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beautiful & even more meaningful to read it after 1 Corinthians 12.
The Letters to The Corinthians by William Barclay is an additional lovely exploration & adds greater depth, understanding & wonder (to me).
This is a really wonderful chapter – and as a prequel really sets up for 1 Corinthians 13.
Such an important chapter in our world today for diversity / inclusiveness and how special and important these are – each and everyone of us has gifts and is equally important we need each other / each a d everyone of us and by caring and respecting for each other we maximise all gifts. Unity and inclusiveness is through the greatest gift LOVE.
The church of Corinth was divided church not one devoid of social / class etc – it was small groups of cliques.
A church where social / class distinctions exist & has forgotten the art of sharing is no true church. Areal check is a body united to each other because all are united to Christ.
With Jesus a new covenant was made – not based on law (no one can always keep the law so they were forever in default) but based on love & come to God as children to a father. Love + forgiveness.
It was disrespectful to God and not at all Christian of the church to come to The Last Supper – and not share equally snd with no sense of love for others. Any Christian meal ought to be a meal where people share equally with love & linger and spend time in each others company.
I think Paul is trying to show us that we are all unique and have been given special unique gifts from God and in that way we should look to know/ honour / use & “live” our gifts and live our own authentic life – whist living in “fear of god” and honouring god. We should know whether it is right for us to truly marry or be single etc as well as other things in life. But always we should 1) honour god 2) live in fear of the lord 3) follow the commandments :
7) I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has a particular gift from God, one having one kind and another a different kind.
19) Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but obeying the commandments of God is everything. 20Let each of you remain in the condition in which you were called.
22) For whoever was called in the Lord as a slave is a freed person belonging to the Lord, just as whoever was free when called is a slave of Christ. 23) You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of human masters.24) In whatever condition you were called, brothers and sisters,* there remain with God.
we can also not judge others as we do not know their true intentions and we cannot see into heir hearts … “we cannot judge – we can only be curious”. Only God knows/ can judge
“Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit”
We should be mindful of manipulating human law and “getting away with things” that are unjust for our own gain.
The only law /judge is God + we should “live in fear of the lord” as he sees and knows what is truly in our heart / our intentions.
What does Paul feel most passionately about?
– One church – the church of God . Not a divided church of X, Y, Z … following X,Y,Z but one church, The Church of God following God’s way
“ Let the one who boasts, boast in* the Lord.’”
What caused the early church to ignore Genesis 17:4 “…any uncircumcised male … shall be cut off from his people ; he has broken my covenant”
This covenant was with the Jewish people – now early church was spreading through Gentiles
The heart is more important than the flesh – circumcision of the heart is more important than circumcision of the flesh to build / have relationship with God
Many references in bible to “circumcision of the heart”:
Deuteronomy 30:6:
The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live.Acts 15:8-9
God, who knows the human heart, testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us; and in cleansing their hearts by faith he has made no distinction between them
(35)I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.
(45) The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, (46) for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter said,(47)Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?’
Paul (Saul) had a complete change of heart
WOW! This really is a wow – Saul (Hebrew name) was born in Tarsus, Turkey a devout jew -so devout that is mission was to persecute Christians.
In his way to Damascus the lord spoke to him/ blinded him – he regained / was given back his sight days later & became a devout believer in Christianity.
A massive change from persecuting Christians / a nonbeliever to believing the only way to life is with faith in Jesus and follow the lord. The truth, the light, the way .
What gave the disciples such courage in the face of persecution?
– through pray they were filled with the Holy Spirit & stayed close to God
– the knew the difference between Gods word (truth/ love) and Man’a (priests) word (selfish)
– the pooled and shared all possessionsAct 2:37 Why were the crowd / disciples “cut to the heart”
– because they finally understood:
1) their sins/ (everyone is has sin) crucified Jesus
2) Jesus is sin-less, the truth, and so can never die – he is risen. We know we can never really “kill” the truth – it always lives
3) Holy spirit – speaking to tongues to everyone so all could understand each other. If you communicate in line with holy spirit / love / truth everyone will listen & understand and love each other. Everyone will be able to communicate with each other perfectly!
4) Follow Jesus / holy spirit – conquers death & reigns supreme – right way & truth never dies / extinguished
5) Pray to build relationship with holy spirit / God
