; it is a word that properly embraces all believers, over all time. God has made them all foolish through His wisdom. It is wisdom of a different order altogether. If there is no principle of resurrection, then, ii. 3. Paul uses this exact phrase five other times in the New Testament. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Was Paul crucified for you? , he uses the term as a figurative title. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other. It means that the righteous deeds and character of Jesus are accounted to us. In its Gentile sense it denotes chiefly the citizen-assembly of a Greek city but it is its Jewish usage that underlies its use to denote the community of believers in Jesus. Paul thought, with all I have endured for Jesus Christ, if there is not a resurrection and a heavenly reward beyond this life, I am a fool to be pitied. Can we, in our super-comfortable age, say the same thing? But God cannot be found through human wisdom, but only through the message of the cross. iv. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. ii. In 1 Corinthians 15 Paul deals more fully with what makes a person an apostle. Instead, a stalk of wheat grows. The gospel is the message of the cross. ii. What will Paul boast about? c. There are different bodies or structures in the universe (sun moon stars), and each is created with its own glory, and each is suited to its own particular environment and needs. As is evident from 1 and 2 Corinthians, Pauls standing and authority as an apostle were not appreciated among the Christians of Corinth. They preached the resurrection of Jesus, and the early Christians believed the resurrection of Jesus. And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man. Yes, but only broken that it may be re-formed. Were the ones really right with God!, ii. 6. This danger was constantly on the mind of the apostle Paul, and should be constantly on the mind of any preacher or teacher. Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father. Perhaps it would be something along the lines of the way a body was transported on the old Star Trek series; the molecules would alter, and the person could pass through a solid object, and re-assemble themselves into a solid person. 3. Of the apostle's doctrine not a trace can be found in all the teaching of philosophers. What of the dead in Christ before that day? As Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica. They are shown to have, at times, morality problems, doctrine problems, church government problems, spiritual gift problems, church service problems, and authority problems. i. The righteous are put into their graves all weary and worn; but as such they will not rise. Then life is lived only under the sun, as is considered in Ecclesiastes. What of the dead in Christ before that day? Who became for us: Jesus is not only wisdom for us; He is also righteousness and sanctification and redemption. Those of Chloes household: Chloe was a woman (probably a Christian) whose business interests caused her representatives (those of her household) to travel between Ephesus and Corinth. : Whether Paul or one of the other apostles brought the message, the result was the same. I am an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, not the will of any man.. Session 7: Christ's Poverty, Our Wealth. ii. If there is no resurrection, and no future judgment, then we may as well have the best time we can right now and Paul was a fool for putting himself in such discomfort and danger for the sake of the gospel. The hearing and trusting of the true gospel will bring the, . Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer. No one was present in the tomb with Him when His body transformed into a resurrection body. Check to enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in. Where is the disputer of this age? Please see our Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. The weight of the body, pulling down on the arms and shoulders, tended to fix the respiratory muscles in an inhalation state, and hindered exhalation. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. This remarkable, instant gathering of Christians unto Jesus in the clouds has been called the rapture, after the Latin word for caught up in 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18. ii. Over time, two things happened: the church lost its passion for Jesus and His gospel, and ivy began to grow on the archway. All will be resurrected in the sense that they will receive a resurrection body and live forever. He knew this was not his own accomplishment, but it was the work of the grace of God in him. But the best news ever is that we can be saved from the punishment we deserve from God because of what Jesus did for us. All the redeemed on the earth at that time will rise up to meet the Lord in the clouds, and will receive their resurrection bodies. we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, mean that Paul predicted Jesus would come in his lifetime? 3. So, he persecuted the church before being confronted by Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9). But God has chosen the foolish things of the world: Looking again at the Corinthians, Paul can say you arent wise according to the world, you arent mighty, you arent noble but you are among the foolish things of the world.. Unfortunately, many of them never communicate any encouragement with their correction and advice. Paul made it clear that to be, ? Finally, have all your affairs in order so that you are ready to die. ii. It was on a four-and-one-half mile-wide isthmus of land. The Corinthian Christians are called saints, but this was not based on the outward performance of the Corinthians. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. a. Paul: The apostle Paul follows the normal pattern for writing a letter in ancient times. (24-28) The resurrection of Jesus leads to the resolution of all things. A distinction may be made between the trumpet of an angel and the trumpet of God. 5. July 17, 2017 / by Enduring Word 1 Corinthians 14:1-19 - The Gifts of Tongues and Prophecy. Verse 1. In its Gentile sense it denotes chiefly the citizen-assembly of a Greek city but it is its Jewish usage that underlies its use to denote the community of believers in Jesus. Where is the wise? Paul, knowing death is a defeated enemy because of Jesus work, can almost taunt death, and mock it. Let a man so consider us: Paul asks that he, and the other apostles ( us) be regarded by the Corinthians as servants. He was not shy about saying he worked harder than any of the other apostles did. Our resurrection body will be a heavenly (celestial) body, suited for life in heaven, not only life on this earth. So when he says, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. When you bury the body of a believer, you are sowing a seed that will come out of the earth as a resurrection body. The first trumpet meant, strike the tents and prepare to leave; the second trumpet meant, fall into line; the third and last trumpet meant march away. This last trumpet describes the Christians marching orders at the rapture of the Church. (12-13) The resurrection of Jesus proves there is a resurrection. How does His death do anything for our sins? all the credit for the change in His life. They, iii. v. It is possible there was not an actual Paul Party or Apollos Party or Peter Party or Jesus Party at Corinth. In 1 Corinthians 15 Paul deals more fully with what makes a person an apostle. What about the widows son in the days of Elijah (1 Kings 17:17-24) and Lazarus (John 11:38-44), among others? The church also had even lost Jesus in the message, preaching religious platitudes and social graces. a. If you are an unbeliever, death is not your friend; it is your enemy. Without grace there is and can be no peace, but when grace is ours, peace must of necessity follow. (Lenski). . He wrote a letter to the Christians in Corinth from the city of Ephesus (Acts 19), which is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 5:9. Probably, was Pauls scribe (or, more technically, his, To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called, with a building where Christians meet. God raises the dead. For the grace which was given to you by Jesus Christ: This was the specific reason for Pauls gratitude. It doesnt matter if you get the praise or the encouragement; sometimes you will and sometimes you wont. They have not been chosen because they are so great, but because God is so great. We dont find freedom by focusing on ourselves, because, He who glories, let him glory in the LORD, : Paul uses this reference to Jeremiah 9:23-24 to show that God did it all this way so that God would get the glory. ii. There is much in 1 Corinthians that is unflattering to the Christians of Corinth. (5-8) Concrete evidence of Jesus resurrection. All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds. iv. Finally, one could only read we, and the church also just became another social gathering place, all about we and not about God. When Paul explained it like this, it shows how foolish it is to focus on anyone but Jesus. i. c. We preach Christ crucified: Instead of giving the Jews and Greeks what they demanded in deliverance and wisdom, God gave them something unexpected: a crucified Messiah. God's Sufficient Grace. This also demonstrates Jesus credibility, because He proclaimed He would rise three days after His death (Matthew 16:21, 17:23, 20:19). a. For believers, the promise is sure: we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man. In light of I thank God that I baptized none of you, it is impossible to claim that Paul was a sacramentalist. e. It pleased God: God takes pleasure in accomplishing our salvation in a way no one would have expected. Otherwise you will be prompted again when opening a new browser window or new a tab. I am of Paul: There was the Paul Party, who declared We are following in the footsteps of the man who founded our church, the apostle Paul. But the submission of Jesus to the Father doesnt come from any inherent inferiority; instead, it comes from the administrative order of the Godhead. We may pride ourselves on not having the problems of the Corinthian Christians, but do we have their positives? But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from Godand righteousness and sanctification and redemptionthat, as it is written, He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.. For those who are not in Jesus Christ, death still has its, . Yes and no. This is not always the case; some of the most brilliant men of history have been Christians (such as Isaac Newton). 2018 David Guzik No distribution beyond personal use without permission. Someone once said to him, Well, what church are you in now? He said, I am in the true church at last. How many belong to it? Just my wife and myself, and I am not sure about her sometimes.. (Read 1 Corinthians 14:15-25) There can be no assent to prayers that are not understood. Surely, Paul remembered his converts, but the issue of baptism, though important, was not, , it is impossible to claim that Paul was a sacramentalist. Originally it said strongly, . There is another significant difference between Pauls ministry in Athens and his work in Corinth. It is the heart shown in God when it is said of the Lord, The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance ( 2 Peter 3:9 ). e. If the dead do not rise, Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. Pauls third proof for the resurrection in this section is also compelling. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. In this emphasis on Jesus, Paul promotes the sure cure for the problems of the Corinthians: getting your eyes off self and on Jesus. c. To put to shame the wise: This explains part of the pleasure of God described in 1 Corinthians 1:21. Secondly, it was right and proper for Paul to live as if the coming of Jesus was imminent, though he did not in fact know when Jesus would return. The work of God in the Corinthian Christians could be seen by what they said, by what they learned, by a supernatural element in their lives, and by their expectant anticipation of Jesus return. This aspect of the nature of God is something God wants us to walk in, having a concern for the glory of others, and not our own (Philippians 2:3-4). Grace is always first, peace always second. But they were. Crucify him! if we had our wits about us, we would have shouted back, Dont crucify Him! For the abundance of their spiritual gifts. If the cross doesnt seem strange to you, then you either dont understand how the cross was seen in Jesus day, or you dont understand who Jesus is. If you do not believe Jesus Christ rose from the dead in a resurrection body the way the Bible says He did, then, g. When you know what rests on the resurrection, you know why, if in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. If the cross doesnt seem strange to you, then you either dont understand how the cross was seen in Jesus day, or you dont understand who Jesus is. That Paul did not regard baptism as essential to salvation is also seen by the fact that he did not keep careful track of those he baptized: Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other, . But God cannot be found through human wisdom, but only through the, : The Corinthians wanted to believe that the gospel itself was a sublime form of wisdom, as the Greeks considered wisdom (. Paul quotes from an ancient, secular comedy play, Thais, written by Menander. It is better to bear trouble in this world, than to be miserable for ever. Each of us is definitely moving in one of those two directions. This is due to the fact that grace is the source of peace. Lady Huntington, the rich and influential friend of Whitfield and Wesley, said she was going to heaven by an m: it isnt any noble; instead it is not many noble. We can follow Pauls logic point-by-point: If there is no principle of resurrection, then Jesus did not rise from the dead. "THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS" Chapter Fifteen OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER 1) To see how the resurrection of Jesus is the basis of our faith 2) To determine why we believe that Jesus was indeed raised from the dead 3) To notice the sequence of events which will occur at the end of time as presented in this chapter 4) To understand Youre no great bargain. There were, not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, i. This should make us steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord! Their desire for wisdom was not bad, but their rejection of Gods wisdom was. Subscribe * indicates required Email Address * First Name Last Name Phone Number Get Prayer Requests and Updates from David Guzik The Greeks regarded Christ crucified as foolishness. iv. We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. ii. I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name. Paul then received reports from people in Chloes household about disturbances in Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:11); and he may have received a delegation from Corinth (1 Corinthians 16:7) who brought him questions from the congregation (1 Corinthians 7:1). It wasnt so much that they thought Apollos was great, but that. True wisdom isnt about getting smart. Gods wisdom is received in and through the person of Jesus. You see that the mark of a child of God is that by the grace of God he is what he is; what do, His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, : Though grace made Paul what he was, Paul still, i. This speaks to the vital need described in Romans 12:2: ii. b. Were the ones really right with God!, vi. No one will stand before God and declare, I figured You out or You did it just like I thought You should. Gods ways are greater and higher, and nothing of the. But he had no desire to compete with other apostles for the Most Valuable Apostle award. The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing: To those who reject the salvation of the cross, the idea of being saved through the work of a crucified man is foolish. God loves to rebuke the idolatry of human wisdom, and He often does it by choosing and using the foolish things of the world. iv. is perhaps mentioned in Acts 18:17, as the head of a Corinthian synagogue who was beaten because he protected Paul. These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features. Click to enable/disable Google Analytics tracking. We get our English word. Sinners can have no peace with God, nor any from him, but through Christ. When Paul looked at the Corinthian church, he could say: These people proclaim Jesus, they know about Jesus, there are the supernatural gifts of God among them, and they are excited about Jesus return. Whatever problems they had, these are some pretty impressive strong points. The first trumpet meant, strike the tents and prepare to leave; the second trumpet meant, fall into line; the third and. And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grainperhaps wheat or some other. Trust God, rely on Him, v. If I neglect my end of the partnership, Gods grace doesnt accomplish all that it might, and is therefore given. The ancient Egyptians, at the end of a big banquet, often escorted a wooden image of a man in a coffin around the tables, telling people to have a good time now, because youll be dead sooner than you think. : At the outset of the letter indeed, the very first few words Paul fearlessly declares his apostolic credentials. It might be easy for us to think they werent even saved! Whether there are degrees of glory, as it seems probable, so we shall certainly know, when we come to heaven. (Trapp). I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. Even in his introduction, Paul thinks about the critical issues he needs to communicate to the Corinthian Christians. Some people think that Paul was disappointed by the results in Athens, and resolved to preach differently in Corinth. (58) Final application: how our destiny of resurrection means we should stand fast for the Lord right now. Whatever the preacher may mean in his heart, he will be guilty of the blood of souls if he does not clearly proclaim a real sacrifice for sin. (Spurgeon), vi. We shall rise in a full and perfect age, (as is generally thought) and without those defects and deformities which may here make our bodies appear unlovely. (Poole), ii. 5. It was bad enough that these associations had affected their thinking on an important matter like the resurrection, but this. We might also think saying called saints is mere flattery, Pauls way of preparing them for coming rebuke. Every Christian must take seriously their responsibility to not only have a good past, and a good present, but to determine to have a great future with the Lord, also. The point is plain: There is no wise man, no scribe, and no debater who can do what Jesus Christ has done. The idea is that we have been purchased to permanent freedom. ii. a. a. : In Pauls day, the Jewish world was looking for a, . Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and, But that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment, perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment, . ii. The Son glorifies the Father (John 17:4), the Father glorifies the Son (John 17:5), and the Holy Spirit glorifies the Son (John 16:14). for the Christians destiny. Importantly, each person of the Trinity desires to glorify another person of the Trinity. The destruction of death was shown at the resurrection of Jesus, when, But when He says all things are put under Him, it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted, : Paul reminds us that the Son will not someday be superior to the Father. c. There are contentions among you: Though division is ungodly, it is not wrong to make distinctions between churches and ministers. Were the ones really right with God!, : There was the Jesus Party, who declared You all are so carnal, following after mere men. I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. Thou lookest like a dragon, but thy sting is gone. In the Septuagint it is one of the words used to denote the people of Israel in their religious character as Yahwehs assembly. (Bruce in his. The term, (someplace bad). In these first 10 verses, Paul refers to Jesus in every verse, for a total of 11 times. i. Not with the wisdom of words, which can be translated cleverness of speaking. How sobering this is! 2. Session 6: Paul and Titus. Foolish one: In the wording of the ancient Greek, it is even stronger: Fools! The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. e. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed: In a single moment, Jesus will gather His people (both dead and on the earth) to Himself, for resurrection. No wonder it is foolishness to those who are perishing! f. His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord: In these first 10 verses, Paul refers to Jesus in every verse, for a total of 11 times. (20-23) The resurrection of Jesus was the firstfruit of our resurrection. It is certain that a blind man is no judge of colours, a deaf man is no judge of sound, and a man who has never been quickened into spiritual life can have no judgment as to spiritual things. (Spurgeon). If Jesus did not rise from the dead, then death has power over Him and defeated Him. is typical of Pauls letters, and draws from both Greek and Jewish customs. 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 New International Version The Resurrection of Christ 15 Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. And in the midst of judgement, God remembers mercy: he many times punishes those whom he loves. Those who insist that we must change the emphasis of the gospel because people cant relate to it today must realize that the people of Pauls day couldnt relate to his preaching either, yet he kept it up, and with great results. They were, is mere flattery, Pauls way of preparing them for coming rebuke. Remove this, and all our hopes for eternity sink at once. Raised in incorruption raised in glory raised in power: Our resurrection body will be glorious! Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Flesh and blood, in this context, means our present bodies. Jesus resurrection body was not a pure spirit body, but a material body described as flesh and bones (Luke 24:39) instead of flesh and blood. When writing Scripture, Paul was infallible, but not omniscient. Finally, one could only read, , and the church also just became another social gathering place, all about, To the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, ; perhaps this is better understood as an, . However, we learn something just from the meaning of the ancient Greek word " apostolos ," which has the idea of "a special ambassador." Paul was a "special ambassador" of Jesus Christ to the world and to the church. Love suffers long: Love will endure a long time. Crispus is likely mentioned in Acts 18:8, Gaius in Romans 16:23. b. I thank God Christ did not send me to baptize: For Paul, preaching was more important than baptizing, though he was certainly not opposed to baptism. What you sow: Paul says our bodies are like seeds which grow into resurrection bodies. Spurgeon gives seven steps to dying daily in a sermon titled. They are saints together with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. e. Was Paul crucified for you? Note Paul's words: "For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel." - 1 Co 1:17 b. No doubt, many of the Corinthian Christians were beginning to think of themselves in high terms because of Gods work in them. Cephas is the Aramaic word for Peter. Used by permission. i. Clarke on Chloe: This was doubtless some very religious matron at Corinth, whose family were converted to the Lord; some of whom were probably sent to the apostle to inform him of the dissensions which then prevailed in the Church at that place., b. Contentions among you: The Corinthian church suffered under quarreling and conflict. d. I have fought with beasts at Ephesus: The book of Acts does not record an occasion when Paul faced wild animals in an arena. The changed character of the apostles, and their willingness to die for the testimony of the resurrection, eliminate, For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. Jesus was a unique case. There is much in 1 Corinthians that is unflattering to the Christians of Corinth. Yet He was no phantom; He had a real flesh and bone body. Famous athletic contests known as the Isthmian Games second only to the Olympian Games were held at the temple of Poseidon in Corinth every two years. (10) Initial plea: dont be torn apart, but joined. Paul praises God for their positives, and expresses confidence that God will take care of their weak points, and, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ, i. 4. Significantly, Paul did not say, we baptize for the dead, but asked, . Everything good the Corinthian Christians have from God has come to them by grace. ! AND YOUR POINT, PAUL? i. This wisdom is often in contradiction to mans expectation. ? He recognizes that the gifts were not the problem, but wrong attitudes and beliefs about the gifts. : As Paul describes the gospel in the following verses, it is important to notice that this gospel is not insightful teaching or good advice. The bottom line is this: is the church influencing the city, or is the city influencing the church? In terms of what love "is not," Paul says it is not self-seeking, short-tempered, and offensive. 1 Corinthians 15:51-58 EXEGESIS: THE CONTEXT: Corinth was an important and wealthy city on the isthmus (narrow strip of land) separating Northern and Southern Greece. These bodies which are subject to disease, injury, and one day decay, are unsuited for heaven. Of whom the great part remain to the present, is compelling testimony of the truth of the resurrection of Jesus. We have all borne the image of the first, will also bear His resurrection image. The great gospel of Jesus Christ, the very power of God unto salvation made empty and of no effect through the pride and cleverness of men! For others, there is resurrection and eternal life, but unto damnation. . From the first Adam, we all are made of dust, but from the last Adam we can be made heavenly. , Paul may mean that he did not have a three-year gestation period as the other apostles; he came on the scene suddenly. Youre no great bargain. There were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble among the Christians at Corinth. What message does a cruel, humiliating, unrelenting instrument of death have? It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. Enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and in all knowledge, : This was the effect of grace in the life of the Corinthian Christians. Do not be deceived: Evil company corrupts good habits. Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. a. also implies there were some people or some things which might want to snatch the true gospel away from the Corinthian Christians. He is the One who has called them into the fellowship of His Son, so He is the One who will confirm them to the end and present them blameless.

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