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Tag: Corinth

NO Divisions in our Church ?
I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other.

Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.
1 Corinthians 1:10 New Living Translation

‘IMPOSSIBLE !’ you say. Impossible in Corinth.. and certainly impossible in our local Common Era Church.

This is the challenge of the Apostle in his exhortation for the Corinthians who Paul has addressed so graciously in his introduction.

1 Corinthians 1 – 4

The Apostle’s approach, translated variously in 1 Corinthians 1:10 sets both the tone and outline of his epistle:
- Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.. – KJV
- Now I plead with you.. – NKJV
- I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ.. – NLT
- Now I urge you, brothers and sisters.. – CSB
- Now I exhort you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you.. – 1 Cor 10a LSB
παρακαλέω – parakaleō – Lexicon :: Strong’s G3870 – parakaleō
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to call near, i.e. invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation):—beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort(-ation), intreat, pray.
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How to sustain a CHURCH in the Gospel

Paul loves these people of the Corinthian church to whom the apostle writes from Ephesus.

He is beholden to this church he started across the Aegean in a city embracing every imaginable sin – Corinth, where many Greeks and some Jews received the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ by the Spirit through his witness.

SO HOW IS PAUL TO APPROACH THESE CORINTHIANS SIMPLY BY SENDING A LETTER TO THEIR CHURCH?

Corinth is a large administrative capital where important policies of ROME must be managed wisely every day.

Even well-educated Roman Centurions and well-to-do families recognized the benefits of applying a Greek-style wisdom and logic to the goals of their everyday lives.

The Jews and their religious traditions have an acceptable presence in Corinth as well.
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ANSWER:
"The Wisdom of the Cross Purifies and Unites Believers, the Wisdom of the World Pollutes and Divides." 
- Kress Biblical Resources Overview Outline of 
1 Corinthians
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The Wisdom of the Cross
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TODAY we will examine Paul's initial approach ONLY from the beginning of 1 Corinthians.
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The Apostle will address more relationships of Christians and the CROSS later in his epistle, but Paul begins with the ROLES of certain people (ministers).

The wisdom of the cross and Christian ministers
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Problem #1
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For I have been informed concerning you, my brothers, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you.
1 Corinthians 1:11 LSB

Rumor?

Hearsay?

YOU heard THAT about OUR church?

A.D. 55 – the Corinthian Church

What is evident here is that the Apostle has been and is in communication with this church he started back in Corinth. His sources are both reliable and concerned for the right outcomes of their church ministry.
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Kress Biblical Resources provides a helpful outline of Paul's approach to this problem of CHURCH QUARRELS.

The Apostles first states
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- the report of divisions over Christian ministers, THEN
- rebukes their divisions over Christian ministers, and finally
- Paul provides the remedy for divisions over Christian ministers
ἔρις quarrels

BEWARE, Christian leader (minister), these divisions could divide and conquer a church once faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ.
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ἔρις éris, er'-is; of uncertain affinity; a quarrel, i.e. (by implication) wrangling:—contention, debate, strife, variance.
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Note the gravity of some headings from 1 Corinthians:
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- Sectarianism Is Sin – NKJV
- Divisions in the Church – ESV
- Taking Sides – Contemporary English Version
- A Church Divided Over Leaders – NIV
A.D. 49 – Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians

Paul, in writing to the Galatians six years ago back in A.D. 49 included the same Greek word, translated as ‘strife,’ in a list of what NOT to do.

Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Paul’s Letter to the Galatians 5:19-21 LSB

Whether is was the ‘foolish‘ Galatians, these Corinthians or YOUR CHURCH, quarreling and strife are serious challenges of the flesh which work against ministers of the Gospel.

Paul contrasts OUR expected behavior to such foolish quarrels.

Now those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Galatians 5:24 LSB

1 Corinthians 1:10-

Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 1:12 NKJV

https://talkofjesus.com/apollos-and-paul-apostles-crossing-paths

Note Paul’s list from divisions include Christ in addition to Peter and Apollos, the powerful preacher who had followed Paul in Corinth.

The Apostle then asks:
- Has Christ been divided?
- Was Paul crucified for you?
- Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
ALL with the same implication for Peter or Apollos or whatever PREACHER they might follow in the place of CHRIST.

Paul disavows any loyalty to any other than Christ, taking no side of any Corinthian (or any other) claimant of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul’s summary of the Corinthian Report

I thank God that I baptized none of you…

Paul mentions a recalled exception [v.14] of Crispus, Gaius, and [v.16] also the household of Stephanas which mentions later in his epistle.

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

gar christos apostellō me ou baptizō alla euangelizō ou en sophia logo ina mē ho stauros christos kenoō
1 Corinthians 1:17 οὐ γὰρ ἀπέστειλέν με Χριστὸς βαπτίζειν ἀλλ᾽ εὐαγγελίζεσθαι οὐκ ἐν σοφίᾳ λόγου ἵνα μὴ κενωθῇ ὁ σταυρὸς τοῦ Χριστοῦ

Again, the context of Corinth is Greek as an international language and philosophy of an authoritarian ROMAN EMPIRE which created the culture of the Corinthians and Judeans and everybody else.

NEXT, God-willing, the Apostle’s rebuke of ministers

Comment on Scripture + Share the Gospel
June 15, 2024
Powerful Preaching to powerless Christians
Preaching the Lord Jesus

What was the difference in the preaching of Apollos and Paul?

In Acts of the Apostles 19 Luke gives it to us straight. Paul discovers some disciples who have already heard the powerful preaching of Apollos.
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Let's take a look at Luke's account translated authoritatively in the King James Version:
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And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?

And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

SO WHAT WAS PAUL’S FIRST CONCERN ABOUT AN APPARENT LACK OF ZEAL FOR CHRIST?

The HOLY Ghost, who we will return to once we examine today’s map of where Paul and Apollos have been AND when these men preached the Gospel.

Apollos – Itinerary to Corinth

Of course before he departed for home a year ago via Ephesus, PAUL had already preached in Corinth.

PLUS out of his concern for the Corinthians Paul will soon write two epistles to their church about three years from now.

Apollos and Paul – Apostles crossing paths

PREVIOUSLY Luke tells us in ACTS 18:24 – Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures.

Luke’s account also provides details from about three years earlier in A.D. 49 that the Emperor Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. – Acts 18:2

Consequently this was how Apollos came to meet Aquila and Priscilla, fellow Jews now disciples of Jesus Christ in Ephesus [~A.D. 52].

Alexandria, home of Apollos on the north coast of Africa, was a key Roman port as you might imagine from viewing the map in our previous post of Paul and Apollos crossing paths in the Aegean, where Corinth and Ephesus, in addition to Philippi where Rome had won a key battle, became strategic ports of Rome for their legions, navy and commerce by sea, as well as entry points to inland travel for everyone mostly on Roman roads.

Apollos, Aquila and Priscilla in Ephesus

Luke records that this powerful preacher Apollos had proclaimed JESUS boldly to the Jews, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. [Acts 18:26]

THEN they encourage Apollos to go on to Corinth, Achaia where he will proclaim a more accurate Gospel. Yet many have already accepted Apollos’ preaching in Ephesus, even as Paul will encounter these on his way into to city.

What preaching is POWERFUL or Eloquent?

(AND WHY did Aquila and Priscilla take such an articulate preacher of Scripture aside?)

Luke describes Apollos’ preaching as eloquent
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λόγιος, λόγιον (λόγος), in classical Greek
1. learned, a man of letters, skilled in literature and the arts; especially versed in history and antiquities.
2. skilled in speech, eloquent: so Acts 18:24
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AND mighty in the scriptures

Paul will later write to the Corinthians whom he left earlier and where Apollos now preaches:

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received:

that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,

that he was buried,

that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures..

Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
Paul’s first Epistle to the Corinthians 15:3-4,11

Apollos preaches the (O.T.) Scriptures accurately explaining how JESUS fulfills the old covenant. Priscilla and Aquila, companions of Paul understanding the Apostle’s testimony well, point Apollos to a more accurate and complete Gospel.

Again, Paul later reminds the Corinthians to stand firm in what he has preached.

And as always, here in Ephesus, Paul tests the teachings of those the he encounters as the Apostle has always done in so many far removed places of a vast Roman Empire.

Paul – Itinerary to Ephesus

The Apostle Paul once again begins his third missionary journey across land, even as he had previously with Silas as they left their home church in Antioch Syria.

Roman cities of Syria

Luke does not detail specific stops of these apostles on the way to Ephesus, but has stated that their purpose was to build up the church where established new followers of the Lord Jesus Christ – GENTILE followers join in worship with JEWISH followers.

Have YOU received the HOLY Spirit?

As Paul nears Ephesus to the west from Laodicea and Colossae the Apostle inquires what believers truly believe.
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In fact, these might be good questions for YOU as you worship alongside followers of Christ more mature in their faith and refined in the true Gospel of Scripture.
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- If you did NOT receive the Holy Spirit when baptized, then WHAT if anything CHANGED?
- And YOU REPENTED of what?
- So are YOU permanently CHANGED from what old SINS to what RIGHTEOUSNESS in CHRIST?
Luke’s account of Paul asking such questions goes like this:

Acts 19 – Paul in Ephesis

There he found some disciples. 2 And he said to them,

“Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”

And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

3 And he said,

“Into what then were you baptized?”

They said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4 And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.”

5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

6 And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.

7 There were about twelve men in all.

A POWERFUL Sign for powerless disciples

Here in Ephesus the Lord again provides a sign through the HOLY SPIRIT by the hand of the APOSTLE PAUL!

Acts of the HOLY SPIRIT

“Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me; for John baptized with water,
but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
Acts 1:4b NASB

This is not unlike in Luke’s introduction in ACTS of the Apostles which took place some twenty years before back in an upper room in Jerusalem where the TWELVE and other disciples had been commanded by the Lord Jesus to wait.
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Do not be sidetracked by the sign of the Holy Spirit given in these early days of the Gospel by the POWER of the laying on of hands OR the MYSTERY of speaking in tongues OR the prophesy given by God to speak what is to be in these last days. 
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These disciples of hoped-for righteousness remained powerless by their mere turning from the sin of the past to works hoping to please God. JOHN baptized JESUS and confirmed that HE IS the ONE to come!

CHRIST CRUCIFIED,

CHRIST BURIED WITH OUR SINS,

CHRIST RISEN IN THE BODY AND SPIRIT,

CHRIST RISEN AND SENDING out THE HOLY SPIRIT to those chosen before time,

CHRIST raising SINNERS forgiven IN HIM to remain with HIM always…

Rather than be raised to a JUDGMENT where the LORD could choose to say,

I NEVER KNEW YOU. Go away to ETERNAL punishment.

Luke will continue with another example of PREACHERS seeking POWER like that of Paul.

ACTS of the Apostles — To Be Continued, God-willing

Talk of JESUS .com

Comment on Scripture + Share the Gospel
September 9, 2023
If God wills – a Mission ends, a Journey Home
ACTS of the Apostles 18:

θεοῦ θέλοντος – theos thelō – that is: IF GOD WILLS. Not only is this Paul’s response to many who urge the Apostle to stay longer on his second missionary journey, but once the Apostle returns home we will see this familiar approach in a third missionary journey.

God wills it.

WHY has the Apostle to the Gentiles remained in Corinth ACAIA for a year and a half?

We might easily ask WHY DID JESUS convict Paul fourteen years ago on a road to Damascus and then five years ago send the Apostle who had persecuted Christ’s followers with Barnabas to Cypress and Galatia back in A.D. 47?

Appearances of the Lord embolden the apostles and followers of Christ.

We haven’t thought of Peter much during Paul’s two missionary journeys, but do you recall how his visions emboldened this Jewish fisherman? He will soon write [in A.D. 64]:

For it is better to suffer for doing good, if God wills it, than for doing evil. Because Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, to bring you to God, by being put to death in the flesh but by being made alive in the spirit.
First Letter of Peter 3:17-18 NET

PAUL, like PETER had also escaped death emboldened by what God said IN PERSON as well as in Scripture.

Do Not Be Afraid of their Attack

Once God said, I am with you, Paul proclaimed Christ to the Corinthians for 18 months.

18:12 But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal..

17 And they all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal.

The Lord Jesus had appeared to the Apostle AND spoken to him in a dream.

Paul the Apostle was unafraid because of what God said.

And how comforting to have the Word assure us that NO HARM will come to us due to our witness of the Gospel of Truth.

Before we leave Greece & ACHAIA

What god said differs according to traditions and culture.

(IF your god is NO God at all THEN human flesh will seek its own desires.)

Athens and Corinth

more about the resurrection?
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Although I have already emphasized the impact of culture on Paul's troubles with the Gentile cultures, due to the ongoing importance to his 3rd missionary journey as well as 21st century of the Common Era idolatries let's consult additional commentaries as a summary.
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In Paul’s day, Corinth was already an ancient city. It was a commercial center with two harbors and had long been a rival to its northern neighbor, Athens.

Corinth was a city with a remarkable reputation for loose living and especially sexual immorality. In classical Greek, to act like a Corinthian meant to practice fornication, and a Corinthian companion meant a prostitute. This sexual immorality was permitted under the widely popular worship of Aphrodite (also known as Venus, the goddess of fertility and sexuality).
David Guzik :: Study Guide for Acts 18

The city of Corinth
- A political center – Capital of Achaia
- A commercial center
- A pagan center
  - The temple of Aphrodite, goddess of sex
  - The mystery religions
- A wicked center
  - Prostitution in the religions
  - Homosexuality in the city
  - The problem of drunkenness
- Source: Bill Acton :: Acts 18 – The Witness on the Second Missionary Journey (Part 3)
(Pick your 21st c. C.E. city parading its sin. Not so different.)

From Athens to Corinth,

from intellectual pride to sensual lust. – Bill Acton

“There had been culture shock in Athens, and now Paul experienced moral shock in Corinth. Its sweat and perfume and grit smothered Paul’s righteous soul, and he became depressed.” (Hughes)

The duration of Paul’s stay in Corinth shows where his heart was in ministry. He was no “in and out” evangelist, but a man committed to making disciples.
David Guiak

I must go home
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Allow me the liberty to move Luke's account of ACTS 18 from good narrative into chronological order of events.
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18 After this, Paul stayed many days longer and then took leave of the brothers..

At Cenchreae [21st c. Kechries] he had cut his hair, for he was under a vow.

and with him Priscilla and Aquila (native of Pontus, Jews from Rome deported to Corinth).

and [they] set sail for Syria (with stops in other port cities).

19 And they came to Ephesus, and he left them [Priscilla and Aquilla] there

but he himself [Paul] went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.
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Once again some Jews are responsive to the Gospel of their obviously Jewish brother. All they had to do was take a look at the Apostle's shaved head symbolizing his Nazarite vow.
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20 When they asked him to stay for a longer period, he declined. 21 But on taking leave of them he said, “I will return to you if God wills,”

and he set sail from Ephesus.

by way of Jerusalem

22 When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church

and then he went down to Antioch.
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in the year of our Lord (A.D.) 51
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Here ends the SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEY OF PAUL …

Comment on Scripture + Share the Gospel
June 30, 2023