WE MOVE ONWARD TO THE SYNOPTIC VIEW OF THE HIGH POINTS OF BOTH BOOKS OF THE CORINTHIANS, OR LETTERS TO THE CHURCH AT CORINTH FROM PAUL THE APOSTLE OF CHRIST.
THIS NEXT PAULINE EPISTLE IS KNOWN AS THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS.
THIS SERIES IS DESIGNED TO SPARK ONE’S INTEREST IN READING THE BIBLE COVER TO COVER FOR THEMSELVES, AND IN NO WAY IS TO SUPPLANT ONE’S READING OF THE ENTIRE TEXT FOR A TRUE CONTEXTUAL UNDERSTANDING OF ITS FULL SCOPE AND TRUTH.
1 CORINTHIANS
THIS WAS WRITTEN TOWARD THE END OF PAUL’S THREE-YEAR STAY AT EPHESUS.
CORINTH WAS THE MEETING CENTER OF MANY CULTURES AND THE MAIN COURSE OF TRADE BETWEEN ASIA AND WEST EUROPE WAS SITUATED THERE.
PAUL’S GREEK CONVERTS AT CORINTH WERE MEN OF THE FLESH, WITH AN INTELLECTUAL SENSE OF RHETORIC AND LOGIC. THEIR CULTURE WAS FILLED WITH MORAL CORRUPTION.
1 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 1 SYNOPSIS:
PAUL WARNS THE CHURCH AT CORINTH ABOUT DIVISIONS IN THE CHURCH. SOME OF THE CHRISTIANS WERE ALREADY GETTING CONFUSED (CONFUSION=THE NATURAL STATE OF MAN) SAYING —
“I AM OF PAUL; AND I AM OF APOLLOS (A DISCIPLE OF CHRIST); AND I AM OF PETER; AND I AM OF CHRIST.”
PAUL ASKS THEM, “IS CHRIST DIVIDED?
WAS PAUL CRUCIFIED FOR YOU?
OR WERE YOU BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF THE PAUL?”
PAUL LATER IN THE CHAPTER SAYS —
“GOD HAS CHOSEN THE FOOLISH THINGS OF THE WORLD TO CONFOUND THE WISE; AND GOD HAS CHOSEN THE WEAK THINGS OF THE WORLD TO CONFOUND THE THINGS WHICH ARE MIGHTY.”
(COMMENTARY: IN OTHER WORDS, THE GOSPEL IS TAUGHT BY WEAK AND SIMPLE PEOPLE, PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND I).
1 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 2 SYNOPSIS:
“YOUR FAITH SHOULD NOT STAND IN THE WISDOM OF MEN, BUT IN THE POWER OF GOD.”
“FOR WHAT MAN KNOWS THE THINGS OF MAN, SAVE THE SPIRIT OF MAN WHICH IS IN HIM? EVEN SO THE THINGS OF GOD KNOWS NO MAN, BUT THE SPIRIT OF GOD.”
“WHICH THINGS ALSO WE SPEAK, NOT IN THE WORDS WHICH MAN’S WISDOM TEACHES, BUT WHICH THE HOLY GHOST TEACHES; COMPARING SPIRITUAL THINGS WITH SPIRITUAL.
BUT THE NATURAL MAN RECEIVES NOT THE THINGS OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD: FOR THEY ARE FOOLISHNESS TO HIM: NEITHER CAN HE KNOW THEM, BECAUSE THEY ARE SPIRITUALLY DISCERNED.”
COMMENTARY: PERSONS WHO ARE NOT CHRISTIANS WILL NOT UNDERSTAND THESE THINGS BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY GHOST BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT THE HOLY GHOST WITHIN THEM. NON-CHRISTIANS CAN UNDERSTAND SOME OF THESE TEACHINGS OF THE GOSPEL FROM THE SPARK OF GOD THAT RESIDES IN HUMANS, BUT TO UNDERSTAND THE HIGHER TEACHINGS OF THE SPIRITUAL ONE HAS TO FIRST BECOME A CHRISTIAN AND THEN RECEIVE THE HOLY GHOST.
1 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 3 SYNOPSIS:
PAUL DERIDES THE SAINTS IN CORINTH TELLING THEM HOW HE HAD FED THEM WITH MILK (BASICS) OF THE GOSPEL AND THEY HAVEN’T BEEN ABLE TO HANDLE THE RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE THEY ARE CARNAL.
PROBLEMS IN THE CHURCH INCLUDE ENVY, STRIFE AND DIVISIONS.
HE TELLS THEM —
“EVERY MAN’S WORK SHALL BE MADE MANIFEST: FOR THE DAY SHALL DECLARE IT, BECAUSE IT SHALL BE REVEALED BY FIRE; AND THE FIRE SHALL TRY EVERY MAN’S WORK OF WHAT SORT IT IS.” (COMMENTARY: THIS IS A “TRIAL BY FIRE” REFERENCE.EVERY CHRISTIAN THAT TAKES CHRIST UPON THEMSELVES AT SOME POINT WILL HAVE THEIR CHRISTIANITY TESTED IN A TRIAL BY FIRE WHILE IN THE FLESH.)
“IF ANY MAN’S WORK SHALL BE BURNED, HE SHALL SUFFER LOSS: BUT HE HIMSELF SHALL BE SAVED; YET SO AS BY FIRE.”
(COMMENTARY: UNTOLD MILLIONS OF PEOPLE BOTH LIVING AND DEAD, HAVE COME TO CHRIST THROUGH TRIAL AND AFFLICTION. I PERCEIVE FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE THAT TRIALS ARE ONE OF THE METHODS GOD USES TO GET MAN TO LOOK AT SOMETHING MORE THAN JUST THE ILLUSIONS OF THE SECULAR WORLD.EVEN STILL AT TIMES THAT TESTING OF ONES CHRISTIAN FAITH CAN BRING DEEPER COMMITMENT AND UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IT MEANS TO STAND IN RIGHT AS A CHRISTIAN.)
“KNOW YOU NOT THAT YOU ARE THE TEMPLE OF GOD, AND THAT THE SPIRIT OF GOD DWELLS IN YOU?
IF ANY MAN DEFILES THE TEMPLE OF GOD, HIM SHALL GOD DESTROY: FOR THE TEMPLE OF GOD IS HOLY, WHICH TEMPLE YOU ARE.”
“FOR THE WISDOM OF THIS WORLD IS FOOLISHNESS WITH GOD. FOR IT IS WRITTEN, HE TAKES THE WISE IN THEIR CRAFTINESS.
AND AGAIN, THE LORD KNOWS THE THOUGHTS OF THE WISE, THAT THEY ARE VAIN. THEREFORE LET NO MAN GLORY IN MAN.”
1 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 4 SYNOPSIS:
CHRIST’S MINISTERS MUST BE FAITHFUL.
1 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 5 SYNOPSIS:
“IT IS REPORTED COMMONLY THAT THERE IS FORNICATION AMONG YOU, AND SUCH FORNICATION AS IS NOT SO MUCH AS NAMED AMONG THE GENTILES . . .”
PAUL TELLS THEM TO REMOVE THE WICKED PERSONS FROM THEIR CONGREGATIONS.
1 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 6 SYNOPSIS:
PAUL TELLS THE SAINTS NOT TO GO TO LAW (CIVIL ACTION) WITH ONE ANOTHER.
PAUL TELLS THEM THE UNRIGHTEOUS WILL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD, THEY ARE FORNICATORS, IDOLATERS, THOSE EMBRACING UNNATURAL SEXUALITY, SODOMITES, THIEVES, COVETOUS, DRUNKARDS, REVILERS, EXTORTIONERS.
1 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 7 SYNOPSIS:
“TO AVOID FORNICATION, LET EVERY MAN HAVE HIS OWN WIFE, LET EVERY WOMAN HAVE HER OWN HUSBAND.”
“I SAY THEREFORE TO THE UNMARRIED AND WIDOWS, IT IS GOOD FOR THEM IF THEY ABIDE EVEN AS I.
BUT IF THEY CANNOT CONTAIN (THEMSELVES), LET THEM MARRY: FOR IT IS BETTER TO MARRY THAN TO BURN (WITH LUST).”
PAUL TELLS THE CORINTHIANS —
IF A MAN OR A WOMAN OF THE CHURCH IS MARRIED TO A MAN OR WOMAN, WHO DOES NOT BELIEVE, LET THEM NOT SEPARATE OR DIVORCE.
“FOR THE UNBELIEVING HUSBAND IS SANCTIFIED BY THE WIFE, AND THE UNBELIEVING WIFE IS SANCTIFIED BY THE HUSBAND: ELSE WERE YOUR CHILDREN UNCLEAN; BUT NOW ARE THEY HOLY.”
“BUT IF THE UNBELIEVING DEPART, LET (THEM) DEPART.”
1 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 8 SYNOPSIS:
TO US THERE IS ONE GOD (THE FATHER) AND ONE LORD, WHO IS JESUS CHRIST.
1 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 9 SYNOPSIS:
“WHEN I PREACH THE GOSPEL, I MAY MAKE THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST WITHOUT CHARGE, THAT I ABUSE NOT MY POWER IN THE GOSPEL.”
PAUL TEACHES ON HOW TO DO MISSIONARY WORK TO GAIN CONVERTS.
1 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 10 SYNOPSIS:
PAUL GIVES EARTH SHAKING NEWS TO ALL — CHRIST (THE ANTEMORTAL) IS THE GOD OF ISRAEL WHICH GUIDED MOSES IN THE CLOUD.
1 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 11 SYNOPSIS:
PAUL WARNS THAT HERESIES WILL ARISE IN THE CHURCH.
HE ALSO SPEAKS OF HOW SACRAMENTAL EMBLEMS ARE PARTAKEN IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE FLESH AND BLOOD OF CHRIST. IF A MAN EATS OR DRINKS OF THEM UNWORTHILY IT IS DAMNATION (LACK OF PROGRESSION) TO HIS SOUL.
“FOR THIS CAUSE MANY ARE WEAK AND SICKLY AMONG YOU, AND MANY SLEEP (DIE).”
1 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 12 SYNOPSIS:
PAUL SAYS THAT “NO MAN CAN SAY THAT JESUS IS THE LORD, BUT BY THE HOLY GHOST.”
HE ALSO TEACHES THAT THERE ARE DIVERSE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT GIVEN TO MEN, ALL COMING FROM THE HOLY GHOST.THEY ARE AS FOLLOWS:
“TO ONE IS GIVEN BY THE HOLY SPIRIT THE WORD OF WISDOM.” (KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE COMBINED).
“TO ANOTHER THE WORD OF KNOWLEDGE.”
“TO ANOTHER FAITH.”
“TO ANOTHER THE GIFTS OF HEALING.”
“TO ANOTHER THE WORKING OF MIRACLES.”
“TO ANOTHER PROPHECY.”
“TO ANOTHER DISCERNING OF SPIRITS.”
“TO ANOTHER DIVERSE KINDS OF TONGUE.”
“TO ANOTHER THE INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES.”
“BUT ALL THESE WORK THAT ONE AND THE SELFSAME SPIRIT, DIVIDING TO EACH MAN SEVERALLY AS HE WILL.”
PAUL DESCRIBES THE CHURCH AS “NOW ARE THEY MANY MEMBERS, YET BUT ONE BODY (BODY OF CHRIST).”
HE ALSO STATES “THERE SHOULD BE NO SCHISM IN THE BODY.” (COMMENTARY: THIS CERTAINLY MAKES IT CLEAR THAT CHRISTIAN CHURCHES SHOULD NOT BE DIVIDED IF THEY BELIEVE IN CHRIST, BUT THE MODERN CHURCHES OF MEN HAVE OBVIOUSLY HAVE MADE IT SO.)
PAUL SPEAKS OF THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CHURCH, FIRST APOSTLES, SECOND PROPHETS, AND THIRD TEACHERS.
PAUL SAYS IT IS GOOD TO DESIRE THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
1 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 13 SYNOPSIS:
PAUL SAYS IF I “HAVE NO CHARITY, I AM NOTHING.” (CHARITY = 1) SPIRITUAL LOVE FOR OTHERS; 2) THE LOVE OF GOD ABOVE ALL ELSE.)
CHARITY AS PAUL SAYS, “BEARS ALL THINGS, BELIEVES ALL THINGS, HOPES ALL THINGS, ENDURES ALL THINGS.”
PAUL MAKES A BEAUTIFUL ANALOGY ABOUT LEARNING —
“WHEN I WAS A CHILD, I SPOKE AS A CHILD, I UNDERSTOOD AS A CHILD, I THOUGHT AS A CHILD: BUT WHEN I BECAME A MAN, I PUT AWAY CHILDISH THINGS.”
(COMMENTARY: IN OTHER WORDS, GROW UP PEOPLE.)
1 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 14 SYNOPSIS:
PAUL TELLS THE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH TO DESIRE SPIRITUAL GIFTS.
THE GIFT OF TONGUES AND PROPHECY ARE COMPARED. PAUL STATES THAT IF A MAN SPEAKS IN TONGUES WITH NO INTERPRETATION AVAILABLE, THEN LET HIM KEEP SILENT TO HIMSELF AND GOD. THERE MUST BE SOMEONE PRESENT TO INTERPRET!
“FOR GOD IS NOT THE AUTHOR OF CONFUSION, BUT OF PEACE, AS IN ALL CHURCHES OF THE SAINTS.”
1 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 15 SYNOPSIS:
PAUL SPEAKS OF THE SECOND COMING, “WHEN HE (CHRIST) SHALL PUT DOWN ALL RULE AND AUTHORITY AND POWER (ON EARTH). FOR HE MUST REIGN, TILL HE HAS PUT ALL HIS ENEMIES UNDER HIS FEET.”
PAUL TELLS US, “THERE IS A NATURAL BODY AND A SPIRITUAL BODY.”
HE SPEAKS ON THE RESURRECTION —
“NOW THIS I SAY, BRETHREN, THAT FLESH AND BLOOD CANNOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD, NEITHER DOES CORRUPTION INHERIT INCORRUPTION.
BEHOLD, I SHOW YOU A MYSTERY; WE SHALL NOT ALL SLEEP, BE WE SHALL ALL BE CHANGED IN A MOMENT, IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE, AT THE LAST TRUMP: FOR THE TRUMPET SHALL SOUND, AND THE DEAD SHALL BE RAISED INCORRUPTIBLE, AND WE SHALL BE CHANGED.
(COMMENTARY: THIS IS A REFERENCE TO THE RAPTURE TO COME IN THE LAST DAYS— WE DO NOT KNOW WHEN, BUT IT COMES.)
“FOR THIS CORRUPTIBLE MUST PUT ON INCORRUPTION, AND THIS MORTAL MUST PUT ON IMMORTALITY. SO WHEN THIS CORRUPTIBLE SHALL HAVE PUT ON IMMORTALITY, THEN SHALL BE BROUGHT TO PASS THE SAYING THAT IS WRITTEN, DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY, O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING? O GRAVE, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY?”
“BUT THANKS BE TO GOD, WHICH GIVES US VICTORY THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.”
1 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 16 SYNOPSIS:
PAUL SAYS, “STAND FAST IN THE FAITH; LET ALL THINGS BE DONE WITH CHARITY.”
(COMMENTARY: THE DEPTH OF PASSIONATE PROSE AND POWER BY WHICH THE APOSTLE PAUL MAKES HIMSELF KNOWN TO THE VARIOUS CHURCHES AMAZES. THEN AGAIN, WE ARE DEALING WITH AN EDUCATED PHARISEE CONVERTED TO THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT OF UTTERANCE.)
PAUL SPEAKS BEYOND MERE HUMAN INTELLIGENCE AS WE CONTINUE LOOKING AT HIS SECOND LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS.
THE SECOND EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS
2 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 1 SYNOPSIS:
PAUL SAYS OF GOD —
“WHO COMFORTS US IN ALL OUR TRIBULATION, THAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO COMFORT THEM WHICH ARE IN ANY TROUBLE, BY THE COMFORT WHEREWITH WE OURSELVES ARE COMFORTED BY GOD.”
2 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 2 SYNOPSIS:
SAINTS (MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH) SHOULD LOVE AND FORGIVE ONE ANOTHER.
2 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 3 SYNOPSIS:
THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST SURPASSES THE LAW OF MOSES.
PAUL STATED THAT THE JEWISH “MINDS WERE BLINDED: FOR UNTIL THIS DAY REMAINS THE SAME VEIL UNTAKEN AWAY IN THE READING OF THE OLD TESTAMENT; WHICH VEIL IS DONE AWAY IN CHRIST.”
BUT EVEN TO THIS DAY, WHEN MOSES IS READ, A VEIL LIES ON THEIR HEART. NEVERTHELESS, WHEN ONE TURNS TO THE LORD, THE VEIL IS TAKEN AWAY.
2 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 4 SYNOPSIS:
PAUL SAYS, “IF OUR GOSPEL BE HID, IT IS HID TO THEM THAT ARE LOST: IN WHOM THE GOD OF THEIR WORLD (SATAN) HAS BLINDED THE MINDS OF THEM WHICH BELIEVE NOT, LEST THE LIGHT OF THE GLORIOUS GOSPEL OF CHRIST, WHO IS THE IMAGE OF GOD, SHOULD SHINE TO THEM.”
2 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 5 SYNOPSIS:
PAUL SAYS, “WE WALK BY FAITH, AND NOT BY SIGHT.”
“FOR WE MUST APPEAR BEFORE THE JUDGEMENT SEAT OF CHRIST; THAT EVERY ONE MAY RECEIVE THE THINGS DONE IN THE BODY, ACCORDING TO THAT HE HAS DONE, WHETHER IT BE GOOD OR BAD.”
“THEREFORE IF ANY MAN BE IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATURE: OLD THINGS ARE PASSED AWAY; BEHOLD, ALL THINGS ARE BECOME NEW.”
“NOW THEN WE ARE AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST . . .”
2 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 6 SYNOPSIS:
GOD’S MINISTERS MUST WALK UPRIGHTLY AND BEAR ALL THINGS.
PAUL SPEAKS ON INTERFAITH OR MIXED FAITH MARRIAGES —
“BE NOT UNEQUALLY YOKED (MARRIED) WITH UNBELIEVERS: FOR WHAT FELLOWSHIP HAS RIGHTEOUSNESS WITH UNRIGHTEOUSNESS? AND WHAT COMMUNION HAS LIGHT WITH DARKNESS?”
2 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 7 SYNOPSIS:
GODLY SORROW FOR SIN LEADS THE BELIEVER TO REPENTANCE.
2 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 8 SYNOPSIS:
TRUE SAINTS (MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH) GIVE TO THE POOR.
PAUL SPEAKS ON BEING HONEST —
“PROVIDING FOR HONEST THINGS, NOT ONLY IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD, BUT ALSO IN THE SIGHT OF MEN.”
2 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 9 SYNOPSIS:
GOD LOVES AND REWARDS A CHEERFUL GIVER.
2 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 10 SYNOPSIS:
BRING EVERY THOUGHT INTO OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST.
2 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 11 SYNOPSIS:
PAUL WARNS THE SAINTS (CHURCH MEMBERS) OF EVIL APOSTLES “DECEIVING THE PEOPLE.”
HE REMINDS THEM THAT, “SATAN HIMSELF IS TRANSFORMED INTO AN ANGEL OF LIGHT.”
PAUL TELLS THE SAINTS OF HIS GLORIOUS TIMELINE OF SUFFERING FOR CHRIST —
- THE JEWS GAVE HIM 40 STRIPES 5 DIFFERENT TIMES = 200 STRIPES.
- 3 TIMES HE WAS BEATEN WITH WOODEN STICKS.
- ONE TIME STONED.
- 3 TIMES SHIPWRECKED.
- PERILS OF THE WILDERNESS MANY TIMES.
- PERILS OF HUNGER AND THIRST MANY TIMES.
2 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 12 SYNOPSIS:
PAUL TELLS THE SAINTS OF A VISION —
“I KNEW A MAN (A CHRISTIAN) OVER 14 YEARS AGO, (WHETHER IN THE BODY, I CANNOT TELL; OR WHETHER OUT OF THE BODY, I CANNOT TELL: GOD KNOWS) AND THIS ONE WAS CAUGHT UP TO THE THIRD HEAVEN.”
(PAUL GOES ON TO DESCRIBE THE THIRD HEAVEN AS THE PARADISE OF GOD.)
PAUL TELLS THEM HE HAD AN EGO PROBLEM FOR A LONG TIME AND TOOK THE PROBLEM TO THE LORD THREE TIMES TO GET RID OF IT.
HE LEARNS THAT GOD GIVES MEN WEAKNESSES THAT THEY MAY TRIUMPH OVER THEM.
2 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 13 SYNOPSIS:
SAINTS (MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH) SHOULD TEST THEMSELVES AS TO WHETHER THEY ARE RIGHTEOUS.
“EXAMINE YOURSELVES, WHETHER YOU ARE IN THE FAITH; PROVE YOUR OWN SELVES.”
NEXT . . . THE EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE GALATIANS