Category: 1 Corinthians

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Four Sinful Behaviors (1 Corinthians 9:6–10)

georgepwood

The Daily Word for 1 Corinthians 9:6-10 will begin after the following book review blurb. ______________________________ Gabe Lyons, The Next Christians: The Good News About the End of Christian America (New York: Doubleday, 2010). $19.99, 240 pages. American Christians live in a transitional age. Christian America is dead. American society is increasingly pluralistic, postmodern, and post-Christian. How should American Christians respond to this new cultural reality? To read my complete review of The Next Christians, go here. If you’d like to subscribe to receive my book reviews via email, go here. The subscription will go live when you respond to … Continue reading Four Sinful Behaviors (1 Corinthians 9:6–10)

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Eight Terrifying Words (1 Corinthians 10:1–5)

georgepwood

In 1 Corinthians 10:1–5, Paul writes: For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert. I grew up in a Christian home. I … Continue reading Eight Terrifying Words (1 Corinthians 10:1–5)

1 Corinthians, The Daily Word1 Comment

Rights or Responsibilities? (1 Corinthians 9:24–27)

georgepwood

In 1 Corinthians 8:1–10:11, Paul examines the practice of Christians eating food sacrificed to idols. In the ancient world, people sacrificed animals to the gods. They gave some of the meat to the priests, and they consumed some of the meat in a religious feast at the temple. The priests sold leftover meat in the public market, which was then consumed in private homes. Chapter 8 lays the theological and ethical foundation for Paul’s argument, while chapter 10 builds a house of practical application. At first, chapter 9 appears to be a digression from the main argument, but it is … Continue reading Rights or Responsibilities? (1 Corinthians 9:24–27)

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Means and Ends (1 Corinthians 9:19–23)

georgepwood

What would you change about yourself in order to share the gospel with other people? Paul answers that question for himself in 1 Corinthians 9:19–23: Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the … Continue reading Means and Ends (1 Corinthians 9:19–23)

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Why Paul Repudiated His Rights (1 Corinthians 9:12b–18)

georgepwood

In 1 Corinthians 9:1–12a, Paul argues that he has a right to the financial support of the Corinthian church. This right derives from his status as an apostle of Jesus Christ. Having made the case for this right, however, he turns around and repudiates it in verses 12b–18: But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ. Don’t you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the … Continue reading Why Paul Repudiated His Rights (1 Corinthians 9:12b–18)

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Apostolic Rights (1 Corinthians 9:3–12)

georgepwood

In 1 Corinthians 9:1–27, Paul defends his apostleship against Corinthian Christians who question it. This defense seems like a digression from his main argument about food sacrificed to idols in 8:1–11:1, but really it isn’t. The Corinthians disregard Paul’s instructions regarding idol food because they doubt his authority. And they doubt his authority because they question his apostleship. So, Paul lays out his argument in several stages. Yesterday, we looked at the root and fruit of Paul’s apostleship (9:1–2). Today, we look at Paul’s apostolic rights as he outlines them in 9:3–12: This is my defense to those who sit … Continue reading Apostolic Rights (1 Corinthians 9:3–12)

1 Corinthians, The Daily Word1 Comment

Apostolic Root and Fruit (1 Corinthians 9:1–3)

georgepwood

In the ancient world, people sacrificed animals to their gods. They consumed some of the meat at religious feasts in pagan temples. Priests sold whatever they didn’t use in the public market for consumption at dinner parties in private homes. In 1 Corinthians 8:1–11:1, Paul examines whether Christians can eat food sacrificed to idols in either pagan temples or private homes. In chapter 8, he outlines theological and ethical guidelines. In chapter 10 he applies those guidelines to specific cases. In chapter 9… To be perfectly honest, the logic of Paul’s argument in this chapter is difficult to follow. Imagine … Continue reading Apostolic Root and Fruit (1 Corinthians 9:1–3)

1 Corinthians, The Daily Word3 Comments

Good Theology Rightly Applied (1 Corinthians 8:9–13)

georgepwood

In 1 Corinthians 8:1–13, Paul answers the question of whether Christians can eat food sacrificed to idols. For modern American Christians, this question is not relevant, since our culture does not sacrifice to idols. The way Paul answers this question is relevant today, however, for it addresses how we educate people out of their ignorance. Paul identifies two crucial issues: what we know and how we use that knowledge. For Paul, knowledge liberates. Idols are objectively unreal, so eating food sacrificed to idols is objectively insignificant. Knowledgeable Corinthian Christians therefore eat such food freely. On the other hand, ignorance oppresses. … Continue reading Good Theology Rightly Applied (1 Corinthians 8:9–13)

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Ignorance Is Not Bliss (1 Corinthians 8:7–8)

georgepwood

People say “Ignorance is bliss” and speak about “the burden of knowledge.” I know what they mean. My two-year-old son doesn’t know that I work to provide him food and clothing. He is happy, well-fed, and stylishly clothed nonetheless—thanks to my wife, his mother. On the other hand, I know that my livelihood provides for his needs, so I take care to remain gainfully employed. He is blissfully ignorant. I am burdened by knowledge. But in another sense, ignorance makes us unhappy and oppresses us. Consider 1 Corinthians 8:7–8, where Paul writes: But not everyone knows this. Some people are … Continue reading Ignorance Is Not Bliss (1 Corinthians 8:7–8)

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What We Believe about God and Idols (1 Corinthians 8:4–6)

georgepwood

What we know influences how we live. For example, I know that my father’s side of the family has a history of heart disease. I also know that my weight, diet, and exercise regime will either exacerbate whatever genetic predisposition I have toward heart disease or alleviate it. So, I choose to lose weight, eat healthy, and exercise regularly. What I know influences how I live. The interplay between knowledge and behavior takes center stage in 1 Corinthians 8:1–11:1, where Paul argues with the Corinthians about food sacrificed to idols. To a significant degree, Paul agrees with the Corinthians’ theology—what … Continue reading What We Believe about God and Idols (1 Corinthians 8:4–6)