1 Corinthians 1

Table of Contents

1 Corinthians 1
1 Corinthians 2
1 Corinthians 3
1 Corinthians 4
1 Corinthians 5
1 Corinthians 6
1 Corinthians 7
1 Corinthians 8
1 Corinthians 9
1 Corinthians 10
1 Corinthians 11
1 Corinthians 12
1 Corinthians 13
1 Corinthians 14
1 Corinthians 15
1 Corinthians 16
Eaglewings Index

1 Corinthians Intro

1 Cor 1:1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,

The callings are of God, not of human will and effort. An Apostle may be described as one who has had an encounter with Jesus. He has a special calling to reach people for Jesus and build churches; gatherings of Christians. Signs and miracles follow his ministry.

1 Cor 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

Corinth was a Greek city known for sexual immorality, idolotry, (worship of gods), divisive philosophies and debate. Yet there was a Church, and they were sanctified, saints. Believers of Jesus Christ who have received the Holy Spirit are set aside for the Lord's service and are called saints. Yes all believers who call on the name of Jesus as Lord, are saints.

1 Cor 1:3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Lord: A title designating not only master and boss; but the Lord revealed in the Old Testament--Yahweh, Jehovah

Jesus: His name, which is the Greek pronunciation of Joshua - "Yahweh is salvation"

Christ: the Greek translation of the Hebrew word for Messiah, or "Anointed One"; He is the One sent by the Father to save and deliver us.

1 Cor 1:4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;

The Christian position in grace is the result of the work of Christ, and is fully entered the moment that Christ is received by faith. Our standing with Christ is that we are forgiven of sins and made eternal children of God. We are not under the law of sin and death. We are forgiven and kept by God because Jesus has paid the price with his blood, salvation grace.

Grace is also given for service and for strength to overcome lifes problems. Grace is found in Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit. Grace is unearned favor given by God through Jesus' sacrifice. We are so blessed by him.

Thank you Lord Jesus Christ for your paying the price so that we are under grace. By our asking you to forgive us of our sins they are removed with their penalty. By our hearts belief and mouths confession,(Rom 10:9,10) we are no longer under God's wrath. We are passed from death unto life. Thank you for this great honour.

Fellowship of Jesus

1Cor 1:5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and [in] all knowledge;

Being within Jesus brings the abundance of blessings and truth. Satan tries to destroy and bring down, Jesus builds you by the Holy Spirit. We are given wisdom and knowledge and gifts from our Lord.

1Cor 1:6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:

John 3:32 And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his (Jesus') testimony.
John 3:33 He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.
John 3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.

Heb 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
Heb 2:4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

1Cor 1:7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:

The Corinthian church, though often carnal, walking in the flesh and not the Spirit, had all the gifts that God has provided.

1 Cor 12:4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

1Cor 1:8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, [that ye may be] blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus will keep you and and be your Lord to the end,forgiven of sins. Hear this? Forgiven of sins and eternally saved.

1Cor 1:9 God [is] faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

God is faithful, amen, his promises he keeps. His word in the Bible is true. Our fellowship is with Jesus, he is the one we bring all our hopes and cares to. Also the Father receives us with open arms.

John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
John 10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
John 10:30 I and my Father are one.

We are secure as the Corinthians, in the grace and salvation of the Lord. So lets cast down satan's attacks and the cares and desires of the flesh. Walk with Jesus in the Spirit he has provided. Receive sweet fellowship, he will keep you till his soon return. Amen

No Divisions in the Church

1Cor 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and [that] there be no divisions among you; but [that] ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

In the Spirit of God we are one as Christ is one in the Father. How important it is to the LORD to dwell in unity.

Psa 133:1 [[A Song of degrees of David.]] Behold, how good and how pleasant [it is] for brethren to dwell together in unity!

Our relationship to Jesus makes us one body by His Holy Spirit.

Jhn 17:23 I in them, and thou in me (Jesus), that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

Eph 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Eph 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
Eph 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Eph 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Eph 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

All we need is from Jesus through his Spirit. Grace abounds.Satan would destroy this bond of peace by bringing strife and divisions. Paul warns the church;

1Cor 12:25 That there should be no schism in the body; but [that] the members should have the same care one for another.

1Cor 1:11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them [which are of the house] of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
1Cor 1:12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
1Cor 1:13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

1Cor 3:4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I [am] of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

A great danger is looking at a person and elevating him higher than Jesus Christ. I have seen people leave the faith when a popular minister leaves their church. We are not to be disciples of a man who ministers. We are to be disciples of Jesus. Too often there are strifes and divisions about church leaders and denominations. There is one body, one church of called believers.

1 Cor 12:4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
1 Cor 12:5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
1 Cor 12:6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

Rom 14:9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

Baptized

1 Cor 1:14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;
1 Cor 1:15 Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.
1 Cor 1:16 And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.

Salvation doesn't come by water baptism as many teach, but of faith in Jesus' death on the cross. He paid the price with his own blood for our forgiveness of sins. Pauls purpose of ministry was not to baptize, but to preach the cross and the gospel message.

Baptism is none the less a command for the believer to follow after salvation.

Paul was glad that he baptized few, for the Corinthians were identifying with the one who baptized. The Christian has one baptism, the baptism of Jesus. Water is used to illustrate death and burial of the body and the raising of a spirit being.

Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

The Baptism of John was a call to repentance until Jesus came with the true baptism.

Mat 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

The true baptism is of the Holy Ghost (Spirit) and the fire of God that burns away sins. Water baptism is commanded, but God truly baptizes us by his Spirit and makes us children of God. Now these comments are going to perhaps stir up controversy. The water baptism is of the natural as a type of the death and resurrection of Jesus. There is one true baptism and that is the one of the heart by God's spirit. The water baptism is an outward statement of the inward change. Some Churches teach that Baptism in water, saying the right words is salvation...no. Evidence for this is in my life, 41 years ago my brothers were baptized in water along with me. We all said the same correct words. They came up sinners still, and never continued. I had been saved and filled with the Holy Ghost before the water baptism. It was an outward act of obedience and a witness that I had received Jesus as saviour and been born of the Spirit, a new creation.

1 Cor 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

Yes, Paul is an example of the correct way of witnessing. Not talking of water baptism but of the cross. The gospel message. Not by mans wisdom but by the word of God's truth spoken by the Spirit of God. Oh how the enemies of Christ oppose the word of God. Next they oppose and discredit the witnesser. Don't be fooled by satans tactics, continue to speak God's word to those who will hear.Keep the focus on Christ crucified. (I Cor 1:23)

1 Cor 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

The blood shed by Jesus on the cross of Calvary paid for our sins. We must believe this and receive Jesus as our Lord and savior. There is no other way that our sins can be forgiven.

Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

The worldly wise think they know more than God; by doing this they become fools because they do not fear God nor respect his commands.

Psa 14:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

We are saved by the power of God through faith in Jesus' name.

John 17:1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
John 17:2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

1 Cor 1:19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
1 Cor 1:20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

The world's wisdom is always changing but the word of God endures forever. To argue with God only shows your unbelief. We must accept God's word by faith for It is truth. Many prophecies have come about to prove the truth of God's word. God stands behind his word and do not argue about it. It is truth and those who believe are filled with the Spirit of truth.

2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2 Tim 2:16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

1 Cor 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

We believe and are saved by faith in Jesus Christ. We are to share this truth and salvation by preaching and witnessing to the lost.

Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Rom 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Rom 10:16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Foolishness of God?

1Cor 1:22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

The Jews look for miracles and signs, the Greeks look to philosophy and debates.

1Cor 1:23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

Look unto Jesus, he is the way of salvation., God brought the Jewish Messiah to the cross, unexpected and not received by most . The Greeks could not reason why this was necessary, they had pride in the intellect and mans efforts. Another spirit of this age is to be tolerant. God is not tolerant of sin, in fact in the Old Testiment under the law, nations were destroyed because they reached the fullness of their sins. Is America getting close? And yet if it is popular, we say it is ok. God has one way of removing sins, through his son . Jesus without sin died for sinners. Receive him by faith. A child can believe this and be saved. Man's wisdom is empty to God.

1Cor 1:24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

Christ the power of God unto salvation ...

John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

By faith we receive a new life...Thank you Jesus.

The wisdom of God....

Eph 3:10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
Eph 3:11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
Eph 3:12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

1Cor 1:25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

God was at His most "foolish" and very "weakest" at the cross; but it was infinitely wiser and stronger than anything man could do

Job 38:1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
Job 38:2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
Job 38:3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
Job 38:4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
Job 38:5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
Job 38:6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
Job 38:7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

Job 38:8 Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?

Job 38:9 When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,

Job 38:10 And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,

Job 38:11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?

Job 38:12 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;

Do we dare speak doubt as to the wisdom of God? I pray that I may always be in his will and fulfill the purpose he has for me. This started with receiving Jesus as my Lord and saviour. Thank you Father God.

Foolish and weak things

1 Cor 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

confound: bring to ruin, shame

The foolish, the uneducated fishermen like Peter who failed Jesus, denying him three times . When he had received forgiveness and the Holy Spirit, he became a mighty witness to the Jews.

Acts 2:22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
Acts 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
Acts 2:24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

God is a God who chooses, like the killer of Christians; Saul, a proud and learned Jewish pharisee.. Jesus met him on the road to Damascus and struck him blind and powerless. Then he transformed him into the great Apostle Paul; an intellectual witness and an Apostle to the non Jews. Who spoke the simple Gospel message to thousands and gave us great writings of the faith, inspired by God.

1 Cor 1:28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

Base things of the world, A politician, Chuck Colson defamed in the Watergate scandal became a jail evangelist and writer. Drunks become pastors, the lowly are lifted up and loved by Jesus.

The things that are not, David a lowly shepherd boy defeats the giant in armour, Goliath.

1 Cor 1:29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

No flesh

may glory in his presence. If flesh glories it is in the darkness, not the light. But the time comes when all must face the light of God.

Rom 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Rom 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Rom 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

1Cor 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

We are within Jesus, and he is:

the wisdom of God
the righteousness of God
the (holiness) sanctification of God
the redemption of God

in the flesh we only perish...In him is life eternal.

1 Cor 1:31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.