Posts from 2020
Survey of 1 Corinthians 1
Paul had received a report from a family in the Corinthian church about the existence of contentious divisions in the church. After a brief salutation and greeting, the apostle gets to the business of addressing this dangerous situation. Following is an outline and brief summary of the chapter. Salutation (1:1-3) When Paul identifies himself, he establishes his authority in some very concrete language. First, he was called by the will of God. He did not take the apostolic office on…
Introduction to 1 Corinthians
There may not have been a more troubled church in the first century than the church in Corinth. In his first letter to them, Paul corrects their errors, answers their questions, and encourages them with statements of confidence. In this article, we will address some matters of background and introduction: the writer, recipients, and purpose of the letter. Next week, we will begin a survey of the contents of the letter. Recipients Paul identifies them as “the church of God…
The Value of Scripture
In the days following the death of wicked King Ahab, Israel was ruled by Ahaziah, Ahab’s son. A serious fall would leave Ahaziah unable to get out of his bed. Concerned for his future, the king wanted to know if he would recover. He sent messengers to “inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron” (2 Kings 1:2). Jehovah’s response, voiced through the prophet Elijah, was this rhetorical question, “Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are…