Paul's
Epistles - 1 Corinthians
Part
1 – Introduction
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
House
of Faith Church | www.PS127.org
| www.TruthDigest.org
INTRODUCTION
We
have just finished looking at the first epistle of Paul, Romans, which was
written to the Christians in Rome in February of 58AD.
We
now turn to the second of the epistles authored by the Apostle Paul, I
Corinthians.
The
church in Corinth was founded by Paul after he worked there for 18 months. (I
Corinthians 4:15; Acts 18)
SCRIPTURE
REFERENCE I Corinthians 1:1-9
1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of
God, and our brother Sosthenes,
2 To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ
Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere
who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:
3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thanksgiving
4 I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in
Christ Jesus. 5 For in him you have been
enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all
knowledge— 6 God thus confirming our
testimony about Christ among you. 7 Therefore
you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus
Christ to be revealed. 8 He will also keep you firm
to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus
Christ. 9 God is faithful, who has called
you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
I.
ORIGINS OF THE
EPISTLE
a.
Paul's founding of
the church in Corinth
i.
Paul spent 18 months founding the church
ii.
After Paul left, disorders broke out
1.
During his 3 years in Ephesus Paul must have rushed
over, in fact, the scriptures say he did this three times, to put these abuses
in order.
2.
This is not an example or church hierarchy, rather, a
founder setting straight the path of a church HE started!
b.
Upon his return, he
wrote his first letter
i.
This first letter is now lost (I Corinthians 5:9, 11)
ii.
So we are actually calling the second the first, and the
third the second.
c.
Paul received
reports about the churches condition
i.
He knew they were struggling with abuses because of
reports that reached him, some reports of some members of a well-known family.
(I
Corinthians 1:11)
ii.
and commonly heard reports from travelers (I
Corinthians 5:1; 11:18)
iii.
These reports proved, in spite all of Paul's efforts,
the sad disorders continued.
iv.
A REPLY to his first letter (which we have no record
of, the letter has been lost), with inquiries from the struggling church in
Corinth. (I Corinthians 7:1)
v.
So to answer these questions, as well as to further
unburden his soul about the disorders, Paul wrote what we refer to as I
Corinthians.
II.
CLUES AND KEYS TO
MESSAGE
a.
They key to understanding
this epistle
i.
Understand the mental, moral and spiritual condition of
the Corinthians
b.
We know where most
the members in Corinth come from
i.
Most are from lower class (I Corinthians 1:26)
ii.
They were not Greek, mostly rivals of Athens
iii.
Greeks were proud of their language, literature,
learning and logic
iv.
Paul rebukes human knowledge throughout this epistle
v.
They may have worldly wisdom, but are fools in God's
eyes
vi.
The natural man cannot receive things from the Spirit
vii.
The highest truths are veiled to him
c.
These people are
also addicted to;
i.
Immorality I
Corinthians 5:1-11; 6:15-18
1.
"It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and
of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate..."
2.
"Do
you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of
Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never!"
ii.
Drunkenness
I Corinthians 11:21
1. "...for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with
your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another
gets drunk."
a. They heard "free bread and wine for
communion? Let us eat and drink until it's all gone!"
b. Abusing communion and its meaning
c. Leaving others with no bread
d. Leaving others with no wine (By the way, you
cannot get drunk on grape juice)
iii.
Overall,
sin best describes this church and city.
d. The
epistle of reproof
i.
This
epistle contains doctrine of reproof and correction (I Corinthians 15:12)
ii.
It is intensely practical
iii.
correcting the abuses in the social lives of the
Corinthians
iv.
And though primarily intended for the Christians in
Corinth, the principles declared make it applicable to God's people of all
time.
III.
PAUL'S INTRODUCTION
AND THANKSGIVING
a.
The book and its
divisions
i.
Basically, the first half of this epistle is what was
reported to Paul, and the second half is what was inquired of him.
ii.
Paul begins the first half of the letter discussing the
church disorders and the social irregularities.
iii.
The second half answering the questions of social
irregularities, and church disorders.
b.
Paul begins this
letter with a welcome and thanksgiving
c.
Paul then thanks
God for the grace given this early church
i.
They struggled with direction and leadership
ii.
They did great when Paul was present
iii.
Paul would continue to correct them, and pray they
would eventually get their footing.
iv.
Corinthian Christians remind me of American Converts.
1.
Sometimes we live in sin so long; we have many
destructive habits we need to break so that God can use us to our full
potential.
CONCLUSION
A
careful study of the New Testament reveals this fact, that our Lord's full
title Lord Jesus Christ, is never given to Him, except when the writer is
seeking to declare and emphasize the Lordship of Christ.
Six
times in the first ten versus it is used!
The
Name Lord is very prominent as well throughout.
There
is a deep significance to this, for all the disorders that had crept in to
their lives had arisen through failure to recognize Jesus Christ as Lord.
We
must crown Him Lord of our lives if we are to live victoriously over sin!
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