Category: 1 Corinthians
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Is Your Belief in Vain?
There are many people who claim to believe in God. There are many religions in the world by which many different people make many different truth claims. Even within “Christianity,” there are many different systems of belief, different opinions about who Christ is and what He is doing, and different ways people say church should…
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Desire Prophecy, Don’t Forbid Speaking in Tongues
Paul is writing to the local church at Corinth in order to admonish the congregation toward unity in the faith—unity through maturity. He is currently addressing the practice of spiritual gifts—particularly those of prophecy and speaking in tongues. He has admonished the local church to prioritize love, which edifies. He has also instructed the congregation…
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On Order and Chaos
Paul has been writing to the Corinthians church about unity through maturity. In this section of his letter, he addresses spiritual gifts, primarily those of prophecy and tongues. We have seen that, within the local church, spiritual gifts are given in order that we may edify one another, not seek attention or exalt ourselves. Out…
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Tongues vs Prophecy
We return to Paul’s discourse on spiritual gifts, which have been used to cause division within the local church at Corinth. There were some who, apparently, exalted the gift of tongues such that others desired the mystical gift above all else. There are many in our own day who exalt mystical sign gifts like tongues,…
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Going to Church: Worthless?
Paul is admonishing the local church at Corinth toward unity through maturity in the faith. He is presently addressing the local church’s idolatry of the spiritual gifts. He does not discredit the spiritual gifts, but has instead stated that there is a better way than merely seeking after the spiritual gifts (12:31). As we work…
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The Truth About Spiritual Gifts
Paul is writing to the local church at Corinth in order to admonish the local church toward unity through maturity in the faith, not only knowledge of Christ but wisdom—which is knowledge in love. He has admonished the local church to edify one another and those outside her proverbial walls rather than be puffed up…
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Kicking Christ Out of Church
In 1 Corinthians, Paul has been admonishing the church at Corinth toward unity through maturity in the faith. As we have seen in this section so far, Paul has admonished the church to give up her quarrels about what goes into the mouth and head coverings for women. The earth is the Lord’s, and all…
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Women Praying and Prophesying in the Local Church Gathering
Paul has been admonishing the Church at Corinth toward unity through maturity. He has expounded on Christian liberty. The earth and everything on it belong to the Lord. Therefore, we are to eat and drink and whatever we do to the glory of God, not self. We are not condemned by the consciences of others,…
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When The Local Church Drinks the Cup of Demons Instead of Christ
Paul has been admonishing the local church at Corinth toward unity through maturity. He has explained Christian liberty now explicitly and by way of illustration. Idolatry has less to do with what goes into the body and more to do with what flows from the heart, evidenced not in consumption of certain foods or drinks…
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The Idolatry of the Modern Church
Paul writes to the Corinthian church, admonishing the congregation toward unity through maturity. Leading into this pericope, Paul expounded on Christian liberty and responsibility—referring to himself as a voluntary slave to all people and admonishing the local church to relate to those who are of the world for the sake of the Gospel. Further, Paul…