Question about marriage
1 Corinthians 7:1-16
Advice to remain in the same state
1 Corinthians 7:11-31
Advantages of singleness
1 Corinthians 7:32-40
Concerning meat offered to idols
1 Corinthians 8:1-6
Do not cause a brother to sin
1 Corinthians 8:7-13
Paul’s rights as an apostle
1 Corinthians 9:1-14
He waives his rights
1 Corinthians 9:15-23
His unfading crown
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
It seems the Corinthians had written to Paul with certain questions, and now he turns to address them. They wanted to know whether they should get married, or not bother because Jesus was coming back soon. Paul has got some basically common sense advice for them.
Then they were bothered about food offered to idols. The Council in Jerusalem had told Christians not to eat it, but in Corinth that was easier said than done. Food be resold of ordinary use. So you couldn’t guarantee that what you were buying hadn’t been through the idol at some temple or another. Paul’s advice is again pragmatic - we know in reality that these idols are nothing at all compared to God, so nothing is going to cause you harm just by eating their food. But for some people, this is a real problem of belief, so for them, they should stay away from such food or they’ll get anxious. So think about them, and don’t upset them.
Finally for today, Paul feels the need to defend himself and his credentials. It seems likely that the Corinthians had been visited by other leaders, who asserted their status by demanding a fee for their teaching, and who denigrated Paul because he offered his wisdom for free. “Hah! He can’t have been worth much, then!” These other travelling preachers and teachers must have done a lot of harm in unsettling the Corinthians, and Paul is concerned to try and ensure that he gets listened to, not them.
1 Corinthians 7:1-16
Advice to remain in the same state
1 Corinthians 7:11-31
Advantages of singleness
1 Corinthians 7:32-40
Concerning meat offered to idols
1 Corinthians 8:1-6
Do not cause a brother to sin
1 Corinthians 8:7-13
Paul’s rights as an apostle
1 Corinthians 9:1-14
He waives his rights
1 Corinthians 9:15-23
His unfading crown
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
It seems the Corinthians had written to Paul with certain questions, and now he turns to address them. They wanted to know whether they should get married, or not bother because Jesus was coming back soon. Paul has got some basically common sense advice for them.
Then they were bothered about food offered to idols. The Council in Jerusalem had told Christians not to eat it, but in Corinth that was easier said than done. Food be resold of ordinary use. So you couldn’t guarantee that what you were buying hadn’t been through the idol at some temple or another. Paul’s advice is again pragmatic - we know in reality that these idols are nothing at all compared to God, so nothing is going to cause you harm just by eating their food. But for some people, this is a real problem of belief, so for them, they should stay away from such food or they’ll get anxious. So think about them, and don’t upset them.
Finally for today, Paul feels the need to defend himself and his credentials. It seems likely that the Corinthians had been visited by other leaders, who asserted their status by demanding a fee for their teaching, and who denigrated Paul because he offered his wisdom for free. “Hah! He can’t have been worth much, then!” These other travelling preachers and teachers must have done a lot of harm in unsettling the Corinthians, and Paul is concerned to try and ensure that he gets listened to, not them.
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