Tag Archive | Corinthians

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 339

Dec5

   Day 339—We are in the LAST month of Bible reading for the year and studying The ACTS of the Apostles with the LETTERS of the Apostles.

Day 339 – 2 Corinthians 5 – 9 (Warnings, servants of God, repentance, the grace of giving, cheerful giving)

2 Corinthians 5.

As a tentmaker, Paul compares his earthly body to a tent, but his eternal body with Christ, as a house made without hands that God has prepared for those who believe.

He cautions that all of us will appear before Christ to receive what is due us for what we’ve done in the body, whether good or evil. And so, we should persuade others to be reconciled to Christ. In fact, believers are ambassadors for Him, imploring others to be reconciled to God through Christ.  “For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”

2 Corinthians 6.

Paul claims truthfully that he “puts no obstacle in anyone’s way. ‘Behold NOW is the favorable time; behold, NOW is the day of salvation!”

Paul commends himself and his fellow workers as SERVANTS of God and lists the ways.

  • by great endurance in afflictions, hardships, calamities,
  • beatings, imprisonments, riots,
  • labors, sleepless nights, hunger,
  • by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love,
  • by truthful speech and the power of God, with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left,
  • through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise,
  • treated as imposters, and yet are true; as unknown, yet are well known; as dying and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed, as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing, as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

2 Corinthians 7.

Paul tells the people of the church in Corinth that “we are the temple of the living God” and to NOT be connected with anyone who is not also a believer – in marriage, business, worship, or leadership.

He and they are to “cleanse themselves from every defilement of body, and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.”

He also tenderly rejoices to hear of their godly grieving, which led to their repentance. It gives him comfort and joy.

2 Corinthians 8.

Paul again encourages them to prepare an offering for the poor in Jerusalem.  He’d mentioned it almost a year before, but all that palaver took place and sidetracked this grace. Now, he was coming with two other brothers to collect what they’d set aside.  He’s bragged to the Macedonians (Philippi, etc.) about them and now doesn’t want them to be embarrassed when he arrives.  He tells them how the Macedonians, even in extreme poverty, have given generously.  They gave not according to the means but BEYOND THEIR MEANS.

The Corinthians had excelled in everything – faith, speech, knowledge, earnestness –  “see that you excel in this act of grace also.”  He encourages them to imitate Christ, who was rich but, for their sakes, became poor to enrich them.  They are to give “according to what they HAVE, not what they don’t have.”

“So GIVE PROOF before the churches of your love and of our boasting about you.”

2 Corinthians 9.

Paul continues about the Corinthian’s offering to the poor. He wants it to be “a willing gift.”

“Whosoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, NOT reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

“You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. The ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.”

Then Paul concludes this section on generous giving by praising God for His surpassing GRACe in giving His son for their salvation.  “Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift!

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 337

Dec3

   Day 337—We are in the LAST month of Bible reading for the year and studying The ACTS of the Apostles with the LETTERS of the Apostles.

Day 337 – 1 Corinthians 15 – 16 (Resurrection of Jesus and believers, Offerings for the needy, End talk)

1 Corinthians 15.

Paul now addresses another problem in Corinth. Some had stopped believing in the physical resurrection of the Lord and of those who died (or will die).

He reminds them that at their conversion, when he was first in Corinth, they had believed in the Gospel, which teaches how Christ died for our sins, was buried, and was RAISED ON THE THIRD DAY, all according to the Scriptures.  Paul then mentions many who SAW the resurrected Jesus: the disciples, 500 followers, James, and at last, Paul himself.

Therefore, if “Christ raised from the dead” is part of the Gospel that saved them, how can they question it?  Indeed, their faith is in VAIN if Christ has not been raised.

He tells them again that Jesus is the FIRST FRUITS of the resurrection.  He first, then all who believe shall be made alive at His coming.

The Corinthians also asked what a resurrection body is like.  Paul reminded them of growing plants.  You plant a withered, brown seed in the ground, and in due time, a glorious, fruitful plant grows. And so, a dead body is sown in dishonor, weakness, and natural form. At the coming of the Lord Jesus, it will be raised in glory and power as a spiritual body. “Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust (Adam), we shall also bear the image of the Man of heaven (Jesus).”

It’s a mystery, Paul agrees, but flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.  We will be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet sound.  The dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. When that happens, it will fulfill Isaiah 25:8 and Hosea 13:14.

“Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

1 Corinthians 16.

Now for the mundane.  Paul is heading to Jerusalem with an offering for destitute believers in the famine-stricken city. He has already collected from Galatia, Macedonia, and Achaia, but now he asks them again. They were to put aside money on the first of every week, and when he arrived, he would collect it all.  It was to be a free-will offering of love.

He says a few words about their beloved teacher, Apollos, who will return to them again when he has the opportunity. Meanwhile, they are to be watchful, standing firm in the faith. He reminds them of what he said in chapter 13, that all they do should be done in LOVE.

He sends greetings from all the churches in Asia, and from Aquila and Priscilla (who were there when he first planted the church). He gives his final blessing: “May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.”

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 334

Nov30

   Day 334—We are in the ELEVENTH month of Bible reading and studying The ACTS of the Apostles with the LETTERS of the Apostles.

Day 334 – 1 Corinthians 5 – 8 (Paul teaches/corrects the Corinthians on immorality, lawsuits, marriage, and food)

1 Corinthians 5.

Paul calls them to task about reports he’s heard concerning flagrant immorality in the church.  “This is NOT Christian FREEDOM, but devilish sin.”

Paul then instructs them “not to associate with anyone who bears the name of “brother” if he is guilty of sexual immorality, greed, idolatry, drunkenness or swindling…. no, not even to eat with such a one.”  

1 Corinthians 6.

Another grievance Paul has is about them taking each other to court about minor wrongs done. He asks if there is not some WISE brother who could mediate between the parties.  After all, Paul reminds them, believers will one day judge ANGELS!!  It would be better to suffer wrong than go to the world’s court system with problems in the church. What kind of testimony is that?? He urges them not to be obstinate in such matters.

Paul then lists again the sins they were ALL involved in before they were saved. But now they are washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of God!  (So act like that!)

He reminds the Corinthians that their bodies are members of Christ. Should they take “Christ’s body” with them into gross sin?  Don’t they realize that their bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit who dwells in them??  Glorify God in your body! he urges them.

1 Corinthians 7.

Then Paul discusses marriage, singleness, divorce/widowhood, and unbelieving mates. His own opinion is that everyone should stay single as he is so they can be free to do ministry anywhere, anytime. But he knows God has ordained marriage, and there is nothing wrong with it. He urges widows to remain single. However, those with unbelieving mates should not separate for that reason alone.  After all, that spouse may become a believer from the other’s example and testimony.

In conclusion, “let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him/her.” He says the same about other situations. If uncircumcised or a slave, don’t seek circumcision or to be freed. In whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God. 

Returning to marriage, Paul says the same. “In view of the present distress (the appointed time has grown very short and the present form of the world is passing away),” it is good to marry if betrothed but otherwise remain single.  And if widowed, don’t remarry.  (This last part Paul admits is his opinion, but he “thinks he has the Spirit’s advice too.”

1 Corinthians 8.

Paul again turns to foods with more details, particularly those offered first to idols. (This was part of pagan false worship.) As mature believers, we know that all foods are okay to eat. The problem is, if an immature brother with a weak conscience sees you eating it, he may be conflicted, and it may cause him to sin in his heart if he too partakes along with you.

So, Paul’s advice is: if you are alone or with mature fellow believers, eat up and enjoy, for you are no part of pagan worship.  HOWEVER, if new believers recently out of that culture are eating with you, refrain for their conscience’s sake.  “If food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble,”

(More on this tomorrow.)