The Epistle of 1 Corinthians

The book of 1 Corinthians is called an “epistle” which means “letter” in the Greek. Ordinarily letters in Paul’s day were very short, much like the book of Philemon which is merely one chapter with twenty five verses. Epistles had a very definite form, starting with a greeting, then a prayer or thanksgiving, followed by the body of the letter, greetings from various people, and finally the conclusion with a signature of farewell. This same format is followed by Paul nearly every time, with only a few exceptions (like Galatians wherein there is no thanksgiving recorded). Furthermore, the author of a letter did not necessarily pen it for his/herself, but rather dictated it to an amanuensis (one who wrote down what was dictated).

The book of 1 Corinthians can be divided into 6 sections, but for the sake of the articles that will be written here, it will be divided differently. However, here are the major divisions of the book of 1 Corinthians.

*The Introduction (1:1-9)

*Issues brought to Paul’s attention by those of Chloe’s household (1:10-6:20)

*The questions about which the Corinthian church had written to Paul (7-15)

*The collection for the poor in Jerusalem (first part of 16)

*Paul’s travel plans (middle part of 16)

*Paul’s Conclusion with greetings and signature

The Church of Corinth

The Corinthian church was birthed among a group of people known for their alcoholism, sexual immorality, competitiveness, and covetousness. It was a city in which worldly wisdom reigned supreme, and that worldly wisdom taught one to be self-centered, the idolization of charismatic leaders, the great respect of the rich, greed was good, that sexual expression was acceptable whether married or unmarried, and that competition was essential to get to the top and one definitely wanted to be at the top.

But along came Paul, who in weakness, fear and trembling, presented the Gospel of Jesus not with smooth nor charismatic words, but rather, in a demonstration “of the Spirit and power” that the faith of the Corinthian converts would not be established “in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God” (1 Cor. 2:3-5). Paul was no great orator nor politician nor philosopher who could captivate his audience with eloquence or humor.

And yet, the Corinthians who were so mesmerized by such speeches, were moved by Paul’s simplistic oral presentation of the Gospel message. Why? Because of the Holy Spirit moving among them and upon their hearts and because of a demonstration of the Spirit’s power in their midst. Signs and wonders accompanied the apostles wherever they preached, even as signs and wonders accompanied Jesus while He walked this earth, and these signs and wonders turned unbelievers to the one true God the Father and His crucified and resurrected Son. The Corinthian people had been touched deeply by this simple milk of the Gospel message and the moving of God’s power in their hearts and bodies, and they had converted completely.

However, it’s like that old saying, “You can take the man out of the country, but you can‘t take the country out of the man”. For, indeed, the Corinthians were so conformed to the likeness of this world, so immersed in worldly wisdom still that it proved nearly impossible to get “Corinth” out of the Christians.

First Corinthians 1:11-13 presents us with first problem of “Corinth” still being in the Christians. It reads, “For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?”

The Corinthian people were very competitive people who were drawn to charismatic leaders. This was not just a Corinthian attribute but rather was seen in both the Greek and Roman world. Actually, around the globe and throughout the centuries both B.C. and A.D., the worldy wisdom of our fallen age has been very charismatic leadership focused. In America we idolized Hollywood stars, politicians, the British royal family, military heroes, even some flamboiant pastor/evangelists and the list goes on. Well, in Corinth they especially idolized those who spoke well. Even if the leader did not have much substance to what he said, if it was said well or in an entertaining way he was idolized.

But, Paul reminds them that their “faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God” (2:5), for they had not received, “the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God (2:12a) … the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (2:14). Paul reminds the Corinthians that they are no longer to be carnal, but are new creations in Christ, and thus, are spiritual. As Christians it is not about how we perfectly we look or how smooth we sound. Rather, it is all about the transforming work of Christ in each of us individually.

Corinthians 3

That being said, the Corinthians were still fixated on appearances, and were proud of it. First Corinthians 3 begins, “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among youenvying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?” (vs. 1-4). In other words, Paul is really slamming the Corinthian Christians for their competitiveness and worship of charisma. Essentially he calls them big babies who were still only able to drink milk. Oh, they were big boys and girls now and had teeth and should have been eating meat, but they were still fussing about baby things, fighting over baby toys, and slobbering about who’s better. And in this childish behavior, they were walking in worldly wisdom instead of godly humility.

Collaboration vs. Competition: The Building of the Temple

Now, worldly wisdom is based in pride, for it competes, tears another down in order to make oneself look good, and creates friction, arguments and division. Paul bluntly tells them that this is carnal and not the way in which a Christian ought to be living. God’s wisdom on the other hand, because it is based in love, creates unity and teamwork.

First Corinthians 3:5-9 says, “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God…”

In other words, Paul and Apollos are not competitors but are on the same team, and God is the leader of that team. They are laboring together with God for a common goal and purpose. Thus, Paul states, “According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:10-11). The common goal is that of construction of a special building. Paul laid the foundation of the Gospel when he preached among those at Corinth, and no other foundation was to be laid at any time nor by anyone no matter how rich nor how popular they might be.

Not only this, but the Corinthians themselves are a part of this construction team, for Paul continues to say in verses 12-15 that,“Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the DAY shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” (1 Corinthians 3:12-15).

So, not only are Paul and Apollos working on the team, the Corinthians are also on the team, and that team is working on a very important building project. They are working together and are to act accordingly because “the DAY shall declare it.” This DAY that is mentioned here is the DAY of the Judgment Seat of Christ wherein Christians receive their eternal rewards for that which they have done here on earth. This is not a day of judging whether or not one goes to heaven or to hell, but rather, is a rewards ceremony for Christians. Each Christian’s works will be tried in God’s holy, all consuming fire on that DAY, and this will determine the quality of the work we have done.

We Are The Temple

We are God’s construction team, and as a team we are working together to build God’s Temple. Isn’t that amazing?! We have a part in building His Temple! But, not only are we a team, we are the Temple that is being constructed. And even more specifically, as seen in the wording of the Greek, we are, the Holy of Holies of that Temple. The Holy of Holies is compartment containing the ark of the covenant behind the second curtain/veil and is the room wherein God descended in His cloud of glory and abode there in the days of Moses and the Tabernacle in the wilderness and in Solomon’s Temple that was overlaid with pure gold. Paul in 1 Corinthians 3 is telling the Corinthians that they are now that Holy of Holies, and God was calling them to quit competing, and instead to be unified, even as the godhead –Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—is unified.

Practical Application

Even in team sports the team ought not to turn on itself. However, sometimes even in team sports, the team builds up one team member over another, and this player outshines the others. This, is like what the Corinthians were doing, and it is not good for the team. In a movie about a basketball team called “Hoosiers,” a certain player really could shoot the ball well. But, the coach did not want this player to be the focus. He wanted all 5 players on the court to pass the ball a certain amount of times before shooting the ball. The coach wanted them to function as a team and not be completely dependent upon one player. He even went so far as to bench one of the “star” players in order to promote the unity of the other team members through obedience.

We as Christians are a construction team building God’s Temple, and we are the Temple of God. How then do we apply this? What we nail or screw or bolt into this building will one day be examined by God, and His examination will be intense and will determine what rewards we receive. But instead of using the usual construction materials such as nails or skrews, God says were are either building with precious stones and priceless metals or wood, hay and stubble. Now what kind of material would make a prettier structure? Stubble or rubies? Hay or emeralds?

In every word and deed we are investing in one another’s lives. That’s right. What you say or do counts as silver or gold or wood or stubble in another’s life.

Let us live with eternity in mind. A rewards ceremony awaits us at the judgment seat of Christ. Did we do things for God’s glory or did we do them so that we looked good? Did we do it for God’s name’s sake or did we do it so that we felt good? Did we do things lovingly or simply out of a sense of duty? Did we do something even if it was funny so that it made another look worse or feel bad? Did we vie to be better than another of did we compete for the applause of others? Let us therefore, “take heed” by looking inside at the attitude of our hearts, and consider why we are doing what we are doing or saying what we are saying. Indeed, let’s build with quality materials in one another’s lives, so that they will sparkle after the fire and last for all eternity.