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PURPOSE: To identify problems in the Corinthian church, to offer solutions, and to teach the believers how to live for Christ in a corrupt society.
AUTHOR: Paul
DATE WRITTEN: Approx. AD 55, near the end of Paul's three-year ministry in Ephesus during this third missionary journey.
SETTING: Corinth was a major cosmopolitan city, a seaport, and major trade center - the most important city in Achaia. It was also filled with idolatry and immorality. The church was largely made up of Gentiles. Paul had established this church on his second missionary journey.
mega themes
LOYALTIES
The Corinthians were rallying around various church leaders and teachers - Peter, Paul, and Apollos. These loyalties led to intellectual pride and created a spirit of division in the church. This still happens today. But our loyalty to human leaders of human wisdom must never divide Christians into camps. We must care for our fellow believers, not fight with them. Your allegiance must be to Christ alone. Let Him lead you.
IMMORALITY
Paul received a report of uncorrected sexual sin in the church in Corinth. The people had grown indifferent to immorality. Others had misconceptions about marriage. Christians are to live morally, keeping our bodies for God's service at all times. We must never compromise with sinful ideas and practices and should not blend in with people around us. We must live up to God's standard of morality and not condone immoral behavior, even when society accepts it.
FREEDOM
Paul taught freedom of choice on practices not expressly forbidden in scripture. Some believers felt that certain actions - like eating the meat of animals used in pagan rituals - were corrupt. Others felt free to participate in such actions without feeling like they had sinned. Paul tells us we are free in Christ yet must not abuse our Christian freedom by being inconsiderate and insensitive to others. We must never encourage others to do something they feel is wrong just because we have a deeper understanding and know it isn't. Let love guide your behavior.
WORSHIP
Paul addressed the disorder in worship. People were taking the Lord's Supper without first confessing sin. There was a misuse of spiritual gifts and confusion over women's roles in the church. Worship must be carried out properly and in an orderly manner. As Paul says, everything we do to worship God should be done in a manner worthy of his high honor. Make sure that worship is harmonious, useful, and edifying to all believers.
RESURRECTION
Some people denied that Christ had risen from the dead. Others felt that people would not physically be resurrected. Christ's resurrection assures us that we will have new, living bodies after we die. The hope of the Resurrection forms the secret of Christian confidence. Since we will be raised again to life after we die, our lives are not in vain. We must stay faithful to God in our morality and our service. We are to live today eternity we will spend eternity with Christ.
[SOURCE: Life Application Study Bible]
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