Category: Epistles – Is his letter to our church?

Epistle of Paul to the Romans 1 - the Apostles sends a church letter to Rome and the local saints of area churches
Epistle of Paul to the Romans

Epistles ἐπιστολή or Letters

I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren.

Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians 

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JUNE 2024 – 2025 —

1 CORINTHIANS 

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Letters – Is he writing to me?
The short answer: YES.

In their epistles or 1st century church letters the Apostles and other men sent out by Jesus build up the saints [small – ‘s’] or members of local first century churches.

A Disciple or other witness of JESUS would write it. Messengers then delivered these church letters to many isolated worshipers.

Followers of Jesus Christ receive these letters as a major encouragement to their personal faith. Then leaders read them to worshipers of their church.

Although the Epistles 0r Letters to the Church were originally written to churches of the first century,

Romans through Jude will seem like letters to your 21st century church.

  • What do Peter, Paul, John and others tell us we must do?
  • Is he talking about an issue in your 21st c. church as well?
  • How does the writer’s advice, warning, or encouragement to the 1st c. believers apply to you as well
  • Is the writer of this letter talking about something you need to address in your 21st century ‘christian’ life?

Contemporary Application of the Letters (Epistles)

Most New Testament writers take on specific issues confronting faithful followers of Jesus Christ. These same issues continue to confront believers until the Lord’s coming again in these last days.

Certainly Christ our Lord will come again to those God has chosen for eternal life.

Believers currently suffer more than most of you who know Christ in your local church can imagine.

In other lands Christians continue to suffer by the hand of the ungodly.
Go into all the world

A 21st century Common Era church can see and hear nearly any atrocity of man or artificial imagination of sinful man’s mind, yet ‘christians‘ dare not speak of any absolute truth of the Lord God or talk of JESUS CHRIST.

Will YOU comment on Scripture and share the Gospel?

I invite you to read the inspired word of Scripture written in these LETTERS TO THE CHURCH.

YES, He IS writing to YOU.

Beloved brother or sister in Christ Jesus,

Will you read this ‘CHURCH LETTER’ and talk of JESUS through your comment, sharing and email to me about this ‘Letter to you?”

Roger@talkofJesus.com

  • Your Communions in Church and in Christ

    Your Communions in Church and in Christ

    Communions, gatherings, worship services, church services — call them whatever you like. But the Apostle Paul provides some pointed correction for the church as we continue in 1 Corinthians 11.

    Communion – Sharing in the Lord’s Supper

    What’s the Apostle Paul saying to the Church?

    It’s an Exhortation

    Pretty strait-forward

    Paul addresses these communions (as the idolatrous feasts of Corinth he has already addressed) presenting a clear choice for godly saints of the Church at Corinth.

    v.17 In the following instructions I have no praise to offer, because your gatherings do more harm than good. – BSB


    for the Church

    Would you like to hear Paul's introduction in another way? 

    1 Corinthians 11:18

    • For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. – NKJV
    • In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. – NIV
    • For first of all, when you come together in the assembly, I hear that divisions exist among you, and I partly believe it. – HNV

    This is simply Paul’s FIRST POINT following the Apostle’s exhortation about sanctified living AND following his FIRST POINT about ROLES in Christian Worship within this section of his Epistle ordering Christ’s instructions for worship.

    The Apostle Paul specifically points to times when we assemble [or come together] συνέρχομαι – synerchomai as a CHURCH ἐκκλησίᾳ – ekklēsia.

    Many of you know this Greek word for church. 

    LOOK at its definition
    (nothing specifically yet about communion here. But read on.)

    The Apostle then continues in his outline for Christian gatherings.

    Sharing in the Lord’s Supper ( 11:17⁠–⁠34 )

    church supper

    An exhortation for social and festive meals in the church community

    Now then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat.

    21 For as you eat, each of you goes ahead without sharing his meal. While one remains hungry, another gets drunk.

    22 Don’t you have your own homes in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing?

    What can I say to you? Shall I praise you for this?

    No, I will not!


    The Apostle’s transition into this section had been:

    Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.1 Cor 11:1 KJV


    Paul's focus:

    Our communions other than Holy Communion

    For there must be also heresies among you,

    that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

    1 Corinthians 11:19 KJV

    * In the first major schism of the Church in the A.D. 11th century the Roman Church divided from the Orthodox Church. See the Timeline in the link above.

    Common Era christians dare not mention such things as HERESY, lest we offend some unbeliever in our gathering or sharing in breaking bread with us at an occasional community evangelism feast. 

    We prefer a gentler approach of translations of αἵρεσις - hairesis like: factions or divisions or differences.

    11:20 συνερχομένων οὖν ὑμῶν ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ οὐκ ἔστιν κυριακὸν δεῖπνον φαγεῖν

    When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper.

    First Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians 11:20 KJV

    Does the Apostle then instruct the Church NOT to share in Holy Communion?

    NO, certainly not.

    Only not to participate in such a community meal alongside unbelievers (EVEN ‘at church’ ), including those who are not in Christ in this Holy Sacrifice of Communion as worship.


    The Lord’s Supper

    You may want to READ some of the Gospel including these Holy Scriptures, but I urge you for now to remain focused on the Apostle’s INSTRUCTION specifically to saints of the Church at Corinth (in ~ A.D. 55).

    Gospel cross-references to the Lord’s Supper

    King James Version


    a HOLY Communion in Christ celebrated by the Body of Christ

    Holy Communion the Bread and Cup of salvation in Christ  for the body of Christ the Church

    For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you..

    1 Corinthians 11:23a KJV

    Paul here reiterates from the Gospel accounts that which the Apostle had already instructed in person.


    .. That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:

    And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat:

    this is my body, which is broken for you:

    this do in remembrance of me.

    After the same manner also he took the cup,

    when he had supped, saying,

    This cup is the new testament in my blood:

    this do ye, as oft as ye drink it,

    in remembrance of me.

    First Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians 11:23-25 King James Version

    An Apostolic Application

    Once again, Paul has already WRITTEN:

    • NOT to eat Food Sacrificed to Idols AND taught lessons of the Jews’ exodus from Egypt concerning their idolatry.

    For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

    1 Corinthians 11:26 ESV

    The Apostle had reminded the saints of Corinth earlier in his letter of both his authority and humility in Christ confirming:

    • I have applied these things to myself [THEREFORE] learn from us not to go beyond what is written.
    • Paul’s instruction consequently will require the saints of Corinth:

    Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

    1 Corinthians 11:28 ESV


    27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. – BSB

    Commentary – Study Bible [below]

    • The term “unworthy manner” suggests a lack of reverence or self-examination
    • The “bread” and “cup” symbolize the body and blood of Christ, and partaking in them requires a heart of humility and repentance.
    • To be “guilty of sinning” implies a serious offense, akin to profaning something holy.

    For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.

    First Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians 11:29 King James Version

    If we would judge ourselves
    The Apostle offers a few additional reasons to examine ourselves before these communions with the world and the Holy Communion of the saints of our local church. 
    • That is why many among you are weak and sick,
    • and a number of you have fallen asleep.
    • Now if we judged ourselves properly, we would not come under judgment.
    • But when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.

    In conclusion, Paul reiterates about their divisions over their communions.

    ἐκδέχομαι – ekdechomai 

    33 Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat,

    tarry one for another.

    translates the King James

    1. to receive, accept
    2. to look for, expect, wait for, await: ἀλλήλους ἐκδέχεσθε wait for one another, namely, until each shall have received his food, 1 Corinthians 11:33, cf.

    PAUL closes this section of his letter about divisions stating that he has more to say about other issues later in person.

    “.. And when I come, I will give instructions about the remaining matters.


    Judge for yourself

    English translation: pictures Table Man Wine Mug Food Food Religion Text added to photo What's wrong with you Communions?

    Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel

  • Christian Roles in Christian Worship – 1 Corinthians 11

    Christian Roles in Christian Worship – 1 Corinthians 11

    You are to imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.

    1 Corinthians 11:1 Berean Standard Bible

    Now there’s a tall order seemingly impossible for any worshiper: Imitate an Apostle. But the humble Apostle Paul addresses the different roles of men and women in prayer and worship of the church.

    Roles of men and women

    Maintaining the Traditions

    Now I commend you for remembering me in everything and for maintaining the traditions, just as I passed them on to you.

    • 1 Corinthians 11:2 BSB

    Paul compliments the Corinthian church for remembering him in everything, including his teaching as an Apostle of Christ, from going back to when he ministered personally to the Corinthian church.

    The apostle specifically addresses what he expects of the Corinthian believers.

    Yet centuries later we may wonder:

    To what ‘traditions‘ is Paul referring? Jewish traditions? Local Hellenist Corinthian traditions?

    So let's take a more formal from the King James in order to clarify who Paul addresses in the Corinthian church.

    Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.

    1 Corinthians 11:2 KJV

    In his Apostolic authority of these ordinances, Paul first and primarily addresses the men of the Corinthian church — a cultural consideration expected by both Jew and Hellenist gentile believers.

    An Illustration of Leadership

    Paul employs a common metaphor we won’t want to miss.

    κεφαλή – kephalē – head

    picture of head and brain with kephalē in Greek which means head In 1 Corinthians 11 the Apostle Paul uses a metaphor of the head as a picture of authority in the church and of Christ as its head.

    metaph. anything supreme, chief, prominent

    1. of persons, master lord: of a husband in relation to his wife
    2. of Christ: the Lord of the husband and of the Church
    3. of things: the corner stone
    Paul uses this metaphor of the head ten times in his first letter to the Corinthian church. 

    So IF you tend to shun authority, you may question what the Apostle humbly orders by way of this ordinance of relationship and roles.

    Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head.

    1 Corinthians 11:4

    The idea here is that man was made in the glory of God and it would be dishonoring to God for him to cover his head while he prayed or prophesied. Now that is interesting coming from Paul considering that in Orthodox Jewry today, they all wear their little hats whenever they come into any sacred place of prayer.

    Chuck Smith commentary on 1 Cor 11:4

    So where where is the Apostle headed? 

    Paul naturally points to the creation of mankind by God.

    "Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man." 1 Cor 11:9 KJV

    But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved.

    1 Cor 11:5 NKJV

    Paul does not tell the men of Corinth that women should neither pray nor prophesy publically, only that she should have her head covered out of respect to the authority over her. 

    Thinking it through

    What is Paul’s reasoning?

    He uses hyperbole with irony here (pointed in the KJV):
    • For if the woman be not covered,
      • let her also be shorn:
    • but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven,
      • let her be covered.

    Again the Apostle emphasises:

    • For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.
    • Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.
      • For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.
    You may not accept this on either, but the Apostle has already made mention in this letter to the Corinthians of such authority. 

    Apostles at the end of the procession

    .. like prisoners appointed for death.”

    Picture the ranks of all authority: Kings and captive prisoners of other kings.

    AND above all, God the Father, with Cherubim and Seraphim, ARCH-ANGELS and countless ranks of Angels — all spirits as gods serving the LORD with power to the glory of the Almighty — servants and messengers of God interacting with mortal men of dust and souls quickened in His Image with His Holy Spirit.

    We have become a spectacle [theatron] to the whole world [kosmos],

    to angels [angelos] as well as to men

    [anthrōpos {both men and women}].

    1 Corinthians 4:9b BSB

    – Paul’s reference to Apostles viewed by the world and angels


    Wearing your Symbols of AUTHORITY with humility and respect

    head-covering, the emblem of “power on her head”; the sign of her being under man’s power, and exercising delegated authority under him.

    Paul had before his mind the root-connection between the Hebrew terms for “veil” (radid), and “subjection” (radad).

    BENGEL explains, “As the angels are in relation to God, so the woman is in relation to man. God’s face is uncovered; angels in His presence are veiled ( Isa 6:2 )

    Jamieson, Fausset & Brown :: Commentary on 1 Corinthians 11:10

    In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For just as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.

    A head uncovered

    13 Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?

    Now the Apostle addresses the opposing sign of a head uncovered. 

    14 Doesn’t nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, 15 but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering.

    Again, a helpful overview of this Greek word for uncovered or unveiled [11:5 & 11:13].

    ἀκατακάλυπτος – akatakalyptos

    “uncovered” (a, negative, katakalupto, “to cover”), is used in 1Cr 11:5, 13, RV, “unveiled,” with reference to the injunction forbidding women to be “unveiled” in a church gathering. .. and in the phrase “because of the angels,” intimating their witness of, and interest in, that which betokens the headship of Christ. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words

    The Apostle has not yet reached his final point on the matter, but for our purposes consider it now: 

    For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. Let your women keep silence in the churches..

    1 Corinthians 14:33-34a KJV

    .. the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. 1 Cor 14:37b

    we have no other practice

    The Apostle Paul concludes this section definitively as a segue into Holy Communion in this way:

    If anyone is inclined to dispute this, we have no other practice, nor do the churches of God.

    1 Corinthians 11:16 BSB


    NEXT: Holy Communion and Worship

  • The Idolatry of Baptism – the Idolatry of Communion – 2

    The Idolatry of Baptism – the Idolatry of Communion – 2

    TODAY we continue in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians continuing to apply the communion of the body of Christ as ceremony, community and witness.

    Paul has just compared Moses leading the Hebrews through the sea to baptism in Christ and communion in Christ.


    First Letter of the Apostle Paul to the Corinthians 10:

    2 They were all baptized into Moses.. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and drank the same spiritual drink..

    Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.


    a Contemporary Look at Communion

    And NOW, continuing in Paul's BIBLICAL TEXT, although not as the Apostle sequenced it to his first century Corinthian audience, PLACE yourself in a comfortable contemporary 21st century church for the Apostle's Sunday sermon.

    Picture Paul Podcasting to your Common Era church gathering..

    woman with cell phone
    Today's BIBLICAL references and paraphrases taken mostly from the Berean Standard Bible or New International Readers Version. PLEASE open the BIBLE on your silenced mobile device to 1 Corinthians 10.

    Good morning, beloved saints.

    I’m Paul and have been chosen to be an apostle of Christ Jesus just as God planned. And our brother Sosthenes joins you in person at your local gathering today.

    Today I will begin by addressing you, along with all of the saints sharing in the Lord’s Supper and communion in your community.

    Following my broadcast message for you and your church, Sosthenes will lead you in the breaking of the bread of Holy Communion, along with your beloved local pastor and your fellow saints sharing in the sacrifice of Christ our only Savior.

    I speak to you as reasonable people.

    So judge for yourselves what I say.

    God was not pleased with most of the church of Moses (if you will), because most of them desired the sins of worshipping idols once their GOD-appointed PREACHER Moses went up the hill to receive the LORD’s Holy LAW.

    It is God’s LAW, the LORD’s Commandments meant to sanctify and separate a Holy people from an evil world overflowing in sin from every city and nation.

    YOU have been chosen to separate IN CHRIST JESUS as a Holy People to be in communion with a HOLY LORD GOD – our merciful Father.

    My dear friends, run away from statues of gods. Don’t worship them.

    1 Corinthians 10:14 NIRV


    I know through your own pastors, shepherds of your faith, that most of you do not.

    You don’t have little Buddhas in your home OR place some Pope or Prophet on a pedestal.

    Yet every unholy message on your numerous devices reaches to lure you saints of the Lord into the inclusion of innumerable IDOLS.

    IDOLS of:

    • of self and sport,
    • inner-self and gods of nature,
    • sexual indulgence and sensual entertainment,
    • ageless health and never-to-be mentioned DEATH and then the Judgement.

    Our Lord Jesus, who sent me to YOU with the Gospel urges YOU:

    “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.

    Gospel of John 5:24 LSB

    Good NEWS in the palm of your hand.


    GO ahead and LOOK at it on your device
    , (the Apostle would urge you IF he could).

    There’s much MORE

    and not one jot or tittle of the Good News JESUS proclaims is idolatry;

    but rather, Christ speaks truth.


    23 You say, “I have the right to do anything.”

    (After all, you're a FREE CHURCH because of JESUS and the CROSS.)

    But not everything is helpful.

    Again you say, “I have the right to do anything.”

    But not everything builds us up.

    So what’s a Common Era christian to do?


    In fact, my fellow saint of Christ and in Christ, regardless of all of our songs praising SELF – MY god and MY lord and MY royal blessings as part of JESUS’ resurrection —

    I can tell you (AND I SAW THE LORD JESUS AS ONE CALLED – an Apostle to YOU)The Lord did not CALL you to celebrate His Kingdom as your own (as the pagans do when WE wander off to celebrate with their gods at their feasts and festive occasions).

    Christian Evangelism by Example

    24 No one should look out for their own interests. Instead, they should look out for the interests of others.

    Do YOU do that for those the Lord seeks? 

    In fact, as Jesus commanded,

    Do YOU put your fellow saints FIRST in loving one another, even as Christ JESUS has loved US?

    Therefore,

    25 Eat anything sold in the meat market. Don’t ask if it’s right or wrong.

    26 Scripture says,

    “The earth belongs to the Lord. And so does everything in it.” (Psalm 24:1)

    YES, the earth and all creation belong to the Lord’s!

    And JESUS IS Lord!

    IF you are a humble saint of His body the Church.


    NOT Mother Nature (who has no realm of wind or fire, NO majesty over seed and sinew from dust).

    NOT some fanciful angelic cherub of erotic love.

    NOT some Bacchus of Mardi Gras beads for debauchery.

    NOT even some dead saint of our own or any Super-PASTOR of the big screen broadcasting christian charity or podcasting christian politics into every cultural corner of the world.


    NO, we worship the One Lord Jesus, God from God, begotten not made and One with the Spirit.

    Let us not test Christ as some of ‘Moses’ church’ did. (And do not grumble as some of them did.)

    And here's your Common Era application little different than with the Corinthians.

    Paul would ask a 21st century christian:

    Are Hindu gods false?

    How about Buddha and a worldly yoga of SELF?

    Would the Mormons Moroni and Smith of the Utahpian christian sect?

    And Mohammed, false prophet veiled in hatred opposing YHWH, Jacob and Christ, with adherents bowing only to their god of Allah?

    Is Mary, mother of our Lord Jesus and James and Jude our mediator before the Holy Spirit?

    Should we plea though dead Saints of the Church already with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ?

    Must you consult and hold high a Pope to interpret God’s Holy Scripture?

    Is God’s Earth your IDOL or the Heavens HE created IN THE BEGINNING?

    Does some philosophy or practice of the past fill your head and weekly routines of this mortal life? Has that become YOUR idol?

    • idolatry – formal sacrificial feats held in honour of false gods
    • of avarice, as a worship of Mammon

    And so too of

    Holy Communion.

    Are not those who eat the sacrifices fellow partakers in the altar?

    1 Corinthians 10:18b BSB

    And allow me to ask you this:
    • Do we saints of Christ LITERALLY drink HIS mystery of cleansing by that shed for us on the CROSS?
    • Must communicates of CHRIST LITERALLY eat a mysterious leaven broken unceremoniously for us on a bloody cross of Calvary?
    • AND is this the purpose of an Apostle to point out a prescribed practice to ‘Do this in remembrance of Jesus as often as we share in the feasts and cup of blessing?

    Because there is one loaf, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf.

    1 Corinthians 10:17 BSB

    Christ’s Body the Church

    And that BODY is the Church

    of which Christ is the Head — Jew, Greek, Asian, African, American;

    YET ONLY those called to the communion of the saints of Christ Jesus our Lord, whose blood was shed and body broken for us.


    You can’t drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too. You can’t have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons.

    Are we trying to make the Lord jealous? Are we stronger than he?

    1 Corinthians 10:21-23 NIRV

    If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat anything set before you without raising questions of conscience.

    But if someone tells you, “This food was offered to idols,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience—the other one’s conscience, I mean, not your own.

    For why should my freedom be determined by someone else’s conscience?

    If I partake in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?

    1 Corinthians 10:27-30 BSB

    In whatever you do…

    do it all to the glory of God.

    Do not become a stumbling block.. to [worshipers of other religions] or to the church of God—

    Follow my apostolic evangelical example:

    as I also try to please everyone in all I do.

    For I am not seeking my own good, but the good of many,

    that they may be saved.

    Follow my example, just as I follow the example of Christ.

    1 Corinthians 11:1 NIRV

    Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel