Topic 111

1
Topic 11 1 2 Corinthians Questions about
Freedom

• The Church in Corinth
• City of Corinth
• Transportation cross-roads.
• Major cosmopolitan, commercial center.
• Syncretism many cultures and religions.
• Proverbial for immorality.
• Church founded on 2nd journey (Acts 18)
• 18-month stay.
• Appearance before Gallio.

2

• Pauls Correspondence with Corinth
• Authenticity undisputed
• Unity 2 Corinthians may be composite letter.
• 2 Cor. 10-13 harsh tone crisis at its height
• 2 Cor. 1-9 mild, conciliatory tone crisis
  resolved
• Lost letters
• 1 Cor. 59 clarifies a Previous letter
  (unpreserved).
• 2 Cor. 23 78 regrets a Harsh letter ( 2
  Cor. 10-13).
• Sequence
• Previous letter (lost, but referred to in 1
  Cor. 59)
• 1 Corinthians
• Harsh letter ( 2 Cor. 10-13)
• Conciliatory letter ( 2 Cor. 1-9)
• Date and place Ephesus 3rd journey c. 54-55

3

• 1 Corinthians
• Occasion
• Paul has received information 2 ways
• By word of mouth from Chloes people (111).
• By letter from Corinth (71) Now concerning
• Church is in turmoil.
• All kinds of problems ecclesiastical ethical
  theological.
• Misguided theology based on Gnostic notions.
• Highlights of 1 Corinthians
• ch. 1-4 Problem of factions
• Factions devoted to Paul, Apollos, Cephas, Christ
  (112).
• Apollos educated Jewish Christian from
  Alexandria (Acts 19) sophisticated preaching in
  Corinth won following Apollos faction boasts
  higher wisdom.
• Theology of the Cross (ch. 1) Gods foolish
  wisdom.
• Proper regard for leaders (ch. 3) - servants

4

• 2. Highlights of 1 Corinthians cont.
• ch. 5-6 Problems of immorality
• Incest and prostitution are condoned by church
  (51-2).
• All things are lawful for me (612) slogan of
  the libertine Corinthians.
• Pauls principles for proper exercise of freedom
  (612-20).
• ch. 7 Questions about marriage
• Some in Corinth advocate celibacy and divorce for
  spiritual advancement out of Gnostic
  presuppositions.
• Paul also prefers celibacy because of imminence
  of Parousia but recognizes it is not everyones
  gift (v. 7).
• Advice to the married continue sexual relations
  (v. 1-5) do not seek divorce (v. 10-11) note
  mutual reciprocity.
• Advice to the unmarried remain single if you
  have the gift otherwise, marry (v. 6-9 25-27
  32-33).
• Note contrast between v. 10 (command of the
  Lord) and v. 12, 25 (Pauls own opinion).

5

• Highlights of 1 Corinthians cont.
• ch. 8-10 Question of idol-meat
• Meat that was ritually slaughtered in pagan
  temple.
• Weak refused to eat for fear of idolatry.
• Strong ate freely out of knowledge that idols
  are not real gods.
• Paul the strong are right in principle but
  freedom to eat must be exercised in context of
  love (v. 9-13).
• 112-16 Veiling of women
• Women are praying/prophesying with uncovered
  heads.
• Paul allows them to pray/prophesy but with veils
  on.
• Veil is concession to prevailing culture
  permission to pray/prophesy is womans new
  freedom in Christ.
• 1117-34 Problem of conduct at Lords Supper
• Occasion for drunken revelry, dividing rich and
  poor.
• Paul recalls origin of meal in sacrifice of
  Christ (v. 23-26).
• Guidelines scrutinize your conduct before eating
  (v. 28) wait for one another (v. 33).

6

• g. ch. 12-14 Problem of spiritual gifts
• Over-emphasis on spectacular gifts like
  tongue-speaking (glossolalia) disruptive and
  divisive.
• ch. 12 Variety of gifts/unity of church
• All do not have same gift all gifts serve the
  one church.
• Analogy of church as the body of Christ.
• ch. 13 The Love Hymn love as greatest gift
• Without love, other gifts are meaningless.
• Agape unconditional, self-giving love.
• ch. 14 Evaluation of tongue-speaking
  overrated
• Tongue-speaking is private prophecy benefits
  whole church.
• Guidelines for practice of tongue-speaking.
• Silencing of women in 1434-35 is puzzling
  could be treating local problem or may be a
  later, non-Pauline interpolation.
• ch. 15 Resurrection of believers
• Some denied future resurrection of the body.
• Paul argues from res. of Christ to res. of
  believers.
• Bodily salvation of whole person.
• Future salvation not yet complete.
• i. ch. 16 Collection for Jerusalem wrapping up

7

• 2 Corinthians
• Occasion
• Conditions are worse.
• Opponents called Super-apostles undermine
  Pauls ministry.
• Boast of Jewish credentials, miracles, wisdom.
• Oppose Paul as weak, unimpressive, deceitful.
• Paul has made disastrous painful visit.
• Highlights of 2 Corinthians
• ch. 10-13 Harsh letter
• Deals sternly with church.
• Ironic boasting match boasts of weakness,
  suffering (1121, 23-30 1210).
• Sends letter with Titus as personal envoy.
• ch. 1-9 Conciliatory letter
• Has met Titus in Macedonia gets good news
  (212-13 75-7).
• Breathes sigh of relief (13-7) writes mild
  letter putting whole affair in perspective.

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