Tag: Christ

  • 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

  • Hail Mary, humble wife of GOD

    Hail Mary, humble wife of GOD

    And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

    Gospel of Luke 2:16 King James Version

    Mary an Introduction

    Christians, Jews and unbelievers know parts of the iconic scene unfolding in Bethlehem through a virgin Jewish mother. 

    Today I honor Mary most appropriately by retelling her story of Christmas mostly from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

    Mary, Eve of the Virgin Birth

    And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem..

    .. with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

    Gospel of Luke 2:4-5 KJV excerpt

    And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

    Mary, wife of Joseph?

    Not quite, according to custom and Jewish law.

    Do YOU know any young woman who has been pregnant (even near full term) yet not married to the man she knew?

    μνηστεύω Strong’s G3423 – mnēsteuō – from a derivative of G3415; to give a souvenir (engagement present), i.e. betroth:—espouse.

    Recall that GREEK is the common language not only of Luke the Physician but also of all of the Roman Empire ruled by Caesar Augustus. 

    Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused G3423 to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

    Gospel of Matthew 1:18 KJV

    SCANDELOUS !

    (as least in the A.D. First Century)

    Mary, ENGAGED to Joseph

    AND they both know that the Virgin Mary had NEVER come together with Joseph her fiancé!

    Joseph, an honorable man

    (like his namesake and ancestor, Joseph, son of Jacob, who the LORD used to rule Egypt under Pharaoh.) 

    Gospel of Matthew 1:19- KJV

    Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying,

    Joseph, thou son of David,
    fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife:
    for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

    Matthew 1:20b KJV

    And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS:

    for he shall save his people from their sins.

    Gospel of Matthew 1:21 KJV


    An angel of the Lord speaks to you!

    What to do?


    The adoptive father of JESUS believes God (of course). And Joseph is a righteous and honorable man.

    Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:

    And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

    Gospel of Matthew 1:24-25 KJV

    Signs and Witnesses

    Prophesy of Isaiah and others centuries Before Christ.

    Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

    Isaiah 7:14 KJV

    And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

    For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

    And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

    Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

    Gospel of Luke 2:8-14 King James Version

    Witnesses and worship

    Signs before Jesus’ birth

    There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

    And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.

    And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course, According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.

    And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

    Gospel of Luke 1:5-11 King James Version

    An Angel of the Lord standing beside the Priest of God right inside the Holy of Holies! A pretty big deal.

    Briefly, what happens next is a foretelling prophetic birth of JOHN the BAPTIST, preparing the way for the Lord Jesus, the consolation of Israel and Messiah sent of God the Father.

    Elisabeth, John and the Holy Spirit

    • Zacharias the Priest of God continued to serve his term in the Temple unable to speak.
      • Daily worshipers in Jerusalem must have know that something was up.
    • He returns home.
    • Elisabeth conceived.
    • An angel of the Lord then appears in Nazareth prior to their trip to register for the census of Caesar and also tells Mary:

    And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible.

    Gospel of Luke 1:36-37 KJV

    • And Mary went into the hill country of *Juda
    • And entered into the house of Zacharias
    • and (knowing the the angel had revealed) saluted Elisabeth.

    And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary,

    the babe leaped in her womb;

    and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

    Gospel of Luke 1:41 KJV signs confirming the Messiah when Mary greeted the mother of John the Baptist

    In the Year of the most controversial birth in history

    Jesus Christ born in a manger

    Church fathers, theologians who study such things, took a few centuries to articulate the trinitarian Christology from the Apostles recorded in Scripture from the A.D. first century.

    The clarity of their CREEDS and CONFESSIONS of FAITH define our hope of eternal life in the Lord Jesus Christ.

    I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.
    And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.
    Who, for us men for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary,
    and was made man

    Nicene Creed excerpt
    AD 325 & AD381

    εὐλογέωeulogeō

    .. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

    Luke 1:42b KJV

    κύριος – kyrios

    As were Joseph and others to whom the Lord sent His angels:

    The soul of Mary is humble, as is JESUS from her womb to the Cross.


    Talk of JESUS .com

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  • Abide in Marriage, Singleness and Christ – 1 Corinthians 7

    Abide in Marriage, Singleness and Christ – 1 Corinthians 7

    If I could offer just one word of advice for married life of the saints in Christ it would be, “abide.”

    It’s a rather archaic word once defining the lives of those living in Jesus Christ.

    The Apostle Paul uses abide as many times in his first letter to the Corinthian Church, as does the Apostle John quoting the Lord Jesus in his Gospel.

    Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

    Gospel of John 15:4 KJV – quote of the Lord Jesus to his disciples (followers)

    Abide

    Recall the lyrics of Abide With Me, an A.D. 19th c. Christian hymn for eventide:
    .. Where is death’s sting? 
    Where, grave, thy victory?
    I triumph still,
    if Thou abide with me..

    μένω – menōabide

    1. to REMAIN, abide
      • in reference to place; sojourn, tarry
      • without departing, continue to be present be held continually
      • in reference to time; not to perish, to last, endure, survive
      • in reference to state or condition; to remain as one,
        • not to become another or different (as Paul uses it here)
    2. to wait for, await one (as with Christ our Lord returning for His saints)
    Source definition (paraphrased with comment): Lexicon :: Strong's G3306 - menō BlueLetterBible.org 

    1 Corinthians 7:

    Last time we studied some context of the Apostle’s letter to the church in Corinth, including a man reported for his well-known sexual sin.

    With a little overlap into 1 Corinthians 7, Paul presents a case to the Corinthians to NOT defer judgment of CHURCH MEMBERS to the jurisdiction of their Corinthianized civil courts.

    The Apostle could have asked the Corinthians caught-up in the sins of their local idolatry the same question as he asked the men of Lystra who wanted to worship Paul and Silas.

    Men, why are you doing these things?


    Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me:

    It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

    1 Corinthians 7:1 NKJV

    Let's not get hung up too much on our Common Era worldly focus of SEX, but this specifically was the sin of a Corinthian church member sleeping with his father's wife and certainly sexual sin was a common temptation to others.
    SEE the helpful outline (adapted from Dextor Sammons) of ALL of Paul's First Letter below:
    • INTRODUCTION (1Cr 1:1-9)
    • (4) PROBLEMS REPORTED BY THE HOUSE OF CHLOE (1Cr 1:10-6:20)
      • FACTIONS IN THE CHURCH (1Cr 1:1-4:21)
      • SEXUAL IMMORALITY (1Cr 5:1-13)
      • LAWSUITS AMONG BRETHREN (1Cr 6:1-11)
      • MORAL DEFILEMENTS (1Cr 6:12-20)
    Paul has already addressed SOME of the problems reported by Chloe's household.

    NOW the Apostle will specifically address issues from the letter he received.

    Seven issues about which the Corinthians wrote to Paul

    • (7) PROBLEMS MENTIONED IN THE LETTER FROM CORINTH (1Cr 7:1-16:9)
      • MARRIAGE & CELIBACY (1Cr 7:1-40)
      • EATING MEATS SACRIFICED TO IDOLS (1Cr 8:1-11:1)
      • WOMEN PRAYING AND PROPHESYING WITH HEADS UNCOVERED (1Cr 11:2-16)
      • THE LORD’S SUPPER (1Cr 11:17-34)
      • SPIRITUAL GIFTS (1Cr 12:1-14:40)
      • RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD (1Cr 15:1-58)

    Therefore, in answer to these reports Paul writes TO CORRECT SINFUL PRACTICES AND REFUTE FALSE DOCTRINE

    Source:


    Abide in Singleness

    Again, don't be put off by divisive denominational characterizations of celibacy used in this outline, the KJV and other translations.

    καλὸν ἀνθρώπῳ γυναικὸς μὴ ἅπτεσθαι· – 1 Cor 7:1b

    It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

    Paul addresses an age-old issue that’s been around ever since Adam said to Eve, “Baby, yo fo me!”

    The world both then and now does not view such natural urges as temptations to natural sin but rather as a part of everyday life in Corinth or your hometown.

    Celibacy is NOT natural, for if it was we would have no generations.

    to fasten one’s self to, adhere to, cling to

    By our natural inclinations, not so different from 'abide' with another.

    Notice the further common meanings of ἅπτομαι:

    1. to touch
    2. of carnal intercourse with a woman or cohabitation
    3. of levitical practice of having no fellowship with heathen practices. Things not to be touched appear to be both women and certain kinds of food, so celibacy and abstinence of certain kinds of food and drink are recommended.
    4. to touch, assail anyone

    Abide in Marriage

    Paul also asks Christians to abide in Marriage in his letter to the Ephesians

    In writing to the Corinthians the Apostle commands:

    Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.

    1 Corinthians 7:2 NKJV

    Paul points to Marriage for those who cannot keep celibate as a solution. (Though of course adultery and fornication of married men and women are sins as well.)

    To translate Paul's letter with more clarity and expand on the Apostle's advice from the New International Version:

    2 But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.

    Power in Relationship

    The Apostle has earlier stated:

    all things are lawful for me, but I will G1850 ➔ not be brought under the power G1850 of any.

    1 Corinthians 6:12b KJV

    Now pointing to have full and entire authority over the body or to hold the body subject to one’s will Paul states (controversially, to our Common Era liberated thinking):

    The wife hath G1850 ➔ not power G1850 of her own body, but the husband:

    and likewise also the husband hath G1850 ➔ not power G1850 of his own body, but the wife.

    1 Corinthians 7:4 KJV

    YET the Apostle instructs these men tempted toward fornication and adultery that each man’s WIFE has power and authority over the MAN’s body.


    a Relational Solution to Sexual Temptation

    Defraud ye not one the other..

    1 Corinthians 7:5a KJV – apostereō

    STRONG ADMONITION from the KJV to both husband and wife; although Paul suggests an exception for fasting and prayer, he quickly continues:

    and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

    1 Corinthians 7:5a NKJV


    Although Satan certainly defrauds men and women in many other areas of our flesh and tempting thoughts other than eros, Paul points to this specific challenge to the men of the CHURCH in Corinth.

    Greek religion in Ancient Corinth also included the worship of Aphrodite, Venus to the Romans, the Goddess of love, beauty, pleasure, passion and procreation. Aphrodite was worshipped in her magnificent sanctuary on the top of the Acrocorinth…

    statue of Greek goddess of love Aphrodite seated on a rock

    According to Strabo, a first century Greek geographer, philosopher and historian, 1,000 courtesans were available to attract visitors, which also ensured the riches of the sanctuary. In this respect, public prostitution was integrated within Corinthian religion and culture to the extent that it was not uncommon to hear public prayers that appealed to the gods for more prostitutes. – source


    Widowed or Single

    a brief suggestion of celibacy 

    Now as a concession, not a command, I say this.

    7 I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.

    1 Corinthians 7:6-7 ESV

    Paul is single. Peter and many of the Apostles are married. Most of the men of Corinth are married, with some having been widowed (who Paul calls 'unmarried').

    I say therefore to the unmarried and widows,

    It is good for them if they abide even as I.

    But if they cannot contain (be self-controlled), let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

    1 Corinthians 7:8-9 KJV


    The Apostle has begun answering concerns of a letter from Corinth. Now Paul must judge the actions of familiar members of the Corinthian Church.

    NEXT: Commandments of Relationships in Christ’s Church


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