1 Corinthians

Literary Style and Beauty:  Macrostructure

            I suggest that the body of this letter addresses six sets of problems in a straightforward fashion, without special literary devices, though some parallels and repetitions are used.

Large Outline

1.  Prologue (1:1-9)

            A.  Paul’s greeting (1:1-3)

            B.  Paul’s thanksgiving (1:4-9)

(Body of Letter)[1]

• Paul’s response to Reported Problems (1:10-6:20)[2]

2.  Problem #1:  Divisions in the Church (1:10-4:21)

• Solution:  Complex analysis in A, B, C, following

A.  The fact of divisions (1:10-17; note 11:19, very enlightening)

B.  The causes of divisions (1:18-2:16)

       (1)  Misunderstanding God’s wisdom in the message of the cross (1:18-2:5)

       (2)  Misunderstanding God’s wisdom in the revealing ministry of the Spirit (2:6-16)

                        (endnote:  we have the mind of Christ!  2:16)

C.  The consequences of divisions (3:1-4:5)

        (1)  Spiritual growth is stunted (3:1-9)

                    (2)  Final rewards will be lost (3:10-4:5)

                        (endnote:  all things are yours!  3:21, 22; positive view of the end, 4:5)

D.  Conclusion:  follow the example of Paul (4:6-21; note 4:16, cf. 11:1)

                        (note:  the kingdom of God does not consist in words, but in power, 4:20)

3.  Problem #2:  Moral laxity (5:1-6:20)

            A.  Incest (5:1-13)

• Solution:  excommunication of unrepentant offender; appeal to purity of the church, in Passover imagery

B.  Lawsuits (6:1-8)

• Solution:  church to solve its members’ problems without the civil courts; appeal to future glory of the church and dignity of Christ-like acceptance of being wronged[3]

C.  General Exhortation (6:9-11)

            (curses and blessings in the kingdom of God)

D.  Sexual immorality (6:12-20; more general than specific case in A above)

• Solution:  keep physical body pure; appeal to indwelling Holy Spirit and to purchase of believer’s physical body by the blood of Christ. 

• Paul’s Response to the Corinthians’ Letter to Him (7:1-11:1; see 7:1, 8:1, etc.)

4.  Problem #3:  Celibacy/Marriage/Divorce/Remarriage (7:1-40)

• Solution:  complex, nuanced answer, but basically:  celibacy is best, marriage is good, divorce is to be avoided if possible, remarriage is to be limited; general principle:  believers should marry only other believers (7:39).[4]

5.  Problem #4:  Eating meat sacrificed to idols (8:1-13; again, 10:14-33)

• Solution:  freedom of individual believer’s conscience on this matter; appeal to the sovereignty of God, and to taking loving responsibility not to cause other believers to stumble,[5] and to the incompatibility of the Christian Feast (Lord’s Supper) and idol feasts.[6]

6.  Interlude on Comprehensive Solutions (9:1-11:1)

• Principles of giving up rights (9:1-27, and 10:32-11:1, centered on Paul as an example) and of heeding warnings of history concerning God’s judgments (10:1-13; endnote: 10:13, a promise).

•  Paul’s Response to Other Reported Problems (11:2-15:58)[7]

7.  Problem #5:  Disorders in public worship (11:2-14:40)

• Set of problems with a variety of issues, such as: veiling of women, proper observance of the Lord’s Supper (note divisions and selfishness again, 11:19-22), proper use of tongues and prophecy in public worship.
• Solutions:  Complex, nuanced answer, but basically:  proper submission of women (ch.11 and ch.14), proper warnings about partaking of the Lord’s Supper, use of all spiritual gifts in context of what is best for the body of Christ (14:12 and throughout section) and special “midpoint” section on love as the most excellent way (ch. 13).

8.  Problem #6:  Denial of the resurrection (15:1-58) (note vv. 12, 34, 35)

• Solution:  detailed theology on centrality of Christ’s resurrection and certainty of all believers’ resurrection (note basic “what is the gospel?” in vv. 1-4). 
• Endnote:  Victory and abounding in the work of the Lord, 15:57-58

(End of body of letter)

9.  Conclusion  (16:1-24)

            A.  Prepare for the collection (16:1-4)[8]

            B.  Paul’s planned visit (16:5-9)

            C.  Paul’s exhortations concerning the work of various others (16:10-18)

            D.  Greetings from others and again from Paul (16:19-21)

            E.  Warning and benediction (16:22-24) (profound endnote to letter in 16:22)

Author and Purpose

            Paul wrote this letter (1:1; 16:21!) to a church he had planted himself (Acts 18).  Though there were some Jews in this church (Acts 18:4), it was mostly Gentile (note the end of Acts 18:6, a “turning point” in Paul’s whole ministry).  Apollos also had a ministry there as the church was growing (Acts 19:1) – hence, the “party of Apollos,” 1 Cor. 1:12; 3:4, part of the problem of divisions in the church (3:6 fits exactly).  This mostly Gentile church (note also 12:2) presents the practical problem of an early church in the fullness of their puzzling variety (hence my commentary title, “Problems of a Gentile Church”).  Paul wrote this letter to address those problems.

Commentary:  Problems of a Gentile Church

            The specific problems dealt with in this letter are of great significance historically in giving us a real picture of the early church, and how Paul addresses them was of the utmost importance to the original audience of the letter.  But the abiding significance of the letter is not the specific problems (because those change in all the various particular churches across the centuries) but the fact that Paul addresses those problems from principles.  If we can discern what those principles are and how Paul applied them, then we will have learned the lasting lessons of the Corinthian correspondence and we can trust the same Holy Spirit to enable us to apply the right principles in the right ways to other church problems besides the specific ones in these letters.  So, my aim in this Commentary is to begin to discern and to expound Paul’s principles.  This will offer some real substance from a Survey.

1.  The Question of Authority

A principle behind the principles:  the question of Authority (by what standard shall things be judged or decided?).  This will be an underlying theme of our Surveys of both First and Second Corinthians.

(1)  Paul cites the OT as decisive authority.[9]  This is confirmed by his practice of using the OT to prove Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God in his preaching in Acts and in his Letters; note also the broad use of the OT in 1 Cor. 10.  A key passage in the Pastoral Epistles, especially for church leadership training, is 1 Tim. 3:16-17.

(2)  Paul brings together the great Gospel facts of the death and resurrection of Christ with the OT authority (1 Cor. 15:1-4); and yet the gospel facts have “Scripture authority” themselves (1 Cor. 15:12-14), and Paul starts his reasoning from them as well as from the OT.  This is part of a complex proof that the NT is “Scripture” along with the OT.   Confirming Paul’s authority to do so, Peter refers to Paul’s Letters as Scripture (2 Peter 3:16).  We also note that the pattern of the whole OT is of the redemptive word accompanying redemptive deeds; and so the NT is the redemptive word accompanying the redemptive deed of the Work of Christ.  (Notice that this means that the canon is closed, because the Work of Christ is finished!)  Inquire:  Can you find further examples that confirm the NT as having the same authority as the OT?

(3)  Paul brings together the Work of the Spirit and the OT authority, as in 2 Cor. 4:6, where he connects the illumination of creation by God in Genesis with the illumination of the believer by the Spirit.  He even shows how the NT Work of the Spirit surpasses the OT, as in 2 Cor. 3, where the Spirit’s Work is linked with the new covenant, though it also fulfills what the OT foretold.  So another source of NT authority is the Holy Spirit, though He always works with Christ and with the Word,[10] and so always works with the NT canon today.  Inquire:  Find more examples of the Holy Spirit’s affirmation of Scriptural authority.

            (4)  Paul says in some places that he has something “from the Lord.”  A very important example is 1 Cor. 11:23 on the Lord’s Supper, which agrees with the Gospels.  Paul uses similar language, though not the same phrase, in 1 Cor. 15:3 regarding the great Gospel facts.  This is also crucial in 1 Cor. 7:10 and context, which agrees with the OT and Jesus against divorce.  This claim also has authority equal to that described in points 1, 2, and 3 above.  Inquire:  Are there other examples of Paul echoing Jesus’ teaching?

            (5)  Paul also commends apostolic traditions in some places (e.g., 1 Cor. 11:2; but what does Paul mean by 11:2-16?), and sometimes the “standard practice” of the churches (14:33-34) is also “the Lord’s commandment” (14:37, in this context on the submission of women).  Paul stakes his apostolic authority on its being right (v.38, very strong).  On this point we cannot unravel everything that would be “tradition” or “Scripture” (such as, women’s wearing “prayer caps” like the Mennonites do), but we can follow what is clear in the NT as our “Scripture authority” (such as proper place of women in church, also supported by 1 Tim. 2:9-15).  Inquire:  Explore further.  Many things said “in passing” in the NT may be “traditions” or “customs” of that time.  Is the “holy kiss” or “kiss of peace” an example?

            (6)  Finally, Paul even distinguishes his “opinions” from what he has “from the Lord” (1 Cor. 7:12, 25, 40, and whole chapter context).  This shows he has a very balanced and sophisticated view of Authority, and it further leads us to trust him when he asserts something is “from the Lord.”  The NT has preserved these opinions for us, too, and obviously they would not be on the same level as points 1-4, or even 5, above.  Inquire:  Are there other examples of Paul’s opinions?  Explore further, especially regarding what weight these opinions should be given.

            Conclusion:  We discern a rich Biblical basis for what our Westminster Standards affirm as the Bible, OT and NT, as the only infallible rule of faith and practice, and the Holy Spirit, speaking in Scripture (alone!), as the judge of all church controversies.  So, beyond the specific problems of the Corinthians, we will find Holy Scripture to be our ultimate help in all church problems.  We have only to discern its application, as Paul did with the OT in his day.  We have the Holy Spirit to help us, because John 16:13 is a “living” promise, active today.

We can also discern other principles, from the specific Corinthian problems:

2.  Divisions in the Church

            When dealing with “big” problems like divisions in the church, Paul gives us a good example (and he spends the most space on this problem, so we can see more of his method):  establish the facts (cf. 2 Cor. 13:1; also OT principle), analyze causes, and confront parties involved with consequences.  The “party spirit” at Corinth (1:12; 3:4) is incompatible with the unity of the body of Christ, and each member of the body should see that “all things are yours” (the endnote of ch.3), because diversity of ministry is subordinate to the unity of the body (a theme repeated in chs. 12 and 14).

            Selfishness also caused problems at the fellowship meal before the Lord’s Supper (11:17-22), and “judging the body rightly” (11:29) is part of the cure for that (with warnings!).  See more at point 4 below. 

            One further detail on how understanding the cross solves church divisions:  was Paul crucified for you (1:13)?  So how can there be a party whose loyalty is to Paul, above loyalty to the body of Christ?  Not even a party “of Christ” should distinguish itself from the whole body, for Christ has died on the cross for the whole body, for every believer equally.  If you really understand this, you will not be a part of divisions in the body.

            Inquire:  Draw out more of Paul’s wisdom (that is, God’s wisdom) on this from the passage.  Expound likewise on how understanding the revealing ministry of the Spirit solves church divisions.  Apply this not only locally but to other, modern church divisions, like denominations.  Are we really so mature (ch. 3!) when Christianity is so divided?  What can a few “little people” like us do about that?  More on this in Ephesians.

3.  Who You Are in Christ

            Who you were (1:26-28; 6:9-11) does not matter, but who you are in Christ (6:11; 2:16; 3:23; 12:27; 15:57-58; 2 Cor. 5:17) is the basis for both individual conduct/behavior (6:19-20) and the unity of the body (3:21-23).  This is the indicative as the basis for the imperative.  Inquire:  prove and amplify this point further.

4.  Unity in Diversity

            The “body of Christ” imagery (ch.12, many other places) means diversity does not destroy unity but rather promotes it – when love rules (that is the key): note chapter 13 as the emphasized “midpoint” of the discussion in chapters 12-14, and note 12:22-26 (confirmed by Paul’s beautiful attitude in 2 Cor. 11:28-29!).  When love rules, the principle of ministry is edification of the body (14:12), not exalting any gifts or ministries.

5.  Paul’s Example

            Paul uses himself as an example to imitate (4:16; 11:1; and in other letters in various ways).  Imitate his faith, hope, and love (ch. 13).  Imitate his boldness, his weakness, his versatility (9:19-23) and his single-mindedness (9:24-27):  all the paradox of this servant (1 Cor. 4 and 2 Cor. 4).  Inquire:  Find more examples of ways to imitate Paul.  But what about today?  Now we have a broader answer than in 1 & 2 Corinthians:  see Hebrews 13:7 (compare Heb. 6:12) and 1 Peter 5:3 – we should imitate the best church leaders/elders.  If you can find a Paul today, imitate him!  Note Timothy (1 Tim. 4:12) and Titus (Titus 2:7) are to be church leaders because they are good examples.  Older women are to be imitated by younger women (Titus 2:3-5) and spiritual children should imitate their spiritual parents (Timothy to Paul; the Corinthians to Paul, 2 Cor. 6:13, etc.).  You should be discipling someone less mature than you, and you should be learning from someone more mature (or as mature).  Ponder applications.

Inquire:  find other principles in Paul’s approach to the Corinthians’ problems.

Some beautiful details:

2:9 – the present incomprehensibility of the final glory

2:13 – applies to the inspiration of Scripture also

4:3-4 and therefore v.5 – Paul is above being judged by them and so he is an example of how they are to wait for God to judge (or, put positively, for God to praise)

5:7 – Christ our Passover; link to Lamb in John

8:13 – again, Paul’s glorious attitude of love

10:13 – encouragement in struggle

11:26 – the future orientation of the Lord’s Supper

12:13 – all believers have the baptism of the Spirit (into one body)

14:33 – church order is based on the character of God

15:24-28 – the greatest mystery in Paul’s letters?

16:9 – service and adversaries (typical of Paul!)

Have joy exploring the Word!

SOLI DEO GLORIA!