An Introduction to 1 Corinthians

Transcription

1 1. An Introduction to Ancient Corinth An Introduction to 1 Corinthians 1 1 Maps and diagrams copyright Matthew Malcolm. Used with permission from 1

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3 2. An Introduction to 1 Corinthians 2.1 Not Paul s First Letter to Corinth 1 Cor 5:9 A Time-line AD Paul founds Church at Corinth Corinthians A [mentioned in 1 Cor 5:9-11] Paul receives reports from Chloe (1 Cor 11:1). Paul receives a letter from the Corinthians (e.g 1 Cor 7:1 possibly carried by Stephanus et al 16:17) Corinthians B [Our 1 Corinthians AD] Makes a painful visit to Corinth (mentioned in 2 Cor 2:1) Corinthians C [the severe or tearful letter - mentioned in 2 Cor 2:4, 9; 7:8-12] Corinthians D [Our 2 Corinthians] 2.2 The Structure of 1 Corinthians Some Options No structure [T]he salient feature of 1 Corinthians is the absence of any detectable logic in the arrangement of its contents A list of topics A response to oral and written reports Paul structures his letters in response to issues arising from reports from Chloe s people, and then with issues that flow from the Corinthians letter to Paul. These latter issues are marked out with the introduction now concerning 1:11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 7:1 Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: "It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman." 2 Jerome Murphy-O Connor, Paul: A Critical Life,

4 7:25 Now concerning the betrothed, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy. 8:1 Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that "all of us possess knowledge." This "knowledge" puffs up, but love builds up. 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. 16:1 Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. 16:12 Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to visit you with the other brothers, but it was not at all his will to come now. He will come when he has opportunity A letter written to call the Corinthians back to unity (Margaret Mitchell) 2.3. The Purpose of 1 Corinthians Paul writes to call them to unity Paul writes to correct their over realised eschatology Paul writes to correct their worldliness 3:3 3: :10 12: :4-7 4

5 2.4. Paul s Biblical Approach (Ciampa and Rosner) Badges of Jewish identity Gal Cor Also cf. Col 3.5, Eph 5.5, Acts 15.20, 29, 21.25, Rev The Problem in Corinth Temple purity Moving toward structure Sexuality. First negative ( ), then positive (7) Worship First negative ( ), then positive (12-14, note how 12.2 relates back to idolatry). Ethical exhortation for the two main issues: Concluding the negative section on sexuality. Paul writes, flee sexual immorality (6.18) and exhorts to glorify God with your bodies (6.20). Concluding the negative section on idolatry, Paul writes, flee idolatry (10.14) and exhorts then to do everything to the glory of God (10.31). 3 See their commentary and also Roy E Ciampa and Brian S Rosner, The Structure and Argument of 1 Corinthians: A Biblical/Jewish Approach, NTS 52 (2006)

6 So the unified sections of 1 Cor are 1-4 and 15 (as universally recognised). The above suggests that and should also be regarded as unified sections. This yields, for Ciampa and Rosner, the following structure: I. Letter Opening (1.1 9) II. True and False Wisdom and Corinthian Factionalism ( ) A. Factions in the Community ( ) B. Negative Treatment: The Wisdom of this World ( ) C. Positive Treatment: The Wisdom of the Cross and the Spirit ( ) D. Application to the Church, Ministers and Ministry ( ) III. Flee Sexual Immorality and Glorify God with your Bodies ( ) A. Negative Treatment: Flee Sexual Immorality (and greed) ( ) B. Positive Treatment: Glorify God with Your Bodies (7.1 40) IV. Flee Idolatry and Glorify God in Your Worship ( ) A. Negative Treatment: Flee Idolatry (Food Offered to Idols) ( ) B. Positive Treatment: Glorify God in Your Worship ( ) V. The Resurrection and Consummation ( ) VI. Letter Closing ( ) According to the above argument, the main issues of 1 Corinthians are WISDOM, SEXUALITY, WORSHIP and RESURRECTION / CONSUMMATION Paul addressing a pagan context: Rom Cf. Rom as Paul analyses Pagan ethical life: : lacking wisdom, claiming to be wise, they became fools. 1.23: they exchanged God s glory for images : God gave them over to sexual sin. For the Corinthians, true wisdom (1 Cor 1-4, cf. Rom 1.22) will keep them from sexual immorality (1 Cor , cf. Rom 1.24) and idolatry (1 Cor 8-14, cf. Rom 1.23). Tying everything together is the notion of glorifying God: Romans 1.21, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him. This pattern of thought appears in 6.18 and as already noted. Similar thought patterns evident in Rom and 1 Thess

7 Rom 1: Thess 1:9-10 Rom 15: Cor 1:10-4:17 Lack of wisdom Paul calls for unity [and failure to glorify God] 2. 1 Cor 4:18-7:40 leads to sexual immorality in order that ethical problems can be resolved so that the 3a. 1 Cor 8:1-11:1 and idolatry Gentile converts go from idolatry 3b. 1 Cor 11:2-14:40 to worship of the one true God Gentile believers glorify God 4. 1 Cor 15:1-58 and wait for their resurrected Lord and hope in his Son Paul s Biblical-theological framework: 3 main elements The elements all relate to the glory of God. They are the Lordship of Christ, Worldwide Worship, and The eschatological temple. The Lordship of Christ (Christ against culture) Unity in the name of Christ, 1.10 Who is the power and wisdom of God, And the foundation of the church, Cleanse the church of the incestuous man because of Christ s sacrifice, 5.7 Relations with a prostitute violates Christ, 6.15 Eating food sacrificed to idols is to be avoided for the sake of one for whom Christ died, 8.11, and in imitation of Christ, With respect to head coverings, Christ is the head of every man, 11.3 The Lord s Supper is to be eaten by discerning the body of Christ, Spiritual gifts are to build up the body of Christ, The Resurrection of the believer is grounded in the resurrection of Christ, Christ 64 times, Lord 66x, Jesus 26x. 7

8 Worldwide worship A. Universal Lord through death and resurrection B. Universal Lord through eschatological vindication 1 Cor 1.2: those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints along with all those who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place their Lord and ours. In every place appears only in Paul in the NT, who uses it four times (here, 2 Cor 2.14, 1 Thess 1.8, 1 Tim 2.8). The contrast with Deuteronomy The source of Paul s phrase The Eschatological Temple 8

9 2.5 A Closer Focus on Chapters Wisdom/Rhetoric Church Discipline Homosexuality 9

10 2.6 Some Resources Commentaries I would recommend 2 commentaries in particular: Roy Ciampa and Brian Rosner, The First Letter to the Corinthians. The Pillar New Testament Commentary. Nottingham: Apollos, Other Works [Advanced] Anthony Thiselton, The First Epistle to the Corinthians. The New International Greek New Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, Don Carson, The Cross and Christian Ministry: An Exposition of Passages from 1 Corinthians. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, Don Carson, Showing the Spirit: A Theological Exposition of 1 Corinthians Grand Rapids: Baker Books, Matthew Malcom, The World of 1 Corinthians: An Exegetical Source Book of Literary and Visual Backgrounds. Milton Keynes: Paternoster, [See the accompanying website: Discussion Questions 1. How does 1 Corinthians (1-7 in particular) challenge us as Christians in the 21 st Century? 2. What would it look like to put chapter 5 into practice today? 3. Do you see any contemporary parallels with the worldly wisdom Paul teaches against in chapters 1-2? 10