1 Corinthians chapter 11 vs 17 to 34 – Take Eat this is my Body

New converts to Christ could not help but be impressed by just how simple the worship of the Christian was. 

Converted from idol worship and brought into his new found faith in Christ he had seen one by one all of those old symbols exit out of the front door! 

The altar had gone; “We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.” (Heb 13:10) 

The sacrifices had gone; “But this man, after he had offered one…

1 Corinthians chapter 11 - Headship and Headcoverings 

In verse 3 we see the principle of Headship,  operative throughout the whole of Gods administration. 

What do I mean by headship? 

'κεφαλή' : is used in at least 3 ways in the NT: 

Physical head -  majority of uses 
Place / Position / Power / Dignity / Authority -  Matt 21:42; Acts 4:11; Ephesians 1:22; Ephesians 4:15; 5:23-24 
One one probable occasion of origin (Colossians 2:19) – W. Grudem 1985 – study of 2336 mentions of 'kephale' in Greek…

Notes from our series of bible study in 1 Corinthians on the bible's view of marriage, divorce and remarriage:

I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.”  (1Co 7:8) 

Verse 8 seems straightforward enough,  I would believe that it seems straightforward enough because it is straightforward. 

This is teaching given against the backdrop of the ministry already given by the Lord (1Co7:10) 

So we come to 1 Corinthians chp 7 with the knowledge which we have gleaned…

Part of our series of bible studies on the subject of the biblical teaching on divorce, sexual immorality and marriage in 1 Corinthians chapter 7: 

In response to the Corinthians questions about marriage; Paul appears to agree with their suggestion that 'it is good for a man  to touch a woman,' but only good for those so gifted and not everyone is (7:7). 

Sometimes we don't see gift as gift! 

Some people are naturally fitted for a particular life of service: 

Jacob – the father of 12 boys; you need your…

My recent studies in 1 Corinthians chp 7 over the past few weeks has resulted in an unusual scenario unfolding; on holiday to Lanzarote,  sitting by the pool; Yvonne with her choice of books; in the realm of Christian romance,  entitled; 'The Wedding,'  and me preparing for these meetings with a book entitled,  'Divorce.' 

The question arises at the outset of our studies in chapter 7, as to which of these 2 titles is in fact the more accurate for this chapter. Some would wish to see the chapter as…

The Corinthians were not consistent in very much 

At least they were consistent in one thing; their failure to judge! 

To judge: 

Moral problems (chp 5) 
Material problems (chp 6) 
Marital problems (chp 7) 
Spiritual problems in the meeting  (chp 10ff) 

Why was this?  We're they: 

Doctrinally confused?  (cf Rom 6:1ff) 
Morally compromised?  (1 Co 6) 
Spiritually corrupted?  (1 Co10) 
Socially constrained?  -  the multicultural and inclusive society of 1 Corinthians chp 1 to stay together had to be permissive. 

…

The Report (v1) 
The Response (v2) 
The Recovery (v2-v8) 

The Report 

V1 -  "It is commonly reported"  

We notice the low spiritual and moral state of affairs at Corinth,  which was surely disappointing for the apostle Paul, having been used to plant the church at Corinth. 

This seems a basic issue,  basic moral issue to ere over. 

How can this transpire in a church? 

Corinth was such a: 

Popular church 
Progressive Church 
Prosperous church 

A church with a real buzz and a bit -  plenty of gifts and social…

Reminded of Derek Binghams introduction to Daniel when he observed that God does not give prophesy simply to satisfy our intellectual curiosity about the future, but with prophetic revelation God has moral and spiritual goals in mind. 

1 John 3:1ff : 'and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that when He shall appear,  we shall be like Him,  for we shall see Him as He is.  And every man that hath this hope in Him purifiers himself even as he is pure' 

2 Peter 3:11 -  Edward Blum, 'Peter…

1 Corinthians chapter 4 verses 1 to 5 – The Servant The Steward and his Secret Sin - JS Gillespie

One of the not so often spoken on chapters in 1 Corinthians?  

What is it all about?  

Maybe not quite such a clear take away message 

1 Corinthians chapter 4 is about: 

Nothing in particular 
Everything in general 

It's not like so many other chapters in 1 Corinthians that get their teeth into a specific problem: 

Chp 5 &  6 -  Moral Problems 

Chp 6 -  Material Problems 

Chp 7 -  Marital Problems 

Chp 8 to 10 -…

1 Corinthians chapter 3: 

One of the many practical chapters of 1 Corinthians 
Perhaps not by intention but as a consequence of what it is, it acts as a kind of spiritual health check 
In many ways the whole of the Bible, certainly the bulk of the NT epistles are that, yet if I was asked for a chapter of the Word of God which would act as a one stop spiritual health check, I would find it  difficult to think of one as well rounded and as concise as chapter 3 of 1 Corinthians. 

In 1 Corinthians chapter 3, as a…

As we open up the chapter we are presented with an overview of Pauls missionary endeavour at Corinth, a mission so successful that in modern times it would be referred to, perhaps inaccurately as revival. 

The whole chapter is in essence a reflection of “when I came to you” (2:1) 

Paul reflects on the success of his mission amongst them 

This was no 'boast in the post' 

In fact when he reflects on his own contribution to the success of this missionary endeavour; he first focuses on all of the attributes he…

• When I came (2:1-3) 
• How he preached (2:4-5) 
• What he taught (2:6-9) 
• How we receive it (2:10-16) 

In 1 Corinthians chapter 2 Paul reflects back on his missionary endeavour at Corinth in Acts 18, which was one of his most successful. 

Chapter 2 is his reflections on the success of his mission at Corinth 

Not just speculation but Spirit inspired revelation. 

God had many people in that city, many came to Christ 

Here was a success rarely to be repeated, except in times of revival 

In chapter…

The apostle blesses and prays for: 

'Grace' (1:3) 
'Peace' (1:3) 

Yet in blessing them with this, does he not bless them with the blessing they already possess? 

“I thank my God always on your behalf for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ.” (1:4) 

Why does the apostle bless with the blessing they are already blessed with? 

This seems strange! 

Is it a way of ensuring his prayers are answered, by asking for what he already has? 
Does he speak in faith in verse 4 as though his prayers are…

What do we hope to achieve with our studies in 1 Corinthians? 

Sometimes we go away from a message and wonder what was the preacher trying to communicate? 

What was the bottom line? 

What was the actual MESSAGE? 

Come to that was there an actual message? 

I wanted to think about where we were trying to go before we set off! 

Fresh – That is a fresh word from the Lord, something more than just a history lesson, something beyond the facts of the past but just to here a fresh voice of God in the present! 

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