1 Corinthians 5-8

Hello everyone. This week we will be looking at the books of 1 & 2 Corinthians. Ancient Corinth was the largest first century Greek city, which served as the Roman capitol of the southern province of Achaia. Corinth was positioned along a narrow isthmus of land (3.5 miles wide) dividing northern and southern Greece. This put the city at an advantage for trading purposes. Almost all Roman trade came through Corinth.

Corinth was also a favorite retirement spot for Roman soldiers. Even though many Roman soldiers retired there, there was a very diverse population. Many Jews lived in Corinth due to being expelled from Rome by Emperor Claudius in A.D. 49. Corinth was also known for it's sexual immorality among an empire where sexual immorality flourished. Temple prostitutes were a regular part of pagan worship, which is a good explanation as to why sexual immorality was such a snare to the Corinthian Christians.

Paul founded the church at Corinth on his second missionary journey after preaching in Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea and Athens. It was during his third missionary journey that Paul wrote extensively to the Corinthians from Ephesus during his 2-3 year ministry there. Paul had received word from Corinth that the congregation there was being torn apart by quarreling. Paul then penned the letters and sent them to Corinth with Timothy.

Paul addresses issues like: in-fighting, sexual immorality, abuse of the poor, gluttony, abuse of spiritual gifts, dissatisfaction with Paul's leadership. The Corinthian church had issues. Paul hit these issues one after another. He brings everything to a climax at chapter 13. If the Corinthians would focus on loving one another, they wouldn't have these problems. So, we'll begin our look into 1 Corinthians 5 were Paul tells the Corinthians to do something that we often hesitate to do and find controversial.

^5:1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife. ² And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this?  

We have a hard time with this. Expelling anyone from our church is never an easy thing. But if someone is running a muck in the church, and refuses to stop, then they should be asked to leave. We don't want to do it, but we have to. We love them and don't want to imagine church without them, but if they are causing division in the church they should be asked to leave.

^5:6 Don’t you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough?

If they are not asked to leave, their behavior will have a negative effect on someone. People will get hurt and leave to get away from this individual or will be encouraged to join in the sinful behavior. It doesn't matter if it's sexual or not. If a member of the church is engaging in sinful behavior, and will not stop, then they need to be asked to leave in order to spare the other members of the flock. If you love everyone in your church, you will do this for what is best for them as a whole.

Next, Paul discusses lawsuits against fellow believers in 6:1-11. Paul is frustrated because they can't settle their own disputes. Disputes are inevitable. How we handle them separates us from the world. We're supposed to love and work tings out. It's difficult and requires us to become vulnerable and invest in others. It's worth it. Having a united church is worth it. A united church gains momentum faster and accomplishes much more for the Kingdom. And as I've said before, you get a return for your investment. Being a part of a united church has a positive affect on your personal life. But that all come crashing down if we don't obey God and love one another.

Over the course of the next couple chapters Paul discusses sexual immorality, marriage, food sacrificed to idols. I'm not going to talk about those. I do want you to look beyond what is on the surface and see what the root cause is for these sinful behaviors that Paul is correcting. In every verse of every passage of every chapter, look for what is behind the sin. When you reach chapter 13 it should all come together.

Again I encourage you to contact me if you have any questions. I would be my pleasure to talk with you and discuss Scripture. So, until next time... 

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love to all of you in Christ Jesus.