Monday, March 16 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 “Christ was raised from the dead” While some in Corinth were denying the resurrection, they were almost certainly not denying life after death; virtually everyone in the ancient world believed in that. Rather, they would have been disputing the Christian doctrine of bodily resurrection and endorsing one of… Read more about First Corinthians 15
First Corinthians 14
Monday, March 9 1 Corinthians 14:1-12 “Prophecy and Tongues” In chapter 14 Paul concludes his discussion of spiritual gifts by encouraging the Corinthians to prefer prophecy to tongues. But he acknowledges a place for both, and for the other gifts, if they are made intelligible and exercised in an orderly fashion. Verse 1… Read more about First Corinthians 14
First Corinthians 13
Monday, March 2 1 Corinthians 12:31b-13:3 “The most excellent way” Love is more important than all the gifts listed in chapter 12, for without love the gifts are worthless. That truth is driven home in verses 1-3 by using five of the spiritual gifts as illustrations. In verse 1, Paul makes the point… Read more about First Corinthians 13
First Corinthians 12
Monday, February 24 1 Corinthians 12:1-3 “Now about spiritual gifts” Responding to the Corinthian question about spiritual gifts, Paul continues the theme of behavior in worship from chapter 11. Some in the Corinthian church were apparently equating spirituality with the exercise of the more spectacular gifts in worship. This chapter will insist on… Read more about First Corinthians 12
First Corinthians 11
Monday, February 17 1 Corinthians 11:2-6 “She should wear a head covering” Verses 2 through 16 of this chapter are probably the most complex and controversial of any passage of comparable length in the New Testament. A survey of the history of interpretation reveals how many different options there are for the many… Read more about First Corinthians 11
First Corinthians 10
Monday, February 10 1 Corinthians 10:1-5 “Don’t forget about our ancestors in the wilderness” Paul uses numerous examples of the sins of the Israelites during their wilderness wanderings to warn against Corinthian participation in idolatrous idol feasts. In verses one through four he describes four privileges the Israelites received. The first two, guidance by… Read more about First Corinthians 10
First Corinthians 8 and 9
Monday, February 3 1 Corinthians 8:1-6 “About food that has been offered to idols” Most meat sold in the town marketplace came from sacrificial animals that had been slaughtered at pagan temple ceremonies. Did these rituals somehow automatically taint the food? Could Christians buy it? Could they eat it if it was offered to… Read more about First Corinthians 8 and 9
First Corinthians 7
Monday, January 27 1 Corinthians 7:1-7 “Each person has a special gift from God” In verse one Paul reluctantly and with qualification endorses a Corinthian slogan or position, namely that it is good to abstain from sexual intercourse (the Greek word translated “touch” refers to physical contact prior to and during sexual intercourse). … Read more about First Corinthians 7