International Bible Institute Advanced Certificate Program Term II Course 115 1 CORINTHIANS: LEARNING DISCIPLESHIP AFRICA INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS COURSE REQUIREMENTS MEMORY VERSES: 1:10,13,18; 2:4,5; 3:16,17; 4:2,20; 5:7; 6:11,14,19,20; 7:32,33; 8:6,8,9; 9:14,16,26; 10:13,23,24,31; 12:4-7,13,14; 13:1-3; 14:3,4,33,40; 15:1-4,24,25,28,42-44; 16:1,2,13,14 DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Answer each of the discussion questions at the end of each chapter. READING: The biblical text of 1 & 2 Corinthians must be completely read five (5) times. Introduction 1. Throughout these instructions, Paul leaves us with a document by which we the Holy Spirit s direction for living in societies throughout the world that have given themselves over to ungodliness. 2. The apostle identified himself as the writer in 1:1 and 3. With the aid of and, Paul established the church in Corinth. 4. Paul probably wrote this letter from while he was on his missionary journey. 5. The date of the writing from Ephesus would be around A.D. or 6. The Lord s Supper is a feast of who are in a covenant relationship with God. 7. The city of Corinth was the capital of the province of Achaia and a center of great economic wealth and 8. The Romans lived in Corinth for political and military reasons; had migrated there for trade; lived there, moving there from the countryside. 9. Corinth was a center, having the temple of 10. Since was an accepted religious practice, it was thus an accepted sociological of the Corinthians. 11. The first letter that Paul wrote to the Corinthian disciples could have been or its contents may have been within the contents of the letter to which we now refer to as 1 Corinthians. 12. Since it was Paul s personal to the gospel that led to the abundance of his life in preaching the gospel, therefore, he expected the Corinthians to in like manner. 13. Paul did not view the gospel as simply an historical event to, or an acknowledgment that Jesus is the 14. The Son of God is the motivating by which one s life is and directed. 15. Paul had received reports concerning the Corinthians attitudes that encouraged them to into different groups. 16. Paul had learned of Corinthians practices and confusion over miraculous gifts that resulted from their attitudes. 17. In the meal, those who communed with one another knew that they were in the of the Lord 18. Paul had heard of their problems concerning immorality, and that some denied the 19. The theme of the letter surrounds the of the gospel would have on the life of those who have believed and it. 20. Paul wrote this document on Christian behavior in order to correct problems and the behavioral practices that invariably result from beliefs. 21. This letter was written only a few years after the of the church in Corinth in the early 50 s, when the were at the most five to six years old in the faith. 22. We study this letter in order to determine the that God places on each disciple concerning spiritual and leadership among the disciples.
Chapter 1 1. Paul was called by Jesus, and thus, he qualifies as a apostle. 2. When Paul first came to the Corinthians, the preaching of the was confirmed by works from God. 3. Because of the Corinthians to the gospel, they came into a relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 4. Because one s does not depend on anyone other than himself, there is no such doctrine in the Scriptures concerning authority. 5. Because the church is, every member is a living 6. The Jews hope was for a glorious king on who would lead them in against their oppressors, the Roman Empire. 7. It is significant to notice that Paul s reference to the church in 1:2 should be understood in the context of the that prevailed among the in Corinth. 8. Though Jesus appeared weak and foolish on the cross, His supposed weakness and foolishness actually revealed the and power of God to the power of darkness. 9. The church is perfectly joined together throughout the world when every member understands and practices of expression that is based on allowing freedom in matters of 10. In order for one to be of Christ, two things must occur, Christ had to have been for the one who is giving allegiance to Him, and one would have to be into the name of Christ. 11. God s acceptance of the Corinthian saints in view of their prideful and attitudes exemplifies the of God toward His flock. 12. Man has no chance of salvation that is based on his own, for salvation is based on the. 13. The destruction of Jerusalem was the fulfillment of the prophecies of, and thus, was another work of God to manifest that Jesus was sent from Him. 14. The church does not seek its own in what it does through good works, but seeks to bring all glory to through good works. 15. Fellowship is the of God to all those who have been immersed into a relationship with Christ. 16. The phrase day of the is taken from Old Testament prophetic language wherein the day of the Lord was a time of the Lord s 17. The body is organically one because each is to the one Lord. 18. Unity is not based on speaking the same thing in the same way, but speaking the same teachings through the liberty of saying such in ways. Chapter 2 1. The New Testament apostles and were given the word of God through of the Holy Spirit. 2. Since the message of the was revealed to the apostles by the Holy Spirit, the apostles cannot be judged by the intellectual of this world. 3. Paul focused on preaching the sacrificial of Jesus for our sins and His resurrection for our 4. Because the mentality of the man originates from the world, he will first of all not recognize that the gospel event of the and empty tomb were the work of God to save man. 5. If it were not for the work of the Holy Spirit to inspire the minds of the apostles, the would have gone down in history as just another execution of another of the thousands of Jews who were crucified on by the Romans. 6. Because of their hearts, the Jewish religious leaders did not know the of the cross. 7. Because the Spirit worked in a miraculous manner through Paul, the of the Corinthians was not based on the or abilities of Paul. 8. Paul affirms that the of the cross is the work of the Spirit to communicate the plan of to the world. 9. Those who have a heart will not rec-
ognize the work of God through the 10. All Scripture is the result of the of the Spirit, but not all Scripture is from God. Chapter 3 1. The spiritual of a Christian will determine one s ability to understand and the word of God. 2. Since all the Corinthian disciples had received all things necessary for and behavior, then not one of them or any group among them could themselves over the others. 3. The mentality of some churches can be traced to those who built the church around their own, and not Jesus. 4. Since God is the author of the message of the, and the truth by which churches are edified, then it is He who should receive all credit for the spiritual of the church. 5. When Christians are focused on, they are naturally brought together into with one another. 6. The Corinthians thinking was manifested in exalting one personality above another in order to win an argument over matters of. 7. In a short time God expects Christians to out of the attitudes and actions that are characteristic with in Christ. 8. It is wrong to cause by comparing either the personalities or labors of the 9. Regardless of the end result of an evangelist s laborers, the evangelist will be because he did the faithful work of and edification. 10. The Corinthian Christians were the manifestation of the work of the in Corinth as men and women humbly submitted to the message of the and lived changed lives 11. If Paul refused in this context to allow men to themselves after him, then certainly no other servant of God should allow God s sheep to be called after Chapter 4 1. Those who seek to be of God, as Jesus and the apostles, must be willing to accept the and poverty that comes with the work. 2. Those who have heard and the gospel have the responsibility to it with others. 3. The exists because the word of God was confirmed by the power that was manifested from the reign of God in heaven. 4. It is often easy for those who are not involved in the war of world evangelism on the front lines to set themselves up as over those who are. 5. These prideful teachers in Corinth the church into following after teachings that were bound beyond that which was 6. When one behaves with an attitude of pride, he often goes beyond that which is written by where God has not bound or where God has not loosed. 7. The of the apostles message concerning the fundamentals of the faith was of their inspiration. 8. The Corinthians led them to feel in themselves and spiritually rich in comparison to one another. Chapter 5 1. The immorality of the chapter involved a family matter, and thus, the church for some reason failed to respond by the one involved in the immorality. 2. The Corinthians should have been with immoral behavior, but they became to the matter. 3. Since the immorality was a matter, the disfellowship had to be carried out in a manner where could be informed. 4. The purpose for the disfellowship and physical infliction is here revealed; it was for the purpose of shocking the brother into over his sin. 5. Those churches that do not practice the law of will slowly digress into social groups that lose their moral and doctrinal with Christ. 6. Christians are not to with those dis-
ciples who are living in situations. 7. It is the of the church to cast out of their any member who violates the principles of 1 Corinthians 5:11. Chapter 6 1. It would be better to suffer from a brother than to take cases of dispute among the disciples before the courts of 2. When one becomes a Christian, he gives the of his life to the 3. are people who manifest their inability to relate with others because of the use of their mouths to promote their own age nda or opinions. 4. Those who live a that is after the manner of what Paul describes in the chapter will not enter into the heavenly of God that is yet to come. 5. In 1 Corinthians 6 Paul was discussing the squabbling of against one another in the courts of law in Corinth. 6. The Christian must exercise and selfcontrol in his life in order to work that which is toward others. 7. Becoming a disciple involves a change in life, and thus, if one is not willing to make the, then he cannot be a 8. There is no scripture in the Bible that states that Christians will actually the world through verbal pronouncements of upon the wicked. 9. Since the Christian is united in body and with the Lord, he should flee from the of sexual immorality. 10. would refer to unnatural sexual activity between people, and even unnatural sexual activity of a human with an Chapter 7 1. Paul s advice to remain must be understood in the context of the the Christians were enduring at this time and would endure. 2. The abstinence from activity in the marriage for the purpose of fasting and prayer was, not commanded. 3. Those who obey the gospel should not seek to their marital status at the time they obey the 4. If the in the marriage agrees to stay with the believer, then the marriage is considered by God. 5. If living together in harmony was, separation was 6. The cannot carry out the God-ordained responsibilities that are intended to create the atmosphere. 7. Married partners may from sexual intercourse for an agreed period of time for the purpose of focusing on prayer and 8. Paul instructed that if the should depart, the believer is no longer obligated to be a partner to the departed unbeliever. 9. Throughout the New Testament there is neither commandment nor advice given that a Christian should take the to break up a relationship. 10. The should take no initiative to depart from the 11. Paul gave some inspired instructions concerning the relationship about which did not personally speak when He was on earth. 12. If a slave had the opportunity to gain his after he became a Christian, then he should take the opportunity to be 13. We must understand that the distress about which Paul speaks was not and would be a time when it would be difficult to marry and bring into a world of hardship and persecution of Christians. 14. Though is not specifically for the purpose of satisfying sexual drives, sexual drives are to be satisfied in marriage. 15. Paul s advice to remain in the situation in which he or she was at the time of was based on his concern for the and wives. 16. The parent or guardian who determined that it would be to allow the daughter to be married was not obligated to give her in
17. It would certainly be unwise on the part of a Christian to bring himself or herself into the of an unbeliever in a contract. Chapter 8 1. Paul s point in this chapter is that the Christians in the faith have a responsibility toward the new 2. Knowledge that determines one s behavior with little or no consideration for the brother is knowledge that is used arrogantly and in an manner. 3. One s of God is manifested in his love and consideration for his 4. The disciples who had knowledge that there was nothing in meats, were eating with a puffed up attitude toward those who were still struggling with their past significance of meats. 5. We must keep in mind that this context is discussing something that had religious connotations from past practices by those who gave reverence to gods. 6. If a brother remains in the faith for many years without changing his thinking concerning sacrificed meats, then this brother must be approached for his refusal to understand the that one has in Christ to eat all meats. 7. Those who knew that there was nothing in an idol were doing wrong by the weaker new convert to the meat that was sacrificed to idols. 8. The of the weak brother must be considered until he grows out of the past connotations that he put on the eating of certain foods. Chapter 9 1. Paul had manifested the spirit of in his life, but the false teachers in Corinth manifested the spirit of pride and ambition. 2. By supporting himself, Paul was not obligated to serve the unnecessary local demands of who might impose on him those things that would conflict with his ministry as a Christ-sent to the Gentiles. 3. Those who in evangelism of the lost and edification of the church, should have the to receive support. 4. Christians who are not supporting the work of evangelists to the gospel to the lost and edify the church, have not been to the work of God to save the lost. 5. If Christians exercise great in the Christian race, then they will receive an eternal 6. The church partially supported him, with Silas and Timothy, when they left Philippi for 7. Paul was willing to give up his own in order to with others. 8. Churches are spiritually if they do not carry out their responsibility of evangelists. 9. Because he was preaching out of a sincere heart that was driven by his appreciation for God s, then Paul had a 10. Sincere evangelists will the gospel regardless of whether they receive any from the church. 11. The Christian must exercise in order to train his to be fit for eternal dwelling. 12. Paul did not take their because he did not want to be accused of preaching for Chapter 10 1. Christians should study the Old Testament in order to learn from the of obedience and that are therein recorded. 2. Christians should not allow ungodly influences to become a part of their 3. The covenant relationship that Israel had with God did not prevent the of the of the people. 4. The Corinthians were born out of a religion that promoted the fulfillment of the of the flesh through fornication and 5. Israel was provided food in order to preserve the of Abraham through whom God planned to bring the Redeemer into the world. 6. It is because the source of lies
one s heart, that he cannot blame anyone or anything that lies outside his heart for his sin. 7. In eating at the Supper, Christians manifest their of one faith in of one Lord. 8. Israel was delivered from the destruction of the armies because they followed the cloud of God and passed through the divided waters of the 9. The fulfillment of the of the flesh will result in one s sin and subsequent destruction from the of God. 10. When one becomes in his faith, he has laid himself open for a fall from the of God. 12. Peter affirmed that the of the Holy Spirit had come in the days of national Israel. 13. The Christian should not conduct himself in a manner that would God through his of the new convert. 14. In partaking of the cup and bread, Christians are of their union with the body of Christ. 15. Since God brought upon those He had brought out of Egyptian captivity, He will also punish the Christians. 16. Those who partook of the pagan feasts of Corinth and ate of the meat sacrificed to were partaking of the idolatrous 17. Paul is referred to the body of believers that communes together when of the cup and bread. 18. Our that there is nothing in an idol, or the foods offered to idols, should never be used as an occasion to another to eat the foods offered to the idols. 19. It is important that one be cautious about his participation with religions that may give the impression that he condones religious 20. Paul instructed the Christians to simply buy and eat the meat without if the meat they bought had been to idols. Chapter 11 1. Christ is the of reference to every man who has to His will. 2. Christians must be careful not to themselves in a manner that identifies them with an and disobedient world. 3. In her relationship with her husband, the wife should manifest an attitude of to the husband in order to preserve the order of the 4. By cutting their, some of the Corinthian wives were behaving in a way to be identified with the idolatrous worship. 5. The wife that does not allow her husband to function as the of the family has moved herself out of a position wherein her is protected. 6. We must keep in mind that the principle of the of man and of woman was determined by God. 7. The insubmissive of some of the Corinthian sisters was contrary to the teaching of that had been taught to all the churches. 8. Instead of coming together to celebrate their, their assembly became an opportunity to manifest on the part of some. 9. Paul instructed the Corinthians not to have an assembly that was characteristic of the assemblies of the pagan. 10. In the context of the, they had socially divided themselves by manifesting their selfishness and lack of for one another. 11. It was during the meal that the Lord instituted the use of the bread and fruit of the vine. 12. The Corinthians coming together for the love feast/supper was also an opportunity to remember the one universal that was purchased with the sacrificial of Jesus. 13. There is no man or woman who can qualify themselves in order to be worthy to the Supper. 14. It would be better for them to eat something first at their own before they came to an assembly in someone else s house to partake of the.
15. Jesus gave His blood in order to a new between God and man. 16. When Christians come together to eat the Lord s Supper, they make a that Jesus for their sins. 17. During the love feast, there is the opportunity for each disciple to his relationship with his disciple. 18. The Lord s Supper can be the token, sign or event that God instituted in order that His people His covenant with them. 19. One should be in a state of mind at the time he partakes of the in order to proclaim the Lord s death. Chapter 12 1. In the absence of an inspired New Testament, God administered through the apostles hands the gifts of the Holy Spirit. 2. Disciples who claim to have the Spirit through them, but do not work with other Spirit-filled disciples, do not have the one Spirit through them. 3. Because the gifted disciples function in capacities must not be an occasion for one member to marginalize the importance of another member and the of his gift. 4. The purpose for which the gifts were given was to edify and build up the church until it was firmly upon the word of God. 5. The body is not determined by its, but by individuals who are in a relationship with God. 6. Since God is the one who made the, then we must consider that He made each member of the body to be 7. The very purpose for which the were given was based on serving the of others. 8. Tongues was the inspired ability to in different foreign languages that one had not previously 9. Any man who claimed to have the, and yet, spoke in to the revelation of the Spirit through the word of God, did not have the Holy Spirit of God. 10. All those who have believed in Jesus as the Christ, and have submitted to of the gospel, have been added to the one body of Christ by God. 11. The church is a body of many individuals who have submitted to the of Jesus, and thus, are motivated in their lives to follow the of their Lord. Chapter 13 1. Paul used the Greek word for love that is the primary Greek word that was used for expressing love. 2. Paul contrasted the revelation of God s word by means of the miraculous gift of prophecy with the complete of the word of God. 3. Love does not push itself forward in order to be, but is willing to humbly work in the background of the crowd in order to others. 4. Without, love endures malicious that is spoken against it. 5. Since the miraculous gifts will pass, then the Corinthians emphasis must be on. 6. Without love that moves us to respond to our brother s, the ability of one to remain personally faithful in belief of God is 7. When the apostles had accomplished their work of revealing all to the church, then the need for the gifts to the early disciples no longer existed. 8. Since the conclusion of the miraculous gifts that were given to the early church, God has communicated to the church through the word. 9. Through a loving to the word of God, one maintains his validation as a of Jesus. 10. Since the church is the of God s people on earth, love must prevail in order to offer members an atmosphere of preparation for dwelling. Chapter 14 1. The gift that was most beneficial to the work of the local church and world evangelism was the gift of inspired, teaching, and prayer.
2. The use of languages in the assembly is as repulsive and useless as the of an instrument that is not played to the tune of composed music. 3. When the one who speaks in a that cannot be understood by those to whom he speaks, then he can only be understood by 4. If the one who possessed the gift of languages had also the gift of, then he could edify himself and others by what he spoke in a foreign language. 5. No benefit is accomplished by one who speaks in a language unless what is spoken can be by those who hear. 6. People who allow themselves to become self-hypnotically out of are not under the of the Holy Spirit. 7. In order to grow up, the Corinthians must cease their spirit with one another in reference to the gifts, for the would pass away. 8. We must keep in mind that the gift of was not specifically for the benefit of a local assembly, but for the rapid of the nations. 9. Assemblies are to be wherein each member is to receive mutual by other members. 10. One was considered mad if he lost of his self, or carried on with uncontrolled. 11. If one gave a prayer of thanksgiving to God in a language, then those who did not the language could not understand. 12. Through the gift of the early Christians were reminded of that which was delivered to them by the 13. Any prophet who stood up and spoke anything that was to what Paul had revealed was speaking against the of God. 14. When speaking in the assembly, some wives of the prophets were behaving in a manner by which they were disrupting the Chapter 15 1. In the first verses of chapter 15 that Paul explains the message of the good news of God for man in reference to his and hope. 2. One cannot claim that he has the gospel if he has not the gospel. 3. We must continue to believe the by which the gospel was to us. 4. The gospel is good news in that Jesus for our sins according to of the Old Testament Scriptures. 5. The good news of the gospel was that Jesus for our sins in order to give us that we too will be raised to live eternally with Him. 6. Paul was thoroughly confident in his calling into apostleship by Jesus on the road. 7. God knew that Paul was a sincere and honest personality, and thus, He provided for him the to respond to the miraculous of Jesus. 8. When God s grace was extended toward him, he worked more than when he lived under a system of religiosity. 9. If there is no such thing as a resurrection from the dead, then Jesus was not from the dead. 10. We believe in the resurrection because of our faith in the written testimony of those who actually Jesus after His resurrection. 11. The consequence of Adam s sin was the physical death of all, because all humanity through Adam was driven from the of life. 12. When all things have been completed in reference to the eternal plan of God concerning, then the Son will Himself to God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 13. If there is no of the dead, then Paul reasons that it would be foolish to be in order that we be raised at the end of time. 14. The false teachers in Corinth who thought that they knew God were actually ignorant of. 15. As God has empowered to transform through death and sprouting, so He will empower our buried to transform into an immortal body. 16. The body that we now have loses its
and dignity when it dies and is 17. The body we will have will be especially prepared for eternal dwelling in the new and earth. 18. The body that is buried is the from which the body will be made by God through resurrection. 19. Those who are not in the Lord do good works in, for they are not in a relationship with the Lord. Chapter 16 1. Each member has the of determining how much should be given according to his or her 3. The examples of Paul and clearly indicate that the work of an was to move among the disciples in a particular region. 4. Neither Paul nor any other of the Christ-sent apostles exercised authority over the or individuals. 5. In Corinth there were those who were puffed up, and thus, they refused the of those as the household of 6. One s covenant relationship with God does not depend on an, but on the fact that he has the gospel. 7. If one is not looking for the of the Lord in order to deliver us from this world, then he is attached to this 2. Since Paul did not want the collecting of to take place when he was present, he wanted them to take care of this matter he came.