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New Testament. BCM 103 Dr. Dave Mathewson Gordon College/Denver Seminary. 1 Corinthians. How many letters did Paul write to Corinth? 1 Cor 5.9 refers to previous letter; 1 st =2 nd ; 2 nd =4 th The severe letter of 2 Corinthians The Plan of 1 Corinthians
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New Testament BCM 103Dr. Dave MathewsonGordon College/Denver Seminary
1 Corinthians • How many letters did Paul write to Corinth? • 1 Cor 5.9 refers to previous letter; 1st=2nd; 2nd =4th • The severe letter of 2 Corinthians • The Plan of 1 Corinthians • Chaps. 1-6: Paul responds to reports by word of mouth (1.11) • Chaps. 7-16: Paul responds to written reports (7.1) • OR: Chaps 5-7: Sexual Immorality Chaps 8-14: Idolatry • Now concerning structural marker
Corinthians • What are problems going on in Corinth? • Corinthian culture had infiltrated the Church • Crisis in leadership: patron/client relationship, emphasis on social status/wealth • Influence of Sophists competing for following • Problem of sexual immorality--cultic
Original setting • Can we reconstruct the situation that would have caused Paul to write the letter? • 1 Cor. 1-3 How the Corinthians are treating other Christian leaders (e.g. 1:10ff).—indicative of Corinthian thinking • Wisdom of Corinth (foolishness) no match with God’s wisdom—don’t treat leaders as Corinthian leaders but as Christians
Maybe this is why Paul refused to accept Corinthian financial support—wanted to avoid political wrangling, patron/client; contra Philippians
1 Corinthians 5 • Problem: tolerance of incest • Solution: expel the immoral person to preserve purity of church • Why were they willing to tolerate and boast? • Condemnation of incest – Leviticus 18 • Judgment in congregation – Deuteronomy • Purity of community and admission to temple - Deuteronomy
1 Corinthians 7.1 • “Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman” (NASB). • “Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: ‘It is good for a man not to touch a woman’” (NRSV).
1 Corinthians 11 • What was the problem Paul was addressing?—Some eating before others arrive • How is it they have factions and divisions? Different social levels patron/client; wealthy elite and poor communion • What does it mean to take the Lord’s Supper in “an unworthy manner?” • Problem is not unconfessed sin but using Lord’s supper to divide the church