Chapters 1-4 of 1 Corinthians are a unit where Paul takes aim at the divisiveness and fragmentation of the church. This discord was reflected in the alliances they had formed over different teachers. It was all quite competitive—and equally unhealthy. We tend to align ourselves with someone or something because it reflects our own likesContinue reading “Will God Reign in the Rain?”
Category Archives: 1 Corinthians
I Marvel at the Wisdom of my God
There was no shortage of wisdom at Corinth! Their philosophers, poets, statesmen, and orators were brimming over with it. There was the wisdom of their gods. Corinth was a seaport and only fifty miles from Athens so like them, they would have had a god for every occasion and just to be safe—they probably also hadContinue reading “I Marvel at the Wisdom of my God”
A Kingdom Divided Against Itself
To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours. (1 Corinthians 1:2) Things had gotten sideways at Corinth. Not only had the disciples gone rogue in following different teachers, it appearsContinue reading “A Kingdom Divided Against Itself”
Rooting ourselves in community
It’s no secret to anyone who spends any time in 1 Corinthians that the disciples at Corinth were experiencing some serious problems due to their divisiveness. Paul points this out at the start (1:10ff) and returns to it frequently throughout the letter. It is one of the major themes of 1 Corinthians. I suppose thereContinue reading “Rooting ourselves in community”
Leaving Childhood
Most of us are familiar with the quote above. I think it says at least a couple of important things. One is that it reminds us of the important role emotions play in remembering something. Odors and music may bring to mind where we were when we first smelled the aroma or heard the song,Continue reading “Leaving Childhood”
Be Warned And Live Wisely
The man who had all he wanted (2 Samuel 12:7-8), decided he wanted something he couldn’t have. This says something profound about the deceitful nature of both sin and the human heart (Hebrews 3:13; Jeremiah 17:9). After all, David was no spiritual slacker. He fought giants and composed psalms. He survived being pursued by King Saul and his 3,ooo troops—his conscience notContinue reading “Be Warned And Live Wisely”
Not Trending On Twitter
The people of God look a little strange at times from the world’s point of view. That’s not a 21st century phenomenon or a failure of the church—it’s always been the case. In the first century, Paul told the disciples at Corinth who were part of the wisdom worshipping Greek culture that “in the wisdomContinue reading “Not Trending On Twitter”
When the Church tries to be Cool (3)
Paul agrees with the Corinthians that his message is lacking in cool rhetorical flourishes that the Greeks esteemed. He is proud that it centers upon the cross–even though the Corinthian culture deems it fit for the fool rather than the cool (v. 18, 22). Paul will accept such a conclusion—but only when the terms areContinue reading “When the Church tries to be Cool (3)”
When the Church tries to be Cool (2)
But there’s another layer to what was going on at Corinth. From what Paul says in the latter part of 1 Corinthians 1, it’s clear that their divisiveness wasn’t solely a matter of trying to best their brother (or sister). They wanted their man to carry the day because they thought his style would beContinue reading “When the Church tries to be Cool (2)”
When the Church Tries to be Cool (1)
That Jesus was crucified is a brute fact of history acknowledged by non-biblical sources (Tacitus, Mara Bar Sarapion, Lucian, etc.), as well as the writers of Scripture. But we recognize that history is only in a small sense about dates, names, and places. These things are better thought of as the starting point for itsContinue reading “When the Church Tries to be Cool (1)”
A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green 