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Index
Editor’s Preface
Authors’ Preface
Chief Abbreviations
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INTRODUCTION
I. T HE C HURCH IN C ORINTH
A. Roman Corinth
B. The Church “Belonging to God”
II. T HE I DENTITY AND A IMS OF THE A POSTLE P AUL
A. Paul the Jew
B. Paul the Roman Citizen
C. Paul the Follower of Jesus
D. Paul the Eschatological Herald
E. Paul the Apostle to the Gentiles
1. The Dynamics of Pagan Sin—Romans 1
2. Gentile Conversion—1 Thessalonians 1:9-10
3. Paul’s Missionary Agenda—Romans 15
III. T HE I NTERPRETATION OF 1 C ORINTHIANS
A. The Structure of 1 Corinthians
B. The Argument of 1 Corinthians
C. The Biblical-Theological Framework of 1 Corinthians
1. Two Key Old Testament Texts
2. Four Key Themes
D. 1 Corinthians in Recent Research
1. Biblical and Jewish Background
2. Greco-Roman Foreground
3. The Social Sciences
4. Classical Rhetoric
5. Theology and Exposition
E. Some Features of This Commentary
1. The Use of Greek and the Question of Verbal Aspect
2. The Format of Major Sections
3. The Value of 1 Corinthians
4. A Biblical/Jewish Approach to the Letter
COMMENTARY ON 1 CORINTHIANS
I. L ETTER O PENING , 1:1-9
A. Salutation, 1:1-3
1. The Sender(s): Paul, Apostle of Jesus Christ (and Sosthenes), 1:1
2. The Addressees: The Church in Corinth as God’s Holy People under the Universal Lordship of Christ, 1:2
3. The Greeting: Divine Eschatological Blessing, 1:3
B. Thanksgiving, 1:4-9
1. For the Grace of God Already Received in Christ, 1:4-6
2. For the Gifts of Grace Which Sustain Us Until Our Anticipated Approval by God on the Day of the Lord Jesus, 1:7-9
II. T RUE AND F ALSE W ISDOM AND C ORINTHIAN F ACTIONALISM , 1:10–4:17
A. Request for Unity, 1:10-17
1. Initial Request, 1:10
2. Report of Factionalism, 1:11-12
3. Reminder of Believers’ Identity in Christ, 1:13-17
B. Condemnation of False Wisdom: The Wisdom of this World, 1:18–2:5
1. Denunciation of Human Wisdom: The Message of a Crucified Christ, 1:18-25
a. The Cross Divides the Human Race Absolutely, 1:18-21
b. The Cross Outsmarts Human Wisdom and Overpowers Human Strength, 1:22-25
2. Reminder of God’s Unexpected Choice of the Lowly in Corinth: Worldly Wisdom in the Light of Divine Election, 1:26-31
3. Reminder of Paul’s Ministry Strategy: Worldly Wisdom in the Light of Paul’s Unimpressive Preaching in Corinth, 2:1-5
a. Paul’s Humble Demeanor Suited His Message, 2:1-3
b. Paul’s Plain Speech Suited His Message, 2:4
c. Paul’s Purpose Was That the Corinthians’ Trust Would Be in God’s Power and Not in Human Wisdom, 2:5
C. Affirmation of True Wisdom: The Wisdom of the Cross and the Spirit, 2:6–3:4
1. Theme Statement: “We Speak Wisdom among the Mature,” 2:6a
2. Exposition of “Wisdom”: Source and Revelation, 2:6b-12
a. The Source of This Wisdom Is God, 2:6b-7
b. The Revelation of This Wisdom Came to the Apostles and Prophets through the Holy Spirit, 2:8-12
3. Exposition of “We Speak”: Words of the Spirit, 2:13
4. Exposition of “the Mature”: The Spiritual Person, 2:14-16
a. The Reception of This Wisdom Is Not Possible for the Person without the Spirit, 2:14
b. The Reception of This Wisdom Is Possible for the Person with the Spirit, 2:15-16
5. Rebuke for Immaturity: The Worldliness of the Corinthians, 3:1-4
D. Reflections on the Nature of Christian Leadership, 3:5–4:17
1. Metaphors for the Church and Its Leaders: God’s Garden Temple, 3:5-23
a. The Corinthians Are God’s Cultivated Field, 3:5-9
b. The Corinthians Are God’s Building, 3:10-15
c. The Corinthians Are God’s Garden-Temple, 3:16-17
d. Reprise and Summary: All Things Belong to God, 3:18-23
2. Application: The Apostles as Models of the Wisdom of the Cross, 4:1-17
a. Regard Ministers as God’s Servants and Estate Managers, 4:1-5
b. The Corinthians Are Exalted While the Apostles Are Abased, 4:6-13
c. Paul Admonishes Them as Their Father and Model, 4:14-17
III. “Flee Sexual Immorality” and “Glorify God with Your Bodies,” 4:18–7:40
A. Condemnation of Illicit Sexual Relations: “Flee Sexual Immorality” (and Greed), 4:18–6:20
1. A Stern Warning: Paul’s Impending Visit, 4:18-21
2. A Virulent Ruling: The Case of Incest, 5:1-13
a. The Corinthians Should Remove the Immoral Man, 5:1-2
b. Paul’s Authority Stands behind the Expulsion, 5:3-5
c. The Metaphor of Yeast Validates the Expulsion, 5:6-8
d. The Corinthians Should Separate from Immoral Believers, 5:9-11
e. The Corinthians Should “expel the wicked person,” 5:12-13
3. An Exasperated Rebuke: Civil Litigation in the Family of God, 6:1-11
a. The Corinthians Should Settle Their Own Disputes, 6:1-6
b. The Corinthians Should Be Willing to Suffer Wrong, 6:7-8
c. The Corinthians Should Suffer Now and Inherit Later, 6:9-11
4. A Firm Correction: Temple Prostitution, 6:12-17
a.The Bodily Resurrection of Christ Underscores the Sanctity and Future of the Believer’s Body, 6:12-14
b. Union with Christ Excludes Union with a Prostitute, 6:15-17
5. A Strong Admonition: The Incongruence of Sexual Immorality and Christian Identity, 6:18-20
B. Affirmation of Sexual Purity: “Glorify God with Your Bodies,” 7:1-40
1. Counsel concerning Various Marital Statuses, 7:1-16
a. For the Married: Maintain Sexual Relations, 7:1-7
b. For Widowers and Widows: Stay Unmarried, 7:8-9
c. For Christian Married Couples: Do Not Divorce, 7:10-11
d. For Christians Married to Unbelievers: Stay Married, 7:12-16
2. Exposition of the Principle of Remaining as You Were When Called (Illustrated by Circumcision and Slavery), 7:17-24
a. Analogy of Circumcision/Uncircumcision, 7:17-20
b. Analogy of Slavery/Freedom, 7:21-23
c. Enunciation of the Principle, 7:24
3. Counsel for Single Adults, 7:25-38 Stay Unmarried:
a. Because of the “Present Crisis,” 7:25-28
b. Because of the End of the World, 7:29-31
c. Because of the Distractions of Married Life, 7:32-35
d. With the Proviso of Freedom to Choose, 7:36-38
4. Counsel for Wives and Widows, 7:39-40
IV. “F LEE I DOLATRY” AND “G LORIFY G OD” IN Y OUR W ORSHIP , 8:1–14:40
A. Condemnation of Idolatrous Practices: “Flee Idolatry” (Food Offered to Idols), 8:1–11:1
1. Instructions concerning Subjective Idolatry and the Downfall of “the Weak” in Corinth, 8:1-13
a. Love Must Take Priority over Knowledge, 8:1-3
b. Christians (unlike Pagans) Acknowledge Only One God and One Lord, 8:4-6
c. Subjective Idolatry Is Still a Danger for Some Christians, 8:7-8
d. The Corinthians Should Forego Their Rights to Avoid Destroying Other Believers, 8:9-13
2. Exposition of Paul’s Example: Waiving Rights for the Sake of the Gospel, 9:1-23
a. Paul Enjoys Elite Apostolic Status and Freedom, 9:1-2
b. Paul Has a Right to Support, 9:3-14
c. Paul Refuses to Exploit His Right to Support, 9:15-18
d. Paul Refuses to Exploit His Apostolic Status and Freedom, 9:19-23
3. Warning regarding Objective Idolatry and the Downfall of “the Knowledgeable” in Corinth, 9:24–11:1
a. Athletes Who Lack Self-Restraint Do Not Receive the Prize, 9:24-27
b. The History of Israel Shows That Those Who Lack Self-Restraint Are Condemned, 10:1-13
c. Those Who Worship God Must Refrain from Any Association with Idolatry, 10:14-22
d. Freedom Should Be Used for the Glory of God, 10:23–11:1
B. Affirmation of Edifying Worship: “Glorify God” in Your Worship, 11:2–14:40
1. Directions regarding the Proper Application of Traditions relating to Worship, 11:2-34
a. Men and Women Should Honor God and Others by Maintaining Proper Gender Distinctions in Worship, 11:2-16
i. Introductory statement of commendation, 11:2
ii. Statement of the basis for Christian practice, 11:3
iii. Description of shameful behaviors, 11:4-6
iv. Development of the basis for Christian practice, 11:7-12
v. Appeals to common sense, nature, and consensus, 11:13-16
b. Wealthy Believers Should Honor the Lord and Their Poorer Brothers and Sisters in the Way They Practice the Lord’s Supper, 11:17-34
i. Rebuke for abuses at the Lord’s Supper, 11:17-22
ii. Recitation and interpretation of the words of institution of the Lord’s Supper, 11:23-26
iii. Warnings and instructions to correct the abuses at the Lord’s Supper, 11:27-34
2. Guidance in the Use of the Gifts of the Spirit in Worship, 12:1–14:40
a. The Proper Worship of the One True God Is Governed by the Unity and Diversity Reflected in the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, 12:4-31
i. Presentation of the christological criterion for discerning Spirit-led worship, 12:1-3
ii. Exposition of the trinitarian basis for unity in light of the diversity of spiritual gifts, 12:4-7
iii. Sample listing of some gifts of the Spirit, 12:8-11
iv. Exposition and application of the church’s identity as Christ’s body, 12:12-31
b. Love Is the Most Perfect and Only Eternal Way to Worship God, 13:1-13
i. Encomium in praise of love’s significance in comparison with other gifts of the Spirit, 13:1-3
ii. Pointed description of some of love’s key attributes, 13:4-7
iii. Encomium in praise of love’s endurance in comparison with other gifts of the Spirit, 13:8-13
c. Prophecy Is to Be More Highly Valued than Tongues in Worship Due to Its Edifying Power, 14:1-33
i. Introductory argument in favor of prophecy based on its edifying value, 14:1-5
ii. Arguments based on analogies from music and language, 14:6-12
iii. Elaboration of the application given in verse 12, 14:13-19
iv. Argument in favor of the superiority of prophecy to tongues based on biblical background and effect on unbelievers, 14:20-25
v. Specific directions regarding the practical application of Paul’s teaching in worship gatherings (general application to the church: everyone ministers in an intelligible manner for edification of the church), 14:26-33
vi. Aside regarding the silence of women (another issue interfering with the fitting and orderly nature of the church’s public worship), 14:34-35
vii. Rebuke of spiritual arrogance among some Corinthians and call for them to acknowledge the divine authority behind Paul’s message, 14:36-37
viii. Threat to those tempted to dismiss Paul’s authority, 14:38
ix. Summarizing conclusion of the subjects of prophecy and tongues, 14:39-40
V. T HE R ESURRECTION AND C ONSUMMATION , 15:1-58
A. Affirmation of the Central Role of the Resurrection of Christ in the Gospel Message, 15:1-11
B. Explanation of the Consequences of Denying the Resurrection of the Dead, 15:12-19
C. Explanation of the Significance of Christ’s Resurrection, 15:20-28
D. Exhortation in Light of Positive and Negative Responses to the Resurrection of the Dead, 15:29-34
E. Answers to Philosophical Objections to Belief in the Resurrection of the Body, 15:35-49
F. Explanation of the Necessity of the Resurrection for the Realization of God’s Ultimate Victory, 15:50-57
G. Final Appeal in Light of the Affirmation of the Resurrection, 15:58
VI. L ETTER C LOSING , 16:1-24
A. Instructions for the Collection for the Saints, 16:1-4
B. Travel Plans, 16:5-9
C. Request on Behalf of Timothy, 16:10-11
D. Update regarding Apollos, 16:12
E. Exhortations, 16:13-14
F. Commendation of Stephanas, 16:15-18
G. Greetings from Others in Asia, 16:19-20
H. Paul’s Final Greeting and Farewell, 16:21-24
INDEXES
I. S UBJECTS
II. A UTHORS
III. S CRIPTURE R EFERENCES
IV. E XTRABIBLICAL L ITERATURE
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