Difference between revisions of "1 Corinthians 1"
From 2Timothy2.org
(→A Church Divided) |
|||
| (12 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| + | [[1 Corinthians 1 Questions]] | ||
=Introduction= | =Introduction= | ||
*What is something you own? How does your interest in something change if you own it? | *What is something you own? How does your interest in something change if you own it? | ||
| − | + | **Ownership tends to be a big deal, people treat what they own with a lot of respect. People have a vested interest in what they own. Similarly, God has a vested interest in His church. | |
| − | *Ownership tends to be a big deal, people treat what they own with a lot of respect. People have a vested interest in what they own. Similarly, God has a vested interest in His church. | ||
=Lesson= | =Lesson= | ||
| − | ==Greetings== | + | ==Greetings (1-3)== |
===Paul: God’s man (V1)=== | ===Paul: God’s man (V1)=== | ||
*What aspects of his own life does Paul choose to highlight in his greeting? | *What aspects of his own life does Paul choose to highlight in his greeting? | ||
| − | **An apostle was an eye-witness to the risen Lord and the word αποστολος carries the idea of a messenger. The idea here is that Paul was an eye-witness to the risen Lord and specifically commissioned for service to the | + | **An apostle was an eye-witness to the risen Lord and the word αποστολος carries the idea of a messenger. The idea here is that Paul was an eye-witness to the risen Lord and specifically commissioned for service to the Gentiles. A natural question is when did Paul actually see Jesus? The answer comes from Acts 9:1-7, 1 Cor. 9:1, and Gal 1:12. |
**Paul was called to be an Apostle. It is significant that Paul did not choose to be an Apostle. The call to serve Christ in this role was impossible to refuse. | **Paul was called to be an Apostle. It is significant that Paul did not choose to be an Apostle. The call to serve Christ in this role was impossible to refuse. | ||
====Overall Message==== | ====Overall Message==== | ||
| − | *God was the one who owned Paul and as property of God | + | *God was the one who owned Paul and as property of God. Paul was doing God's bidding. The life of a Christ-follower should be marked by living as property of another, property of God. |
| + | |||
===The Corinthians: God’s church (V2)=== | ===The Corinthians: God’s church (V2)=== | ||
*What characteristics of the church does Paul highlight in his introduction? | *What characteristics of the church does Paul highlight in his introduction? | ||
| Line 27: | Line 28: | ||
Application Question: What does God's ownership mean for you? What does God's ownership mean for our church? | Application Question: What does God's ownership mean for you? What does God's ownership mean for our church? | ||
| − | ==Thanksgiving== | + | ==Thanksgiving (4-9)== |
*The object of thanks: God (V4-8) | *The object of thanks: God (V4-8) | ||
**Specifically, God’s abundant grace. In a typical letter from this period of time a writer would make some sort of polite greeting but instead of praising the Corinthians, Paul praises God. No matter what has happened in the church, Paul realized that God's grace was an object worthy of thanksgiving. | **Specifically, God’s abundant grace. In a typical letter from this period of time a writer would make some sort of polite greeting but instead of praising the Corinthians, Paul praises God. No matter what has happened in the church, Paul realized that God's grace was an object worthy of thanksgiving. | ||
| Line 33: | Line 34: | ||
Application Question: How can you apply Paul's thankfulness in your life? | Application Question: How can you apply Paul's thankfulness in your life? | ||
| − | + | ==A Church Divided (10-17)== | |
| − | + | ===The Plea (V10)=== | |
| − | |||
*What plea does Paul make in verse 10? | *What plea does Paul make in verse 10? | ||
**Paul makes a plea for unity. His plea is in the name of Jesus, the idea of name here is that of authority and representation. In ancient cultures a name carried the idea of bearing representation of all that a person was and stood for. | **Paul makes a plea for unity. His plea is in the name of Jesus, the idea of name here is that of authority and representation. In ancient cultures a name carried the idea of bearing representation of all that a person was and stood for. | ||
| − | + | ===The Problem (V11-13)=== | |
*What problem does Paul describe in verse 11? | *What problem does Paul describe in verse 11? | ||
**There was apparently conflict, division springing up in the church. | **There was apparently conflict, division springing up in the church. | ||
*What specific problem is brought up in verse 12? | *What specific problem is brought up in verse 12? | ||
**It seems that there were people who had begun identifying themselves by a leader's name. | **It seems that there were people who had begun identifying themselves by a leader's name. | ||
| − | + | ||
| + | ===The Solution: The Gospel=== | ||
*What general argument is outlined in verse 13? | *What general argument is outlined in verse 13? | ||
**Christ is not divided - You are of Christ => You should not be divided! | **Christ is not divided - You are of Christ => You should not be divided! | ||
| Line 51: | Line 52: | ||
**The gospel contradicts worldly wisdom because of the foolishness of the cross. | **The gospel contradicts worldly wisdom because of the foolishness of the cross. | ||
| − | ===How is the gospel described in verses 18-25? | + | Application Question: What should Christians be on guard against if we want to preserve unity? |
| − | *“The message of the Cross” is the message of self-renunciation, of obedience to God which may lead as it did in Jesus’ case to humiliation and death, but which ultimately leads not to self-destruction but to preservation (Mark 8:34–35) and exaltation (2 Tim. 2:12; Rev. 22:5).<ref>David K. Lowery, “1 Corinthians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 509.</ref> | + | |
| − | * | + | ==The Source of Unity (18-25)== |
| + | |||
| + | *How is the gospel described in verses 18-25? | ||
| + | **“The message of the Cross” is the message of self-renunciation, of obedience to God which may lead as it did in Jesus’ case to humiliation and death, but which ultimately leads not to self-destruction but to preservation (Mark 8:34–35) and exaltation (2 Tim. 2:12; Rev. 22:5).<ref>David K. Lowery, “1 Corinthians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 509.</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | Application Question: Why is it important that we recognize the human imperfections of our spiritual leaders? | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Identity (26-31)== | ||
| + | *How does Paul describe Corinthian believers in verse 26? | ||
| + | **Corinth was a Greek city and the idolatry of the age would have been wisdom, power, and nobility. Paul reminds them that they had none of these and should not consider these as valuable, they were called by God despite what they did not have. | ||
| + | *Why do you suppose God chooses to work through the foolish and weak? | ||
| + | **According to verse 28 God chose the foolish and the weak in order to shame the strong and powerful. | ||
| + | **According to verse 29 this is ultimately about preventing boasting. | ||
| + | *According to verse 30, what is the source of our identity? | ||
| + | **In Christ who is wise, righteous, and sanctified. | ||
| + | *In what should we boast? | ||
| + | **In the Lord | ||
| + | *How is this a fulfillment of Jeremiah 9:23-24 | ||
| + | **Christ is the image of the invisible God! | ||
| − | + | Application Question: How do we ensure that our identity is in Christ? | |
| − | |||
| − | |||
=Application= | =Application= | ||
| Line 63: | Line 80: | ||
*The church is all about God, not about us. | *The church is all about God, not about us. | ||
*The message must be about the Cross, not about us. | *The message must be about the Cross, not about us. | ||
| − | * | + | *Our boasting must be in the Lord, not in us. |
Latest revision as of 20:33, 12 September 2020
Contents
Introduction
- What is something you own? How does your interest in something change if you own it?
- Ownership tends to be a big deal, people treat what they own with a lot of respect. People have a vested interest in what they own. Similarly, God has a vested interest in His church.
Lesson
Greetings (1-3)
Paul: God’s man (V1)
- What aspects of his own life does Paul choose to highlight in his greeting?
- An apostle was an eye-witness to the risen Lord and the word αποστολος carries the idea of a messenger. The idea here is that Paul was an eye-witness to the risen Lord and specifically commissioned for service to the Gentiles. A natural question is when did Paul actually see Jesus? The answer comes from Acts 9:1-7, 1 Cor. 9:1, and Gal 1:12.
- Paul was called to be an Apostle. It is significant that Paul did not choose to be an Apostle. The call to serve Christ in this role was impossible to refuse.
Overall Message
- God was the one who owned Paul and as property of God. Paul was doing God's bidding. The life of a Christ-follower should be marked by living as property of another, property of God.
The Corinthians: God’s church (V2)
- What characteristics of the church does Paul highlight in his introduction?
- Of God
- The genitive of possession is a strong reminder that the church in Corinth did not belong to its leaders, its congregation, or its city. The church was the property of God and as such was to be submissive to God.
- Sanctified in Christ
- The word for sanctified carries a bunch of grammatical weight. It is a perfect passive participle which serves as a noun. In other words, these are individuals who had been sanctified with ongoing effects (present effects of past action). These people were to live a life in light of their positional sanctification.
- Called saints
- Just as Paul was called to be an apostle so these individuals were called to live a holy life.
- Part of a larger body
- The church at Corinth is just a small piece of the puzzle and they need to recognize that they are part of something much bigger than themselves.
- Of God
Overall Message
- God's Church should be marked by individuals submitting to God's authority as part of a corporate body who together are pursuing mutual edification toward the glory of God.
Application Question: What does God's ownership mean for you? What does God's ownership mean for our church?
Thanksgiving (4-9)
- The object of thanks: God (V4-8)
- Specifically, God’s abundant grace. In a typical letter from this period of time a writer would make some sort of polite greeting but instead of praising the Corinthians, Paul praises God. No matter what has happened in the church, Paul realized that God's grace was an object worthy of thanksgiving.
Application Question: How can you apply Paul's thankfulness in your life?
A Church Divided (10-17)
The Plea (V10)
- What plea does Paul make in verse 10?
- Paul makes a plea for unity. His plea is in the name of Jesus, the idea of name here is that of authority and representation. In ancient cultures a name carried the idea of bearing representation of all that a person was and stood for.
The Problem (V11-13)
- What problem does Paul describe in verse 11?
- There was apparently conflict, division springing up in the church.
- What specific problem is brought up in verse 12?
- It seems that there were people who had begun identifying themselves by a leader's name.
The Solution: The Gospel
- What general argument is outlined in verse 13?
- Christ is not divided - You are of Christ => You should not be divided!
- What does verse 16 tell us about Paul's view of himself?
- He is not keeping score
- How does Paul contrast the wisdom of the gospel and the world in verse 17?
- The gospel contradicts worldly wisdom because of the foolishness of the cross.
Application Question: What should Christians be on guard against if we want to preserve unity?
The Source of Unity (18-25)
- How is the gospel described in verses 18-25?
- “The message of the Cross” is the message of self-renunciation, of obedience to God which may lead as it did in Jesus’ case to humiliation and death, but which ultimately leads not to self-destruction but to preservation (Mark 8:34–35) and exaltation (2 Tim. 2:12; Rev. 22:5).[1]
Application Question: Why is it important that we recognize the human imperfections of our spiritual leaders?
Identity (26-31)
- How does Paul describe Corinthian believers in verse 26?
- Corinth was a Greek city and the idolatry of the age would have been wisdom, power, and nobility. Paul reminds them that they had none of these and should not consider these as valuable, they were called by God despite what they did not have.
- Why do you suppose God chooses to work through the foolish and weak?
- According to verse 28 God chose the foolish and the weak in order to shame the strong and powerful.
- According to verse 29 this is ultimately about preventing boasting.
- According to verse 30, what is the source of our identity?
- In Christ who is wise, righteous, and sanctified.
- In what should we boast?
- In the Lord
- How is this a fulfillment of Jeremiah 9:23-24
- Christ is the image of the invisible God!
Application Question: How do we ensure that our identity is in Christ?
Application
How would we score in each of the following?
- The church is all about God, not about us.
- The message must be about the Cross, not about us.
- Our boasting must be in the Lord, not in us.
