1 Corinthians

Paul greets the Corinthian church, thanking God for the grace given to them through Jesus Christ and expressing his desire for them to be united in their faith. However, he has been informed of divisions among them, with some claiming allegiance to different leaders, including himself, Apollos, Cephas, and Christ. Paul emphasizes that Christ is not divided and that he was not crucified for them, nor were they baptized in his name, but rather in the name of Christ. He also notes that the preaching of the cross is considered foolishness by those who are perishing, but it is the power of God for those who are saved.

The apostle Paul emphasizes that his message to the Corinthians was not based on human wisdom or eloquence, but on the power of the Spirit, focusing solely on Jesus Christ and his crucifixion. He notes that true wisdom comes from God, not the world, and is revealed to believers through the Holy Spirit. The natural, unspiritual person cannot understand spiritual things, but the spiritual person can discern all things, having the mind of Christ.

The Corinthian believers are still immature in their faith, evidenced by their envy, strife, and divisions, and are therefore unable to handle deeper spiritual teachings. Paul and Apollos are merely servants of God, and it is God who gives the increase, not the ministers themselves. The foundation of the church is Jesus Christ, and those who build upon it will have their work tested by fire, with those whose work endures receiving a reward. The Corinthian believers are the temple of God, and they must not defile it, and they should not glory in men or the wisdom of the world, but rather recognize that all things belong to them through Christ.

The apostle Paul views himself and other ministers as stewards of God's mysteries, and their faithfulness is what truly matters, not human judgment. Paul warns the Corinthians against judging others or themselves prematurely, as only God can truly judge. He uses himself and Apollos as examples to teach the Corinthians not to elevate certain leaders above others, and to recognize that any gifts or abilities they have come from God. Paul contrasts the Corinthians' prosperity with the apostles' hardships and persecution, but writes to warn and correct them as a loving father.

The Corinthian church is rebuked for tolerating a man who has taken his father's wife, and for being proud rather than mourning over the situation. The apostle has already judged the offender and instructs the church to deliver him to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved. The church is also told to purge out the old leaven of malice and wickedness and to keep the feast with sincerity and truth. Additionally, the church is instructed not to associate with a brother who is a fornicator, covetous, idolater, railer, drunkard, or extortioner, and to put away the wicked person from among themselves.

Christians should resolve disputes among themselves rather than taking them to secular courts, as they will one day judge the world and even angels. The Corinthian church is faulted for taking their brethren to court, and instead of seeking justice, they should be willing to suffer wrong. The unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God, but the Corinthian believers have been washed, sanctified, and justified through Jesus Christ. They are reminded that their bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and members of Christ, and therefore they should flee fornication and glorify God in their bodies and spirits.

It is good for a man not to touch a woman, but to avoid fornication, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. The husband and wife should fulfill their marital duties to each other and not deprive one another, except by mutual consent for a time of fasting and prayer. The unmarried and widows are advised to remain as they are, but if they cannot contain themselves, it is better to marry than to burn with passion. A wife should not leave her husband, and if she does, she should remain unmarried or be reconciled to him. A believer married to an unbeliever should not leave the unbeliever if they are willing to stay together. Circumcision and social status are of no importance, but rather keeping God's commandments. Each person should remain in the calling they were in when they were called, and not seek to change their circumstances. Those who are married should live as if they were not, and those who are unmarried should not seek to marry, as the time is short and the world is passing away.

Knowledge about idols and eating food offered to them does not necessarily make one better or worse in God's eyes. However, having knowledge about this can puff one up, while loving God is what truly matters. Some people may still have weak consciences and view eating food offered to idols as wrong, so those with knowledge should be mindful of this and avoid causing their weaker brothers to stumble.

The apostle Paul defends his right to receive financial support from the Corinthian church, citing the examples of other apostles and the law of Moses. However, he chooses not to exercise this right in order to avoid hindering the gospel. Paul explains that he has made himself a servant to all people, adapting to different cultures and situations in order to spread the gospel and save some. He concludes by using the analogy of an athlete, stating that he disciplines his body and runs with purpose, striving for an eternal prize.

The Israelites' experiences in the wilderness serve as examples for believers to avoid idolatry, fornication, and other sinful behaviors. Despite being blessed with spiritual food and drink, many Israelites fell into sin and were punished by God. Believers should be cautious not to provoke God's jealousy by participating in idolatrous practices, and instead should strive to please God in all their actions. They should also consider the consciences of others and avoid giving offense to Jews, Gentiles, or the church of God.

The passage discusses the relationship between men and women in the church, stating that the head of every man is Christ, the head of the woman is the man, and the head of Christ is God. It also addresses the issue of head coverings during prayer and prophecy, with men not covering their heads and women covering theirs as a sign of submission. Additionally, the passage critiques the Corinthian church for their divisions and improper behavior during the Lord's Supper, emphasizing the importance of unity and reverence during this sacred ritual.

The Spirit of God gives various gifts to believers, including wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, and tongues, but all these gifts come from the same Spirit and are given to profit the body of Christ. The body of Christ is compared to a physical body, with many members working together in harmony, each with its own unique function and importance. No member is unnecessary, and all members should care for one another, rejoicing and suffering together. God has set different members in the church, including apostles, prophets, teachers, and others with various gifts, but not all members have the same gifts or roles.

Without charity, even the most impressive spiritual gifts and actions are worthless. Charity is characterized by patience, kindness, humility, and a lack of envy or pride. It rejoices in truth, bears all things, and endures all things, and it will never fail. In contrast, spiritual gifts like prophecy, tongues, and knowledge will eventually cease, and only charity will remain as the greatest of the three virtues of faith, hope, and charity.

Speaking in tongues is not as valuable as prophesying, which edifies the church, while speaking in tongues only edifies the individual. For the church to benefit, speaking in tongues must be interpreted, and even then, prophesying is more valuable. The goal of spiritual gifts is to edify the church, and speaking in tongues without interpretation can lead to confusion and make unbelievers think the church is mad. When the church comes together, everything should be done in an orderly and edifying manner, with prophets speaking one by one and women keeping silence in the church.

The gospel preached by Paul is that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day, as witnessed by many. If Christ did not rise from the dead, then the preaching and faith of the Corinthians would be in vain. However, Christ did rise, and as the firstfruits of those who have died, He will bring about the resurrection of all believers. The resurrection will be a transformation from a natural body to a spiritual body, and it will occur when Christ returns to deliver the kingdom to God. Until then, believers should remain steadfast and unmoveable in their faith, knowing that their labor is not in vain.

Paul instructs the Corinthians to set aside a collection for the saints on the first day of the week, as he has ordered the churches of Galatia, and to send it with approved representatives to Jerusalem. He plans to visit the Corinthians after passing through Macedonia, but will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost due to a great opportunity for ministry despite many adversaries. Paul also asks the Corinthians to welcome and respect Timothy and Apollos, and to submit to those who help with the ministry of the saints, such as the household of Stephanas.