Day #335

Sermon - Audio
1 Cor 9-11 - Reading
1 Cor 9-11 - Audio

Daily Insights - Please Comment

9.1: Paul holds that he is a free man; he is not a slave to anyone or what they want. This is a significant follow up to his words about being willing to not eat meat if it causes another to stumble.

9.2: Paul’s seal that he is really an apostle is shown in those who have come to faith through his ministry.

9.3-8: Paul holds that he has a right to support from the church, it is a God given right rooted in both in common sense and in the God’s word.

9.11-12: He has not taken this right, because he wants to put no obstacle/hindrance in the way of the gospel of Christ. Since there were many who used speaking and cool arguments as a way to make a living, Paul wanted to make sure that his message was distinct from those. Paul does receive help from many churches, but not from Corinth.

9.17-18: Paul is so overwhelmed with his call to preach that he has no choice but to speak of God to others. There is no boast in what one has to do. Paul’s boast is that he presents the gospel free of charge.

9.19: Paul launches into his teaching about his giving up his freedom to become a slave so that the gospel message can go out.

9.19-23: Paul battles back against those who say that he lack authenticity because he acts differently in different situations. He points out that he is consistent. His consistency is one of motive, not of action. All he does he does to win a hearing for the gospel.

9.20: Paul clarifies that he is not under the Law because Christ has freed him from the Law by his death and resurrection.

9.21: The Law of Christ is most likely the teaching of Christ (Remember earlier Paul talks about not having a word from the Lord about betrothed people, this reflects that there is a word from the Lord on other matters i.e. the Law of Christ). The summary of the Law of Christ is the same as the summary of the Old Testament Law: Love God and Love your neighbor.

9:24–27 Paul frequently uses athletic metaphors to describe the rigors and single-minded focus of his apostolic work to pursue the advancement of the gospel (see also Phil. 3:12–14; 2 Tim. 4:7–8). The extended metaphor is particularly apt in a letter to Corinth, which was the location of the biennial Isthmian games, at that time second in fame only to the Olympic games. Paul’s stay in Corinth during his second missionary journey (Acts 18) may have overlapped with the games in either A.D. 49 or 51. The perishable wreath was a crown (Gk. stephanos) of foliage (and therefore quick to wither) which was given to the victor in a public athletic contest. Paul thinks of his congregations as the victor’s crown that he will wear on the final day (Phil. 4:1; 1 Thess. 2:19). ESV Study Bible

9.27: Paul’s comments here reflect the extreme struggles he goes through to bring the gospel to people. Beatings, shipwrecks, hunger are all part of his life. To be “disqualified” refers to not receiving a reward.

10:1-5 - Paul highlights the Israelites experiences from past-to-present. He tells us that the presence of Christ was with them even in the wilderness. However, most of them became upset with God. Paul is urging the Churches to not take their previous blessings for granted.

10:6-10 - The Corinthians were losing their focus on God, and were becoming idolaters, sexual immoral, tempters, and complainers...Paul tells what happened to their forefathers.

10:11-13 - We have great responsibility since we have examples of what "not to do" that have gone before us. The path is made clear. There will be temptations, but nothing that previous saints have not seen.

*God is faithful, He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able* - People love to twist this verse. What Paul is saying here is that Satan desires to destroy us, and that God will not allow Satan to take it to that extreme. He will provide an escape for us that we can choose when it is no longer bearable. However, what you think is unbearable, may not be the same as what God thinks. Also, remember that trials and temptations are different.

10:14 - "Idolatry" here is specifically the pagan temples.

10:15 - "speak as to wise men" = "So, if you are truly wise..."

10:15-22 - Just as the Christian practice of communion speaks of unity and fellowship with Jesus, so these pagan banquets, given in the honor of idols, speak of unity with demons who take advantage of misdirected worship. You can not serve God and..."x"

2 Questions that Paul answers in these verses:

The Corinthian Christians were thinking, “Since an idol is not real, it doesn’t matter what we eat, and it doesn’t matter where we eat it.” Paul answers by agreeing that an idol is in itself nothing (1 Corinthians 8:4); but now explains that demons take advantage of man’s ignorant and self-serving worship.

The Corinthian Christians were thinking, “As long as we are participating in the Lord’s Table, we are safe in Him.” Paul answers that they are disgracing the Lord’s table when they fellowship with idols.

10:23-24 - We are not misuse our new found freedom in Christ. We are to seek the benefit of others...we are to edify all. Even if it is available to you, does it hurt another brother/person?

10:25-30 - Paul again approaches the thought process behind the food that is sacrificed to idols. The heart of the matter is not the food that has been "defiled" or not, but the atmosphere of idol worship.

10:31-33 - Again, I bet most people don't know that this comes out of the context of food sacrificed to idols, but this is one of Paul's greatest statements. We don't live our lives for our own benefit, getting away with what we want, and looking after ourselves. We live to seek the benefit of others, by bringing them closer to Jesus Christ.

11:1 - Paul calls us to imitate him as he is imitating Christ.

11:2 - Some believe that Paul is being sarcastic here, since the Corinthians are clearly not keeping Paul's teachings.

11:3 - Remember, that Christ is not less than God, as woman is not less than man. We show loving submission to one another.

11:4-6 - The idea of a head covering was important in this (and many other) ancient cultures. To wear the head covering (or, veil in some translations), was a public symbol of being under the authority and protection of another.

“Nothing in this is a further rule to Christians, than it is the duty of ministers, in praying and preaching, to use postures and habits that are not naturally, nor according to the custom of the place where they live, uncomely and irreverent, and ill looked upon.” (Poole)

11:7-10 See Gen. 1:26–27; 5:1; 9:6. Woman is the glory of man probably uses “glory” in the sense of “one who shows the excellence of.” Paul argues that a woman, by the excellence of her being, also shows how excellent man is, since she was taken out of man at the beginning (1 Cor. 11:8) and also was created as a helper for man at the beginning (v. 9; see also Gen. 2:20–24). Paul does not deny that the woman was also made in God’s image, something that Gen. 1:27 explicitly affirms, nor does he deny that the woman reflects God’s glory. Paul probably continues to think primarily of husband and wife here since the first man and woman were also the first married couple (Gen. 2:24; Eph. 5:31). Paul’s appeal to the order of creation (cf. also 1 Cor. 11:3, 11–12) shows that his words are not merely directed to the cultural situation of his day. The principle of male headship in marriage continues through all generations, though some cultural expressions of that principle (e.g., that women should wear head coverings) may vary. -ESVSB-

11:11-12 - Paul stresses the equality of marriage.

11:14 - Here the word nature probably means “your natural sense of what is appropriate for men and women” -ESVSB-

11:17-19 - Paul claims that it is good that the churches come together, but their hearts are not unified within the gathering. This is why it is so important to come to church gatherings with our hearts prepared.

11:20-22 - The people are selfish, gluttons, drunks...Paul is NOT happy.

11:23-28 - Paul reminds the Corinthians of the seriousness of the Last Supper. He tells them to examine themselves before partaking, making sure their heart is right with God.

11:29-32 - Is it possible that we reap correction/discipline upon ourselves?! Yes it is. So Paul tells the people to discipline themselves first so that this won't happen.

11:33-34 - love is at the heart of the sacrament. Paul leaves them with only giving them the introductory details...he will show them when he comes to them. I can't imagine how frustrated Paul must have been.