1 Corinthians 10-16
10:1-5 For I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers and sisters, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea, and all were immersed into Moses inside of the cloud and inside of the sea. And all of them ate the same spiritual food, and all of them drank the same spiritual drink. For they were drinking out of the spiritual rock accompanying them, and that rock then was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not well-pleased with most of them; for they were scattered in the wilderness.6-11 These things have now become patterns, models, or allegories to us so that we would not want evil things, as they also wanted. Neither are you to be idolaters, as some of them; as it has been written, “the people sat down to eat and to drink and rose up to play.” Neither should we commit sexual immorality, as some of them committed sexual immorality, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day. Neither should we test or tempt Christ, as some of them tested, and were destroyed by serpents. Neither are you to grumble or mutter, as some of them grumbled [in smoldering discontent], and perished by the destroyer. These things happened to them now as patterns or models, and were then written towards our admonition or warning, to whom the completion of the ages is presently come down.
12-13 Therefore, the one thinking to stand, let him take heed lest he fall. Temptation or testing has not seized hold of you except what relates to humans; God is now faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted or tried beyond what you are able but will do [Himself] the way out with [you in] the temptation also, the ability by which it is carried away.
14-17 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry {trusting in anything except God Himself energeoing His good pleasure inside of you – Philippians 2:13). I speak as to sensible people, judge for yourselves what I say. The cup of good-speaking or blessing, which we bless or speak well of, is it not a fellowship and participation of the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a fellowship and participation of the body of Christ? Because the many [yet] we are one loaf, one body; for we all partake {same word as Hebrews 3:14, partakers of Christ} of the one loaf.
18-22 Consider Israel according to flesh. Are not those eating the sacrifices, fellow partakers of the altar? What then do I mean? That what is sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? Rather, that the ethnic peoples sacrifice to demons and not to God. Now, I do not wish you to be fellow partakers with demons. You are not able to drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You are not able to partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? We are not stronger than He.
23-26 All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all construct [God’s house]. Let no one seek that of himself, but that of the other. Eat anything being sold in the market, inquiring nothing through consciousness [that is, inside one’s story of self, one’s self-awareness]. For the earth is the Lord’s, and its full supply.
27-30 If anyone of the unbelieving invites you and you wish to go, eat everything set before you, inquiring nothing through consciousness. If, however, anyone should say to you, “This is offered to an idol, do not eat, for the sake of him having shown it and for consciousness – for the earth is the Lord’s and its full supply. Now, I am saying “for consciousness,” not your own, but that of the other; for how is my freedom to be judged by another’s consciousness [by another’s story of self]?
31-11:1 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I slandered in that for which I give thanks [speak good grace]? Whether you eat, therefore, or drink, or whatever you do, do all things into the glory of God. Be without cause to stumble both to Judeans and Greeks and to the church of God. As I also in all things please, not seeking profit of myself, but that of the many, that they may be saved. Be imitators of me as I also of Christ.
{Note to the Reader. This next short passage, 11:2-16, is problematic in that we cannot know how to place it. Remember that Paul is writing to formerly pagan Greeks who were immersed in all things of Greek culture, heritage, and religion before they came to Christ. We have no knowledge of any private conversations Paul must have had with these brethren. Paul often assumes a knowledge of those private conversations without telling us, his readers hundreds of years later, what that conversation is and why on earth he is including it. I say this, because the content of these several verses mix some things out of the Old Testament or Hebrew thinking together with ideas expressed by Aristotle inside the philosophies of the Greeks. For that reason, we are perfectly free to set this short passage into the “we cannot know what Paul means” category and not use it to force non-gospel ideas upon one another. For indeed, the some of the things expressed in this short passage are of Greek philosophy and are not at all in tune with Paul’s gospel.}
11:2-12 I commend you now that you have remembered me in all things and that you are keeping the teachings I delivered to you. I want you to know, however, that the head of every man is Christ, head now of woman the man, head now of Christ, God. Every man praying or prophesying having [anything] against [his] head, dishonors his head. Every woman now praying or prophesying, with head unveiled, dishonors her head; for it is one and the same with having been shaven. For if a woman does not cover her head, let her be shorn {This claim is not Biblical}. If it is now disgraceful to a woman to be shorn or to be shaven, let her cover her head. A man truly ought not to cover the head, being the image and glory of God; the woman, however, is the glory of man. For man is not of out of woman, but woman out of man. For man was not formed through the woman, but woman through the man. Because of this, the woman ought to have authority on the head, for the sake of the angels. However, inside of the Lord, neither is woman separate from man, nor man separate from woman. Just as for the woman out of the man, so also the man through the woman; however, all things out of God.
13-16 You judge inside yourselves; is it proper for a woman uncovered to pray to God? {This idea is entirely contrary to the gospel.} Does not even nature itself teach you that a man, indeed, if he has long hair, it is dishonor to him? {Again, a statement of Greek philosophy, contrary to the Scripture – Numbers 6.} A woman, however, if she has long hair, it is her glory. For the long hair is given to her against a covering. Now, if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God.
{By this last line, Paul closes out this private conversation he is having with the formerly pagan, Greek Corinthians, and thus clearly removing it from all other Christians. We return now to Paul speaking out from Christ and Hebrew Scripture alone.]
~
11: 17 Now, in these instructions I do not praise you because you do not come together for the more excellent, but for the inferior. 18 First, I hear that when you come together inside of church there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. 19 There must also be differences of opinion among you so that the proving [of Christ] might become visible among you. 20 When you come together, therefore, in one self, it is not to eat the Lord’s supper. 21 One has already eaten his own supper, another is hungry, and another is drunk. 22 Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the Church of God and put to shame those who have nothing? What should I say? Should I praise you in this? I do not praise you.
23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that in the night in which He was betrayed, the Lord Jesus received bread. 24 Having spoken good grace, He broke the bread and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this to bring Me into your mind.” 25 Likewise also He took the cup, having supped, saying, “This cup is the New Covenant in My blood; whenever you might drink, do this to bring Me into your mind.” 26 As often, then as you might eat this bread and might drink this cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until He might come.
27 Therefore, whoever should eat the bread or drink the cup of the Lord incompetently [not regarding Christ] shall be liable for the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a man prove himself before eating of the bread and drinking of the cup. 29 For the one who eats and drinks without discerning the body [of Christ], is eating and drinking judgment on himself. 30 Because of this, many among you are weak and sickly, and many have fallen asleep [spiritually]. [a] 31 If we discern our own selves, we will not be judged. 32 Being judged under the Lord, however, we are disciplined or trained, so that we should not be condemned with the world.
a. It is doubtful that Paul meant that the Corinthian Christians were dying off because of their lack of performance. This is a spirit-word; Paul is grappling with us together as the body of Christ.
33 So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, welcome and receive one another. 34 If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, that you might not come together for judgment. Beyond that, the other things I will set in order when I come.
12:1 Now, concerning the spirituals, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant. 2 You know that when you were of the ethnic peoples, you were guided and carried by voiceless idols. 3 Therefore, I make known to you that no one, speaking inside of the Spirit of God, can say, “Accursed be Jesus.” And no one is able to say, “Lord Jesus,” if they are not inside of the Holy Spirit.
4 There are many varieties of graces or spirit gifts, but the same Spirit, 5 and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord. 6 There are varieties of operations, that is, effects of Energeia, but the same God who energeoes all inside of all. 7 To each one is given the appearance or disclosure of the Spirit for shared profit. 8 To one, indeed, through the Spirit, is given a word of wisdom; to another a word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit. 9 To a different one is given faith inside of the same Spirit, to another the gift of healing inside of the same Spirit. 10 To another is given the energeia of power, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits. To a different one is given various kinds of tongues, to another interpretation of tongues. 11 In all these things the same Spirit energeoes, distributing personally to each as He intends.
12 For just as the body is one, but has many members, yet all the members of the body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 Indeed, we also inside of one Spirit were immersed into one body, whether Judeans or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and have all been made to drink one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one member, but many.
15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” does it then become not of the body? 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” does it then become not of the body? 17 If all the body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the sense of smell? 18 Now, however, God has placed each one of the members in the body as He desired. 19 If we were all one member, where would be the body?
20 Now, indeed, there are many members, yet one body. 21 More than that, the eye is not able to say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 Much rather, those members of the body that seem to appear weaker are essential; 23 and those we imagine to be less honorable in the body, upon these we place upon or enclothe with more abundant value; and our indecent parts have more abundant decorum or covering 24 while our presentable parts have no need. But God has composed or mixed together the body such that the deficient parts have more abundant honor and value, 25 so that there might not be division in the body, but that the members might have the same anxious care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it, that is, sharing the same suffering; if one member is esteemed glorious, all the members rejoice with it, that is, sharing the same joy.
27 You are indeed the body of Christ and members of Him as a part. 28 And indeed, God has placed and set forth in the church, first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, then demonstrations of power, gifts of healing, helping and administering, and various kinds of tongues. 29 Not all are apostles; not all are prophets; not all are teachers, not all exhibit power, 30 not all have gifts of healing; not all speak with tongues [in the assembly], and not all interpret. 31 Desire the largest gifts, however, that is, your own gift extended fully, yet now I would show you a more excellent way, path, or journey.
13:1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love [Father], I have become an echoing brass horn or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I possess prophecies and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains, and have not love [Father], I am nothing. 3 And if I give away all my possessions and all my being and even deliver up my body that it might be exalted [a reference to crucifixion], and have not love [Father], I profit nothing.
4 Love [Father] is long suffering and kind; love is not envious; love is not boastful, is not puffed up, 5 does not act improperly, seeks not its own, is not easily provoked, keeps no account of wrongs, that is, knows no evil, 6 does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices together with the truth. 7 [Love – Father] covers all [for all], believes all [for all], hopes all [for all], carries all [for all].
8 Love [Father] never fails. You see, prophesies will become ineffective, tongues will go quiet, and knowledge will become insufficient. 9 For we know out from a portion and we prophesy out from a portion. 10 But when that which is perfect and complete has come, then that which is out from a portion will be rendered ineffective.
b. Think of a master pianist performing before a large audience – no one thinks about his performance when he was twelve. His prior partial ability is “rendered ineffective” because of his present great ability.
11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought and reasoned like a child, but when I became a man, I no longer used the things of a child. 12 For now we see through a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know out from a portion, but then I shall know fully just as I also am acknowledged fully.
13 Now, moreover, there abides faith, hope, and love, these three, but the greatest of these is love.
14:1 Pursue love; but beyond that [inside of love], earnestly desire the spirituals, especially that you might prophesy. 2 Indeed, speaking in tongues is not for speaking to humans but to God, not for others to hear, but to speak spiritual mysteries. 3 Prophesying, on the other hand, is speaking to other humans for edification, encouragement, and comfort. 4 Speaking in tongues is to build up one’s self [as the dwelling place of God]; whereas prophesying is to build up the church [also as the dwelling place of God]. 5 It is my desire that all of you should speak in tongues, but more than that, that you should prophesy. Prophesying is more important than speaking in tongues [in the church service] unless he should interpret that the church might receive edification.
6 If I should just speak in tongues when I come to you, what would it profit, if I do not also speak either in revelation or in knowledge or in prophecy or in teaching? [c] 7 Even lifeless things giving a sound, whether a flute or harp, if they give no distinction of sounds, how will it be known what is being piped or harped? 8 Indeed, if a trumpet gives an indistinct sound, who will prepare for battle? 9 So also you, if you do not speak intelligible words with your tongues, how will it be known what is being spoken? You will just be speaking into the air. 10 There are many kinds of sounds in the cosmos, and none without voice. 11 But if I do not know the power or meaning of the sounds, it will be as speaking to a foreigner and the one speaking as a foreigner to me. 12 So you also, as you are zealous of spiritual gifts, search for the building up of the church that you might cause [God’s dwelling place] to abound.
c. The exuberant Corinthians were spending their entire service just speaking in tongues.
13 Therefore, if one speaks in tongues [in the church service], let him pray that he might interpret. 14 For indeed, when I pray in tongues, it is my spirit praying, even though my mind is not benefiting. 15 What then should it be? I will pray with my spirit; and I will pray also with my mind. I will sing praises with my spirit, and I will sing praises also with my mind. 16 Otherwise, if you speak well of others with the spirit, how will someone who is uninstructed say, “Amen,” at your speaking of good grace, since he has no idea what you are saying? 17 You truly are doing well in speaking good grace [in the spirit, that is by tongues], but the other person is not being built up.
18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you, 19 but in the assembly, I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I also might instruct others, rather than countless words in an [unknown] tongue.
20 Brothers and sisters, do not be mental children, yet in regard to evil, be little children. In your thinking, however, be full grown, that is, be perfect and complete. 21 In the law it was written, “By other tongues and by other lips I will speak to thus people, yet even then they will not hear me, says the Lord” (Psalm 131:2).
22 So then, tongues are for a sign, not to believers, but to unbelievers; whereas prophecy is not for unbelievers, but for believers. 23 Therefore, when you gather the whole assembly together and all are busy speaking in tongues, and either new believers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are mad? 24 But if, on the other hand, everyone is prophesying, and some unbeliever or new believer should come in, he is convicted by all and examined by all, 25 and the secrets of his heart become visible, and thus, having fallen upon his face, he will worship God, declaring that certainly God is inside of and among you.
26 What then is it, brothers? When you come together, each one has a psalm, or a teaching, or a revelation, or a prayer in tongues, or an interpretation. Let all be done for the building up of the house of God. 27 If one speaks in tongues [directed towards the assembly], let it be by two or, at the most, three, and in turn, and let one interpret. 28 If, however, there is not an interpreter, let him be silent towards the church, rather let him speak [in tongues, with his spirit] to God. 29 If there are prophets, then, let two or three speak and let the others discern. 30 If, moreover, a revelation should come to another sitting by, let the first be silent. 31 You are all able to prophesy, one by one, that all might learn, and that all might be exhorted. 32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33 Indeed, God is not a God of disorder, but of peace as in all the churches of the saints.
34 Let the women in the assemblies be silent, nor is it allowed for them to speak, but to be under submission, as also the law says. [d] 35 If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; it is indeed shameful for a woman to speak in the assembly.” [e]
d. The law of Moses does not say this, nor anywhere in the Old Testament.
e. Paul is undoubtedly referring to the Greek poets, specifically to Sophocles’ line in the mouth of Ajax telling his wife to shut up when she was trying to protect him from his own folly. We cannot know Paul’s purpose in this statement; some assert that he is chiding the Corinthians for ridiculously silencing their women. We must never forget that Paul had a satirical streak in him and that he could speak facetiously. Neither do we know what any private discussion between Paul and the Greeks in Corinth regarding references to Aristotle and Sophocles might have been or what Paul might have meant in this literary allusion. Paul clearly supported women in ministry elsewhere.
36 Or has the word of God gone out from you? Or has it come only to you? 37 If anyone considers himself to be a prophet or to be spiritual, let him acknowledge what I write to you, that the fulfillment is of the Lord. 38 If anyone be ignorant, let him remain ignorant [If people don’t get what I am communicating to you, that’s fine].
39 So, my brothers and sisters, earnestly desire to prophesy and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 Let all be done in good form, that is, by good design, and according to order.
15:1 I make known to you now, brothers and sisters, the good news that I proclaimed to you, which also you seized hold of, inside of which also you stand, 2 through which also you are presently saved, if you hold fast to the word I proclaimed to you; otherwise, you may have believed without purpose.
3 For I delivered to you what I also first received, that Christ died for the betterment or resolution of our falling short and our disconnection from God according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried and that He was raised up the third day, according to the Scriptures. 5 And that he appeared to Peter, then to the twelve. 6 After that, He appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at once, of whom the greater part remains until now; some [of those], however, have passed away. 7 Then He appeared to James [His brother], then to all the apostles. 8 Finally, last of all, He appeared also to me as one untimely born.
9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God. 10 By the grace of God, however, I am what I am, and His grace into me has not been without purpose. Rather, I toiled more abundantly than them all, not I, however, but the grace of God utterly together with me. 11 Whether it’s me or them speaking, however, thus we preach and thus you believed.
12 Now, if Christ is preached that He has been raised out from the dead, how say some among you that there is not a resurrection of the dead? 13 If, then, there is not a resurrection of the dead, neither has Christ been raised. 14 If Christ has not been raised, then also our preaching is without purpose, and your faith is also without purpose. 15 We are then found as false witnesses of God, because we have testified concerning God that He raised up Christ, whom He has not raised up if the dead are not actually raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, neither has Christ been raised. 18 If, then, Christ has not been raised, your faith is without purpose, you are still inside of your sins, that is, you remain disconnected from God. 19 Then also, those having passed away inside of Christ have truly perished. 19 If we are having hope inside of Christ in this life only, we are more to be pitied than all other humans.
20 Now, however, Christ has been raised out from the dead, the firstfruit of those having died. 21 For since through man death, through man also the resurrection of the dead.22 For as indeed, inside of Adam all die, so also inside of Christ all will be made alive. 23 Each, however, in their own order: the firstfruit Christ, then those of Christ inside of His presence, 24 then the completion, when He shall give the kingdom to Father God, when He shall have rendered inoperative all other sources and authorities and powers. 25 For it is fitting for Him to reign until He shall have placed all the enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy to be rendered inoperative is death. 27 “For He has arranged all under His feet” (Psalm 8:6 & 110:1). When it says, however, that all has been placed under, it is evident that the One having placed all under [that is, Father God] is excepted. 28 Now, when He [Father God] shall have placed all under Him [Christ Jesus], then also the Son Himself will be placed under the One having placed all under Him, so that God may be all inside of all.
{This next short passage of Paul’s, verses 29-34, is one which, for all practical purposes, makes no sense to anyone. As such, it is a passage that we can safely ignore without any loss of the knowledge of Christ.}
~
29-34 Otherwise, what will they do who are immersed for the sake of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why also are they immersed for their sakes? Why also are we in danger every hour? Every day I die, as surely [as sworn oath] as boasting in you, brothers and sisters which I have inside of Christ Jesus our Lord. If, according to man, I fought wild beasts in Ephesus, what profit is that to me? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and let us drink, for tomorrow we die.” Do not be caused to wander, “Bad companionships corrupt good habits.” Become sober justly and sin not; for some have ignorance of God; towards your shame I speak.
~
35 But someone will say, “How are the dead raised? With what body do they come?” 36 Senseless you! What you sow does not come to life if it does not die [in appearance]. 37 And what you sow is not that body that will be, but a bare grain, it may be of wheat or of something else. 38 But God gives it a body [the plant], as He has desired, and to each of the seeds, its own body, that is, its own plant.
39 Not all flesh is the same flesh, but one indeed of humans, and another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of birds, and another of fish. 40 And there are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies. But the first is truly of an heavenly glory, and the other an earthly glory. 41 One glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of stars; for star differs from star in glory.
42 The resurrection of the dead is the same. It is sown inside of decay; it is raised inside of an inability to decay. 43 It is sown inside of dishonor; it is raised inside of glory. It is sown inside of weakness; it is raised inside of power. 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual. 45 So also it has been written: “The first man, Adam, became a living soul” (Genesis 2:7); the last Adam became a life-giving Spirit.
46 However, the first was not the spiritual, but the natural, then the spiritual. 47 The first man was out of the earth, earthy; the second man was out of heaven. 48 As is the one earthy, so also are those earthy and as is the one heavenly, so also are those heavenly. 49 And as we have worn the image of the earthy, we shall wear also the image of the heavenly.
50 I say this now, brothers and sisters, that the kingdom of God is not able to inherit flesh and blood. Nor does the inability to decay inherit decay. 51 Look and see, I tell you a mystery. We will not all die; we all, however, will be changed – 52 in an instant, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised unable to decay, and we will be changed. 53 For it is necessary for this decaying to put on, to enclothe itself with the inability to decay; and this dying to put on, to enclothe itself with the inability to die. 54 Now when the decaying shall have put upon itself the inability to decay and when the dying shall have put upon itself the inability to die, then the word having been written will become, “Death has been swallowed up into and eliminated by victory” (Isaiah 25:8).
55 Where of you, O death, is the victory? Where of you, O death, is the sting?” (Hosea 13:14). 56 The sting of death is sin; and the power of sin is the law. 57 To God be thanks, however, the One giving us the victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding inside of the work of the Lord, being fully aware that your toil is not without purpose inside of the Lord.
~
16:1-4 Now, concerning the collection which is for the holy ones, as I have directed to the churches of Galatia, so also you do. Let each of you set aside every first of the week, treasuring up what and if he may prosper, so that there should not be collections when I might come. Then, when I shall have arrived, if whomever you might approve, through letters, these I will send to carry your gift to Jerusalem. If, then, it is suitable for me also to go, they will go with me.
5-9 I will come to you, however, when I shall have gone through Macedonia, for I am going through Macedonia. I will then possibly stay with you or even winter, so that you may send me, wherever I may go. For I do not now want to see you in passing; indeed, I hope to remain a certain time with you, if the Lord permits. I will remain in Ephesus, however, until Pentecost. A great and energeoing door has opened to me, and many are opposing.
10-12 If Timothy comes now, see that he might be towards you without fear; for he is doing the work of the Lord, as I also. Do not ignore anyone with him, either. Send him forth in peace, however, so that he might come to me; for I am expecting him, with the brothers. Concerning brother Apollos, I greatly encouraged him that he should go to you with the brothers, and it was not at all his desire that he should come now; he will come, however, when he shall have good leisure.
13-14 Watch; stand firm inside of the faith; be responsible; become strong. Let all things be done inside of love.
15-18 I encourage you now, brothers and sisters, as you know that the house of Stephanas is the firstfruit of Achaia, and they have ordered themselves into the service of the holy ones, that also you submit yourselves to such as these, and to everyone synergeoing together and toiling. I rejoice, as well in the presence of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus; because they have completed the measure of your lack. For they refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore, recognize such as these.
19-21 The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Prisca greet you heartily inside of the Lord, with the church at their house. All the brothers and sisters greet you. Greet one another inside of warm affection. The greeting is in Paul’s own hand.
22-24 If anyone does not love the Lord, let him be placed up [before God]. Our Lord has come. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with you all inside of Christ Jesus. Let it be so.