1 Corinthians
GREETING AND CONCERN OVER DIVISIONS
Paul, called as an apostle of Christ Jesus by God's will, along with Sosthenes, writes to the church in Corinth and to all believers everywhere. He gives thanks for the grace given to them in Christ, enriching them in speech and knowledge and confirming the testimony of Christ among them, so that they lack no spiritual gift while awaiting the Lord's return.
However, it is reported that the church is beset by quarrels and divisions, with factions claiming allegiance to Paul, Apollos, Cephas, or Christ. This division is questioned, as Christ is not divided, and no apostle was crucified for them. The mission given to the apostles was not to baptize but to preach the gospel, not with eloquent wisdom, but through the message of the cross. This message is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to those being saved, it is the power of God. God chose what the world considers foolish and weak to shame the wise and strong, so that no one may boast before Him.
The apostles speak a message of God's hidden wisdom, which was destined for glory before time began. This wisdom is not of this age or its rulers, who are coming to nothing. It is revealed by the Spirit, who searches all things, even the deep things of God. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit, but the spiritual person is able to make judgments about all things. As servants of Christ, Paul planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God caused the growth. The significance lies not in the servants but in God. Each builder's work on the foundation of Christ will be tested by fire; if it survives, they will receive a reward, but if it is burned up, they will suffer loss, yet be saved as through fire.
The church is God's temple, and anyone who destroys it will be destroyed by God. Worldly wisdom is foolishness to God, so no one should boast in human leaders. Everything belongs to the believers—Paul, Apollos, Cephas, the world, life, death, the present, and the future—and they belong to Christ, who belongs to God.
MORAL AND ETHICAL DISORDERS
A report has surfaced of sexual immorality in the church, of a kind not even tolerated among pagans. The community is arrogant instead of mournful and has failed to remove the person who has done this. Though absent in body, Paul has already judged the man and instructs the church to hand him over to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved. A little leaven leavens the whole lump, so the church must remove the evil person from among them.
Believers are instructed not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral, greedy, an idolater, a slanderer, a drunkard, or a swindler. They are to judge those inside the church, while God will judge those outside.
Furthermore, believers are taking disputes with one another to pagan courts instead of settling matters within the church. It would be better to be wronged or cheated than to shame the faith in this way. The unrighteous—including the sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, the greedy, drunkards, and swindlers—will not inherit the kingdom of God. While some in the Corinthian church were once like this, they have been washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of God. All things may be permissible, but not everything is beneficial or constructive. The body is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and it is a temple of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, they must honor God with their bodies.
INSTRUCTIONS ON MARRIAGE AND CHRISTIAN LIBERTY
Regarding marriage, it is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman, but to avoid sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. A husband and wife should fulfill their marital duties to one another and not deprive each other, except perhaps by mutual consent for a time of prayer. The unmarried and widows are advised it is good to remain as they are, but if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. Those who are married should not separate; but if a believing spouse is married to an unbeliever who is willing to live with them, they should not divorce, as the unbelieving partner is sanctified through the believer.
Concerning food sacrificed to idols, while an idol is nothing in the world, not everyone possesses this knowledge. Some, still accustomed to idols, eat the food as if it were sacrificed to an idol, and their weak conscience is defiled. Believers must be careful that their freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. If eating certain food causes a brother or sister to fall into sin, it is better to abstain from it altogether.
Paul defends his rights as an apostle, including the right to food and drink and to be accompanied by a wife, but he has not used these rights in order to present no obstacle to the gospel. He makes himself a slave to everyone to win as many as possible, becoming all things to all people so that by all possible means he might save some. He disciplines his body to make it his slave so that after preaching to others, he himself will not be disqualified. The story of Israel in the wilderness serves as a warning against idolatry and testing Christ. No temptation has overtaken them except what is common to mankind, and God will provide a way out. Therefore, they must flee from idolatry.
WOMEN'S ROLES AND THE LORD'S SUPPER
In public worship, a man dishonors his head if he prays or prophesies with his head covered, while a woman dishonors her head if she does so with her head uncovered. For a woman, her hair is given to her as a covering.
Divisions are also reported during the gatherings of the church, particularly in the observance of the Lord's Supper. Instead of a communal meal, some go ahead with their own private suppers, with some going hungry while others get drunk. This despises the church of God and humiliates those who have nothing. When they come together to eat, they should share with one another. Anyone who eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. They should examine themselves before they eat and drink, for those who do so without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves.
SPIRITUAL GIFTS AND THE BODY OF CHRIST
There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. To one is given a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge, to another faith, to another gifts of healing, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, who distributes them to each one as he determines.
Just as a body, though one, has many parts, so it is with Christ. The body is not made up of one part but of many. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. The church is the body of Christ, and each member is a part of it. God has appointed apostles, prophets, teachers, miracles, gifts of healing, helping, guidance, and different kinds of tongues. Not all are apostles, prophets, or teachers. Not all work miracles, have gifts of healing, speak in tongues, or interpret.
The most excellent way is love. Love is patient and kind; it does not envy, boast, or dishonor others. It is not self-seeking, easily angered, and keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres. Love never fails. Where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. Faith, hope, and love remain, but the greatest of these is love.
Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. The one who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. Speaking in tongues should be accompanied by interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up. In church gatherings, two or at most three should speak in a tongue, one at a time, and someone must interpret. Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. God is not a God of disorder but of peace.
THE RESURRECTION
The gospel which was preached is that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and was raised on the third day, appearing to Cephas, the Twelve, more than five hundred brothers and sisters at the same time, James, all the apostles, and finally to Paul. If Christ has not been raised, the preaching is useless and so is the faith of the believers. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man. In Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.
Someone may ask how the dead are raised and with what kind of body. What is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. The trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, the saying will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."
CONCLUSION AND GREETINGS
A collection should be taken for the Lord's people on the first day of every week. Paul plans to visit after passing through Macedonia and hopes to spend some time with them. He urges them to be on their guard, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, and do everything in love. He greets them, along with the churches of Asia, Aquila and Priscilla, and all the brothers and sisters.
Concise Summary: This letter addresses divisions, moral issues, and doctrinal questions within the Corinthian church, emphasizing unity in Christ, ethical living, the proper use of spiritual gifts through love, and the foundational importance of the resurrection.
2 Corinthians
GREETING AND PAUL'S AFFLICTION
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, along with Timothy, writes to the church of God in Corinth and all the holy people throughout Achaia. He offers praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and God of all comfort, who comforts believers in their troubles so they can comfort others. Just as they share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also their comfort abounds through Christ. Paul's own afflictions in the province of Asia were so severe, beyond his ability to endure, that he despaired of life itself. This happened so that he would rely not on himself but on God, who raises the dead.
Paul explains that his initial plan to visit Corinth was not changed out of fickleness, but to spare them. His "Yes" is not both "Yes" and "No"; in Christ it is always "Yes." The reason for his painful visit and subsequent letter written out of great distress was not to cause grief but to let them know the depth of his love for them. He urges them to forgive and comfort the person who had caused the grief, to reaffirm their love for him. Paul himself has forgiven this individual in the presence of Christ, in order to prevent Satan from outwitting them.
THE NATURE OF THE NEW COVENANT MINISTRY
God, through Christ, leads believers in triumphal procession and uses them to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. To those who are being saved, they are the aroma of life; to those who are perishing, they are the aroma of death. Their competence comes from God, who has made them ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. The ministry of the Spirit, which brings righteousness, is far more glorious than the ministry of death, which was engraved in letters on stone. Since believers have this hope, they are very bold.
This ministry involves renouncing secret and shameful ways, not using deception, nor distorting the word of God. If the gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded their minds, but God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God's glory displayed in the face of Christ.
This treasure is held in jars of clay to show that the all-surpassing power is from God and not from them. They are hard-pressed but not crushed; perplexed but not in despair; persecuted but not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed. They always carry around in their body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed. Therefore, they do not lose heart. Though outwardly they are wasting away, inwardly they are being renewed day by day, fixing their eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.
RECONCILIATION WITH GOD AND SEPARATION FROM THE WORLD
As God's co-workers, they urge the Corinthians not to receive God's grace in vain. Paul's ministry has been conducted with purity, understanding, patience, kindness, in the Holy Spirit, and in sincere love. He speaks as to his children: open wide your hearts.
Believers are warned not to be yoked together with unbelievers. For there is no fellowship between righteousness and wickedness, or light and darkness. Believers are the temple of the living God, and as His people, they must come out from among unbelievers and be separate. God promises to be a Father to them, and they will be His sons and daughters. Therefore, with these promises, they should purify themselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
THE CALL FOR GENEROUS GIVING
Paul boasts of the Macedonian churches, whose overflowing joy and extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. They gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability, urgently pleading for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord's people. Just as the Corinthians excel in faith, speech, knowledge, and love, they should also excel in the grace of giving. This is not a command, but a test of the sincerity of their love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. They know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for their sake he became poor, so that they through his poverty might become rich.
Each person should give what they have decided in their heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. God is able to bless them abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that they need, they will abound in every good work.
PAUL'S DEFENSE OF HIS APOSTLESHIP
Paul appeals to them by the meekness and gentleness of Christ. Though he lives in the world, he does not wage war as the world does. The weapons he fights with have divine power to demolish strongholds. He will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine his boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to him, a sphere that reaches them. He is not like those who commend themselves; the one who is approved is the one the Lord commends.
He expresses his fear that their minds might be led astray from their sincere and pure devotion to Christ, just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning. He had preached the gospel to them free of charge, humbling himself to elevate them. He warns against "super-apostles" who preach a different Jesus or a different gospel. Even if an angel from heaven were to preach a different gospel, they should not accept it.
To keep him from becoming conceited, Paul was given a thorn in his flesh, a messenger of Satan. Three times he pleaded with the Lord to take it away, but the Lord said, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore, Paul will boast all the more gladly about his weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on him. He delights in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties, for when he is weak, then he is strong. He has become a fool in boasting, but they drove him to it. He concludes by urging them to examine themselves to see whether they are in the faith, and he prays that they will do what is right.
FINAL GREETINGS
Finally, he encourages them to strive for full restoration, to live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with them. He ends with a greeting and the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.
Concise Summary: This letter is a deeply personal defense of Paul's apostolic ministry, emphasizing the theme of strength in weakness, the glory of the new covenant, the call for reconciliation both with God and with one another, and the nature of true Christian generosity.