Introduction All through this letter, the Apostle Paul has been addressing a number of different issues with the church in Corinth. And in today's chapter he writes to them about spiritual gifts and about how the church is like a body: so, just as a body is made up of different parts, and each part … Continue reading 1 Cor. 12 →

Introduction I mentioned the last time that 1 Corinthians 11 is the beginning of a new section in Paul's letter to the church in Corinth. For the previous three chapters he was dealing with the issue of food sacrificed to idols and whether Christians may eat such food or not. In chapter 11 he begins … Continue reading 1 Cor. 11(17–34) →

Introduction Today's passage is a difficult one to interpret. If you read the Bible commentaries, you'll see how the Bible scholars write about how this is one of the most difficult passages in 1 Corinthians to interpret; and it's full of complexities which are hard to sort out. Nearly everything Paul says here is debated … Continue reading 1 Cor. 11(02–16) →

Introduction So, in the verses this evening Paul is wrapping up what he wants to say about eating food sacrificed to idols. He's been dealing with this subject since the beginning of chapter 8. That's three whole chapters on this one topic. Eating food sacrificed to idols may not be an issue which we need … Continue reading 1 Cor. 10(23)–11(01) →

Introduction So, since the beginning of chapter 8, Paul has been addressing the topic of whether believers may eat food which has been sacrificed to idols. It's not a problem we encounter in Belfast, but I've explained before that it was a big problem in Corinth in those days, because, of course, there were no … Continue reading 1 Cor. 10(14–22) →

Introduction Paul has been addressing various problems which had arisen in the church in Corinth, a church which Paul had planted when he went there and preached the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. And since the beginning of chapter 8, he's been dealing with one particular issue: should Christians eat food which … Continue reading 1 Cor. 09(24)–10(14) →

Introduction If someone asked you now what today's passage is about, I wonder what would you say? I was listening to another preacher preach on this passage and he preached on rights: when we should insist on our rights and when we should give up our rights. From what he said, it seems that this … Continue reading 1 Cor. 09(01–23) →

Introduction Try to imagine -- if you can -- what it must have been like to live in Corinth in the first century AD. This Greek city had been destroyed by the Romans in 146 BC, but had subsequently been rebuilt and colonized by the Romans so that -- with around 70 to 80 thousand … Continue reading 1 Cor. 08 →

Introduction We've been seeing in previous weeks that the Apostle Paul has been addressing a number of issues and problems which were spoiling the church in Corinth, a church which Paul had planted when he went there and preached the gospel. But since he left, a number of different problems had arisen in the congregation. … Continue reading 1 Cor. 07(25–40) →

Introduction We've seen over the weeks when we've been studying Paul's first letter to the church in Corinth that he's been dealing with a number of different issues which were spoiling things in the congregation. First of all, there were the divisions that existed in that church, with one group exalting themselves over another group. … Continue reading 1 Cor. 07(01–24) →