a crown of (glory)"
( 1 Jn 3:2) "when he shall (appear) we shall be like him"
That explains something that puzzled me for years.
John the Baptist was put in prison, he sent his disciples to Jesus and says are you the coming one, or do we look for another?
THE WORD "ANOTHER" IN GREEK MEANS ANOTHER OF THE SAME KIND. So, he figures this must be the suffering Messiah. Are we expecting the next one to come too?
I believe there are 2 words in the Greek for another.
One is another of the same kind,
allos
The other is another of a different kind. heteros
I believe that word is used in Acts 7:18. "suggesting this Pharoah may have not been Egyptian".
I never applied this to John's questioning.
I just to the popular view, that he was beginning to have doubts.
I never fully believed or understood that being the case.
I have given some thought to what you posted here and have re-read it,
So I have a few things to say.
First of all, I do not believe it is correct to spiritualize Scripture texts in the way that Earl and Alex do, as I don't think that you do either.
Secondly, I do take most Scripture texts at face value. This means literally in cases where a literal understanding is warranted, and as exemplary when a text is an example or shadow of what Christ would do or bring. This means I take poetic texts as being so, and apocalyptic texts as being figurative and/or symbolic. I consider prophetic texts as referring to something that will happen at a time after the prophecy is given and these prophecies are not always literally fulfilled., but many times are.
Thirdly, I do not make a marked separation between the Old and New Testament as dispensationalists do. The Scriptures are a whole history of God's redemptive work and revelation to mankind. But I do use what the New Testament says to interpret the Old Testament, especially when an author refers to an OT text when explaining certain truths, such Paul in explaining who are the true seed of Israel and heirs to the promises given to Abraham, as in Gal. chapter 3, Eph. chapter 2, and Romans 9-11.
I believe that the New Testament supersedes the Old Testament in that in it are the fulfillment of what was promised in the OT through Jesus Christ. I do think that there are still prophecies to be fulfilled, not as the dispensationalists believe, but as far as what the NT authors speak of concerning the events leading up to the consummation of history.
It has been sunny here for some time now. A very dry spring and summer. Thankful Washington has plenty of water!
We are doing well. My hubby had a run in with a deer on his motorcycle last month. He was ok, didn't go down or get injured. Caught the back end of the deer. So, he got his claim settled and was the motorcycle was totaled. But he received just enough money to pay for the motorcycle he bought to replace the wrecked one. Happy for that-pretty much a straight across exchange and this bike is quite an upgrade from the one he had previously. So, didn't imagine that.
Good afternoon GIGI! Amen. We just got home from crossing the valley again for our little gathering. We know Jesus and him crucified and the benefit of this knowledge and faith is our salvation and peace. Thus we speak of Him. I hope all is well in the great NW!
Godly, God chosen leaders are a real need in the body of Christ today. As you say, so many who are popular today are not truly as "anointed" as most people perceive. There is so much false doctrine being fed to so many believers and so much extravagance in lifestyle of so many leaders. They have become weakened by their acquisition of wealth and prestige which compromises the very purpose for which they are appointed to be a leader.
We must continue to pray for God to raise up leaders along the lines of Moses and Joshua.
Pondering your posting today. I wonder how many are purposely handing the baton so to speak to future leaders in the next generation today? First off there aren't that many who are great examples today; a few but of course many who have large ministries have slid off the doctrinal rails a while ago. So much is done today as well with those who are trained a certain way or sometimes those in families that have attended church for a long time as members which can be perfectly fine. Seeking those God has called for the job first of all means weeding out those who AREN'T qualified for the job despite how popular they may be in social circles. Also God in scripture chooses who He will; oftentimes not the biggest; badest and boldest as the world likes to choose. To find someone with a real heart for the Lord I can't help but wonder how rare that is today.
Of course some want to have an attitude that they are larger than life; or just won't think about the inevitable; in terms of their inheritance much as Paul chose Timothy. It is certainly rare for established Pastors to be humble enough to admit when the Lord has chastised them or in fact have the same transparency and accountability as they ask from other members of a church. This in fact makes them like the Pope or some other person with an exalted title or position who doesn't have anyone they can confess to above them (except God of course). It certainly helps future leaders to learn of mistakes made much as David taught Solomon. He eventually; of course wrote Ecclesiastes but had to learn many hard lessons after failing to be obedient to God as well as the advice from his parents.
Prayer of course is important; perhaps some of this occurs with Pastors and Deacons or elders under them as for future missions although I haven't seen much of it personally. Such things seem hidden from the rest of the laypersons in congregations.
Good morning Jema. Well patience is a virtue! And our peace and hope is today, present, in Jesus Christ and is confirmed by the presence of the Holy Spirit guiding our lives in Him. His kingdom and city are contained in this Hope.
Yes Carleton , let us all pray for the peace of Jerusalem , which will only be when Christ returns . I pray for God's Kingdom to come every day , I have a nice life , the usual run of the mill problems but nothing drastic . I'm just desperate for all flesh to be able to live in peace and safety , knowing the Truth and rejoicing in it . The best days are to come , it's going to be awesome and if I think about it too much I start to cry ! So I'm shutting up about it now :) . Please everyone , pray Thy Kingdom Come every day , I know it will come in God's good time but maybe if we nag Him about it a little bit ? :) .
There are stories throughout church history of Christians who have been persecuted by their families for their faith. Rev. Khalid Mansoor Soomro is a former Muslim from Pakistan who committed to Christianity in 1985. When he shared his conversion story with his parents, he was turned out of his home and no longer accepted as a family member. Khalid had to choose between Jesus and his family. And he chose Jesus. Khalid reflects, "Even though it is not easy and we face many hardships, we feel like Paul, who went through hardships and suffering for the glory of his Savior, who himself suffered during his walk on earth and his time on the cross." Would you be willing to identify with Jesus if it meant being rejected by your family? Who really is your first love?
"The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel." Isaiah 9:8 KJV
The Love of God is the gathering of His People in His Son. He is our government, our peace and our hope. Our burden must be yoked to Him.
Yes, you are absolutely correct. Those are two different Greek words for our English word another. We don't catch that in our English bibles. That's why I love studying the Greek text so much. I'm glad I could help!
Blessings to you also my brother!
CONCLUSION:
The concluding section, which is the fourth one, is Chapter 16 Verses 10 to 24. In Verses 10 to 12, he talks about the mission of Timothy. He's going to send Timothy to them.
The manner of those who serve is that Paul says notice the household of Stephanus. They are addicted to the things of the Lord. And he says find those people and follow those people!
Verses 19 and 20, the mention of greetings.
And then the message of Paul as he signs off in Verses 21 through 24.
That is the introduction to 1 Corinthians. I will share my introduction to 2 Corinthians with you soon.
God Bless!!!
VIII: SECTION OUTLINE OF 1 CORINTHIANS:
There are two main sections in 1 Corinthians. In 1 Corinthians Chapter 1 Verse 10 through Chapter 6 Verse 20, Paul addresses the problems in the church that were reported to him by those from the house of Chloe.
In 1 Corinthians Chapter 7, beginning at Verse 1 through Chapter 16 Verse 9, Paul answers the questions that were delivered to him from the delegation from Corinth. Those are the two main sections. There are four sections all together.
INTRODUCTION:
1 Corinthians Chapter 1 Verse 1 to 9 is the introduction. We are introduced to the manuscript authors, Paul and Sosthenes. We have the mentioning of thanks by Paul, very important information.
CORRECTION:
The first main section is the section of correction, Chapter 1 Verse 10 through Chapter 6 Verse 20.
Chapter 1 is the message of the gospel.
Chapter 2 is the method of the gospel.
Chapter 3 is the ministry of the gospel.
Chapter 4 is the messenger of the gospel.
Chapter 5 is the mandate of the gospel.
Chapter 6 is the morality of the gospel.
INSTRUCTION:
The second main section, which is actually the third, is the instructional part, where Paul is answering their questions.
Chapter 7 is the marriage instructions for Gentiles.
Chapters 8 through 10, the meat offered to idols, and freedom for the believer.
Chapter 11, the meal of the Lord.
Chapters 12 through 14, the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Chapter 15, the meaning of the resurrection.
Chapter 16, Verses 1 through 9, the money collected for the saints in Jerusalem.
And so, this is normal to be SARKINOS. It's a babe in Christ. So, he says that because of that, I fed you with milk and not meat because you are not able to receive it. But he says that even now you're not able to.
Verse 3 says "For you are yet SARKIKOS, abnormal flesh." He says it's been five years. By now, I should have been able to start sharing the meat with you. But you are just as carnal now as you were when you first received the Lord!
Carnal is not just a spiritual condition. Remember, its flesh. That's what the word means. You are functioning according to a normal human being and not spiritual.
"For you are yet carnal, SARKIKOS, for as there is among you envying and strife and divisions, are you not SARKIKOS, and walk according to men? For while one says I am of Paul, and another, I am of Apollos, are you not carnal, SARKIKOS?"
Wait till he rips on us about the divisions in the body of Christ. According to God's word, every believer is under one name, and that's Jesus Christ! We chose all the other names to divide ourselves up. And Paul says that's carnal.
So, the spiritual condition of the church to whom Paul is writing is a very carnal church. They are very fleshy people. They are not spiritual at all. They are emotional. They live off of emotional energy. And they handle all the business of the church and the events of the church according to the human, not according to the Spirit of God or the bible.
This is information that you need to know before you begin reading 1 Corinthians because there is information at the beginning of Chapter 1 that you need to compare.
VII: THE SPIRITUAL CONDITION OF THE CHURCH IN CORINTH:
Notice this scripture. This is 1 Corinthians 3:1-4. This section of scripture tells us the spiritual condition of the church in Corinth. Paul says in Verse 1 "And I brethren, I could not speak to you as unto spiritual." When he came there, they were babes in Christ. So, he could not talk to them as spiritually mature people. He says, "But as unto carnal."
Now there are two Greek words for carnal. The only difference in the two words is one letter. We have SARKINOS, and SARKIKOS. It is the word for flesh. That's what the word carnal means.
In the oldest manuscripts (not in the Textus Receptus), but in some of the older manuscripts, the first word here in Verse 1 of Chapter 3 is SARKINOS. "I could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as to SARKINOS, fleshly, even as unto babes in Christ."
So, he says you just received the Lord and you're very young in the Lord and you don't understand those things, so I cannot speak spiritual things to you. I had to speak as unto fleshly people. In Verse 2, he says I have fed you with milk and not with meat. For hitherto, that is up to now, you were not able to bear it, neither yet now are you able.
Approximately five years after Paul visited Corinth, he's writing to them, and what he's saying is that carnal, SARKINOS, is a normal condition. When a person first receives Christ, they are a babe in Christ. They don't know the things of the Lord. They don't have any spiritual development because they've just been born of the Spirit of God.
VI: THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FIRST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS:
Every problem in the modern-day church is addressed in 1 Corinthians.
The second point (and I'm giving you my opinion), but we are living in what I call the Corinthian church age where the majority of the body of Christ functions like the church the church in Corinth.
We, just as the Corinthians, we do not know the difference between the ministry of God's Spirit and emotional energy! Some people think that if you can "feel" the emotion of the meeting, that's the power of the Holy Spirit. No, it's not! But that's what the Corinthians thought. They called it the moving of the Spirit. They didn't call it emotion because they didn't know the difference between the flesh and the Spirit.
If there's ever been an era in Christianity where Christians have not understood the difference between the flesh and the Spirit, it's our generation, the age in which we live. The normal philosophy is that the church considers the whole person as a Christian, human and spirit. And you have to try and get your flesh involved, and the human involved, and the emotions involved, and all you have to do is dedicate your human efforts to God and you're doing right. No, you're not. Not according to God's word!
IV: HOW IT WAS WRITTEN:
1 Corinthians is the longest letter written by Paul. The believers in the church in Corinth were mostly Gentiles. The style of 1 Corinthians mostly addresses the Gentiles about their corruption. There are very few Hebraisms in 1 Corinthians.
V: HOW IT WAS PREPARED:
Paul wrote it. This delegation that came to Paul that told him of all the problems, they went back to Corinth and they delivered the manuscript back. But this delegation that came up, they reported the problems and they also delivered some questions that the church had for Paul.
And those are the two main sections in 1 Corinthians that I'll show you in a moment. One addresses the problems, and one addresses the questions. 1 Corinthians 5:9 indicates that Paul wrote a letter prior to 1 Corinthians. But that is a lost letter. We do not have that one. And some actually believe that there are two lost letters that Paul wrote to Corinth. So, if Paul wrote four, we only have two!
III: WHY IT WAS WRITTEN:
Paul evangelized Corinth during his second missionary journey beginning at Acts 18:1. Paul wrote 1 Corinthians after being visited by some from the house of Chloe.
1 Corinthians is a letter of correction. Paul wrote 1 Corinthians to address the corruption that was in the church.
Now the city of Corinth was so corrupt that any immoral person found anywhere in the Roman Empire was called a Corinthianized person. So, no matter where you were, you could have been in Rome, and somebody would say "There's a Corinthianized person!" Everybody knows what Corinth means, corruption and sin!
And these Gentiles, the church in Corinth, mostly and mainly Gentiles, had to come out from that atmosphere. They had church in Corinth. It was pagan worship and prostitution was part of the worship service. And people brought their families. And this was a constant seven day a week influence on that city!
And so now these people have received Christ, and they're gathering together as followers of Jesus after He has saved them, but they still have to live in this environment. They are in a community where this is all the people do, is participate in perversion and corruption as part of their worship, and it's part of their lifestyle. So, they had a great struggle in the church there because a lot of the problems that they struggled with was in the church in Corinth.
II: WHEN IT WAS WRITTEN:
It was written around 55 A.D. during Paul's third missionary journey. It was written from Ephesus according to Acts 18:10. And Paul wrote both 1 and 2 Corinthians to these people about three to five years after evangelizing them.
So, when he stopped off at Corinth during his first visit, many people were saved, and of course the riots started so he left. On his third missionary journey, he came straight to Ephesus. And he was there for quite some time and that's where he met up with Sosthenes because Sosthenes left after the riot. And Paul met him there. And so, the two of them were there.
And also, we're going to hear from the household of Chloe. The household of Chloe is going to make a trip. They know that Paul is in Ephesus. It's about three to five years after Paul made his visit on his third missionary journey. And so, a delegation leaves Corinth to go talk to Paul about the problems in the church. And that's what we are studying. We are studying about the problems in the church.
It's interesting that Paul said in 2 Timothy 3:16 that all scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness.
The book of Romans follows in line with that. Romans is the book of doctrine. All the doctrines of the Christian faith are established in the book of Romans. 1 and 2 Corinthians is for reproof, to present to them their guilt. For correction, we have the book of Galatians. And then from Ephesians down to Philemon, we have instruction in righteousness.
These books are not in chronological order according to when Paul wrote them, but they are in order, and I hate to say this, but in matter of importance. If I were going to choose which one of Paul's letters to start with, I would start with Romans because that's the doctrine of the Christian faith.
The next one in importance is 1 Corinthians. If you take Romans and 1 Corinthians together, you've got the doctrine, and you've got the correction about the doctrine, about the misuse of it.
I: ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Paul is the author. His inscription is on all 13 of his letters. Also, from Sosthenes, who is a convert from Corinth who came with Paul. He got saved in Corinth when Paul visited there. What happened was that Sosthenes started a riot in Corinth to try and get Paul beat up by the crowd. Well, it backfired because the crowd started beating up Sosthenes.
So Sosthenes was taken in by Paul and some of the other Christians to doctor him up and help him. And because of that, Sosthenes received Christ. And so, he now was in danger because they were after him because they already beat him up. When Paul went over into Ephesus, Sosthenes met him there. In fact, Ephesus is where 1 Corinthians was written from.
So Sosthenes is there in Ephesus with Paul, and because the Christians in Corinth to whom Paul is writing know Sosthenes, he gives them his greeting as well.
I see no reason to dispute that.
Whenever it was that they rebelled against The Most High, it seems that they are still on the job of deceiving the nations.
Please come quickly Lord Jesus! And soon!
Thanks again for replying.
The reason I periodically presents this is not to divide but to show that some of what we are saying is the same thing.
For instance, There is no marked separation between the Old and New Testament as far as what and whom the blood of Christ covers.
The difference is those sacrifices pointed forward to one who would come and be slain for the sins of the whole world.
We look back at it.
I often emphasize that if we set the salvation topic aside and let the scripture give us its chronological order of the end times scenario we all come up to the 7 year tribulation with the last half being the great tribulation. Most agree up to that point.
But then they argue about the rapture.
Well if we set the rapture argument aside for a second and focus on the tribulation period and what chronologically comes after it using Revelation 20:1-4. we come to the Millennium.
Lets get clarity on what is going on here!
After the tribulation period and after the rapture when the salvation issue has been already settled. Shouldn't we be expecting judgment on the inhabitants of the earth?
If the kingdom here on earth has already started, chronologically the first 1000 years of the kingdom Satan is Chained!
Jesus is literally sitting on David's throne ruling with a rod of iron FROM JERUSALEM, and we too rule and reign with Christ upon the earth.
Isaiah 11:1-12.
Isaiah 60:1-12.
There is 100's of these verses of a kingdom here on earth.
This haven't happened yet, Christ is not reigning here on earth in Jerusalem and we're not reigning with him. ( We are pilgrims and sojourners in a foreign land.)
Furthermore, If this happened at the cross, none of the conditions mentioned in the OT concerning the kingdom has been met.
And, the 1000 years have expired!
When did Revelation 20:7-8 occur?
Spiritualizing the scriptures is a must for those who hold certain views.
But yet it doesn't solve these problems.
More another day.
GB.
How can those that pierced Him see Him?
( John 5:28-29) v28 "all that are in the graves shall hear his voice". v29 "And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation". This happens when we meet our Lord ((in the clouds)) in ( 1 Thess 4:16-17) Those that have done evil come forth out of their graves to the resurrection of damnation which will be the wrath of God ( Jn 3:36) "the wrath of God abideth on him"
Now we look at ( Rev. 14:14-16) v14 "And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and ((upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man)), having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle" v15 "for the time has come for thee to reap; for the (harvest) of the earth is ripe" v16 "and the earth was reaped". The (harvest) is the rapture, the taking of the church the one shall be taken and the other left ( Mt 24: 40-42).
( Rev. 1:7) "He cometh with clouds" ( 1 Thess 4:16-17) "Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them ((in the clouds)), to meet the Lord in the air" ( Rev 14:14-16) The (harvest) of the church He sat on the cloud, also He is called the Son of man in these verses.
Now a look at ( Mt 24:29-31) v30 "And then shall (appear) the sign of the Son of man in heaven" v30 "and they shall see ((the Son of man coming in the clouds)) v31 "with power and great (glory)"
v29 "Immediately after the tribulation" the Son of man (appears) in the clouds with power and great (glory)
( Col 3:4) "appear with him in (glory)"
( 1 Pet 5:4) "when the chief Shepherd shall (appear) ye shall receive a crown of (glory)"
( 1 Jn 3:2) "when he shall (appear) we shall be like him"
( 1 Cor 15:51-52) "we shall be changed"
Compare with ( Rev 19:11-16) the white horse!
Thanks for replying.
I will get back to you in a few hours.
God bless you.
That explains something that puzzled me for years.
John the Baptist was put in prison, he sent his disciples to Jesus and says are you the coming one, or do we look for another?
THE WORD "ANOTHER" IN GREEK MEANS ANOTHER OF THE SAME KIND. So, he figures this must be the suffering Messiah. Are we expecting the next one to come too?
I believe there are 2 words in the Greek for another.
One is another of the same kind,
allos
The other is another of a different kind. heteros
I believe that word is used in Acts 7:18. "suggesting this Pharoah may have not been Egyptian".
I never applied this to John's questioning.
I just to the popular view, that he was beginning to have doubts.
I never fully believed or understood that being the case.
God bless
I have given some thought to what you posted here and have re-read it,
So I have a few things to say.
First of all, I do not believe it is correct to spiritualize Scripture texts in the way that Earl and Alex do, as I don't think that you do either.
Secondly, I do take most Scripture texts at face value. This means literally in cases where a literal understanding is warranted, and as exemplary when a text is an example or shadow of what Christ would do or bring. This means I take poetic texts as being so, and apocalyptic texts as being figurative and/or symbolic. I consider prophetic texts as referring to something that will happen at a time after the prophecy is given and these prophecies are not always literally fulfilled., but many times are.
Thirdly, I do not make a marked separation between the Old and New Testament as dispensationalists do. The Scriptures are a whole history of God's redemptive work and revelation to mankind. But I do use what the New Testament says to interpret the Old Testament, especially when an author refers to an OT text when explaining certain truths, such Paul in explaining who are the true seed of Israel and heirs to the promises given to Abraham, as in Gal. chapter 3, Eph. chapter 2, and Romans 9-11.
I believe that the New Testament supersedes the Old Testament in that in it are the fulfillment of what was promised in the OT through Jesus Christ. I do think that there are still prophecies to be fulfilled, not as the dispensationalists believe, but as far as what the NT authors speak of concerning the events leading up to the consummation of history.
Hope this helps to clarify my approach for you.
It has been sunny here for some time now. A very dry spring and summer. Thankful Washington has plenty of water!
We are doing well. My hubby had a run in with a deer on his motorcycle last month. He was ok, didn't go down or get injured. Caught the back end of the deer. So, he got his claim settled and was the motorcycle was totaled. But he received just enough money to pay for the motorcycle he bought to replace the wrecked one. Happy for that-pretty much a straight across exchange and this bike is quite an upgrade from the one he had previously. So, didn't imagine that.
Got to go now. Break is over.
understood
Yes the Hope of Israel is Jesus, the Messiah, the One promised to Abraham who will bless the whole world,
Godly, God chosen leaders are a real need in the body of Christ today. As you say, so many who are popular today are not truly as "anointed" as most people perceive. There is so much false doctrine being fed to so many believers and so much extravagance in lifestyle of so many leaders. They have become weakened by their acquisition of wealth and prestige which compromises the very purpose for which they are appointed to be a leader.
We must continue to pray for God to raise up leaders along the lines of Moses and Joshua.
Of course some want to have an attitude that they are larger than life; or just won't think about the inevitable; in terms of their inheritance much as Paul chose Timothy. It is certainly rare for established Pastors to be humble enough to admit when the Lord has chastised them or in fact have the same transparency and accountability as they ask from other members of a church. This in fact makes them like the Pope or some other person with an exalted title or position who doesn't have anyone they can confess to above them (except God of course). It certainly helps future leaders to learn of mistakes made much as David taught Solomon. He eventually; of course wrote Ecclesiastes but had to learn many hard lessons after failing to be obedient to God as well as the advice from his parents.
Prayer of course is important; perhaps some of this occurs with Pastors and Deacons or elders under them as for future missions although I haven't seen much of it personally. Such things seem hidden from the rest of the laypersons in congregations.
Anyway as always I appreciate your commentary.
Agape; Rich P
:)
There are stories throughout church history of Christians who have been persecuted by their families for their faith. Rev. Khalid Mansoor Soomro is a former Muslim from Pakistan who committed to Christianity in 1985. When he shared his conversion story with his parents, he was turned out of his home and no longer accepted as a family member. Khalid had to choose between Jesus and his family. And he chose Jesus. Khalid reflects, "Even though it is not easy and we face many hardships, we feel like Paul, who went through hardships and suffering for the glory of his Savior, who himself suffered during his walk on earth and his time on the cross." Would you be willing to identify with Jesus if it meant being rejected by your family? Who really is your first love?