Historical background: Letter to Corinthians (2) World Christian Fellowship 60, High Worple, Rayners Lane, Harrow Middlesex, HA2 9SZ, United Kingdom Tel: +44 208 429 9292 www.wcflondon.com wcflondon@gmail.com Port city Commercial city Morally bankrupt but very wealthy people in the city. Temple and its prostitutes, marvellous temple of Aphrodite s filled with nearly 1000 prostitutes, who were thinking that they were doing great service to god by giving their bodies to worshippers. Author: Apostle Paul Year Written: 57-58, AD, written from most probably the city of Philippi. Reason for this Letter: After Apostle Paul sent his 2 nd letter which is our 1 Corinthian he travels to Corinth second time. (Paul mentions this visit as painful one in 2 Cor 2:1) To his amazement he was encountered by someone who was in sin and who got hold of few others and created such hostility and questioned his authority as an apostle. 1
However, his efforts to resolve the conflicts proved unsuccessful (2:1; 12:14; 13:1-2). Paul apparently suffered insult and he lost face during that visit (7:12). Consequently, that was a painful visit for Paul. He then returned to Ephesus. Paul's next step, in dealing with the situation in Corinth, was to send a "severe letter" from Ephesus by the hand of Titus and another unnamed brother (2:3-4; 7:8-12; 12:18). He apparently directed this letter, now lost, at the party opposed to him and particularly its leader. Some commentators believe that 2 Corinthians 10 13 contains part or all of this letter, but the evidence for this is not convincing. Titus straightens the church and brings back the good news of their repentance. (7:6-16) Most of the church had responded to Paul's directives, and the church had disciplined the troublemakers (2:5-11). Unfortunately, some in the congregation still refused to acknowledge Paul's authority over them (10:1 13:10). There were few others who has used the names of Peter and showed that they had the letter of authority to preach the gospel and questioned the authority of Paul. 1 Corinthians is all about the problems in the church. 2 Corinthians about the problems the church has with Apostle Paul. Paul has to prove his credibility as an apostle. 2
Apostle Paul takes pain to explain the trouble he had gone through for the sake of Gospel and how he went through all these troubles with the grace of God. But he came through all these troubles and trials which prove that he was called to be an apostle. Triumphing through the troubles proves that he qualifies to be an apostle. Chapter 1: Verse 8 says, "We despaired even of life." Verse 9 says, "We had the sentence of death within ourselves." And Verse 10 says, "We were in a great peril of death." Chapter 4: 8-11, 8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. 9 We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. 10 Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. 11 Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies. Chapter 6:3-10, We put no stumbling block in anyone s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and 3
hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonour, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. Chapter 11:16-33, 16 Again I say, don t think that I am a fool to talk like this. But even if you do, listen to me, as you would to a foolish person, while I also boast a little. 17 Such boasting is not from the Lord, but I am acting like a fool. 18 And since others boast about their human achievements, I will, too. 19 After all, you think you are so wise, but you enjoy putting up with fools! 20 You put up with it when someone enslaves you, takes everything you have, takes advantage of you, takes control of everything, and slaps you in the face. 21 I m ashamed to say that we ve been too weak to do that! But whatever they dare to boast about I m talking like a fool again I dare to boast about it, too. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. 24 Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine 4
lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. 26 I have travelled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. 27 I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm. 28 Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak without my feeling that weakness? Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger? 30 If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am. 31 God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, who is worthy of eternal praise, knows I am not lying. 32 When I was in Damascus, the governor under King Aretas kept guards at the city gates to catch me. 33 I had to be lowered in a basket through a window in the city wall to escape from him. So from the above its very clear Paul was saying that all these troubles could not stop him or hinder his work of the gospel. This proves clearly he was indeed an apostle called by Lord Jesus Christ. There was another issue with helping the poor in Jerusalem and Judea. In the Jerusalem council it was known that God had 5
worked among the Gentiles and they have also received the Gospel through Apostle Paul. Now the other churches are contributing towards helping the famine affected believers in Jerusalem. At the same time the churches in Macedonia has contributed way beyond their ability (2 Cor 8) so there is compulsion on Apostle Paul to prove the church he had established in Corinth is also working fine under the grace of God. Hence Apostle Paul writes to pacify them and at the same time hear the call of God in contributing towards fellow brothers and sister who were in need at Jerusalem. The Corinthians participation in the Jerusalem offering (Romans 15:26) suggests that Paul s third visit to that church was successful. Brief outline of this letter: This letter has been divided into 13 chapters has containing 257 verses. Amazingly you will find many characteristics of God, Jesus and Holy Spirit. God the Father: As a merciful comforter (1:3; 7:6) The Creator (4:6) Who raised Jesus from the dead (4:14; 13:4) and Who will raise believers (1:9) 6
Jesus Christ: One who suffered (1:5) Fulfilled all God s promises (1:20) Declared Lord (4:5) Manifested God s glory (4:6) and Who in His incarnation became poor for believers (8:9) Holy Spirit: As God (3:17, 18) and The guarantee of believers salvation (1:22; 5:5) Satan is identified as the god of this age (4:4) a deceiver (11:14), and the leader of human and angelic deceivers (11:15). Erroneous teaching out of 2 Corinthians: Money Many churches use the passage of chapter 8-9 for their benefit. Tithe: Judge: Mr. Jones you have been charged with multiple counts of extortion. Your crime spree covers 20 years and thousands of victims. You have defrauded people out of their money with fear and manipulation, telling them they had to tithe 10% of their income to your church and that God would bless them if they did. You also told them that if they didn't tithe God would curse them. How do you plead? Mr. Jones: I plead not guilty your Honour, I have done nothing wrong. I have only preached what the Bible says. In the Bible Abraham tithed 7
to Melchizedek and God blessed him for his faithful giving. The Bible even says he was rich in silver and gold. Judge: Is it not true, Mr. Jones, that in Genesis chapter 13 verse 2 the Bible says Abraham was rich with livestock, silver and gold? Mr. Jones: Yes, you are exactly right, that's what I just told you. Judge: Ok, we read about Abraham being a rich man in chapter 13 but it is not until Genesis chapter 14 that we read about Abraham's tithe to Melchizedek. So Abraham was already a rich man before he tithed to Melchizedek, wasn't he? Mr. Jones: Yes, I suppose you are right. Judge: So his riches were not the result of his tithe to Melchizedek? Mr. Jones: No. Judge: Mr. Jones, you also say God blessed him for his faithful giving. How many times is it recorded that Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek? Mr. Jones: Well, just once. Judge: So the Bible never said that he gave week after week? Mr. Jones: No it does not. Judge: Where did Abraham get the things that he gave to Melchizedek? Mr. Jones: Well the Bible says it was from the plunders of war? Judge: So you are telling me that he gave from the plunders of war? Mr. Jones: Yes that's what the Bible says. 8
Judge: So he basically took things that were not really his in the first place and gave them as the tithe? Mr. Jones: That is what the scripture seems to indicate. Judge: Is it recorded that he ever took anything from his own possessions and tithed them to Melchizedek or anyone else? Mr. Jones: I guess not Judge: You guess not, you are a Pastor and you are only guessing, is it or is it not written that he ever gave any of his own possessions as a tithe to anyone? Mr. Jones: No it is not written anywhere that I have seen. Judge: Is it recorded as to what exactly Abraham did give Melchizedek? Mr. Jones: I believe it says plunder? Judge: So plunder could be any number of things? Mr. Jones: Yes, I suppose Judge: It could have been food, cattle, sheep, the people's possessions or any number of things. It does not say it was all money correct? Mr. Jones: Yes you are correct; it does not say just money Judge: As a matter of fact money is never mentioned in that account at all is that correct Mr. Jones? Mr. Jones: Yes your Honour, money is never mentioned just goods and food and people. 9
Judge: So there is no way you can say with any certainty that Abraham in fact gave Melchizedek any money at all? Mr. Jones: That is right. Judge: I only have one last question for you Mr. Jones, did God command Abraham to give this plunder tithe to Melchizedek? Mr. Jones: No, it appears that he did this voluntarily. Judge: So are you trying to tell me that because of this voluntary, one time gift by Abraham, that may not have even consisted of money, all Christians everywhere are obligated to bring 10% of their weekly pay check to a local church? Considering all the evidence I would say you are beyond any shadow of a doubt guilty of deliberately trying to make the scriptures says things they have not said for financial gain. Mr. Jones: Ok your Honour, I can see how foolish I was to try and use the story of Melchizedeck to try and get the people to tithe money. But there are many other verses that will support my belief on tithing. Jacob said he would give God 10% of everything. I think we should follow his example. Judge: Let's see what Jacob said. Please read the verse you are talking about for me Mr. Jones. Mr. Jones: In Genesis chapter 28 starting at verse 20 it says. Jacob vowed a vow, saying, "If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and clothing to put on, so that I come again to my father's house in peace, and Yahweh will be my God, then this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, will be God's house. Of all that you will give me I will surely give the tenth to you." 10
Judge: You said we should follow Jacobs's example, is that right Mr. Jones? Mr. Jones: Yes that is right, he vowed to give a tenth and we should too. Judge: Let me point out one thing for you Mr. Jones, Jacob said he would Give God a tenth, ONLY if He blessed him first. So as you said previously, we should follow Jacob's example and tell God that we will only give him a tenth if he blesses us first. Is that right? Mr. Jones: That is not what I meant. Judge: What did you mean then? Mr. Jones: That we should give God a tenth also. Judge: There you go again, trying to make the scripture say what you want it to say for your benefit. I would also like you to tell me the scriptures that say that Jacob kept his vow with God. I would also like to know where he gave the tenth to because there was no temple or Levites to give it to at that time. Mr. Jones: I cannot think of any scriptures that say where or if he ever tithed after his vow. Judge: It seems fairly obvious to me that Jacob made a voluntary and conditional vow to God. This in no way can be used as a reason to demand others to bring their income to you or any other place. Mr. Jones: I do have a few more scriptures that I believe will show that we are supposed to tithe. Judge: You have not said anything yet to convince me one little bit that people are obligated to tithe money to the local churches and that you were justified in what you were doing. You have taken 11
scripture and misapplied it to your beliefs and for your gain. But in order to be fair to you I will allow you to present more evidence. Mr. Jones: In the book of Malachi chapter 3 starting at verse 8 it says, will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed me. But ye say, In what have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the store-house, that there may be food in my house, and prove me now with this, said the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. So you see your Honour, we are commanded to bring the tithes into the storehouse or God will curse us. Judge: Answer me this Mr. Jones, were you aware that God never required anyone to tithe money? Mr. Jones: No I didn't know that. Judge: The tithe spoken of here was always edible products never money. Mr. Jones: well your Honour that is because they didn't have money at the time so God had them tithes food instead. Judge: Not true, money is first mentioned in Genesis and Malachi was written hundreds of years later. God had them bring food in so that the Levites, the fatherless and widows may eat and be satisfied. The tithe was used mainly to take care of people. Also notice it says in the verse you quoted, that there may be food in my house. The food was the tithe. How do you completely overlook the word food in those verses? Mr. Jones: I don't know 12
Judge: I also want you to know that these verses speak to people under the Old Testament law. As you may or may not know Jesus fulfilled the law, it is no longer binding. Tithing was part of that law that has been abolished. Once again you have tried to completely take a scripture out of context and apply it to others for your benefit. Can you give me a single scripture where God changed the tithe from food to money? Mr. Jones: I do not know of any. Judge: So if God never changed it from food to money who did? Mr. Jones: Man must have. Judge: So far all you have done Mr. Jones is take Old Testament scriptures out of context and try to apply it to believers under the New Covenant. Is this all the proof you have? Mr. Jones: I do have a New Testament scripture that will show that Jesus told us to tithe. Judge: Ok let me hear it. Mr. Jones: Jesus said in Matthew 23:23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faith. But you ought to have done these, and not to have left the other undone. See Jesus said we should be tithing. Judge: Let me ask you a question, who was Jesus talking to? Mr. Jones: The scripture says the scribes and Pharisees. Judge: Are you a scribe or Pharisee? 13
Mr. Jones: Of course not. Judge: Jesus also said in that passage, you have left undone the weightier matters of the law. Are we under the law Mr. Jones? Mr. Jones: No. Judge: Why not? Mr. Jones: Because Jesus fulfilled it. Judge: When did Jesus fulfil the law? Mr. Jones: When He was crucified. Judge: So the law was still in effect until Jesus death? Mr. Jones: That is correct. Judge: I think you know where I am going with this don't you? Mr. Jones: Yes your Honour. Since Jesus had not yet been crucified and the law was still binding the Pharisees were required to tithe because it was part of the law. Once the law ended, tithing ended also. Judge: I want you to take a look at that verse again. Also tell me, what were they tithing? Mr. Jones: The scripture says it was mint, dill and cumin. Judge: Is money mentioned? Mr. Jones: No it was not. Judge: Once again it was edible products that they were tithing, not money. Do you have anything else you would like to say? 14
Mr. Jones: If people only tithed edible products like the scripture says, then how would the church survive? We have our mortgage payment, utility bills, my salary and a host of other things that we have to pay each week. We depend on the money from the people. Judge: The need does not justify the means. In other words, just because you have all these debts does not give you the right to twist and manipulate scripture and cause people to give under fear of being cursed by God to meet your needs. In closing, let me recap a few things for you Mr. Jones. The tithe was never money; the tithe was an Old Testament law, which is no longer binding. When it was binding the tithe was used to take care of people, not buildings. We are under a new covenant now. Paul instructs the Corinthian believers how they are to give. He says in second Corinthians chapter 9 verse 7, Let each man give according as he has determined in his heart; not grudgingly, or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver. So each believer is supposed to give as he or she has determined in his or her heart. If you are trying to make people give under the threat of being cursed or any other reason you are wrong. Someone cannot give cheerfully if they are being forced to give. If your church can not survive on freewill offerings maybe God is not part of your church at all. Mr. Jones: I never realized all these things, I have always been taught that we had to tithe money to the local church and that is what I have always taught. I can see now that I was completely wrong. I did not study the scripture for myself, I only took man s word for it. Yes I am guilty. I will not teach this error anymore. Judge: Mr. Jones, I can see that you have done this in ignorance and are repentant; this court will not hold you accountable. It is your responsibility to know the truth. I would advise you and everyone else in this courtroom to really start studying the Bible and seeking 15
God on the subject of tithing and your eyes will be open. Do not just take man s word any longer. Start seeking God as to how and where He would have you give. Court adjourned. Finally, Apostle Paul never asked money for himself or for his ministry, please read the scripture carefully. He had accepted money and gifts from Macedonian church when they offered to him. He role modelled what the Lord Jesus Christ did while He was on the earth. 1 Corinthians 9:15-18, 2 Corinthians 11:9 1 Thessalonians 2:9 &11 2 Thessalonians 3:7-9 Acts 20:34-35 So if you have any need you should let your Heavenly Father know about it. 16