I Corinthians 5
I Corinthians 5:1-8: In these past couple chapters, Paul has been dealing with divisiveness based on spiritual arrogance. “The main trouble in Corinth seems to have been a form of superspirituality” (Gary Wills, What Paul Meant, 114). Various factions within the Christian community in Corinth have been claiming spiritual superiority based on
… View MoreI Corinthians 2
I Corinthians 2:1-5: Paul has been contrasting the wisdom of God, found in the life, teaching, death and resurrection of Jesus, with the wisdom of the world. In these verses, Paul continues to contrast “wisdoms,” but with a little different twist. Paul was an educated person who could write thoughtful and profound
… View MoreTHE FIRST LETTER OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIAN CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY – an introduction
If Paul’s letter to the Roman Christian community was his longest, his letters to the Corinthian Jesus community/Christian community are the most extensive when put together. And to think these are not all the letters he wrote them (see 5:9, for instance).
… View MoreRomans 15
Romans 15:1-13: Those who cannot in good conscience eat certain foods, or who wish to observe certain ritually pure days, should follow through, for to act against conscience and against one’s understanding of faith is sin according to Paul (14:23). But for those who don’t feel bound to former rules about food or
… View MoreRomans 13
Romans 13:1-7: Paul has been writing about life together in Christian community. He has ended the previous chapter by encouraging those of Christian faith to overcome evil with good. He now shifts attention to a different context – the Christian community in the context of the larger world. Here he encourages this Christian
… View More