1-2 Corinthians overview

Sins in the Corinthian church Paul addressed:

• Sin #1 Paul being judged/accused/defamed by some in the Corinthian church
  • 1 Cor 4.1-5; 1 Cor 4.18-19 arrogant people against him
  • The accusations, as discerned from Paul’s defenses against them
    • 1 Cor 2.1, 2.13 Lofty speech, worldly wisdom
    • 1 Cor 2.12 Employing the spirit of the world
    • 1 Cor 4.10 Foolish, weak, disreputable
    • 1 Cor 4.11 Not prosperous (apparently not being blessed by god)
    • 1 Cor 4.12 Having to labor, not being supported by the Church; being reviled
    • 1 Cor 4.13 Slandered as being “lowly”
    • 1 Cor 9.1-2, 15.9-10 Not an apostle
    • 1 Cor 9.3-15, 2 Cor 2.17 Preaching for profit, from a motive of self-enrichment at the expense of the Church.
      • Paul’s answers:
        • He and his partners worked secular jobs to provide for their own monetary needs, 1 Cor 4.12, 1 Cor 9.6.
        • Though many do this, He did not. 2 Cor 2.17. He claimed to be sincerely speaking from God, and to God or for His approval.
        • “Not so!” 2 Cor 7.2
        • He did not charge the Corinthians anything in ministering to them, 2 Cor 11.7-11
    • 1 Cor 9.19-33 Being inconsistent: sometimes acting Jewish and sometimes not
    • 2 Cor 3.1 Paul lacked external authentication of his apostolic office and authority; his only credentials were self-proclaimed (2 Cor 4.5). Paul’s response (2 Cor 3.2-3) was that the conversions of the Corinthian believers from paganism to faith and life in Christ, worked by God Himself, was the authentication.
    • 2 Cor 3.5-6 Paul is not sufficient/adequate to be an apostle and minister to the Corinthians. Paul’s answer: his adequacy was God-given.
    • 2 Cor 4.2 Employing deceptive speech to “water down” the word of God
    • 2 Cor 4.5 Self-promotion
    • 2 Cor 4.7-12 Paul lacked God’s approval, and was even opposed by God, as seen by Paul and Co. being afflicted, perplexed, persecuted, struck down. Paul’s answer was that the hardships he endured, and the righteousness and divine power he displayed throughout, proved he was God’s servant; 2 Cor 6.4-10.
  • The offenders’ response:
    • Became sorry and repented; 2 Cor 2.6-7
  • The Church’s response:
    • 2 Cor 7.7-11 The Church wholeheartedly accepted Paul’s admonitions, sorrowed and mourned over what they had done, and zealously repented
    • 2 Cor 2.6 the majority punished the person/people, probably by excommunication
  • Paul’s response:
    • Note: in 2 Cor 2.7-11 the pronouns are singular, indicating this was about one individual, or one individual was the ringleader of a cabal of people accusing and opposing Paul.
    • Forgave the offender(s); 2 Cor 2.10
    • Delayed his visit; probably to let emotions calm down; 2 Cor 2.1
    • Instructed the Church to restore fellowship with the offender(s); 2 Cor 2.7-11
• Sin #2 Having a Church member in good standing with unrepentant immoral lifestyle
  • The accusation: 1 Cor 5.1-2
  • The response:
    • Paul’s judgment that the man is sinning, is unrepentant, and deserves Church punishment, 1 Cor 5.12
    • Punishment decreed: excommunication, 1 Cor 5.11
• Sin #3 Church members taking each other to court; 1 Cor 6.1-8
• Sin #4 Sexual immorality with prostitutes; 1 Cor 6.12-20
• Sin #5 Divisions/factions; 1 Cor 1.10-13, 3.1-21, 11.17-19
• Sin #6 Disrespecting the Lord’s Table; 1 Cor 11.20-34

Questions from the Corinthian church Paul addressed:

• Marriage, 1 Cor 7
• Idol food, 1 Cor 8
• Charitable giving, 1 Cor 16.1-11

Other Instructions

• 2 Cor 8.1-9.x Finish the charitable collection campaign they began a year previously (2 Cor 8.10-11) in joining the Macedonian churches in voluntarily (2 Cor 8.8, 9.7) contributing for the relief of the persecuted churches in Palestine (2 Cor 8.14), as they had promised (2 Cor 9.5).