In his first epistle to the church at Corinth written from Ephesus, the Apostle Paul began by expressing his thanksgiving to God for the grace given them through Christ. Specifically, he wrote “I thank my God always on your behalf for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ” (I Corinthians 1:4). Continue reading “The Grace of God in Others”
Category Archives: I Corinthians
The Accountability of Stewardship
In writing to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul likened himself and Apollos to mere ministers or “under-rowers” as we understood the word in its usage. They simply shared in the task of ministry much like the galley slaves in the Roman ships. Certainly, no great personalities stood out there, no great egos. Just simple slavesContinue reading “The Accountability of Stewardship”
Suffering Loss Willingly
Paul addressed a number of certain practices by the Corinthians particularly among themselves. One such practice dealt with litigation. “Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints” (I Corinthians 6:1)? The believers in this local assembly were taking one another to court toContinue reading “Suffering Loss Willingly”
Submission, Sensitivity and Strenuous Discipline
In I Corinthians 9:1-18, the Apostle Paul provided the personal example of his refusal to exercise his apostolic right to be supported by the Corinthians. This was a reminder and object lesson of the need to surrender one’s rights for the benefit of others. In the balance of the chapter, he goes on to explain theContinue reading “Submission, Sensitivity and Strenuous Discipline”
Serving One Another
Paul challenged the Corinthian believers’ perspective on Christianity. They were puffed up over sin tolerated in their midst (I Corinthians 5:1-2). There were divisions among themselves as they laid claim to following particular apostles (I Corinthians 3:3-5). They misused the gifts of the Holy Spirit given to them to draw attention to themselves in theContinue reading “Serving One Another”
One of Love’s Many Faces
The church in Corinth had many spiritual gifts (I Cor. 1:5-7). Yet they struggled with discontent, striving, and selfish ambition as they deployed these gifts (I Cor. 3:3; 4:7; 12:28-31). Paul emphasized the need for love to govern the ministry of their gifts one to another. This is the background and purpose for one ofContinue reading “One of Love’s Many Faces”
Members Should Care
Paul had written to the Corinthian believers in response to their questions concerning spiritual gifts. The church in Corinth was characterized by much division (I Corinthians 3:3) and contributing to this division was their misuse of these spiritual gifts (I Corinthians 12:28-31). Paul had explained to them that the gifts were to be used forContinue reading “Members Should Care”
Love…Not Easily Provoked, Thinketh No Evil
The Bible describes love primarily in how it behaves or acts. In doing so, it necessarily addresses how love does not behave as well. The Scriptures tell us love “is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil” (I Corinthians 13:5). At the risk of oversimplifying, if I am easily provoked or given to thinking evil, myContinue reading “Love…Not Easily Provoked, Thinketh No Evil”
Love Hopes All Things, Endures All Things
In his letter to the Corinthian believers, Paul describes a love that is supernatural in origin and character. It is a love that is beyond the reach of human experience but for the grace of God. He tells them (and us) that among other qualities this Christ-like love “hopes all things, endures all things” (IContinue reading “Love Hopes All Things, Endures All Things”
Living for the Glory of God
Paul reminded the believers in Corinth that they had been delivered from sin, i.e. they were “washed…sanctified…justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” (I Corinthians 6:11). It was immediately after this that he offered some clear guidelines to help them navigate through this new life now theirsContinue reading “Living for the Glory of God”
From the Chaplain 