BIB361 Early Pauline Epistles

BIB361 Early Pauline Epistles
- Intro 1:1-9
  - Salutation 1-2
    - Author
      - Paul
        called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ
        through the will of God
      - and Sosthenes the brother
    - Recipients
      - to the church of God which is in Corinth
      - being sanctified in Christ Jesus
        note Paul addresses them as holy positionally - even though they are not yet holy actually - see chs. 5-6
      - called saints/called to be holy
      - with all those who call upon the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place
        of them and of us
  - Greeting 3
    - grace to you and peace
    - from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
  - Thanksgiving 4-9
    - I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which is given to you in Christ Jesus
    - because you are enriched in all things in Him, in every word and all knowledge
      - note Paul addresses them as being rich in all word and knowledge - even though this is an issue - see chs. 8-14
    - just as the testimony of Christ is confirmed in you
    - so that you do not lack any spiritual gift
      - note Paul addresses them as having spiritual gifts - even though this is an issue that he will address in chs 12-14
      - in one sense, they do not yet have spiritual gifts as they should
      - in one sense, they have too much spiritual gifts
      - in one sense, they look down on others lack of spiritual gifts - which Paul here denies
    - as you are waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ
      - note Paul addresses them as looking forward to the parousia - even though they had an overrealized eschatology that often forgot this
    - He will confirm/secure you as blameless until the end in the Day of our Lord Jesus Christ
      - note Paul confirms that they will be blameless - even though they were not yet blameless, God will do it
      - note also OT phrase Day of the Lord is Christianized, Jesus is the same as OT Yahweh
    - God is faithful - reason why Paul can give thanks for future things that in some sense are not yet true - hope in Christ, not in the Corinthians
    - You were called by Him into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord
- True Christian Ministry 1:10-4:21
  - No divisions 1:10-17
    - The Appeal 10-12
      - The Threefold appeal
        The appeal formula
        I Encorage/appeal/command you brothers
        because of the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ - oath formula - authority
        The Three parts of the appeal
        That you may all agree (say the same thing)
        yes it says all
        cf. Phil 2:2 have the same mind
        That there would not be divisions among you
        That you would be unified in mind and thought
        lit. mended/restored or perfected
        in mind and in knowledge
      - The Reason
        He has information about their divisions
        it has been declared to me concerning you
        by those from Chloe
        that there is strife/quarrels among you
        I mean:
        Some of you say:
        I am of Paul
        I am of Apollos
        I am of Cephas
        I am of Christ
    - The Challenge 13
      - Is Christ divided?
      - Was Paul crucified on your behalf/ in your place?
      - Were you baptized into the name of Paul?
    - The Thanksgiving 14-15
      - I thank God
      - that I baptized no one of you except Crispus and Gaius
      - so that no one can say you were baptized into my name
        baptism into means initiation into
        baptism is initiation into Christ, not into Paul' party or Appollos' party or Roman Catholic or Protestant or Baptist or Foursquare party - don't let it be so
    - The Disclaimer 16
      - I also baptized the household of Stephanus
      - beyond that I don't know if I baptized anyone else
    - The Reason 17
      - neg. Christ did not send me to baptize - that is to gain people into my party
      - pos. but to proclaim the Gospel
      - disclaimer
        not with wisdom of word -
        wise words - first use of word wisdom in this passage
        What does Paul mean by 'wisdom' in this passage?
        so that the Cross of Christ will not be emptied
  - The reason: The Cross destroys human wisdom and boasting in leaders 1:18-2:5
    - The Reason: Human wisdom betrays the Gospel but preaching Christ keeps from emptying the Cross 1:18-25
      - God's Wisdom vs. human evaluation 18-21
        The two options/Contrast 18
        The Word of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing
        But it is the power of God to us who are being saved
        Notice that Paul is using the words wisdom, power, foolishness and weakness in different ways
        sometimes he means them literally
        sometimes he means them tongue in cheek - what the world thinks is wise (but in reality is foolish), what the world thinks is foolish (but in reality is wise)
        The issue is whose standards are used to determine if something is wise and strong or not - whose definition of wisdom, the Corinthians' definition or God's definition
        The Reason - God has purposed to confront human wisdom 19-21
        God will destroy human wisdom 19-20
        The Scripture Quote 19
        It is written
        quote from Isa 29:14
        I will destroy the wisdom of the wise
        I will frustrate the understanding of the intelligent
        The Implication - human wisdom is not viable 20
        Specifics
        The wise man is not significant - (via rhetorical question - "Where is the wise man?"
        The scribe/learned man is not significant
        The debater/philosopher of this age is not significant
        General principle
        via rhetorical quesiton - "hasn't God made the wisdom of this world foolish?"
        The wisdom of this world is not significant, but foolish
        Reason: God's wisdom is to not reveal Himself through human wisdom 21
        For since the world did not know God through wisdom
        in the wisdom of God
        This is an act of God's wisdom to protect us from pride and idolatry
        no one can say "I found God by my own wisdom" or "I earned my way with God"
        God is passionate that part of the Gospel is humbling of human pride and pretense so that we no longer and never can put our hope and trust in ourselves and human things (including human leaders) but only trust in God and His provision in Christ
        God was pleased to save those who believe through the 'foolishness' of what was preached
        none of us would have ever have thought up the cross, not in a miliion years
        but that is what God did, and it has proved more powerful than anything humans have ever dreamed up - by far
      - Paul takes God's side with the cross 22-25
        Therefore since human wisdom gets it wrong 22
        Jews ask for signs
        God refuses to dance when we demand
        God refuses to be a vending machine
        God refuses to do things just to impress people and live up to our standards of what is impressive
        God refuses to be manipulated and controlled by people for our selfish ends
        Instead He gently but clearly shows that He is God, that He is in control and that we are not
        Gentiles seek wisdom
        God refuses to conform to our latest principles for success
        God refuses to go on the talk shows and explain Himself to our satisfaction
        God refuses to play the part of slick performance and production because that is what we expect
        God refuses to be relevant by OUR standard of relevance
        Instead He gently but clearly shows that He is smarter than we are, He knows what He is doing and we aren't as smart as we think we are
        We minister God's way
        We preach Christ crucified 23-24
        We preach Christ crucified
        remember Galatians?
        Infinitely more important than human works or wisdom, which accomplish NOTHING
        BTW this is why Paul preaches Christ crucified, even when it is not popular, not well received - what else could he possibly preach that would be more helpful/powerful?
        It would have been very popular/successful for Paul to preach moralism or self-help philosophy or various human methods of wisdom and success, but Paul cared for people more than to give them medicine that does not heal
        explanation:
        This is a scandal to the Jews
        crucified messiah is an oxymoron
        Messiah is conquerer, not victim
        They could not connect conquering King like David with Isaiah's suffering servant (also an oxymoron)
        How could we believe in a God who loses?
        This is foolishness to the Gentiles
        kings are powerful and heroic and proud and demand others serve them
        Kings and Gods don't lose and give themselves and serve others and die
        Luther's distinction between theology of glory and theology of the cross
        but Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God to those who believe (both Jews and Gentiles)
        even though we don't fully understand and it goes against many of our expectations
        Jesus claims to be a conquering Messiah by being a suffering servant
        Because our enemies are not primarily outside of us, but us
        our biggest enemy is our own sin - therefore that is what God's wisdom and power fight primarily against
        this is humbling
        we can get behind a powerful king who is fighting our enemies
        but what of One who challenges us that we are our primary enemies and we need to die to ourselves and our plans and strategies
        Because God's way is better 25
        Because the foolishness of God is wiser than the wisdom of men
        profound wisdom in the cross
        it will take us all eternity to fully comprehend God's wisdom
        and the weakness of God is stronger than the strength of men
        profound strength in the cross
        it will take us all eternity to fully comprehend God's power in the cross
        Application
        If the cross is God's wisdom and power
        and If human wisdom and insight if weakness and folly in comparison
        how is that reflected in our lives and ministries?
        Are we chasing the latest techniques or are we clinging to the cross?
        Are we trying to work to save ourselves and others based on our own skill/experience/insight/talent?
        or are we fleeing to Christ and His cross and leading others to do likewise?
        Do we point to ourselves, our leaders, our methods, our coolness or to Christ crucified and God's power and wisdom inherent in Christ Crucified?
        Can we truly say and live with Paul - "I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for the salvation of all who believe"?
        We will pursue the implications of this in the next few sections
    - The Reason: Boasting in human achievement betrays the Gospel, but boasting in Christ keeps from emptying the Cross 1:26-31
      - What the Corinthians are NOT and why 26-29
        The Background/character/standing of the Corinthians (they are not impressive) 26-28
        The character of the Corinthians 26
        General: Check out your own calling i.e. your situation in life when you were called
        Specifically: You were not called because you were impressive
        Not many of you were wise according to the flesh (worldly standards)
        Not many were powerful - in terms of worldly influence
        Not many of you were well born - i.e. upper class influence, clout and money
        NOTE he does not say not ANY - there were some wise and rich by worldly standards, being poor is not inherently preferable to being rich, that would make the same mistake in a different direction
        The Theological reason 27-28
        God chose you fools to humble the rich 27a
        God chose the foolish things of the world
        for the purpose of shaming/humbling the worldly wise
        God chose you weaklings to humble the strong 27b
        God chose the weak things of the world
        for the purpose of shaming/humbling the worldly strong
        God chose you insignificant nobodies to humble the somebodies 28
        God chose the insignificant things of the world and the despised things, even the things that are not
        for the purpose of abolishing/nullifying the worldly things that are
        The Purpose: to cut off human boasting 29
        so that all flesh cannot boast before God
        term "flesh" chosen purposefully - sinful/weak compared to God
        All means ALL
        If we were chosen because we were rich or famous, then we would be tempted to boast
        I like the way that Carson says it - "God is not impressed" and "If God accepted people on such ground, He would compromise Himself" cf. "not by works, but by grace, so that no one can boast this is not from yourself, it is the gift of God"
        none of us has been in People or GQ or on TMZ
        BTW, I worry that when a famous entertainer or athlete is saved, we make much of them and give them a ministry/spokesperson platform based solely on their fame, not on character or qualifications
        God is not glorified when we are made much of, but God is glorified when human pride and acheivement is humbled before His infinite greatness and worthiness
        we are not saved because we are worthy but because Christ is worthy on our behalf - received by faith, not by our accomplishment - BTW beware of thinking about faith as a works type of accomplishment
      - What the Corinthians ARE and why 30-31
        The Corinthians are in Christ 30a
        you yourselves are in Christ Jesus
        because of Him/from Him
        Who Christ is and why 30b-31
        He became Wisdom for us from God
        that is righteousness
        and holiness
        and redemption
        The purpose:
        so that whoever boasts, let him boast in the Lord
        just as it is written (quoting Jer. 9:23-24)
        read entire verses - God's plan all along to teach people what is truly important
    - Paul refuses to use ministry methods that would betray the Gospel or empty the Cross 2:1-5
      - What Paul would/did not do 1-2
        What Paul did 1
        When I came to you brothers
        What I did not do
        I did not come according to superiority of word or wisdom
        as I proclaimed to you the mystery of God
        Reason 2
        For I determined to not know anything among you
        except Jesus Christ and Him Crucified
        Both Messiah and Crucified go closely together
        nothing else - maybe hyperbole, but not by much
        beware of trying to substitute something better than Christ Crucified
      - What Paul did do 3-5
        But I came toward you untriumphally 3
        in weakness
        and in fear
        and in much trembling
        cf. Phil 2:12
        Therefore, Paul came in a way that highlighted the Gospel, not Paul 4-5
        Paul's ministry style 4
        My word and my preaching were not in wise and persuasive words
        highlighting the form of the words themselves
        the words were persuasive, not because of the style or manner (all of which Paul was responsible for) but were persuasive because God was in it (which God gets the glory for)
        Greek philosophy and rhetoric highlighted speaking ability and presentation style
        Paul would have none of it
        Paul talks in ch. 9 about becoming all things to all men
        that is NOT without limit
        there was limits to how Paul would bend to the prevailing culture
        Paul would not follow all winds of culture and would even stand against those things that would take away from the Gospel
        because for Paul, the Gospel was the primary category, not culture
        if give up the Gospel to reach culture, you have not reached them
        if compromise the Gospel to reach culture, you have not reached them
        be careful to reach the culture in a manner that itself points to and proclaims the Gospel
        what you win them with, you win them to
        if you hook them with drama, excitement, lights and music, you teach them to rely on cool experiences, not on Christ
        if you hook them by concentrating on their own needs and wants, you train them to be selfish, self-seeking and self-focused
        Be careful here to let the Gospel shape not only your message, but your methods as well
        but my word and preaching were with proof/demonstration from the Spirit and power
        not primarily referring to miraculous signs here (not in context, not in Acts account) even though that is true on occasion
        But pointing to the powerful work of the Spirit who takes the faithful words of the preacher and drives them home effectively to the hearts of the hearers in a way that the preacher cannot take credit for
        My preaching 'success' in LA that I cannot take credit for
        Spurgeon "I believe in the Holy Spirit"
        Paul's purpose for this style 5
        Neg. - so that your faith would not be in the wisdom of men
        Pos. - but so that your faith would be in the power of God
        do we minister to people in a way that makes them dependent on us and our winsomeness and brilliance etc.?
        or do we minister to people in a way that puts attention on Christ as the one who saves them
    - Application? How does this matter?
      - Sunday's coming video
      - cf. Spurgeon Story - "what a great preacher!" vs. "what a great Savior!"
      - if people leave our meetings saying "what a great preacher or worship leader or piano player, etc." then we have failed
      - "born again" numbers on polls, but not different lifestyle partially explained by ministries that manipulate people to decision, and then tell people they are born again by praying a prayer or raising a hand - without a working of the power of the Spirit of God to actually give them new birth. Therefore they cannot live differently than the world because they are still of the world, but they think they are of Christ
  - God's Wisdom by the Spirit not from leaders 2:6-16
    - We speak wisdom among the mature 6
      - Pos. We speak wisdom among the mature
        clarifying in his polemic against worldly human wisdom, he wasn't against wisdom
        as a matter of fact, what Paul does is wisdom- a better wisdom!
      - Neg. Not worldly human wisdom
        Not the wisdom of this age
        Not the wisdom of the rulers of this age, who are passing away/ coming to nothing
    - We speak the Wisdom of God, once hidden but now revealed by the Spirit 7-12
      - We speak the Wisdom of God in a mystery once hidden but now revealed by the Spirit 7-10a
        We speak the hidden Wisdom of God in a mystery 7-8
        We speak the Wisdom of God hidden in mystery
        Explanation - (NT def. of "mystery")
        which God determined/predestined/foreordained before this age for our glory
        yes, I had to double check, but it does say "our"
        and which the rulers of this age did not know
        proof: if they would have known
        They would not have crucified the Lord of Glory
        We speak the Wisdom of God now revealed by the Spirit 9-10a
        Just as the Bible quote promises (Isa. 64:4)
        That which eye has not seen
        ears have not heard
        and it has not entered into the heart of man
        the things that God has prepared for those who love Him
        God HAS REVEALED these things to us through the Spirit
        the mystery that was hidden, was unknowable
        has now been made known!
        the Spirit of God is the One Who made it known (not human wisdom)
      - Reason: The Spirit knows and reveals 10b-12
        Only the Spirit can reveal because only the Spirit knows 10-11
        The Spirit knows all things
        The Spirit searches/examines all things
        even the deep things of God
        Explanation/illustration
        Illustration from Human example
        No one truly knows the things of a person
        except the spirit of the person in him
        i.e. our inward thought, inward voice, self-awareness
        no one can ever know our inward thoughts unless we choose to reveal them
        In the same way for God
        No one is able to know the things of God
        except the Spirit of God
        We received the Spirit so that He may reveal these things 12
        We have received the Spirit
        neg. We have not received the spirit of the world
        pos. We have received the Spirit from God
        Purpose: so that we may know the things which have been freely given to us by God
    - We speak these things in a Spirit-determined manner and meeting a Spirit-determined response 13-16
      - We speak these things in a Spirit-determined manner 13
        Neg. we do not speak these things in words instructed by human wisdom
        Pos We speak these things by instruction from the Spirit
        Manner: interpreting spiritual things by spiritual words/to spiritual people
      - These things are received in different ways based on the presence or absence of the Spirit 14-16
        Rejected by those who lack the Spirit 14
        The natural/worldly person does not receive the things of the Spirit of God
        Reason:
        They are foolishness to him
        He is not able to know them because they are examined/discerned in a manner consistent with the Spirit
        Embraced by Spiritual people 15-16
        The Spiritual person is able to receive and know all things
        The Spiritual person examines/discerns all things
        and this one is not examined/judged by anyone
        Linda H. story/illustration
        Reason:
        What was impossible on our own (quoting Isa 40:13):
        Who has known the mind of the Lord (answer: No One!)
        Who has been His instructor? (answer: No One!)
        God has done through the Spirit: We have the mind of Christ
  - God Builds the church, leaders are underlings responsible to Him 3:1-23
    - Challenge/Rebuke to the Corinthians' attitudes and Divisions 1-4
      - You are acting like spiritual babies/ possibly not even spiritual 1-2
        Those who think they are so 'mature' and 'spiritual' and look down on Paul and others are called out for their immaturity
        I could not address you as spiritual (you who think you are spiritual)
        possibly defending against criticism of His ministry
        he wasn't as profound as Apollos because they could not yet handle it
        but as fleshly, as babies in Christ
        I fed you milk, not solid food
        because you were not yet able
        and you are still not
      - Reason: You are still fleshly/worldly 3-4
        You are stil worldly
        when there are jealousy and quarrels among you
        and you still walking (lifestyle) according to natural man
        proof:
        when one says "I am of Paul"
        and another says "I am of Apollos"
        you are still worldly
      - Not opening door for third category of "Carnal Christians" but calling them non-Christians or rebuking them for behaving like non-Christians - as if they had not yet been converted
    - Proper view of Christian Leaders (Agricultural Metaphor) 5-9
      - I. A proper view of Christian leaders. (Using an agricultural metaphor) (5-8)
        A. The leaders are just servants, doing God’s business. (5-7)
        1. The leaders are just servants. (5-6)
        Therefore how can the Corinthians take pride in the leaders when they are just servants and thereby ignore the master whose servants they are?
        a. They are servants. (5a-c)
        1) Rhetorical question: What are these leaders? (5a-b)
        a) Who is Apollos? (5a)
        b) Who is Paul? (5b)
        2) Answer: They are servants, through whom you have believed. (5c)
        you did not believe in them
        you believed through them
        b. They each perform tasks assigned by God. (5d-6)
        1) In General terms: Each is given their task by the Lord. (5d)
        The differences between leaders were part of God's design
        no reason for pride or partiality
        2) Specific: They performed their individual tasks. (6)
        a) They did the tasks of a hired laborer. (6a-b)
        (1) I (Paul) planted. (6a)
        (2) Apollos watered. (6b)
        How can the Corinthians take pride in the hirelings and ignore the boss/owner?
        b) The point: God is the one who did that which really matters- He gave the growth. (6c)
        How can the Corinthians take pride in what the leaders did when this was not of their own doing or their own initiative?
        2. The implication: God is the one who really matters. (7)
        Therefore the Corinthian’s loyalties are grossly misplaced if they are focussed on anyone but the God who gives growth.
        a. Negatively: The servants don’t really matter. (7a-b)
        Therefore why should the Corinthians pay them so much attention?
        1) The one who plants isn’t really something. (7a)
        2) Neither is the one who waters. (7b)
        b. Positively: The God who gives growth is the one who really matters. (7c)
        B. The leaders are in unity. (8)
        (Therefore how can those claiming to follow them be in disunity?)
        1. The one who plants and the one who waters have unity of purpose. (8a)
        2. However, each is responsible and gets rewarded according to his own labor. (8b)
      - II. The Reason: The leaders and the church both belong to God. (9)
        Again, doesn’t it seem a little skewed for the Corinthians to focus on Paul and Apollos?
        A. The leaders belong to God: We are God’s fellow-workers. (9a)
        fellow to each other
        both belonging to God
        B. The church also belongs to God. (9b-c)
        1. You are God’s field. (That which is being cultivated)(9b)
        2. You are God’s building. (That which is being built)(9c)
    - Proper view of Christian Leaders (Architectural Metaphor) 10-15
      - I. The continuing leadership of the church. (Shifting to an architectural metaphor) (10a-c)
        A. The founding of the church. (10a-b)
        1. Comparison: As an expert master-builder. (10a)
        2. I (Paul) placed the foundation according to the grace given to me by God. (10b)
        B. The continuing leadership of the church: another built upon the foundation. (10c)
        This refers to Apollos, but shifts focus to the current leadership of the church.
      - II. The implication for the current leaders: an exhortation and warning. (10d-15)
        A. The exhortation in general terms: Let one be careful how one builds on this foundation. (10d)
        B. Specifically: How one should build. (11-15)
        1. There is only one foundation: No one is able to place another foundation, beside the one already placed, which is Jesus Christ. (11)
        A slightly veiled rebuke for the current leaders of the Church who are not living up to these instructions, as evidenced by the division.
        Any activity that takes away from Christ, such as division-lionizing other leaders, is certainly not building God’s church. Also implied, The church’s ministry should show continuity with Paul who placed the foundation; and his ministry was not characterized by the problems they are experiencing.
        2. One must build with the proper materials, because each persons work will be tested. (12-15).
        a. Condition: If anyone builds upon the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay or straw. (12)
        There is probably only two categories here, good materials and bad materials; precious ones that will survive fire, and cheap materials that will be burned up
        b. The result: A warning to the current leaders. (13-15)
        1) The warning in general terms: The work of each will be revealed for what it truly is. (13a)
        2) Specifically: Each worker will be rewarded or punished- depending on the work. (13b-15)
        Therefore, everyone must be very careful what type of work they contribute to the church, whether self-centered factionalism, or God-centered servanthood.
        a) Everyone’s work will be tested and proved by fire. (13b-d)
        (1)The day will make the work known. (13b)
        (2)The reason: The work will be tested by fire. (13c-d)
        (a) The work will be revealed by fire. (13c)
        (b) Fire will test and prove what kind of work it is. (13d)
        b) The Result: Each worker will receive the appropriate recompense. (14-15)
        (1)Good work. (14)
        (a)The Condition: If someone’s work remains. (14a)
        (b)The Result: He will receive a reward. (14b)
        (2)Bad Work. (15)
        (a)The Condition: If someone’s work is destroyed. (15a)
        (b)He will suffer loss, but not himself be destroyed. (15b-e)
        A severe warning for those Corinthian leaders who are leading the church in a manner that will not stand up to God’s standards in judgement
        ((1)) He himself will suffer loss. (15b)
        ((2)) But he will be saved. (15c-e)
        ((a)) He will be saved. (15c)
        ((b)) But only as one running out of a burning building, saving only himself. (15d-e)
        Notice this section is not talking about salvation- Heaven or Hell issues. There seems to be other types of rewards and punishment in mind for those who (it is assumed) already have eternal salvation secured
    - Proper view of Christian Leaders (Temple Metaphor) 16-17
      - I. You should know that you are God’s temple, His dwelling place. (16)
        A. Rhetorical Question: Don’t you know that…(16a)
        B. What they should know. (What Paul is reminding them) (16b-c)
        1. You are the temple of God. (16a)
        He is here referring to the church as a whole, although each Christian is said to be the temple of God in ch. 6
        2. The Spirit of God lives in/among you. (16b)
        Again the reference is to the church as a whole.
      - II. Therefore: God will severely punish those who destroy His temple. (17)
        This is what Paul has been leading up to: A severe rebuke and warning to those Corinthians who are causing division and other problems in the church.
        A. God zealously protects his temple. (17a-b)
        1. Condition: If someone destroys the temple of God. (17a)
        2. God will destroy that one. (17b)
        Therefore those who are causing division in God’s temple in Corinth had best change their ways or prepare to be destroyed.
        B. The Reason: The temple of God is holy; and you are that temple. (17c)
    - Application to the Corinthians' attitude toward Leaders 18-21
      - Challenge to adapt God's standard of wisdom 18-20
        Commands:
        Let no one deceive himself
        Become foolish (by this worlds standards) to become wise (by God's standards)
        if anyone among you thinks himself to be wise by the standards of this age
        let him become a fool
        so that he may truly become wise (by God's standards)
        Reasons:
        The wisdom of this world is foolishness compared to God
        Two Scripture proofs:
        Job 5:13 - "He catches the wise in their cleverness"
        in context of humbling the proud and raising the humble
        Psa 94:11 - "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are useless"
        in context of vindicating the righteous over the wicked, who think that God doesn't see what they are doing
      - Challenge to apply this standard to their approach to leaders 21-23
        Command: Let no one boast in men!
        Reason: Proper understanding of how the universe is related together
        All things are yours
        Paul
        Apollos
        Cephas
        the world
        life
        death
        present things
        things to come (eschatology)
        All things are yours
        putting leaders in perspective as servants, yet without opening door for church to lord over leaders
        put in the bigger perspective
        you are Christs
        Christ is Gods
  - True apostles are contrasted with the Corinthians' view of leadership 4:1-21
    - Proper judgement by God's Standards 1-5
      - Paul's (and Appollos') Calling and Purpose 1-2
        Paul's purpose 1
        so men ought to consider us in this way
        how Paul should be thought of
        as servants of Christ
        and as stewards entrusted with the mystery of God
        The standard by which Paul will be judged 2
        moreover, in this case they will seek in the stewardship
        so that that someone will be found to be faithful
        faithfulness is better than manufactured fruitfulness - plastic plants
      - Paul's indifference to human judgment 3-4
        It is insignificant to me
        That I would be judged by you or by a human court
        idiom - human day - i.e. day of judgment set by human authority
        as opposed to the Day of the Lord where the real judgment would happen, cf. v. 5
        But I do not judge myself either
        For my conscience has nothing against me
        but I am not justified in this
        but the Lord is the one who judges me
      - The significant judgment will come when Christ returns 5
        inferrence - don't judge someone before the right time
        until the Lord comes
        reason
        He will bring to light the things hidden in darkness
        and He will reveal the wills/motives of the heart
        and the praise will be from God to each one
    - Applying this to challenge the Corinthians' Standards/values 6-13
      - Challenge to change their values/standards, so they won't boast in leaders 6-7
        Don't adapt different values/standards than God's
        Don't boast/take pride in one man over another
        if doing so, not boasting in Christ Crucified
        this is foolish because they have nothing to take pride in
        Reason:You have nothing to boast about
        How are you different from anyone else?
        What do you have that is not a gift of grace?
        If it is a gift of grace, why do you boast about it?
      - Ironically/Sarcastically showing the opposite of their values and the emptiness of their triumphalism 8-13
        contrasting God's values with the world's values
        They are triumphalistic in what they thought they already had and Paul mocks this
        The Apostles (Paul) has a different experience - rejection by the world (like Jesus promised)
        Paul appears to be a complete loser by the world's standards - suffered much
        Paul is taking up his cross and losing his life for Christ's sake, warning them that they are trying to hold on to their life and risking losing it - What will it profit a man?
        We follow a crucified Messiah and His way is the way of the cross to get to the empty tomb
    - Application and hoped for response (with warning) 14-21
      - Hoped for response 14-17
        Paul is warning them to adapt the values of their Spiritual father and imitate his cruciform lifestlye 14-16
        They would not be Christians if Paul did not have values different from theirs
        If Paul was not willing to risk danger to preach the Gospel, they never would have heard and been converted
        Therefore, they should imitate him
        Paul is sending Timothy to remind them and demonstrate Kingdom cruciform values and life 17
      - Warning against bad response 18-20
        some are arrogant and will respond accordingly
        Paul will soon come and correct them
        They talk but have no power, Paul has power to back up his talk
      - Challenge to make the right response 21
        their choice, whip or love
- Immorality in the Church 5:1-6:20
  - The immoral Brother 5:1-13
    - The problem 1-2
      - The immoral man 1
        I have heard that there is immorality among you
        probably also from Chloe's people
        The kind that is worse than the non-believers
        A man has his step-mother
        lit. wife of his father
        therefore, probably not his mother
      - The church 2
        You are proud/arrogant/puffed up
        These are somehow related - the sin and the church's arrogance
        they are proud that they have liberty to do so?
        They are arrogant in refusing Paul's correction in earlier letter?
        shouldn't you rather mourn?
        mourn in the sense of doing something about it - putting the one who did this out from your midst
        their improper reaction to the situation shows that there is something wrong in the church
        if they tolerate sin and show they think it is a big deal, it says a lot about them, and this has Paul worried
        It is not so much the man's sin that causes Paul to address this (likely would have addressed man personally, not church)
        But it is the church's indifference to sin that is the real issue that he is addressing
    - The solution 3-13
      - excommunicate the man 3-5
        I have already passed judgment on this man
        as if I were right there with you
        And Paul thinks he is present with them via the presence of his epistle
        you and my spirit are gathered together
        in the name of our Lord Jesus
        with the the power of our Lord Jesus
        to give this one over to satan for the destruction of his flesh
        possibly physical death
        i.e. take spiritual protection of the church off of him so that satan may destroy him
        cannot expect the benefits of the church without buying into the standards of the church
        probably shame and loneliness to destroy that sinful part of him, leading to repentance
        so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord
        church discipline is redemptive
        with an aim at repentance, salvation and restoration
      - Cleanse sin from your midst 6-13
        your boasting is bad
        sin is contageous
        using the standard OT figure of yeast as representing sin
        just like whole house must be cleansed from yeast/sin at passover
        sin is of the old, you are of the new
        you are without sin because Christ has been sacrificed as our passover
        let us live in that new reality, without sin because we are new creatures
        but rather, with sincerity and truth
        the church does not have to be like society, in fact it cannot be like society because by definition it is a new community, a new reality
        Therefore, cleanse sin from your midst
        clarify - discipline the church, not the world
        I wrote to not associate with sexually immoral people
        not meaning the people of the world - it is impossible to not come into contact with sinners
        we shouldn't worry or make a scene if our auto mechanic is a sinner - love, acceptance and fogiveness
        cleanse someone who claims to be a brother but lives otherwise
        now I am writing - don't associate with anyone who calls themselves a brother, but is immoral
        don't even eat with them
        God will judge the world, you should judge the church
        drive out/expel the wicked man from among you
  - Lawsuits between believers 6:1-8
    - Problem: Lawsuit taken before unbelievers 1
    - Believers are more qualified judges than unbelievers 2-6
      - believers will judge the world
      - believers will judge angels
      - how much more are believers qualified to judge simple matters
      - The least of believers will be a better judge than the best unbeliever
      - Is there no one among you qualified to judge so that you have to go to unbelievers?
    - It would be better to not have lawsuits at all 7-8
      - the fact of lawsuits/unreconciled brothers is a problem/complete defeat
      - to the Victim: it would be better to be wronged and cheated and forgive than to fight back
        Jesus ethic and example
        Trust God to repay and vindicate
      - to the culprit: Not to mention that there are believers that will wrong and cheat their fellow believers - completely contemptious behavior that leads into the following very strong warning
  - The High Standards of the Kingdom 6:9-11
    - Wicked will not inherit the Kingdom of God 9a
    - Partial sin list of the wicked people who will not in herit the Kingdom of God 9b-10
      - take this list seriously and do not comporomise to the prevailing views of our culture
      - take this list seriously and do not harp on one while ignoring the others - i.e. do not condemn homosexuals while comforting the greedy, etc.
    - The Great News that Christ meets those High Standards in us 11
      - That is what some of you WERE
      - You were washed
      - You were Sanctified
      - You were Justified
      - in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God
  - Sexual Immorality 6:12-20
    - Correction of the Corinthian's Slogan 12
      - First correction
        probably parroting their slogan and correcting them
        "everything is permitted" probably quoting Corinthian slogan
        but not everything is profitable
        just because you can do something doesn't mean you should
        don't just do something because you can, but choose what is best to do
      - Second correction
        "everything is permitted"
        but I will not be mastered by anything
        play on words - everything is authorized, but I will not let anything have authority over me
        some things may be technically permissible, but not wise, because they contain a very real possibility of slavery
        Beware of your freedom leading to slavery
    - The correction is applied to a Corinthian problem 13-20
      - Use our body for its proper purpose: our body is for the Lord, not for sexual immorality 13-14
        Comparison with food
        Purpose of food
        food is for the stomach
        the stomach is for food
        destiny of food & stomach: the Lord will destroy them both
        food and stomach go together - though both are temporary 13
        So also our bodies
        Purpose of our bodies
        The body is NOT for immorality
        but the body is for the Lord
        The body and sexual immorality do not go together 13
        Destiny of our bodies
        God raised the Lord (from the dead)
        He will also raise us through His power
        The body is destined to share in Christ's resurrection
        notice how purpose and destiny are brought in as powerful insentives for right behavior
        notice how our destiny is tied with the Gospel of the resurrected Lord
      - Four elaborations and applications 15-20
        1. Christ's members should not be joined to a prostitute 15
        rhetorical question rebuking the Corinthians either for not having proper knowledge or more likely for not connecting that knowledge with their behavior
        Don't you know?!
        they did not put 2+2 together, connecting doctrine and practice
        bad doctrine = bad practice, good doctrine can have bad practice if not intentionally integrated, good doctrine leads to good practice if purposefully integrated
        Your bodies are members of Christ Himself
        Implication via rhetorical question and answer
        Q: should we take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute
        members = part of metaphorical body, cf. Rom 6 & 12, I Cor 12, etc.
        A: certainly not!
        2. Those joined to the Lord should not be joined to a prostitute 16-17
        Rhetorical question: Don't you know?!
        The one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her
        because it is written, the two will become one flesh
        but the one joined to the Lord is one spirit
        It is unthinkable to take a member of Christ and unite it to a prostitute
        We cannot unite to a prostitute
        because we are already married to Christ
        that would unite Christ to a prostitute
        Rather - Unite to the LORD 17
        Much better, higher, more pleasurable calling
        notice progression body, flesh, spirit
        3. Flee sexual immorality, which is sin against your own body 18
        Command Flee sexual immorality
        This sin is interior, not exterior
        whatever sin a person commits is outside the body
        but sexual immorality is against his own body
        4. Glorify God with your body, which is His temple 19-20
        Rhetorical question: Don't you know?!
        What you should have known (and practiced)
        Your Body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit
        Who is in you
        Whom you have from God
        You are not your own
        For you have been purchased with a valuable price- cross
        Therefore glorify God with your Body - its proper purpose 20
- Answering the Corinthians' Concerns 7:1-14:40
  - Concerning Marriage 7:1-24
    - Celibacy is good, but marriage is better than immorality 1-2
    - Marriage should be for mutual sexual fulfillment 3-7
      - realistic that some need a proper outlet for sex drive
      - if you don't have enough self-control, get married
      - If married, make sure that your spouse is satisfied to protect them from sin
    - To the unmarried - good to stay unmarried, but marriage is better than immorality 8-9
    - To the married, don't separate or divorce, reconcile if possible 10-11
    - To those married to unbelievers - stay together if possible, if abandoned, not bound to them 12-16
      - If they are willing to stay together - do not leave 12-13
      - because the believing person sanctifies the family 14
      - If the unbeliever splits, let them leave, you are not slaves to them 15
      - because the believing person might be the means of the salvation of the unbelieving person 16
    - Remain in the state in which you were called as much as possible 17-24
      - change of social status not important compared to Gospel change
      - leaves room open to change if possible (not crucial either way) but it should not be primary concern
      - Gospel mindset more than worldly marriage mindset
      - you were bought with a price - cf. 6:20 - therefore do not be slaves to humans
  - Concerning Virgins 7:25-40
    - Summary of the position 25-28
      - because of the present crisis/necessity
      - remain as you are - married or unmarried
      - neither getting married or staying unmarried is a sin
      - marriage brings extra troubles/ concerns in this life
    - Elaboration of the present crisis 29-31
      - the time is short
      - live with more focus on eternity than on the present age - as not having the things of this world that you have
      - live in this world, and use this world, but don't be engrossed in this world
      - because the form (scheme cf. Rom 12:2) of this world is passing away
    - Elaboration of extra concerns 32-35
      - I want you to be free from concern
      - unmarried person is concerned exclusively for the things of the Lord - pleasing the Lord
      - a married person is also concerned with things of the world - pleasing the spouse - divided interests
      - this command is not restricting, but toward undivided freedom and devotion to the Lord
    - Elaboration of neither marriage or unmarriage a sin 36-38
      - If unmarriage would be unfaithful to promise of marriage - get married - not sin
      - If decide to stay unmarried, under no compulsion to marry - this is not sin
      - marriage is good, but unmarriage is better (without immorality)
      - being single is not a crime or hindrance to ministry, but just the opposite - has its own set of dangers
    - Elaboration of remain as you are 39-40
      - bound to husband as long as he lives
      - if widowed, free to remarry - but only to a believer (no missionary dating, almost always ends bad)
      - Paul advises she is better to remain unmarried (with the exceptions said above)
  - Concerning Idol-Food 8:1-11:1
    - historical background
      - Apparently, sometime previous to our letter, Paul had prohibited the Corinthians from attending meals at pagan temples. The Corinthians had taken exception to this command and had written Paul defending their decision to attend these feasts in terms of their freedom and rights to do so. They argue in terms that Paul echoes back in First Corinthians, that since the idol has no real existence, since food is not an issue with God, and since they have this knowledge and freedom in Christ, they are able to attend these meals with no problem. They even take issue with Paul himself, calling into question his authority to tell them what to do, as is evidenced elsewhere in this same letter.
      - Imagine that in their letter to him the Corinthians said something like- “ we appreciate your advice, but we know that the idols aren’t real gods, we are just fulfilling our social obligations by going to our friends feasts at the temple, we don’t believe in the idol so there is nothing wrong. Because of our advanced knowledge, we are protected from such silly sins. Remember you yourself taught us about freedom from rules- “Everything is permissible” Besides, we now realize that you are confused about these issues; you eat meat sometimes and don’t eat other times. A real apostle would not be so wishy-washy. A real apostle would be more assertive. A real apostle would accept payment like a professional should. Besides, you are not a very good speaker, well versed in wisdom like our friend Apollos. Therefore, we reject your advice and we reject you.
      - One more item of historical background to aid us to understand this passage- this was before the time of McDonalds or Starbucks. Whenever there was a semi-public event, celebration, feast or social gathering- guess where it would take place- in the pagan temple- the restaurant of antiquity. If you got an invitation to a friend’s birthday party, it would be held at the temple. Etc. The pagan temples were the center of society and a word that should get your attention, the temple was the center of culture. To not go to the temple would be basically to withdraw from society, to withdraw from culture.
    - historical situation
      - To understand what was happening, put yourself in the place of a First Century Corinthian. For most of your life, you have worshipped at one of the local pagan temples. You have fully believed in the reality and power of the god and have participated in various rites and ceremonies, convinced that you were participating in some way with the deity. You may even have heard the local Jews preaching against the god as a rival to their god. One day you encounter a preacher of a Jewish sect. He preaches about Jesus. And you are convinced by the preaching and the display of power and are converted to this new religion. Part of your indoctrination into this faith involves a strong break with your pagan past. You live by a firm conviction not to defile yourself with involvement in any of your former pagan practices. Often this decision has painful consequences as you draw away from former close friends and co-workers, even family, because your scruples will not allow you to participate in the many social events that are held in the temple, involving the pagan ceremonies, which you now remember with loathing and shame.
      - Now imagine that you see two church leaders that you respect going to the temple and participating in the very ceremonies that you loathe. When you boldly confront them, they laugh at you in a patronizing way and say, "Don't you know that the idol is not real? There is nothing wrong with joining my friends for a meal; after all, it is just food. And food does not bring us any nearer to God." Then they press you further, advising you to overcome your 'lack of true knowledge' by joining them so that you will see no harm coming from the meal.
      - What an uncomfortable situation to be placed in! You would have two choices. You could reject their advice and risk alienation from your Christian brothers and forever wonder if you are not spiritually strong enough to put your knowledge into practice. After all, you know that there is only one God, and the idol is not real. Or you could go along with their advice and join them at the temple. Of course, your gut is tied in knots at the prospect of returning to your former practices. And your conscience is screaming out warnings, but you will just have to tell your conscience to be quiet.
      - What a tragedy if you silenced your conscience and returned, not only to a few rites, but all of your former pagan practices and religion. And yet this is exactly what was in danger of happening in Corinth. After describing this type of scenario, Paul says, "So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge." The 'exercise of their freedom' could become a 'stumbling block to the weak.' So Paul advises them to exercise love by limiting their freedom to protect others.
    - Attitude - not Knowledge, but love 8:1-13
      - He challenges the underlying attitude of their choices- Christian conduct should not be based on knowledge, but on love- love takes precedence over knowledge- to insist that knowledge is the most important is to misunderstand Christian ethics. What is based on care for others, not what I can get away with.
      - Concerning that which is sacrificed to idols: 1-3
        All have knowledge,
        knowledge puffs up
        love builds up
        but knowledge is not ultimate,
        if someone thinks he knows
        he doesn't really know as he ought
        but love is more ultimate
        if someone loves God
        this one is known by God
      - Concerning food sacrificed to idols 4-6
        we know that idols are nothing
        and there is no God but one
        Concession
        there are many things that are called gods
        there are many 'gods'
        and many 'lords'
        but there is One God = our Father
        from Whom are all things
        we are for Him
        there is One Lord = Jesus Christ
        through Him are all things
        we are because of Him
      - Not everyone has knowledge 7
        not all have knowledge
        some still have the former custom/habit/mindset concerning idols - as they eat food sacrificed to idols
        Their conscience, being weak, is stained/defiled
        digression on conscience
        good/pure/clean conscience vs. bad conscience = whether our conscience accuses us or defends us
        issue of the verdict our conscience makes of us - in Pastorals and Hebrews
        Here it is not good conscience vs. bad conscience but weak conscience vs. strong conscience
        weak conscience is conscience that is not woking properly - discernment is not strong - warning lights do not go off
        therefore does not describe someone who feels guilty, but someone who maybe should feel guilty, but who doesn't
      - Food is a non-issue with God 8
        food does not commend us to God
        if we don't eat, we don't lack anything
        if we do eat, we don't get anything extra
      - Don't let your freedom stumble a brother 9-12
        see to it that your authority/right/freedom does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak ones
        Because if someone sees you (who have knowledge) participating at an idol's temple
        Their conscience, because it is weak, is fortified so that they eat the food sacrificed to idols - that which is against their conscience and not from faith
        And the brother (for whom Christ died) is destroyed by your knowledge
        when you sin against your brother in this way and assault/wound their conscience, you are sinning against Christ
      - Paul's conviction to never stumble a brother 13
        therefore, if food scandalizes/stumbles my brother
        I will never eat meat again
        so that I won't scandalize my brother
    - Authority - not Rights, but Servanthood, 9:1-27
      - He challenges their understanding of authority- he defends his apostleship; leadership is not about lording it over people, but serving people; leadership is not about asserting rights, but giving up rights; leadership is not about having your own way, but putting aside your preferences for the sake of others; leadership is not the worldly wisdom of slick performance, but the foolishness of following a crucified messiah and taking up the cross.
      - everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial- I become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.
      - Paul argues that he has the rights of an apostle 1-12
        I am an apostle 1-2
        rhetorical questions to them which all expect an affirmative answer
        Am I not free?
        am I not an apostle?
        Have I not seen our Lord Jesus?
        the Corinthian church as proof of Paul's apostleship
        You are my work in the Lord
        If I am not the apostle to others, I certainly am to you
        For you are the seal/proof of my apostleship in the Lord
        Defense to his accusers: I have the same rights as other apostles 3-6
        my defense to those who are judging me is this:
        Rhetorical questions to them which all expect an obvious answer
        don't we have authority/right to eat and drink?
        don't we have authority/right to bring a believing wife with us
        just as the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?
        Or do I and Barnabas alone not have authority/right to eat (at the expense of others)?
        Proof for his position, both cultural and Scriptural 7-12
        Rhetorical questions from normal human relations
        Who serves as a soldier at his own expense?
        Who plants a vinyard and doesn't eat of its fruit?
        Who tends sheep and does not eat from the milk of the sheep?
        I don't say these things from a merely human point of view
        btw, all of these examples are also standard metaphors for the church and leaders in the NT
        Scriptural principles
        The Law says the same thing
        It is written in the Law of Moses (Deut 25:4)
        Don't muzzle an ox while treading the grain - i.e. the Ox needs to eat and should be allowed to because it is doing the work
        Is God's concern for the ox? Or does He say these things because of us
        For it is written because of us
        because the plowman ought to plow in hope
        and the thresher (ought to thresh) in hope of sharing in the harvest
        point
        if we have sown spiritual things among you
        Is it a big deal if we reap physical things from you?
        expected answer - NO this is normal
        If others share this rightful benefit, we do moreso
      - Paul argues why he does not/will not use those rights 12-23
        Paul does not use these rights - even though he has every right to support 12-14
        But we do not make use of this right/authority! -
        against expectations,
        which is why the Corinthians do not think much of Paul
        they probably figure that if he were a big deal, he would insist on acting like a big deal
        But we put up with all things so that we don't give any hindrance to the Gospel of Christ
        Gospel view of leadership as servant
        Even though we have these rights
        Don't you know that those working in the temple eat the things from the temple
        Those who serve at the altar share in the the things of the altar
        In the same way the Lord has commanded that those who proclaim the Gospel should live from the Gospel
        Paul does not use these rights - to demonstrate the freeness of the Gospel 15-18
        I have not used any of these rights
        I am not trying now to manipulate so as to get these things
        I would rather die than anyone take this boast/delight from me
        to preach the Gospel is not Paul's grounds for boast
        It is a necessity laid on Paul - Woe to him if he does not preach the Gospel!
        If I do this freely, I have a reward
        If I do it grudgingly, I am just discharging my stewardship
        Therefore, this is my reward: by preaching the Gospel free of charge, I commend the Gospel by not making full use/misusing/abusing my authority in the Gospel
        Paul, as an apostle is totally free from human social constrainst - but constrained by the Gospel 19-23
        For I myself, because I am free from all things, have made myself a slave to all people
        so that I may gain many
        notice that for Paul freedom is never an absolute, but always an opportunity
        not an opportunity to selfishness and sin
        but opportunity for righteousness and love and Gospel service
        we need to reject our culture's understanding of freedom (anarchy/hedonism) for God's view of freedom (freedom to do what is right, slavery to righteousness)
        tangible examples of Paul's freedom
        to the Jews I became a Jew to win the Jews
        To those under the law I became as under the law (though not being under the law- seriously qualified), to win those under the law
        to those without the law I became as without the law (though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ) to win those not under the law
        to the weak I became weak to win the weak (almost certainly not = those with weak consciences) to win the weak
        I became all things to all people to save some by all means
        Summary: I am doing all things because of the Gospel so that I may be a partaker of it/in it/in its rewards
        I am shocked how often these verses are used, not as a justification to inconvenience ourselves to serve and win people, but as an excuse to serve ourselves for our own convenience and pleasure
        good reasons to look like this culture:
        it is our native culture - it is natural/honest/genuine
        purposely evangelistic connection - to reach this culture
        bad reasons to look like this culture:
        this culture is attractive to us - we want its pleasures
        we want to fit in, to be cool, to look cool, to be comfortable or avoid persecution for being different
        Freedom is not for selfish pleasure, but for selfless service
      - Paul's strategy is purposeful and strategic 24-27
        Illustration from athletic contest and the application for Christian life/ministry
        Don't you know? - in a race, all runners run, but only one wins the prize
        in the same way, Run to win the prize
        Those competing excercise strict self-control/training to win a perishable crown
        but we do so to win an imperishable
        hence/therefore/accordingly:
        in the same way I run as one who does not run aimlessly (i.e. I run purposefully in a purposeful direction and for a definite prize)
        in the same way I fight as one who does not beat the air (i.e. I hit for real, I play for keeps, I take it seriously)
        I exercise self control and fight my sin - in order to win the prize
        I beat my body and I enslave it
        i.e. discipline of fasting and variously starving the flesh vs. feeding the flesh
        so that I will not somehow be disqualified even though I have preached to others
    - Action - Flee from Idolatry 10:1-24
      - He challenges their misunderstanding of the true nature of idolatry and their false security in the Christian sacraments. He prohibits attendance at the temple. Using illustrations from Israel, he tells them that Christian rituals will not protect them if they are disobedient.
      - Beware idolatry- idolatry never looks like idolatry- “So if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” David Wells and others argue that the church is in great danger of capitulating to a culture. In our involvement with culture, we must remain separate to be a church. In our own life we must be holy. We must teach and model discernment and discrimination or people will blindly fall into legalistic separation on the one hand or compromise on the other.- Don’t think that because you were raised in church that you are immune. Don’t think that because you go to Bible College that you are out of danger. Don’t think that because you do ministry, your good deeds will protect you. Remember, Paul told the Corinthians that their rituals wouldn’t protect them. “Flee from Idolatry” “Everything is beneficial, but I will not be mastered by anything.”
      - The Israelite Example: They ALL had every benefit, yet still fell under judgment for idolatry 1-5
        notice connection with prededing - "For" Scripture example of those who did not exercise self-control and who were disqualified for the prize - take warning
        Brothers, I don't want you to be ignorant about Israel
        The Fathers' experience of God's provision
        our Fathers were all under the cloud - (pillar of cloud leading them from Egypt)
        They all went through the sea
        They were all baptized into Moses by the cloud and the sea -
        that is they all had experiences and identified with Moses
        The emphasis is the ALL - they all had these things, but not all survived the trip
        They all ate the same spiritual food
        They all drank the same spiritual drink
        For they drank from the spiritual rock that followed
        Rock of water mentioned at the beginning of the wilderness wandering, Exod 17
        Rock of water mentioned at the end of the wilderness wandering, Num 20
        Jewish legend grew up that it was the same rock that travelled with them
        This seems to go against Scripture, and Paul is not affirming this legend, just mentioning it to make a typological theological point
        The rock was Christ
        the "Rock" of the OT references
        Provision is ultimately from Christ
        Paul connects the Fathers' provision, yet rejection with the Corinthians' provision and possible rejection of Christ
        The Fathers' experience of God's discipline for idolatry
        But God was not pleased with most of them
        and they were overthrown/spread out in the desert
        cf. Num 14
        "...they also had their own forms of 'baptism' and 'Lord's supper,' the prefigurement of ours. All of them had these privileges; nonetheless, God was displeased with most of them and their bodies were scattered over the desert." Fee en loc
      - Learn from their example 6-13
        These things became an example to us
        so that we would NOT be one who desires evil, like these ones desired
        4 examples of Israelite idolatry and punishment
        neither be idolaters - just as some of them were
        Scriptural explanation
        the people sat down to eat and drink
        and they stood up to play/make sport/indulge in revelry
        Exodus ch. 32
        context of Golden calf, idolatry - sensual things associated with idolatry and God's displeasure and punishment
        notice connection of eating and drinking and idolatry
        neither should we be sexually immoral - just as some of them were sexually immoral and 23000 fell in one day
        Numbers ch. 25
        context of Baal of Peor - seduced into idolatry by pagan women and God's displeasure and punishment
        notice connection of sexual immorality and idolatry
        neither should we put Christ to the test - just as some of them tested and were destroyed by snakes
        Numbers ch. 21
        context of grumbling and unbelief
        neither grumble - just as some of them grumbled and were destroyed by the destroyer
        Numbers chs, 14, 16
        context of disbelief, rebellion and grumbling
        These things happened to them as an example
        They were written for our warning -
        unto us on whom the goal of the ages has come
        eschatological language
        The bottom line - Those who think they are standing - watch carefully so that you do not fall
        pride before fall
        Think standing firm and let down defenses
        when stop fighting, then you lose
        Hope of doing better than the Israelites did
        Temptation has not taken hold of you except that which is common to mankind
        God is faithful
        He will not allow you to be tempted beyond which you are able
        no excuses that the devil made me do it or I had no choice or I couldn't help it
        But with the temptation, He will make the way out / end / outcome
        so that you will be able to bear it/endure it
        Application: Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry
        ..."just as God did not tolerate Israel's idolatry, so he will not tolerate the Corinthians'. We deceive ourselves if we think he will tolerate our." Fee en loc.
      - Application: Participation in Christian ritural will not protect you if you also participate in pagan rituals 14-22
        Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry
        I speak to wise people - judge for yourself, what I am saying
        Participation in the Lord's supper is fellowship with Christ
        Isn't the cup of blessing, which we bless, participation/partnership in the blood of Christ?
        Isn't the bread which we break participation/partnership in the body of Christ?
        because there is one loaf, we (the many) are one body - because we all share the one loaf
        Pay attention to natural Israel
        Arent those who eat of the sacfirices participants/partners with the altar?
        Participation in food sacrificed to idols is fellowship with demons
        Therefore, what am I saying?
        Is food sacrificed to an idol anything?
        but rather that the sacrifices that they sacrifice are to demons, and not to God
        I do not want you to be participants/partners with demons
        You cannot do both
        you are not able to drink the cup of the Lord AND the cup of demons
        you are not able to share/take part in the table of the Lord AND the table of demons
        Are you trying to provoke the Lord to jealousy?
        quoting Deut 32:16-21 - read this and take warning
        Are we (i.e. we are not) stronger than Him?
      - Summary 23-24
        correcting Corinthian slogan
        everything is permissible
        but not everything is beneficial
        everything is permissible
        but not everything is constructive
        Application
        No one should seek things for himself
        but they should seek the things for others
    - Accept everything with thanksgiving 10:25-30
      - He adds a word about food sold in the marketplace- it is acceptable as long as their eating it does not cause someone else to stumble- they may buy and eat with no reluctance.
      - Eat food sold in the marketplace 25-26
        Eat everything sold in the marketplace, judging nothing because of conscience
        The earth is the Lord's and the fullness of it - Psalm 24:1
      - Eat food given you as a guest 27
        If some unbeliever invites you and you want to go, eat everything placed before you (except broccoli), judging nothing because of conscience
      - Do not eat food publicly known to be idol-food 28-30
        If someone says to you, "This is temple/idol food"
        don't eat it -
        Reason - not stumble another
        on account of the one who told you this
        and on account of conscience
        I am not talking about your own conscience
        but the conscience of the other person
        Still free, insist on freedom, but give up freedom
        For why should my freedom be judged by another person's conscience?
        If I receive with grace/gratitude, why am I slandered on behalf of that which I give thanks for?
    - Summary 10:31-11:1
      - Therefore, do all thing for the glory of God
        if you eat
        if you drink
        whatever you do
      - Do not be a stumbling block
        either to Jews
        or to Greeks
        or to the church of God
      - Just as I (try to) please all people in all things
        not seeking my own benefit
        but seeking the benefit of the many
        so that they may be saved
      - Be imitators of me, just as I am an imitator of Christ
    - Application:
      - Notice that this in NOT about food, but about Gospel stuff associated with food
      - Limit our own freedom for the sake of protecting others
      - Limit our own freedom for the sake of reaching others
      - Limit our own freedom for the sake of our own protection
      - God first, Gospel first - the rest is immaterial until it encroaches on God and the Gospel
      - Better safe than sorry - pursue holiness, not freedom - then you will be truly free and happy
      - Ask me if I drink and why or why not?
  - Concerning Worship 11:2-34
    - Head Covering 2-16
      - I commend you because you remember all my things and you hold on to the traditions just as I delivered them to you 2
      - The woman should pray and prophecy while having her head covered 3-6
        I want you to know that
        Christ is the head of every man
        the man is the head of the woman/wife
        God is the head of Christ
        cover/uncover, shame/no shame
        every man who prays or prophesies with covered head shames his head
        prob not happening, but necessary to set up next phrase
        and every woman who prays or prophecies with head uncovered shames her head
        for it is the same as her being shaved
        for if a woman is not covered, let her have her head shaved
        and since it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, let her be covered
      - The woman should have authority over her head 7-12
        glory
        for on the one hand, a man ought not to cover his head - being the image and glory of God
        on the other hand, the woman is the glory of man
        creation (parenthesis)
        For man is not from woman
        but woman is from man
        for also man was not created on account of the woman
        but woman was created on account of the man
        authority
        for this reason the woman ought to have authority upon her head on account of the angels
        parallel to v.7 man ought not to cover head
        mutual dependence (preventative qualification to prevent taking this distinction too far)
        nevertheless, neither is woman apart from man
        nor is man apart from woman in the Lord
        For just as the woman is from the man
        so also the man is through the woman
        and all things are from God
      - Propriety and nature prove this 13-15
        propriety
        judge for yourself
        Is it fitting for an uncovered woman to pray to God?
        nature
        doesn't nature itself teach you that
        if a man has long hair, it is dishonor/disgrace to him
        but if a woman has long hair, it is glory to her
        because the long hair is given to her to function as a of a covering
      - Church practice
        if anyone is disposed to be contentious
        we do not have such practice
        neither do the churches of God
    - Lord's Supper 17-34
      - Non-commendation 17
        in these commands I do not commend you
        because when you gather together, it is not for the better, but for the worse
      - Reason 18-21
        For I hear, first, that when you gather together in the church there are divisions among you, and I believe it, at least in part
        For also, it is necessary for there to be factions among you so that those who are approved may be made known among you (sarcasm)
        Therefore, when you come together, it is not the Lord's supper that you eat
        For each brings his own supper to eat
        one goes hungry
        another gets drunk
      - Correction 22
        Dont you have houses in which to eat and drink?
        Or do you despise the church of God
        and humiliate those who have nothing?
        What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you?
        I do not commend you in this
      - Tradition 23-25
        For I passed on to you that which I received from the Lord
        That the Lord Jesus, on the night that He was betrayed, took bread
        and giving thanks, He broke it
        And He said
        This is my body - that is given on your behalf/in your stead
        Do this as a reminder/remembrance of me
        in the same way He took the cup after the meal
        Saying
        This cup is the New Covenant in my blood
        Do this as a reminder/remembrance of me as often as you drink it
      - Correct practice 26
        For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup
        You proclaim the death of the Lord until He comes
      - Warning 27-32
        So that whoever may eat the bread or drink the cup of the Lord in an unworthy/inappropriate manner is guilty/liable of the body and blood of the Lord
        Let a person examine/test themselves
        and in this way eat from the bread and drink from the cup
        For the one who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to themselves by not discerning the body
        because of this, there are many weak and sick and a considerable number have fallen asleep (died)
        but if we evaluated/judged ourselves, we would not be judged
        but when we are judged, we are being disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned with the world
      - Prescription 33-34
        So that, my brothers, when you gather together to eat, wait for one another
        if someone is hungry, let him eat at home
        so that you will not gather together into judgment
      - when I come, I will give instructions/commands about the other things 34
  - Concerning Spiritual Gifts 12:1-14:40
    - The Power and confession of all genuine gifts 12:1-3
      - Brothers, concerning Spirituals I don't want you to be ignorant
      - when you were pagans, you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led astray
        take on characteristics of idols that are followed
      - therefore, I am making known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says "Jesus is cursed"
      - and no one is able to say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit
      - same standards and judgments as OT prophecy - if lead to false gods, false gifts
      - genuine gifts point to Jesus as Lord and issue in esteem for Jesus and mutual benefit for His people
      - tangibly different than occult/pagan superstition/manipulation/power attempts
    - The Variety and Unity of gifts 12:4-11
      - different and same 4-6
        different gifts
        same Spirit
        different service
        same Lord
        different powerful workings
        same God who works all things in all
      - Various manifestations for mutual profit 7-10
        The manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one toward what is profitable/helpful
        For to one the word of wisdom is given through the Spirit
        to another, the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit
        to another, faith by the same Spirit
        to another, gifts of healings in the one Spirit
        to another, workings of power
        to another, prophecy
        to another, discerning of spirits
        to another, a (different) kind of tongues/languages
        to another, interpretation of tongues
      - The Spirit is working/controlling all 11
        The One and the Same Spirit works all of these things
        distributing to each one their own
        just as the Spirit determines/wants
    - The Metaphor of the Body 12:12-26
      - Intro/ One Body 12-13
        Just as the body
        The body is one
        and has many members
        all the members of the body, even though they are many, are one body
        So also is Christ (the church)
        For we all were baptized by one Spirit into one body
        either Jew or Greek or slave or free
        and all were watered/poured out upon with one Spirit
        cf. 3:6-8
      - Variety of body parts/members 14-20
        The Body is not one member, but many
        arguing from ridiculous examples
        if the foot says "I am not part of the body because I am not a hand"
        it is certainly not separate from the body because of this
        if the ear says "I am not part of the body because I am not an eye"
        it is certainly not separate from the body because of this
        the need for variety
        if the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be?
        if the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?
        God created variety
        now God placed every one of the members in the body
        just as He wanted
        Unity via variety
        if everything was one member, where would the body be
        on the one hand, there are many members
        but, on the other hand, there is one body
      - Mutual dependence and concern 21-26
        arguing from ridiculous examples
        the eye is not able to say to the hand, "I don't have need of you"
        again, the head is not able to say to the feet, "I don't have need of you"
        every part is necessary
        the members of the body that are thought to be weak are actually necessary
        and we place excessive honor to those things of the body that we consider to be without honor
        and our unpresentable parts have excessive modesty (given to them)
        while our more presentable parts don't have need (for modesty)
        God arranged the body
        God has blended together/composed the body
        giving greater honor to the part that lacked
        so that there would be no schism in the body
        but so that the members would have the same concern for one another
        Every member stands or falls together
        if one member suffers
        every member suffers with it
        if one member is glorified
        every member rejoices with it
    - The Application of the Body Metaphor 12:27-31
      - The Body of Christ 27
        You all are the body of Christ
        and each member is part of it
      - God placed each member in the church 28
        First, God gave apostles
        second, God gave prophets
        Third, God gave teachers
        then, God gave miracle workers
        then, God gave gifts of healing
        God gave workers of helpful deeds
        God gave workers of administration
        God gave different kinds of tongues/languages
      - Don't try all to exercise the same gift 29-30
        all are not apostles
        all are not prophets
        all are not teachers
        all are not miracle workers
        all do not have gifts of healings
        all do not speak with tongues
        all do not interpret
      - Seek the greater gifts 31
        apparent contradiction - but only apparent, Paul is setting them up
        seek the greater gifts
        yet I will show/demonstrate to you a most excellent way
    - The Most Excellent Way 12:31-14:1
      - The most excellent way 12:31
        seek the greater gifts
        and I will now show you the most excellent way
      - The indispensability of love 1-3
        necessary for speaking in tongues
        if I speak with the tongues of angels and men
        but don't have love
        I have become a clanging gong or a noisy cymbal
        necessary for prophecy, knowledge and faith
        if I have prophecy
        and if I know all mysteries and all knowledge
        and if I have all faith so that I could move mountains
        but don't have love
        I am nothing
        necessary for giving charity and service/martyrdom
        and if I give away all of my existence
        and if I give over my body so that I may boast/may be burned
        and don't have love
        I profit nothing
      - The character of love 4-8
        love - character of God
        shown in actions toward those not deserving
        seeks welfare of all
        love is longsuffering/patient
        love is kind/gentle (even to the ungrateful)
        love is not jealous/envious
        love does not brag/boast/act pretentious
        love is not arrogant/conceited/puffed up with pride
        love is not rude/irreverent/improper/behave disgracefully or dishonorably
        love does not seek its own benefit
        love is not easily provoked/stirred to anger
        love does not keep accounts of wrong/calculate/reckon/count up
        love does not rejoice in unrighteousness
        but rejoices with the truth - opposite of unrighteousness
        love bears all things
        possibly protect by keeping silence over sins committed to self - cf. 1 Pet. 4:8, Prov. 10:12
        more likely, bears all things, cf. 9:12 "we endure all things rather than bring hindrance to the Gospel."
        love believes all things (obviously not lies), but not suspicious, unhealthy doubting
        love hopes in all things (same qualification)
        love endures/perseveres all things (same qualification)
        love never fails/falls
        - cf. 10:12 'be careful you do not fall.'
        those who think they stand firm on their own knowledge may indeed fall, but love never falls
        knowledge puffs up, love builds up
      - The endurance of love 8-13
        compared to temporary nature of gifts
        prophecy
        if prophecy
        it will cease/pass away/be abolished/brought to nothing/destroyed
        tongues
        if tongues
        they will stop/cease
        knowledge
        if knowledge
        it will cease/pass away/be abolished/brought to nothing/destroyed
        Reason - the extensiveness of gifts
        for the gifts are partial
        we know in part
        and we prophecy in part (contrast to whole)
        the perfect will replace them
        when that (or He) that is perfect comes
        that which is in part will cease/pass away/be abolished/brought to nothing/destroyed
        cessationists have used this verse to argue that prophecy and tongues ceased with the canon
        but knowledge has not ceased
        and 'the perfect to come' in the NT always refers to the parousia of Christ.
        explanation by illustration of growing up
        when I was a child
        I spoke as a child
        I thought as a child
        I calculated as a child
        when I became a man- perfect tense
        I abolished/passed away/stopped/brought to nothing/destroyed the things of childhood
        Reason - comparison of earthy with heavenly experience
        now we see as an indistinct/indirect image in a mirror (imperfect mirror)
        then we will see face to face - directly
        now we know in part
        then we will know just as we are known
        not necessarily know exhaustively, but know directly
        Summary
        Faith, hope and love - now the three of these remain
        but love is the greatest of these
      - Pursue Spiritual Gifts 14:1
        pursue love
        zealously desire spiritual gifts
        and more importantly, that you may prophecy
    - Prophecy and Tongues 14:1-19
      - Pursue the greater spiritual gifts1-5
        Pursue Prophecy 1
        pursue love
        zealously desire spiritual gifts
        and more importantly, that you may prophecy
        Reason - Prophecy is better that tongues 2-4
        to whom he speaks and what he speaks
        the one who speaks with a tongue
        does not speak to men
        but to God
        this might seem to be a plus, but in light of what is later said, in light of Paul's main point, in light of Gospel realities of service to others, it is not
        for no one hears/understands
        and he speaks a mysteries by the Spirit
        the one who prophecies
        speaks to men
        he speaks
        edification/building up
        exhortation/consolation
        encouragement/comfort
        whom he edifies
        the one who speaks with a tongue edified himself
        the one who prophecies edifies the church
        major difference - focus of Paul's argument
        Summary 5
        I want you all to speak with tongues
        but more so that you may prophesy
        the one who prophecies is better than the one who speaks with tongues, except if he interprets, so that the church receives edification
        tongue + interpretation = prophecy
        public and private tongues
      - build up the church with a distinct/clear word 6-13
        thesis idea
        now brothers, if I come to you speaking with tongues
        what do I profit you, except I speak to you with a revelation or with knowledge or with prophecy or with a teaching
        illustration from musical instruments
        just like lifeless things like a flute or harp giving a sound
        if they do not give a distinction to their sounds
        how will the tune being fluted or the thing being harped be known
        illustration from bugle call
        if a trumpet gives an indistinct sound
        who will prepare for battle?
        application to Tongues
        in the same way
        if you, speaking in tongues, do not give a clear/distinct word
        how will what is spoken be known?
        for you will be speaking to the air
        illustration from world languages
        there are probably so many kinds of languages in the world
        and none are unknown
        therefore, except I know the meaning of the language
        I will be a foreigner to the speaker
        and the one speaking will be a foreigner to me
        application to tongues
        in the same way also you
        since you are zealous for the Spirit
        you should seek for the building up of the church
        so that you excel in building up the church
        therefore, let the one who speaks in a tongue pray so that he may interpret
      - build up the church with an effective/fruitful word 14-19
        praying
        for if I pray with a tongue
        my spirit prays
        but my mind is unfruitful
        therefore, what?
        I will pray with the Spirit/my spirit
        AND I will pray with the mind
        I will sing with the Spirit/my spirit
        AND I will sing with the mind
        blessing (praising/giving thanks)
        whenever you bless with the Spirit
        how will the uninitiated person filling this place say amen to your thanksgiving?
        since he does not know what you are saying
        for you give thanks well
        but the other one is not built up
        Summary - tongues are not bad (in fact good), but not the priority in church
        I give thanks to God that I speak with tongues more than all of you
        but I want to speak five tongues with my mind in church so that I may also instruct others
        rather than speak thousands of words in a tongue
    - Unbelievers and Gifts 14:20-25
      - brothers, do not be children in your thinking 20
        but be innocent of evil
        be mature in your thinking
      - Isaiah's Testimony 21
        Isa 28:11-12
        in context of punishment of Israel by foreign speaking nations
        because leaders only spoke nonsense
        and Israel refused to listen to what was clearly spoken by God
        taking away this clear word was part of the punishment
        "You don't want to listen to clear word, I will give you over to babling language"
        it is written in the Law
        that I will speak to this people
        with other tongues
        and in other lips
        and in this way they will not hear and obey me
        says the Lord
      - signs and unbelievers 22
        therefore, tongues are not a sign to believers
        but (they are a sign) to unbelievers
        prophecy is not to unbeliever
        but (prophecy is) to believers
        at first this seems like contradiction - until see it through the Isaiah context
        inability to understand is judgment, clarity is blessing
      - tongues before outsiders 23
        therefore, if the whole church is gathered in the same place
        and all are speaking with tongues
        and an outsider or unbeliever comes in
        will they not say that you are all crazy?
      - prophecy before outsiders 24-25
        if all are prophesying
        and some unbeliever or outsider comes in
        he will be exposed by all
        and he will be judged by all
        the secret things of his heart will be revealed
        and in this way he will worship God
        falling on his face
        telling that God is truly among you
    - Orderly Worship 14:26-40
      - therefore brothers, What is it?
      - Everyone has something for the building up of the church 26
        when you gather together
        each has a psalm
        each has a teaching
        each has a revelation
        each has a tongue
        each has an interpretation
        let all things be towards the building up (of the church)
      - guidelines for public tongues 27-28
        if someone speaks with a tongue
        let them speak two or three at the most
        each in turn
        and let one interpret
        if there is not an interpreter
        let him be silent in church
        let him speak to himself and God
      - guidelines for prophecy 29-33
        let two or three prophets speak
        and let others judge/discern/discriminate (the prophecies)
        and if a revelation is revealed to another who is sitting there
        le the first one be silent
        for all are able to prophecy one by one
        so that all may learn
        and so that all may be encouraged/comforted/exhorted
        and the spirits of prophets are subject to the prophets
        no one is out of control
        therefore, let them be in control
        for God is not a God of disorder/disturbance
        but of peace
        (therefore no disorder/disturbance/disruption in church)
        as in all the churches of the saints
        (question if whether this phrase goes with this paragraph or the next)
      - guidelines for women 34-36
        as in all the churches of the saints
        (question if whether this phrase goes with this paragraph or the next)
        let women be silent in the church
        because it is not permitted to them to speak
        but let them be submitted just as the law also says
        Possibly Gen. 3:16, Possibly Gen ch. 2 in general, Possibly whole of Torah
        No specific verse being quoted, but more likely general principle
        if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home
        it is shameful/disgraceful/morally or socially unacceptable for a woman to speak in church
        or did the Word of God come from you?
        or has it come to you only?
      - Challenge to acknowledge Paul's instructions 37-38
        or did the Word of God come from you?
        or has it come to you only?
        if someone judges themselves to be a prophet or 'spiritual'
        remember occasion and underlying theological issues - Paul is correcting what it means to be spiritual
        let him acknowledge that which I am writing to you - that it is a commandment of the Lord
        if someone is ignorant/intentionally disregards/ignores (this teaching)
        let him remain ignorant (be disregarded/ignored)
      - Summary 39-40
        therefore my brothers
        be zealous to prophesy
        and do not forbid speaking in tongues
        and let all things be done decently/properly/fittingly and in order
- The Gospel as the Foundational Answer 15:1-58
  - Rehearsal of the Gospel 15:1-11
    - Brothers, I made known to you the Gospel 1-2
      - which I proclaimed/Gospeled to you
      - and which you received
      - and by which you stand
      - and through which you are saved
        saved by God through the Gospel
        I preached this word to you
        (saved) if you hold fast
        otherwise, you believed in vain/to no avail/without sufficient connection
    - For I gave to you as of first importance that which I also received 3-8
      - That Christ died
        on behalf of our sins
        according to the Scriptures
      - and that He was buried
      - and that He was raised
        on the third day
        according to the Scriptures
      - and that He was seen/appeared
        by Cephas
        then by the twelve
        afterward, He was seen by more than 500 brothers at one time
        the majority of whom remain until now
        though some have fallen asleep/died
        then He was seen by James
        then by all the apostles
        and He was also seen by me last of all - like one born at the wrong time
    - For I am the least of the apostles 9-10
      - I am not worthy to be called an apostle
      - because I persecuted the church of God
      - but I am what I am by the grace of God
      - and His grace in me did not become vain/empty/to no avail
      - but I worked harder than all of them
        not I
        but the grace of God which is with me
    - Therefore 11
      - if it was I
      - if it was these ones
      - In this way we preached
      - and in this way you believed
  - The Resurrection of Christ 15:12-34
    - Some deny the resurrection 12
      - If Christ is proclaimed - that He is raised from the dead
      - how do some among you say - that the resurrection of the dead is not
        i.e. not only that it did not happen
        but that it does not happen, cannot happen
        Gk. philosophy/Platonic Dualism, to resurrect would be a bad thing - "spiritual" life free from matter is the highest ideal to be achieved
    - argument ad absurdum 13-19
      - If the resurrection of the dead is not
        then neither is Christ raised
      - therefore, if Christ is not raised
        our message/proclamation is empty/vain
        and your faith is empty/vain
        and we are found to be false witnesses about God
        because we testified about God that He raised the Christ
        Who is not raised
        if therefore the dead are not raised
        for if the dead are not raised, neither is Christ raised
      - if Christ is not raised,
        your faith is useless/worthless
        you are still in your sins
      - therefore also those who have fallen asleep/died in Christ have perished
      - if we are hoping in this life only in Christ
        we are the most to be pitied of all men
    - Implications of the Resurrection 20-22
      - but now Christ is raised from the dead - the first fruit of those who are sleeping/dead
      - for since death came through a man
      - resurrection from the dead also came through a man
      - for just as all died in Adam
      - so also all are made alive in Christ
    - The timing of the Resurrection 23-28
      - but each according to his own order/group
      - Christ is the firstfruit
      - then those of Christ at his parousia
      - then the end
        when He will give over the Kingdom to God and Father
        when He destroyed every ruler and every authority and power
        for it is necessary for Him to reign until He places all enemies under His feet
        cf. Psa. 110:1
        cf. Psa. 8:6
        the last enemy - death will be destroyed
        for he subjected all things under His feet
        when it says that He subjected all things
        it is evident that it excepted the One Who subjected all things
        when He subjects all things to Him
        Then His Son will be subjected to the One Who subjected all things to Him
        so that God may be all things in all
    - more arguments ad absurdum 29-32
      - what are those who are baptized on behalf of the dead doing?
      - if the dead are not actually raised
      - why are they baptized on behalf of them?
      - and we ourselves, why are we endangered every hour?
      - I die every day
      - surely brothers, this is the boast in you that I have in Christ Jesus our Lord
      - what benefit is it to me if I fought wild beasts in Ephesus
      - if the dead are not raised
        let us eat and drink
        for tomorrow we die
    - Summary/Application 33-34
      - do not be deceived - evil associates spoil good morals
      - come back to your senses, as is right
      - and stop sinning
      - for some have ignorance of God
      - I am saying this to your shame
  - The Resurrection of Believers 15:35-58
    - (answering objections to the resurrection)
    - Question 35
      - but somebody says
      - how are the dead raised?
      - with what kind of body do they come?
    - Resurrection has a new kind of body 36-38
      - fools!
      - that which you sow is not made alive except it dies
      - and that which you sow, you do not sow the body to come, but just a seed, (perhaps wheat or something else)
      - but God gave a body to it just as He willed
      - to each of the seeds He gave its own body
    - all flesh is not the same flesh 39-41
      - different kinds of flesh
        but one kind to men
        another kind of flesh to beasts
        another kind of flesh to birds
        another kind of flesh to fish
      - different kinds of bodies
        and heavenly bodies
        and earthly bodies
      - different kinds of glory
        but there is one glory of the heavenly bodies
        and there is another glory of the eartly bodies
        and there is another glory of the sun
        and there is another glory of the moon
        and there is another glory of the stars
        for star differs from star in glory
    - in this way also the resurrection from the dead 42-44
      - it is sown in corruption/destructability
      - it is raised in incorruption/immortality
      - it is sown in dishonor
      - it is raised in glory
      - it is sown in weakness
      - it is raised in power
      - the soulish/natural (of this world) body is sown
      - the spiritual body is raised
      - if there is a soulish/natural body, there is also spiritual
    - From first Adam to Last Adam 45-49
      - So also It is written
      - Adam - the first man became a living soul - Gen 2:7
      - the last Adam became a life-giving Spirit
      - But the Spiritual was not first
      - But the natural, then the spiritual
      - the first man was dust from the earth
      - the second man is from heaven
      - so the earthly man, also are those earthly people (from him)
      - and so the heavenly man, also are those heavenly people (from Him)
      - just as we bear the likeness of the earthly man, we will bear the likeness of the heavenly man
    - changed to fit the new creation 50-57
      - necessity of change
        I say this brothers
        that flesh and blood is not able to inherit the Kingdom of God
        neither will the perishable inherit the imperishable
      - manner of change
        behold, I tell you a mystery
        all will not sleep, but all will be changed
        cf. I Thes. 4
        in a moment
        in the blink of an eye
        at the last trumpet
        for the trumpet will sound
        and the dead will be raised imperishable
        and we will be changed
      - necessity of change
        it is necessary for this perishable to be clothed with the imperishable
        and for this mortality to be clothed with immortality
      - manner of change
        when this perishable will be clothed with imperishable
        and this mortal will be clothed with immortality
        then the word that is written will be fullfilled -
        death will be swallowed up into victory
        death, where is your victory?
        death, where is your sting?
        the sting of death is sin
        and the power of sin is the law
        thanks be to God, Who has given to us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ
    - application 58
      - therefore my beloved brothers
      - be steadfast
      - be immovable
      - always abounding in the work of the Lord
      - knowing that your work in the Lord is not in vain/empty
- Conclusion 16:1-24
  - The Collection 1-4
    - Monetary collection to bless other believers struggling
    - Voluntary giving
    - In proportion to income
    - Organized to avoid negligence and stress
    - Totally above board - their own people they choose and they trust would carry the money - not Paul
      - Will be addressed more thoroughly in 2 Cor
  - Personal Information 5-18
    - Paul's tentative plans to visit them
      - These plans are clearly tentative, but apparently a change of plans caused a problem that will be addressed in 2 Cor.
      - Note Paul stays in Ephesus because of great opportunity and great opposition
    - Timothy may come - treat him well
      - Some indication in 2 Cor. that Timothy was not treated well
    - Apollos is not coming, but may come later
    - Series of commands
      - Be on guard/ be watchful
      - Stand firm in the faith
      - Act like a man - be courageous/manly
      - Be strengthened/ Be strong
      - Let all your things be in love
    - Commendation of the household of Stephanus
      - They are devoted to service
      - Submit to such as these
      - Submit to those who join the work and labor
    - Stephanus, Fortunatus and Achaicus came to Paul
      - Probably delivering their letter to Paul
      - They refreshed Paul
      - They are commended
  - Final Greetings 19-24
    - Greetings
      - Churches of Asia greet them
      - Aquilla and Priscilla greet them - helpers in church plant cf. Acts
      - All the Brothers greet them
      - Greet one another with holy kiss
      - Paul greets them with his own hand
    - Blessing
      - Curse on those who don't love the Lord
      - Maranatha - Come O Lord
      - Grace of Jesus be with you
      - Paul's love to them in Christ Jesus