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First Corinthians 1-8

Review
What is a church? In Pauls day, the term - ekklesia - was used to describe any gathering or assembly of
people; the pagans used the term for their gatherings, too. At the root of the word is the idea of a people
who are called out.
The word is of course also used very specifically in the NT for those who respond to the call of God; Gods
invitation to become His son, through faith in Jesus Christ. Having accepted Gods invitation, they are
called out of the world, into the family of God; they are a called-out assembly; they are part of the church
of God.
Being called out creates a separation for those who have responded to Gods invitation. They have been
delivered from the power of darkness, and conveyed into the kingdom of the Son of Gods love (Col 1:13).
They have been sanctified - set apart to God - by the Spirit, and by belief in the truth (2 Th 2:13).
But why? Why is the church set apart from the world? What is the purpose in this? One reason is to create
a distinction; just as God separated the light from the darkness (Gen 1:4). Another reason is purity;
separation prevents mixture of the sacred with the common, the profane.
But perhaps most importantly, the separation of the church enables God to hold them up above the rest of
humanity as the shining example of His great purpose for mankind - to be dignified as His sons - sons of
God. And that purpose is held out to every son of Adam born into this world. So the church is set apart in
order to be a witness to the world. A witness of what? Of God and His Christ.
This answers to the words that Jesus spoke to His own people, the Jews - Gods first called-out assembly.
Jesus said to them that a city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden; raised above the earth, its light is seen.
A light is not put under a basket - enshrouded in darkness - but put on a lampstand - raised up - so that it
gives light to all who are in the house (Mt 5:14-15).
That was to be Israels role - to be the light of the world - a lampstand, a light holder, holding and shining
forth the light of truth. But the darkness of unbelief overtook Israel, as they rejected their Messiah.
And so the Lord called out a second assembly - the church. Those who responded to the high calling of
God in Jesus Christ were lifted up, as sons of God - together becoming Gods light holder, by which the
Lord could now shine His light into the darkness of men in the flesh.
The church is a body of believers which came forth out of the death of Jesus. On the night of His
resurrection, Jesus came to His disciples and breathed life into that Body (Jn 20:22).
The believers, having been individually indwelt by the Holy Spirit the moment they believed, now received
the Holy Spirit as a collective Body, and in this way, the Body was joined to Christ as their Head.
Then, following His ascension back to heaven, Jesus poured out upon the believers the Holy Spirit, by
which the Body of Christ was collectively endued with power from on high (Lk 24:49).
The Spirit distributed to believers the spiritual graces (1 Cor 12:11), the charismata, to empower their
ministry - to reconcile men to God. Here was the church - the dwelling place of God in the Spirit (Eph
2:22) - where men could come to meet God. The church is a holy temple in the Lord (Eph 2:21) - a light
holder, to shine forth the light of Gods thinking.

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And that light radiated out from Jerusalem, to Judea and Samaria, to the uttermost parts of the earth,
wherever the Spirit directed members of Christs Body to bear the good news of Jesus Christ - the gospel
message.
As the good news was received and believed, the Lord had new lampstands, in which to place His light local churches, which could now as collective assemblies, brightly shine forth the light of truth; each one,
bearing witness to Christ.
Now, the gospel of Christ is invariable; it is the absolute, irrefutable, unchangeable truth. But the witness to
the truth can be quite variable. One assembly can shine forth the truth brilliantly; yet in another assembly,
the truth can only be dimly seen.
Why is that? Because assemblies are composed of individuals - and the witness of the assembly
collectively depends on what they as individuals believe.
We can think of brightly-shining assemblies like Philippi, and Thessalonica. But then we can think of an
assembly like Corinth - to whom our letter is addressed - and we have the sense that at least at this time, it
wasnt shining very brightly at all.
When we see such an assembly, we are inclined to think that perhaps they didnt have good teaching; or
perhaps they had just recently begun to learn. But Philippi, Thessalonica and Corinth all had the same
teacher - Paul - and he was in Corinth far longer than the other places. Sometimes it really is the assembly
itself that is the issue - the individual members of it. And so it was in Corinth.
Paul recognized how vital it was that the light of the Lord should burn brightly from each of the Lords
lampstands. We find a statement that reflects this in his first letter to the assembly in Thessalonica. Turn to
First Thessalonians chapter 1.
Paul, Timothy and Silas had brought the gospel to the city of Thessalonica in Macedonia (part of modernday Greece). Some Jews and many Gentiles believed. The missionaries taught the new converts until such
time as the unbelieving Jews drove them out of the city, most likely just a few short months.
Paul sent Timothy and Silas back to continue ministering to the Thessalonians. When they caught up with
Paul again in Corinth, they gave him an excellent report concerning this assembly. The Thessalonian
believers were experiencing great persecution from both the Jewish and Gentile communities there, but
they were faithfully enduring it. So Paul wrote this letter to them, encouraging them.
Its in the first chapter that we find a strong commendation of this assembly by Paul.
[First Thessalonians 1:1-10]
v. 1-4 Notice in verse 2 that Paul thanks God for all of them. Paul is praising virtually the entire assembly
in Thessalonica for their faith, love and hope in the Lord Jesus Christ. This means that there was
essentially no division, in that assembly; they were like-minded with one another, and with the Lord.
How pleasing this would be in the sight of their Father, God, to see His children walking in the truth
together (3 Jn 4)! It was proof that they were indeed elected by God for salvation in Jesus Christ.
Paul then details how the gospel came to the Thessalonian believers, and their response to it, as further
proof of their election.

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v. 5 The gospel came to Thessalonica in word and in power. The Holy Spirit worked through the message
preached to convict men of their sin, and their need to be made righteous, by believing into Christ.
And the missionaries consistently demonstrated Christs love and righteousness in their own lives, which
convinced their listeners of the reality of the words of the gospel - and of its transformative power. It was
the power of a whole new Life.
That power then flowed into the lives of those who believed, in Thessalonica.
v. 6-8 The word followers actually means imitators. In what way were they imitating the missionaries
and the Lord? Paul specifies, in much affliction.
Our Lord had endured the cross - for the joy that was set before Him (Heb 12:2). Paul and his fellow
missionaries had endured many afflictions in preaching the gospel of Christ - and they rejoiced that they
were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name (Acts 5:41).
Now, the Thessalonian believers were treading that same path of affliction, as the Jews and Gentiles in the
city persecuted them, for the sake of Christ. But through it all, they tasted the joy of the Lord, as the Spirit
strengthened them to stay the course. And the result was that the trial of their faith became an example to
the believers throughout the region that they lived, and even beyond - living proof of the powerful Life of
Christ, being lived in them.
In fact, Paul indicates that the report kept coming to him from others, concerning them - their excellent
report.
v. 9-10 People kept telling the missionaries just how effective they were in Thessalonica. Do you think it
their preaching, or the message they preached? Clearly the message they preached!
The gospel had turned the pagan Thessalonians to the living and true God, and in doing so, they left their
idols behind them. Out of their new-found love for the God who so loved them, they now devoted all of
their labors to serving Him, as they waited for their know-so hope.
What hope is that? Thats when their Lord Jesus will return for them, and take them to their heavenly home
- delivering them from the coming wrath of the Tribulation. Thats the absolutely certain, future hope of
which all members of the Body of Christ are assured.
Here was a lampstand that was shining so very brightly for the Lord, that was so lofty in its example that its
light could penetrate into every place.
Virtually all of the Thessalonian believers consistently sounded forth the word of the Lord - they shared the
gospel - but more than that, they lived it - and did so through great adversity. Through their faith toward
God, the reality and power of the gospel could be witnessed by those in darkness - the light of the Lord was
clearly seen.
But what about the lampstand that was the church in Corinth? There the light of the Lord could only be
dimly seen, at best. The light could not penetrate the darkness, with the lampstand being not much higher
than the surrounding terrain - that church was mired in the baseness of the world in Corinth.

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The light was also blocked by the puffed-up members of the assembly, there. And the discord within the
assembly divided the light with darkened thinking, and caused it to flicker with variability. In fact, the light
coming from the church in Corinth would have been easily missed; and easily dismissed, by those in
darkness.
What does it take for a lampstand to brightly send forth its light? It takes the individual believers, who are
part of the local church which is that lampstand, together to stand in the truth; that is, to take in the truth, to
believe it; and then to give out that truth, both in word and in deed.
Paul understood this; that was his prayer for all the churches. He actually gave voice to such a prayer in his
letter to the Asian assemblies, known as Ephesians. We find his complete thought on it in two different
parts of the letter, so lets take a look at both of them.
First turn to Ephesians chapter 1. Paul wrote this encyclical letter to include assemblies he had never
visited in person, having heard of their faith in the Lord Jesus. He wrote to strengthen them in the truth, so
that they would stand in the truth - as brightly shining lampstands.
Ill read the whole prayer first, before we consider what its saying. Im going to insert names in place of
the pronouns Paul uses, so we understand which member of the Godhead he is referring to.
[Ephesians 1:15-23]
Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease
to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of the Father, the
eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of the Fathers calling,
what are the riches of the glory of the Fathers inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness
of the Fathers power toward us who believe, according to the working of the Fathers mighty power which
the Father worked in Christ when the Father raised Christ from the dead and seated Christ at the Fathers
right hand in the heavenlies, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name
that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And the Father put all things under
Christs feet, and gave Christ to be head over all things to the church, which is Christs body, the fullness of
Christ who fills all in all.
In verse 15, Paul wrote of having heard of their faith; this letter was to be circulated among assemblies
that were not planted by Paul, but by others. But Paul had been given a good report concerning them.
When they heard the gospel, they had placed their faith in the Lord Jesus, to be saved. And having received
His life, they were learning to live it. How do we know that? Its the only thing that could account for the
love that was being manifested among all these believers. Love for others takes the Lord.
This caused Paul to express his thanks to God for these assemblies; they were the fruit of the same gospel
that Paul himself preached elsewhere. And the Lord constantly put it on Pauls heart to pray for them - for
what they needed. Its what the individual believers of every assembly need. Lets read that again, starting
in verse 17.
v. 17-18a Lets stop Paul for a moment. In a word, what would you say Paul is praying for, for these
believers? Wisdom? Revelation? Knowledge? Understanding? Yes - hes praying for light, for these
believers.

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Who will give it to them, according to Pauls prayer? Their Father - their heavenly Father, the Father of
lights (Jam 1:17). These believers have been born again, right into the family of God. But how well at first
do the children know the Father, who has begotten them? Not very well.
So thats the thing Paul asks for them, first - that the Father will breathe in His wisdom - insight - and
reveal Himself to them, so that they can personally know the Father - more and more.
The Father will do this through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given to each believer - the Spirit reveals the
deep things of God (1 Cor 2:10). Then once the children begin to know their Father, they can begin to
understand His purposes, His plans; His ways - and thats what Paul prays they will be enlightened to next.
v. 18b-19a Paul is praying that the believers will really understand the hope of their calling. God has
called them through the gospel - an invitation to become a son of God - and they have accepted His
invitation. So now, they are Gods sons.
And Paul is saying that there is a certain, assured future hope attached to being a son of God. What is it?
That this lowly body will be conformed to our Lords glorious body (Phil 3:21). Paul desires for them to so
understand their future glorification that they will live as transformed sons of God, even in the here and
now.
The second thing Paul wants them to understand has to do with an inheritance. In the Greek, we have the
sense that it is His inheritance - the Fathers - but only in the sense that He is the owner, who gives it. A
better translation might be, the riches of the glory of His inheritance among the saints.
What inheritance will believers receive? Are they coming into some property? Yes - some heavenly
property. The Father possesses such glorious riches that He plans to provide this inheritance as an add-on
to His heavenly home. In fact, Jesus is preparing it right now (Jn 14:2c).
What is this inheritance? The New Jerusalem; and by its description in the book of Revelation (21:1022:5), it will be glorious, indeed. Paul wants these believers to understand the preciousness of the
inheritance that their Father has in store for them; an inheritance they come into based on the death of His
Son.
These two requests are for understanding about certain realities that await Gods children, in the future.
But Pauls final request has to do with the present; the here and now. Paul desires for the believers to really
understand the Fathers power; specifically, His power toward them.
In the Greek, this power speaks of achieving power; enabling power. Paul doesnt say the Father gives
believers this power, but directs it toward them. The sense is that His enabling power is available to them.
What is this enabling power capable of? Its capable of anything. Paul describes the power as being
exceeding greatness. How exceeding, in greatness? Thats what Paul brings out next.
v. 19-21 So Paul is comparing this power, that the Father extends to all believers, to the mighty power that
raised the body of Jesus from the dead; power that transmuted His natural body into a glorified body, death
apart. Thats the power of eternal life.
But that power enabled not only the resurrection, but the ascension; it bore the glorified Jesus back to the
right hand of the Father, in heaven - the place of honor and glory.

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This is power that exceeds all the natural power of the universe - that supersedes its laws. And thats the
power that the Father extends toward believers. For what purpose? For the purpose of doing His will.
v. 22-23 All things are under the feet of Jesus - all heaven and earth are in subjection to Him, whether
willingly or unwillingly - the entire created universe. This is already realized in eternity, while taking place
through time.
But the collective of believers, the true church, is not said to be under His feet, but attached to Him, as a
body to a head - giving a sense of oneness, of joint purpose, of complementary function.
By design in nature, the head tells the body what to do, and the body responds by doing the will of the
head. And it is here that we see why Paul was praying that the believers would understand the exceeding
greatness of the power of the Father toward them; for that is the unlimited power available to them, to
carry out His will, as the Head, Christ, instructs them.
The Fathers purposes, fulfilled through Christ, as He directs His Body - its individual members - in
obedience to Him. His fullness, completely filling every individual member of His Body - all in all.
So Pauls prayer is for believers to be enlightened in this way. The Father is always willing to reveal by His
Spirit, and He has already availed the power to the church to do His will. But each individual member
must also choose to receive His light and appropriate His power for their obedience. And that takes time
and effort, doesnt it? Minding the things above, and not the things of the earth (Col 3:2). Its a choice.
After Paul departed Corinth, more and more of the members of that assembly chose not to mind the things
above. They began to take in other light, that was darkness, worldly philosophies that caused them to
become puffed up with pride, and divisive with their brethren (1 Cor 1-2).
The same thinking provided an excuse for some of them to revisit their former manner of life - they saw it
as their freedom in Christ - that what was done in the body didnt matter (1 Cor 5-6, 8).
They saw themselves as spiritual, while Paul admonished them that they looked more and more like men in
the flesh (1 Cor 2-3). All because they were minding the things of the earth, and not the things above.
In Ephesians, we find that Paul prays again for the believers, and in this prayer, he further develops his
thought about how believers can apprehend that mighty power that the Father extends towards them enabling power, to do His will. We find this prayer in chapter 3.
Im going to read the whole prayer again, substituting in the names of the members of the Godhead in place
of the pronouns Paul uses. As I read it, notice how this prayer complements what Paul prayed in chapter 1.
[Ephesians 3:14-21]
For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in
heaven and earth is named, that the Father would grant you, according to the riches of the Fathers glory, to
be strengthened with might through the Fathers Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your
hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the
saints what is the width and length and depth and height - to know the love of Christ which passes
knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to the Father, who is able to do
exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to the
Father be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

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Back in verse 14, we see that Pauls prayer is directed to the Father. The Father is the one through whose
plan men are becoming children in His family - believers are the brethren of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
A father is responsible for the welfare and development of his children; to oversee their education, and the
development of their character as sons that bear the family name.
Paul is asking the Father to grant that the believers be strengthened with might - the same word as power enabling power. This strengthening is done by the Spirit of God - the Holy Spirit - inside of the believer.
What is Paul speaking of? Think back to the previous prayer. He is asking that the Father enlighten the
eyes of their understanding, in their spirit. Light is the beginning of power, in the believer.
First, a man has his understanding opened to the gospel of Christ, and he receives by faith the Seed of
Christs Life - eternal life for a body of glory - spirit life for his body.
As the Seed Christ germinates and takes root in his life, his increasing understanding leads to him
becoming established in the faith - rooted and grounded in the love of Christ. This goes beyond merely
knowing about Christ - to knowing Him personally - and experiencing His love.
And the more the believer experiences the love of Christ - in its every dimension - the more he grows in
that love, himself. Love is the fullness of power, for the believer. The power to lay down ones will, that
the will of God be done. The power to love others, rather than oneself. Love is power that works through
the believer, through his life. And its power that can be seen.
Notice that Paul ends verse 20 on the same note as the first prayer: as each believer is filled with all the
fullness of God through submitting to Christ, the purpose of the church is fulfilled - to reflect the light of
God; to emanate His warm love, into the cold and darkness of this world.
Thats how the church glorifies God (v. 21); as a light holder. The children of God are to be without fault in
the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom they shine as lights in the world, holding fast
the word of life (Phil 2:14-16a).
Because the church in Corinth did not purpose to continue in the truth, they never became well established
in the faith (1 Cor 3:1-4). Because knowledge for themselves - the lust of the mind - was of more
importance to them than knowing Christ, they never fathomed His great love - and therefore had no love to
give (1 Cor 8:1-3).
So there was only the natural love of self among the arrogant members of the assembly in Corinth, whose
thinking was so puffed up that they imagined their future hope of glory as already realized - as if they had
been already perfected (1 Cor 4:6-10). And in not knowing the love of Christ, there was nothing to
motivate their submission to the will of God.
This rebelliousness was seen glaringly in their failure to break from the culture in Corinth - to the extent of
eating idol food, in the temples (1 Cor 8). They had even begun to disparage Paul, challenging his
apostleship - the very apostle whom the Lord sent to teach them, who toiled for over 1 years in Corinth to strengthen a church that seemed intent on self-destruction (1 Cor 4:1-5, 9).

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We know from the words of Jesus Himself preserved in the Revelation that He will, if need be, remove a
lampstand from its place - if that lampstand, that assembly or church, does not fulfill the purpose for which
it was created - to hold forth the word of Life.
But Jesus uttered those words only after having warned that particular church that they must repent - for the
church of which He spoke had left their first love, Jesus Himself (Eph 2:4-5). Well - so had Corinth. And
Jesus warning to them came in the form of Pauls letter - a sharp corrective, calling for repentance of
believers who were in rebellion.

Reading: 1 Cor 8-10, 1 Th 2:1-12, 2 Th 3:7-9, 2 Cor 12:13-19.