1 Corinthians 3 - 8

A Church in Turmoil

Note - This covers the last three days of reading.

The Corinthian church was a church in turmoil with many problems and questions.  Paul starts in chapter 3 explaining that the Corinthians are an immature church, only able to digest the "milk" of the Word and not the "meat" of God's Word (3:1-2).  They are controlled by their sinful nature, still trapped in sexual sins, confused about worldly behavior, marriage and divorce, the type of food they should eat, and how to settle legal disputes among themselves.

The Corinthian church was in a dangerous position. In 4:8 Paul states, "You think you already have everything you need: you think you are already rich."  But they were living in self- deception.  Paul exhorts them to pattern their lives after Paul and Apollos and Timothy.  In fact, he sends Timothy (4:17) to instruct them in Godly living.

In chapter 5, Paul begins dealing with the litany of problems the Corinthian church faces.  There is a problem with a man in the church living immorally with his stepmother.  A condition the church allows and even boasts about.  Paul instructs them to turn the man over to Satan for the destruction of his flesh so that the man's soul can be saved (5:5). He points the the greater problem of compromise and exhorts them to not associate with believers who flagrantly violate the precepts of adultery and immorality and then still call themselves believers. This type of overt sin cannot be tolerated in the church.

Chapter 6 deals with settling arguments and disputes through prayer instead of through the legal system.  A practice Paul find abhorrent. He reiterates that any sexual sins should not be tolerated.  In chapter 7 he deals with marriage and divorce.  Those who are married should remain married to each other.  They are bound by an oath until the other partner dies.  Those who are single are better off single.

Finally in chapter 8, Paul explains his position on consuming food offered to idols. This was a problem about which Paul's wisdom is magnificently displayed and is applicable to many situations.  If eating food offered to idols is offensive to some, then do not do this in their presence. There is nothing special about the food, and it is perfectly legal, in God's eyes, to eat it. But some folks will be offended, and thus the offense to others is worse than your establishing some pet doctrinal point.

May God bless you and bless the reading of His Word.