1 Corinthians: “Cleanse Out The Old Leaven”

Just as a small amount of leaven within a lump of unleavened dough will quickly leaven all of it, the undisciplined sin of just one Christian will quickly influence other Christians to sin too.  The point of Christianity is to be like Jesus and thus different from how one was before they obeyed the gospel (Rom. 6:6-7; 8:29).  Towards that end, by disfellowshipping their unrepentant brother the Corinthians would be “cleans(ing) out the old leaven” of sin and thus helping themselves to “be a new lump” of “unleavened” bread (5:7a), i.e., a new creation who reflects Jesus (Col. 3:10). … Read More 1 Corinthians: “Cleanse Out The Old Leaven”

1 Corinthians: The Easy Way…Or The Hard Way?

Not all of the Corinthians were receptive to sound doctrine. These “arrogant” opponents did not think Paul would set foot in Corinth again and admonish them in person.  However, he assured the church that he would come to see them personally soon.  Once he arrived, Corinth would see that his opponents were “all talk,” but Paul had divine power on his side.  He ends his discourse on this subject by asking them if they wished him to discipline them harshly with miraculous power, or in a more loving and gentle manner.… Read More 1 Corinthians: The Easy Way…Or The Hard Way?

1 Corinthians: “We Have Become A Spectacle”

The Corinthians thought the apostles and prophets must be living the good life due to converting all those people and having so much respect within the brotherhood.  In reality, they lived a hard life of toil and were considered to be on the same level as “scum” (perikatharmata, pond scum, slime) and “refuse” (peripsema, dirt or filth you would wipe away, garbage)…and yet they responded to such persecution exactly as Jesus directed them (cf. Lk. 6:28; 1 Pet. 2:23; 3:9; Rom. 12:17).… Read More 1 Corinthians: “We Have Become A Spectacle”