1-2 Corinthians

1-2 Corinthians 1-2 Corinthians  Introductory Issues: Authorship - 1 Corinthians is an undisputed Pauline letter. - Pauline authorship of 2 Corinthians is not seriously contested.  Internal evidence: o There is a noticeable change between 2 Corinthians 1-9 and 10-13. It is likely that Paul received new information to address.  External evidence: o Letters of Ignatius, Epistle of Barnabas (135 AD), Polycarp (98-117 AD), Marcion (160-225 AD), Moratoria Canon (2 nd C.)  Introductory Issues: Date - Dating 1-2 Corinthians is best determined based on the total number of letters sent in this series of correspondence .  Introductory Issues: Destination - The church at Corinth was the primary recipient of the letters, which were then to be distributed to other congregations. - Paul established the church on his second missionary journey (Acts 18:1-22) - Corinth was destroyed by the Romans in 146 BC and rebuilt by Julius Caesar in 44 AD as a Roman colony . - Corinth was the most important political and commercial city in Greece . - Corinth’s location on an important isthmus made it a busy __port city_____ for commercial and personal travel . - Corinth’s landscape was dotted with temples and shrines . The city was known throughout the empire for its immorality. - The rampant immorality , prominence of pagan religion and economic, social, and cultural diversity within the city of Corinth explain unique challenges that Paul faces and addresses.  Paul’s Opponents (opponents to the Gospel he’s teaching) - Gnostics : believe soul is superior to the body - Hellenistic Jewish missionaries: interested in demonstrating their own power and authority. - Legalistic Judaizers : hold to a strict keeping of the Mosaic Law  Genre - Opening:  Identification of sender/addressee  Salutation  Prayer and often health wish - Body - Closing:

 Benediction  Commendation of co-laborers  Final instruction  1 Corinthians - Structure  Introduction (1:1-9)  Response to Oral Reports (1:10-6:20)  Response to a Letter From the Corinthians (7:1-16:4) *notice 7:1, 8:1, 12:1, 15:1*  Conclusion - 1 Corinthians addresses:  Distorted ideas about marriage , sexual relationships , and gender roles  Harmful manner in which they were celebrating the Lord’s Supper  Legal disputes among church members  Confusion about the nature and purpose of spiritual gifts  Centrality of the doctrine of the bodily resurrection of Jesus and resurrection hope of believers  Challenges to Paul’s apostolic authority - The Importance of Christian Unity and the Proper Perspective on Ministry (1 Corinthians 1:1-4:21)  Key passage – 1 Corinthians 1:10-11: “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment…”  Those who are mature in the faith are those who seek the unity of the body. Disunity is often a sign of immaturity and selfishness .  Christians should find strength in weakness , power in the Holy Spirit, and wisdom through the model of the cross. - Immorality in the Church (1 Corinthians 5:1-13)  The church must not overlook immorality of Christians. The church is responsible to take action in these situations.  1 Corinthians 5:11-13: “I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people. What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. ‘Expel the wicked person from among you.’” - Disputes Among Believers (1 Corinthians 6:1-11)  Paul condemns the practice of some Corinthians of taking other church members to court

 Among those who encountered the resurrected Christ include Cephas, the 12 disciples, James , and “more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive” (1 Corinthians 15:6). Paul revealed that Jesus had also personally appeared to him (1 Corinthians 15:8-9)  A denial of the resurrection leads to: o Empty faith (1 Corinthians 15:14) o Futility in Christian ministry (1 Corinthians 15:15) o No hope that the dead in Christ will rise (1 Corinthians 15:18)  Conversely, Christ’s resurrection serves as a guarantee that His saints will also rise (1 Corinthians 15:20)  The resurrection will take place in the future when the Lord returns (1 Corinthians 15:51-58)  The hope of the resurrection provides the believers with hope , motivation , and purpose . o 1 Corinthians 15:58: “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”  2 Corinthians - Paul’s purpose in writing:  Confront the false apostles and their message  Announce his plans to make a future visit to Corinth  Urge the Corinthians to examine their faith in order to determine whether it was authentic - Paul’s Relationship with the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 1:1-2:11)  Paul’s pure conduct  Paul’s change of plans  Paul’s forgiveness of a repentant sinner - Paul’s Defense of his Ministry (2 Corinthians 2:12-7:16)  Paul’s power in weakness  The nature of Paul’s condemnation  The ministry of the new covenant - Collection for the Believers in Jerusalem (2 Corinthians 8:1-9:15)  The instruction for the collection and eventual distribution of the offering for the Jerusalem church - Paul’s Renewed Defense of his Apostleship (2 Corinthians 10:1-13:13)  Paul takes on his opponents  Warns of the danger of “false apostles ”  Theological Themes - The nature and importance of the resurrection

 Jesus’ resurrection has many implications for the believers in both the present life and the life to come