1 Corinthians 4:1-6:20 Argument Paper

Servants 4:1-21

The Corinthian church contained arrogant individuals, some of whom desired to judge others and themselves too quickly. Paul writes that he is unqualified to judge his own motives, rather he leaves this judgment to Christ at the end. He instructs them of the significance of proving oneself trustworthy. Paul humbly avoids singling out individuals in this chapter; instead he addresses the group as a whole. Furthermore, he encourages their obedience to the Word of God, by avoiding trying to "exceed what is written." Considering Paul often uses examples of athletes, he effectively states foolishness exists in changing your workouts—God's Word—based on suggestions from yourself, your teammates and those in the stands—human reasoning, doctrine and philosophy. In doing so, one humbles themselves as "fools for Christ."


The Greeks view of humility contrasted with Paul's message, as they considered humility as a trait for slaves, and the weak—un-begotten for great men. Consequently, Paul denounces the arrogant three times in this chapter. Paul knows the physical and emotional challenges—including its countering secular culture—required to follow Christ, he invites the Corinthians to follow in his example of suffering through these examples. The suffering results as a product of living as Paul, for Christ. Because he understands the challenges, he effectively says, "Join me, do as I do. I am walking with you." Understanding that rebuke risks driving people away, Paul completes this topic by rhetorically inquiring of their preferred method of his approaching them whether with "a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness".

Immoral Believers 5:1-13

Corinth's immorality exceeds imagination with arrogant Christians eagerly participating—one sleeps with his step-mother. Paul says that he—in spirit—handed this man over to Satan in order to preserve his salvation. The local church has authority to discipline, yet lacks the apostolic authority to hand immoral Christians over to Satan. However, the local church, because of its arrogance, failed to instigate any previous discipline on this man. Paul instructs the church of their responsibility of disciplining its own. Paul boldly instructs other church members to disassociate with the church's immoral members. The avoidance results from love derived discipline, desiring they return to representing God in His image. Paul acknowledges avoidance of the immoral outside the church would omit sharing the gospel to the lost. The Corinthian Christians must avoid succumbing to the immoral pre-Christians practices, while directing the immoral to the Lord's pottery barn. God will judge the non-believers.

Lawsuits and Immorality among Believers 6:1-20

Corinthians, church members too, abundantly enjoyed lawsuits, and legal litigations. Paul sought to halt this practice of placing Christians at the judgment of the wicked. He prioritized legal action with fellow Christians. First, avoid lawsuits in secular legal system. How can the wicked rightly judge the righteous as they judge with human wisdom instead of spiritual wisdom? Second, if you must engage in legal action, submit to the judgment of believers in the church. Third, avoid lawsuits completely. Paul reminds them that they will judge angels, therefore how can the ungodly rightly judge their matters.


The Corinthians argue that the church lacks the court's legal expertise because they base their argument on faith in human philosophy over God's wisdom found in the church. Their eagerness for lawsuits arises from their patience in enduring injuries. Fault (v.6) comes from a Greek word that "signifies a weakness of mind." The proper response exists in being patient with one another to righteously resolve disputes. Despicably, their disputes continued into the atrocity of cheating on one another. Paul continues his condemnation of sexual immorality, reminding them that these practices oppose God's Kingdom. He explains they, as Christians, are set apart and declared righteous in Christ, by the Spirit. Consequently, these sins are washed from their souls for eternal salvation. However, this excludes choosing to continue in these practices of non-believers.


Paul tells them that permissible and profitable lack automatic symbiosis. Paul charges them to weigh the consequences of their actions. The hedonists believed physical sins lacked any effects on one's spiritual life. Because of their immoral life, Paul explains that food serves simply as fuel for the body, while immorality affects one's eternal body, mind and soul belonging to the Lord. If the body represented only the physical, then everyone should strive for only physical perfection. Rather the body includes nerves, nerve endings, neurons, neurotransmitters which affect thoughts and emotions. Thoughts and emotions affect one's spiritual journey with the Lord. Similarly, one's emotional and spiritual health affects their physical health. Paul probably lacks cognizance of these intertwining facts, however the Holy Spirit writing through Paul possesses all knowledge and understanding.


The danger of immorality on one's relationship with God results in Paul writing to "Flee," as opposed to avoid or "be careful." Flee amplifies immorality's magnetism—it forcefully draws and retains the body, mind and soul. Paul concludes in telling the Corinthian church that they are bought with a price, a price beyond measurement. This serves to inform them of their significance in God's eyes, thus the significance and resulting blessings of their proper response in living by the Spirit's guidance. This concludes the section of Paul's response to issues reported by Chloe's household. He now begins answering questions the Corinthians sent to him.
(Lowery 1983, 513)
² 1 Cor. 4:21
³ (D. S. Toussaint 2012, Class Notes)
⁴ (Pringle n.d., 193)
⁵ Rom. 9:21
⁶ (Pringle n.d., 204)
⁷ (Getz 2011, 1574)
⁸ (D. S. Toussaint 2012, Class Notes)
⁹ (Radmacher, Allen and House 1999, 1469)
¹⁰ (Mathias 2003, 1-219), (Pert 1999)
¹¹ (Radmacher, Allen and House 1999, 1469-1471)

 

1 Corinthians 1:1-3

Argument on 1 Corinthians

Introduction

Corinth—a city of Achaia—located between the Aegean and the Adriatic Seas with proficient commercial imports and exports, enjoyed significant economic benefits. Corinth served as the hub for all north and south tertiary travel, including the pathway to Athens. Early history indicates Corinth's industry comprised of ship manufacturing, "pottery, bronze metal work, and decorative handicraft." Romans destroyed Corinth in 146 B.C., plundering the city's amazing art. In 46 B.C., Julius Caesar sent discharged military veterans to Corinth in an effort to rebuild the city. Eventually the city's population and attractiveness exceeded the original. Unfortunately, idolatry, "luxury, pride, vanity, effeminacy, greed" and immorality also thrived. A plethora of shrines and temples included Apollo and Poseidon, the goddess of love—Temple of Aphrodite—which provided a home for approximately one-thousand religious prostitutes. This temple stood on a 2,000-foot elevated granite mound, otherwise known as Acrocorinth which served as the acropolis—literally high city—for defense. ¹ Sufficiency of space enabled this as the refuge for Corinth's citizens, and the surrounding rural population in the event of an enemy attack. Secular principles infiltrated the Corinthian church, directing the members' thoughts, decisions and resulting actions. Paul lived and preached for eighteen months in Corinth during his second missionary journey (Acts 18:11). The Lord used a night vision during this visit in AD 51 to instruct Paul to preach with assurance of safety (Acts 18:10). During Paul's initial visit to Corinth he met fellow tent makers and believers, Aquila and Priscilla. A Pauline authorship date of 54 or 55 AD from Ephesus, during his third missionary journey, proves congruent with most scholars.

Purpose

Paul writes with applied directives of corrective Biblical principles for the local Corinthian church. The aforementioned secularism infiltrated the church. Chloe's household (1 Cor. 1:11-12) and Apollos who returned to Ephesus (1 Cor. 16:12), each sent Paul letters expressing concern of this secularism causing division in the church. Other letters may have existed. Human generated wisdom began replacing wisdom from the Spirit of God, with causative effects of intra-church lawsuits, division, immorality, idolatry, denial of the Resurrection and secularizing communion. Additionally, three men from Corinth came to Paul, apparently presenting him with a letter of inquisitions (1 Cor. 7:1; 16:7). Paul clearly articulates the significance of sanctification and unity.

Argument

Salutation 1:1-3

Riveting messages quickly captivate the receptors. Paul's opening of 1 Corinthians equates with nitroglycerine for the explosive minded, or the richest cheesecake for the dessert connoisseur. Paul immediately establishes the multi-pronged theme of this letter. Because human wisdom received great praise in the Corinthian church, thus causing some to doubt Paul's authority, Paul immediately specifies his authorship and authority as an apostle—specifically and directly called by Jesus Christ—and by God's will. False prophets viewed the simplicity of the Gospel and Paul's message with contempt. This resulted in church dissension and division. Stating his apostleship illustrates his authority to the Corinthian church, while the latter informs them that God has sent him apart. Combined, these offer every reason for the readers' attentiveness.


Scholarly opinions vary from certainty to unsure on whether "Sosthenes our brother" is the same Sosthenes mentioned in Acts 17. The second sentence distinctly identifies the letter's intended recipients and audience. This statement equivocates with one's parents calling them by their first, middle, and last name, precisely identifying the audience to avoid any confusion of whom needs to listen, and respond to the letter's message. Moreover, the Holy Spirit speaking through Paul's pen informs the Corinthian church that despite their immorality and lack of faith, God also sets apart them and everyone who possesses life altering belief in the forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ. Consequently they should accept and respond to Christ's grace by living
holy, including unification with all believers. This message correlates with Jesus instructing the adulteress woman, "I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on, sin no more" (Jn. 8:11 NASB).


¹ (MacAurthur 1984, vii, viii)
² (Coffman 1984, 03)
³ (Pringle n.d., 38)
⁴ (Boa, et al. 1997, 1252)
⁵ (D. S. Toussaint 2012, Class Notes)
⁶ (Radmacher, Allen and House 1999, 1459)
⁷ (Pringle n.d., 38)
⁸ (Pringle n.d., 48)




See Christ, Believe Christ, Achieve with Christ!
Rick E. Meyer
See, Believe, Achieve Inc. www.rickemeyer.com

Bibliography

(Serves as Bibliography for the complete 1 Corinthians argument series)

 

Boa, Kenneth, Sid Buzzell, Gene A. Getz, and Bill Perkins. Promise Keepers Men's Bible Study (NIV). Grand Rapids, Michigan: The Zondervan Corporation, 1997.

Coffman, James Burton. First and Second Corinthians. Vol. II. Abilene, Texas: A-C-U Press, 1984.

Dowling, Robin and Dray, Stephen. 1 Corinthians: Free to Grow. Grand Rapids , Michigan: Baker Books, 1995.

Getz, Gene A. Life Essentials Study Bible. Vol. 1. Nashville, Tennessee: Holman Bible Publishers, 2011.

Hillel, Daniel. Introduction to Soil Physics. San Diego: Academic Press, Inc., 1982.

Lowery, David K. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: New Testament. Edited by John F., Zuck, Roy B. Walvoord. Colorado Springs, Colorado: David C. Cook, 1983.

Luther, Martin. Day by Day We Magnify Thee. Augsburg, n.d.

MacAurthur, John F. First Corinthians. Chicago, Illinois: Moody Bible Institute, 1984.

Mathias, Art Ph.D. In His Own Image: We are Wonderfully Made. Anchorage, Alaska: Wellspring Publishing, 2003.

Pert, Candice Ph.D. Molecules of Emotion. 1999.

Pringle, John Rev. Commentary on the Epistles of Paul the Apostle to The Corinthians by John Calvin. 500. Vol. First. Baker Books, n.d.

Radmacher, Earl, Ronald B. Allen, and Wayne H. House. Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Commentary. 4th. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 1999.

Spirit, Holy. NASB Bible. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 1962-1995.

Storer, Sandra J. "PAUL'S DEPICTION OF CELIBACY IN 1 CORINTHIANS 7:25-35:." Thesis: Moody Bible Institute. 2004.

Toussaint, Dr. Stanley. "Acts and the Pauline Epistles, Class Notes." 2012.

Toussaint, Dr. Stanley D. TAI Series: People Come in Four Sizes. Millet the Printer, Inc. Dallas, Texas, n.d.