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Introduction
to the First Epistle to the Corinthians
I.
Writer
The apostle Paul (1Cor. 1:1; 16:21);
According to the records of the Scriptures, Paul
was originally named Saul (Acts 13:9) and was an Israelite, of tribe of Benjamin
(Rom. 11:1), Hebrew of Hebrews according to the blood relationship (Phil. 3:5).
He was born in Tarsus of Cilicia, at the feet of Gamaliel, educated according
to exactness of the law of fathers (Acts 22:3). Later, according to the
strictest sect of our religion he lived a Pharisee (Acts 26:5) and was zealous
for the law of his fathers and persecuted the church (Phil. 3:6). However, Paul
did it ignorantly, in unbelief (1Tim. 1:13). One day, when he went to seize
believers of the Lord Jesus to
II.
The Time and Location the Book was Written
When the apostle Paul went
out to preach the gospel the second time, he had ever stayed in
III.
The Recipients
To the
Paul had lived in
The city of
IV.
The Purposes of Writing this Book
After Paul had left
1) Those who were of the house of Chloe told
him there were divisions in the church (1Cor. 1:11-12). Therefore, he used four
chapters to exhort them not to exalt any man.
2) Someone told him that there was fornication
and matters against others in the church (1Cor. 5:1; 6:1). Therefore, he
applied two chapters to admonish them against fornication and matters against
others.
3) Concerning many things they asked or they
were faced with, e.g.: things concerning marriage and virgins (chap. 7), and
things concerning sacrificed to idols and the enjoyment of eating and drinking
(chap. 8-10), and things concerning the women’s covered head and the eating of
the Lord’s supper and eating together (chap.11), and things concerning
spiritual gifts (chap. 12-14), and things concerning resurrection (chap. 15)
and things of the collection (chap. 16). Paul gave them instructions one by
one.
V.
The Importance of this Book
The First Book to the
Corinthians is a book relating to “many matters”, for Paul in the book dealt
with many matters (“concerning…”) in the evil city of
VI.
General Description
In short, Jesus Christ and Him crucified are the
answer to all the problems in the church. We are all sanctified in Christ
Jesus, and call on His name in every place ---- He is the Lord of all of us
(1:2). We are called into the fellowship of His Son (1:9). The Lord Jesus is
the power and wisdom of God (1:24), and is our wisdom: righteousness and
sanctification and redemption (1:30). Therefore, we shall know nothing except
Jesus Christ and Him crucified (2:2). Jesus Christ is the only foundation of
building the church (3:11). We believers are all of Christ (3:23), and all the
workers of the Lord are only ministers of Christ (4:1). He that judges is the
Lord (4:4). Christ, the lamb of the Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore,
on one hand we have become a new holy lump, (5:7) and on the other hand we had been
bought by the Lord at a price (6:20) so that our bodies become members of
Christ (6:15) and we are joined to the Lord are one spirit with Him (6:17). The
goal of our life thereafter shall be cares for the things of the Lord ---- how
he may please the Lord (7:32). We dare not to sin against the Lord (8:12), and
walk as we walk before Him (9:21). Christ is the cloud that guides us (10:2),
and the spiritual food (10:3) and spiritual (10:4) water that provide us, as
well as the spiritual rock that follows us (10:4). We should take Him as our
guidance and provision of life. Christ is the Head of us (11:3), and we shall
honor Him and remember Him (11:24-27). We are all members in the body of Christ
(12:12). The Holy Spirit gives different measure (gift) to each member so that
we shall have the same concern one for another (12:25). Therefore, we shall
love one another (chap.13). All words and deeds should be for the purpose of
edifying the church (14:4). Christ is raised from among dead, and become the
first-fruits (15:20). In the Christ all shall be made alive (15:22) and be
transformed into the spiritual, heavenly and incorruptible body in glory
(15:43-54). Therefore, we shall abound in the work of the Lord today (15:58).
Be vigilant; stand fast in the faith; quit yourselves like men; be strong
(16:13), for the Lord is coming (16:22).
VII.
Special Points
There are special points of this book as follows:
1) “In Christ” is the sphere of believers’
life: believers are sanctified in Christ (1:2) and enjoy the grace of God in
Christ (1:4) and enjoy Christ as our wisdom: righteousness, holiness and
redemption (1:30). If believers are unwilling to pursue or pursue a wrong goal,
they will be still babies in Christ (3:1), and they regard them wise, but are
fools actually. On the contrary, they can bear fruit of life in Christ (4:15)
and have good example in walking (4:17) and even have boast (15:31), for all
the labor in the Lord is not in vain (15:58). In Christ, we will have love
toward God and toward men (16:24). Without Christ, there is no love.
2) The assembly is the body of Christ (12:27),
and represents Christ Himself on the earth. To divide the church is to divide
Christ (1:13). If there is fornication in the church, it sins against Christ
(5:7-8). Whoever in the church eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord
in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the Lord Himself (11:27). If the church
does not keep the order when is assembled, it goes against the commandment of
the Lord (14:37).
3) Believers are called into the fellowship of
the Lord’s being and works and Himself (1:9) through the union with Him. He
that joined to the Lord is one Spirit (6:17). Since we are in the fellowship
with the Lord, we shall not be in communion with demons (10:21). Since we are
in the communion of the body of the Christ (10:16), we shall no longer mix with
fornicators (5:9).
4) The truth of the cross is the principle of
resolving all the problems in the church:
a.
In order to resolve
the problems of divisions in the church, Christ who has been crucified should
be exalted (1:13, 17).
b.
In order to resolve
the problems of fornications in the church, our passover, Christ who has been
sacrificed should be exalted (5:7).
c.
In order to resolve
the problems of believers’ misuse of their bodies, believers should be reminded
that their bodies are bought with a price by Christ (6:20).
d.
In order to resolve
the problems of offending brothers because of the eating of things sacrificed
to idols, we should be reminded that Christ died for the sake of him who is
weak (8:11).
e.
In order to resolve
the problems of eating the Lord’s supper unworthily, we should be reminded that
this is the Lord’s body, which is for us (11:24).
f.
In order to resolve
the problem of the falseness of faith, that Christ died for our sins and that he
was buried and that he was raised the third day should be testified (15:3-4).
VIII.
It’s Relations with Other Books in the Bible
1. The relation with the Book of Galatians: the
Book of Galatians mentions that believers are held again in the yoke of the
law (Gal. 5:1) since they have given up the liberty obtained in Christ. This
book points that believers shall even become a stumbling-block to others (8:9),
if they use their right improperly.
2. The relation with the Book of Ephesians: the
Book of Ephesians refers to the truth of the spiritual universal church.
This book relates to the practical matters in the physical regional church.
IX.
Key Verses
“But
of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and
righteousness and sanctification and redemption (1:30)”.
“For
I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him
crucified (2:2)”.
X.
Key Words
“The Lord” (1:2, 7, 8, 9, 10, 31; 2:8, 16; 3:5,
20…) (more than sixty times in the whole book);
“In Christ Jesus” (1:2, 4, 30; 3:1; 4:10, 15, 17;
15:18, 22, 31; 16:24);
“Be partakers”, “have fellowship with” (1:9; 5:9,
11; 10:16, 20);
“Wisdom”, (1:17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27,
30; 2:4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 13; 3:18, 19, 20; 6:5; 12:8);
“
“Gift”, “spiritual gift”, (1:7; 2:12; 7:7; 12:1, 4,
9, 28, 30, 31; 14:1,12);
“Power”, (2:6,8; 4:19, 20; 5:4; 7:4; 9:4, 5, 6, 12,
15, 18; 11:10; 15:24, 55, 56);
XI.
Outlines of the Book
A.
Introduction
(1:1-9):
1.
Blessing (1:1-3);
2.
Thanks (1:4-7);
3.
Intercession
(1:8-9);
B.
The problem of
divisions in the church (1:10-4:21):
1.
The condition of the
divisions (1:10-17);
2.
The reason for the
divisions (1:18-3:5);
a.
One shall not know
the truth of the cross by wisdom in the world (1:18-2:5).
b.
The natural man does
not receive the things of God (2:6-16).
c.
Emulation and strife
are of the flesh (3:1-5).
3.
The way to deal with
the divisions (3:6-4:21):
a.
The church shall
know the workers are used by God to build the church (3:6-17).
b.
The church shall
know the workers are of believers (3:18-23).
c.
The church shall
know all the workers are servants of Christ and are responsible to the Lord
respectively (4:1-5).
d.
The church should
think of workers above that which is written in the Scriptures (4:6-13).
e.
The church shall
receive the apostles’ warning to be imitators of apostles (4:14-21).
C.
Problems concerning
morality in the church (5:1-6:20):
1.
The church bears the
man who commits fornication (5:1-13):
a.
The one that has done this deed should be taken away out of the church (5:1-5).
b.
The church shall
keep the unleavened holy nature of the church (5:6-11).
c.
The church has the
power of judgment within the church (5:12-13).
2.
Brother prosecutes his suit
with brother, and that before unbelievers (6:1-8).
3.
One should not
fulfill the lust of the flesh, but glorify now then God in his body (6:9-20).
D.
Answers to the
questions in life raised by the church (7:1-11:1):
1.
Question concerning
marriage and virgin (7:1-40):
a.
Single brother or
sister, without gift of God, should marry (7:1-9).
b.
He who has married shall
keep the present state (7:10-16).
c.
Let each believer
abide in that calling in which he has been called (7:17-24).
d.
The advantages of
virgins and having no marriage (7:25-35)
e.
It is not forbidden
for those who desire to marry or marry again (7:36-40).
2.
Question concerning
the eating of things
sacrificed to idols (8:1-11:1):
a.
The basic knowledge concerning things
sacrificed to idols (8:1-8);
b.
Though one has
liberty of eating, he shall give up the liberty so as not to offend others
(8:9-13).
c.
Though the apostle
has a right to
eat and to drink on account of the
gospel, he is willing to give up the right for sake of others (9:1-27).
d.
Paul takes a warning
example the thing that the
e.
We cannot partake of Lord's table and
of table of demons (10:14-22).
f.
Whether
therefore we eat, or drink, or whatever
we do, do all things to God's glory (10:23-11:1).
E.
Various matters
concerning the gatherings of the church (11:2-14:40):
1.
Matters concerning
the women’s covered head (11:2-16):
a.
The authority and
order set by God in the universe (11:2-3);
b.
Every woman praying or
prophesying with her head uncovered puts her own head to shame (11:4-6).
c.
The woman to have authority
on her head, on account of the angels
(11:7-15).
d.
The assemblies of God have no such custom of contentions (11:16).
2.
Matters concerning
the Lord’s supper and eating together (11:17-34):
a.
Paul rebuked them
for not eating the Lord’s supper properly (11:17-22).
b.
The spiritual
meaning of the Lord’s supper (11:23-26).
c.
Those who eat the bread, or drink the
cup of the Lord unworthily shall be disciplined of Lord (11:27-32).
d.
If they do not wait for one another, they shall not put their eating and the
Lord’s supper together (11:33-34).
3.
Matters concerning
the spiritual gifts and its application (12:1-27):
a.
The origin of
spiritual gifts (12:1-11);
b.
To see spiritual
gifts from the relation of body with members (12:12-27);
c.
God gives various
spiritual gifts in the church (12:28-30);
d.
Spiritual gifts
should be applied in love (12:31-13:13);
e.
The spiritual gift
of prophesying is better than the gift of tongues (14:1-25);
f.
The principle of
applying spiritual gifts when believers are gathered (12:26-40);
F.
Matter concerning
the faith of resurrection (chap. 15):
1.
The proof of
resurrection (15:1-34):
a.
The testimony of
Christ’s resurrection (15:1-11);
b.
Christ’s
resurrection proves that all the dead shall rise again (15:12-19).
c.
The dead shall rise
according to his
own rank (15:20-28).
d.
The hope of
resurrection influences our walking (15:29-34)。
2.
The body of
resurrection (15:35-49):
a.
The body of
resurrection is different from that on the earth now (15:35
b.
The body of
resurrection is spiritual and heavenly (15:42b-49).
3.
The effect of resurrection
(15:50-57):
a.
Corruption shall turn to incorruptibility (15:50
b.
Life swallows up
death (15:54b-57).
4. Exhortation on account of
resurrection (15:58);
G.
Paul’s advisements
in the end (chap. 16):
1.
Things concerning
collection (16:1-4);
2.
Paul’s plan of his
journey (16:5-9).
3.
Exhortations and
greetings in the end (16:10-24).
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Mary Zhou