Talk of JESUS .com

Tag: culture

Am I not free? Religion 1 Corinthians 9
Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?

1 Corinthians 9:1 New Heart English Bible

Freedom and Religion

Eric Kress outlines two main points of application from the previous chapter of 1 Corinthians 8:
- a. The caution concerning your exercise of freedom (v.9-12)
- b. The care you must take when contemplating the use of your freedom (v.13)
Idols – Stumbling in Christian Liberty – 1 Corinthians 8

Paul’s 4 questions intertwined in context and application

Paul’s four-fold point (in the Apostle’s letter without chapter and verse) begins:

οὐκ εἰμὶ ἐλεύθερος

‘Not am I free?’ literally begins the Greek text.

OR the King James begins:

οὐκ εἰμὶ ἐλεύθερος

‘Am I not an apostle?’

1 Corinthians 9:1 Bibles

We won’t want to miss that the Apostle’s pivotal questions follow his concern regarding the idolatry of Corinth and communion between the saints of the Corinthian church with the revelers of the city.
- Am I not free?
- Am I not an apostle?
- Have I not seen Jesus our Lord?
- Are you not the result of my work in the Lord?
  - 1 Corinthians 9:1 NIV
Freedom of religion
```
A hypothetical case contemplating the use of our freedom:
```
Suppose for a moment that most every Sunday you go to some local church with an identifiable ‘christian‘ NAME like:
- such and such FREE church or
- Our evangelical denomination brand church
- City name Christian church
- Korinthian cathedral and parish?
Won’t most of the people who know you in town also know that:
- you claim to be a saint,
  - part of you so-named christian church
- worshiping some god JESUS
- preached by some Apostle Paul
- AND in this church occasionally inviting YOU
  - (of another sect celebrating other gods)
  - to go gather in community with these worshipers of One JESUS Christ their Lord?
Therefore in Paul’s setting of Corinth around A.D. 55:

Shouldn’t these Corinthian christians come join our religious feasts and live the life of revelry and worship we do with our gods?

Why should they?

As we have learned previously in Paul’s letter, his question is not so much:
- where the Corinthian saints go join in the community as much as
- how they exercise their freedom publically as witnesses of Jesus Christ our Lord.
To the Jews and by the Law food sacrificed to idols would seem to be the unlawful offence against the Lord God. (The Messiah Jesus [Yeshua] after all was hailed as the King of the Jews.)

Community feasts and festivals were, after all, organized by Jews (a small minority in the city), Roman citizens, Hellenists or perhaps adherents of some other foreign religion.
```
In a Common Era context, (perhaps Orthodox or Latin Catholic) religious communions and idolic festivals resemble that of the larger communities of like A.D. first century Roman Corinth.
```
Authority of an Apostle

4 Have we no right to eat and to drink?

5 Have we no right to take along a wife who is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?

8 Do I say these things according to human authority?

Or does not the Law also say the same thing?
```
Paul then quotes the Law of Moses. 

And without getting into technical reasons why, the more authoritative KJV begins with Paul's apostleship. It then proceeds to freedom. And ALL of Paul's four questions lead us to his authority in personal witness of the risen Christ and the Apostle's ultimate authority over those gathered as the saints of the Corinthian church.
```
Paul’s Deuteronomic illustration of the muzzled ox begs the question:

.. Is God merely concerned about oxen?

Or is He speaking altogether for our sake?

Yes, for our sake it was written, because the plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher to thresh in hope of sharing the crops.

If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it too much if we reap material things from you?

1 Corinthians 9:11 LSB [context vs. 9-14]

Paul’s Humble Witness of Christ

If others share this authority over you, do we not more?

Nevertheless, we did not use this authority, but we endure all things so that we will cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ.

1 Corinthians 9:12

NO MAN IS FREE OF AUTHORITY.

Paul points out that he and Barnabas, as apostles of the risen Jesus Christ, do NOT impose their true authority over the church for their own gain.

Apostles of the Lord all take on the humility of Jesus for Christ’s sake.

And Paul points out that community leaders who do have authority over feasts, festivals and cities must not see these ‘CHRISTIANS‘ as a hindrance to Christ — a Korinthian christian who becomes a stumbling block to true faith.

14 So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel… For woe is me if I do not proclaim the gospel.

The Religion of Paul’s saints
```
Many of Paul's questions are rhetorical, designed to make us think through the logic connecting theology and religion,

our knowledge of God with our witness of faith. 
```
Everyone practices religion. A Korinthian will get up early, stretch their mind and muscles, breathe in the life-giving air of mother self — and then go worship her at some celebration of community occasion of feasts in the name of some god of their passions.

The Apostle knew the religion of Roman sailors and Corinthian guides to the temples of debauchery! So he cautions the saints of Corinth to abstain from such religion in all cases for the sake of Christ.

Religion defined and maligned

Men will write for religion, fight for It, die for it; anything but live for it.

W. Cotton Commentary on James 1:26-27

But NOT the Apostle Paul.
- I make myself a slave to everyone – 1 Cor 9:19b
- To the Jews I became like a Jew v.20
- To the weak I became weak -v.22
Nor James, half-brother of Jesus and leader of the Jerusalem Church (perhaps referencing the traditional religious practices of some Jews).

Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.

James 1:26 NIV

Even James writes warnings against hypocrisy; not against the Jews but the Hellenists of every town.

And like James, the Apostle Paul cautions the saints of Corinth against getting caught up in an inclusiveness of the local religious practices of other religions.

Adherents of Christian religion are NOT free to practice any anti-Christ religion in order to win someone to Biblical freedom of religion.

Why is religion most maligned in the name of freedom by preachers from other churches freely claiming Christ?

Roger@talkofJesus.com

Definition of Religion – θρησκεία
```
I urge you, brothers and sisters, saints of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, to drill down into thoughtful application of the definition of religion below. - RH 
```
Strong’s G2356 – thrēskeia – feminine noun, From a derivative of θρησκός (G2357), adjective, from θροέω (G2360), verb
θρησκεία – Religion, Worshipping –
- religious worship
  
  esp. external, that which consists of ceremonies
  
  religious discipline, religion
Definition of Religious θρησκός

Strong’s G2357 – thrēskos adjective, (Probably from the base of θροέω (G2360): to cry aloud, make a noise by outcry

religious (apparently from τρέω to tremble; hence, properly, trembling, fearful

fearing or worshipping God

to tremble, trembling, fearful
```
Religious fear and worship such as this appears throughout the Bible.  (Today however we will not examine several religious encounters with the LORD from Old Testament.) 
```
An Apostle claiming Corinthian saints for Christ
```
Returning to Paul's first letter to the Corinthians: 
```
Paul the Servant to All

19 Though I am free of obligation to anyone, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.
```
Imagine that! -- an Apostle and witness of the risen Christ Jesus -- a man with complete religious authority over the church, especially those saints who belong to Christ in places like Corinth to whom the Apostle writes his epistle. 
```
23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.

Paul has already stated clearly:

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to proclaim the gospel, not in wisdom of word, so that the cross of Christ will not be made empty.

1 Corinthians 1:17 LSB

In the opening of his epistle Paul continues:

For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God.
```
Consider that many who CLAIM "FREEDOM OF religion" truly argue for FREEDOM FROM RELIGION, which, of course, is "foolishness," since ALL men and women are religious about certain religious routines of   life and mortal limbs of dust. 
```
.. you would not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.

Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me.

1 Corinthians 4:15b-16 LSB

Paul exerts his Apostolic authority as a loving father and exhorts his children of Christ’s Church religiously by his humble example.

Paul’s RELIGION is RELIGIOUS DISCIPLINE in the FREEDOM of the Gospel of Christ.

The Apostle claims the loyal saints of the Corinthian church for himself as their personal, loving father of the faith in Jesus Christ.

If others share this authority over you, do we not more?

Nevertheless, we did not use this authority, but we endure all things so that we will cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ.

1 Corinthians 9:12 LSB

Are YOU a Korinthian falling down in your faith?

What is your city of Corinth, with its festivals so licentious that that they call you Korinthian for your sins — what is the life here in Corinth like?

And where does a saint of Christ Jesus fit into the milieu of these gods and your festivals?

HOW WILL YOU ever reach the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ when the Lord calls to Himself all of His saints?

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize?

Run in such a way as to take the prize.

Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline.

They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable.
```
The Apostle, father of the Corinthian saints once again makes an example of his own religion and faith:
```
Therefore I do not run aimlessly;

I do not fight like I am beating the air.

27 No, I discipline my body

and make it my slave,

so that after I have preached to others,
```
(And here is Paul's warning of our own witness to our community, neighbors, friends and family..) 
```
I myself will not be disqualified.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Berean Standard Bible

And NEXT, the Apostle to the Gentiles will once again warn the Jews who have come to Christ AND again the local Greeks of the Corinthian Church.

Comment on Scripture + Share the Gospel
January 17, 2025
A First Letter to the Corinthians Intro
in the year of our Lord ano Domini 55 [A.D. 55]

& in the context of the culture of Corinth

Intro
```
PREVIOUSLY in this Talk of Jesus series from CHURCH LETTERS - IS HE WRITING TO ME? we have glanced at a few of Paul's LETTERS (Epistles) to the Church written during his just completed missionary journeys. 

TODAY we continue with a brief look back at more letters already sent to the churches. 
```
WHAT THE CHURCH HAS READ SO FAR:
```
Just a reminder that all dates from reliable sources may vary but are used for chronological context only.
```
- A.D. 49 – JAMES, the half-brother of Jesus and leader of the church in Jerusalem writes his LETTER
  - James also sends out a letter to the churches concerning gentiles from the Council in Jerusalem.
A.D. 49 – the Council at Jerusalem
- A.D. 49 – Paul writes his letter to the Galatians (actually, several new churches in Galatia)
HOT topics from Galatians – Perversion of the Gospel
- A.D. 50 – 1 THESSALONIANS
Paul’s unfinished business with the Thessalonians – 1
- A.D. 51 – 2 THESSALONIANS
II Thessalonians Intro – It is meet and right so to do..
- during the A.D. 50’s or A.D. 60’s (actual date unknown) – The GOSPEL OF MARK
1:1 Ἀρχὴ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God – Mark 1:1

Consider the possibility that parts of the Gospel of John Mark, who had accompanied his uncle Barnabas and the Apostle Paul to Cypress, MAY HAVE been known even in Corinth where Paul has already travelled and whose FIRST LETTER we are about to examine.

The GREAT COMMISSION of JESUS CHRIST to the CHURCH is recorded in the Gospel of Mark 16:15

1 Corinthians:

This epistle was most likely written in the first half of A.D. 55 from Ephesus (16:8, 9, 19) while Paul was on his third missionary journey. The apostle intended to remain on at Ephesus to complete his 3 year stay (Acts 20:31) until Pentecost (May/June) A.D. 55 (16:8). Then he hoped to winter (A.D. 55–56) at Corinth (16:6; Acts 20:2). His departure for Corinth was anticipated even as he wrote (4:19; 11:34; 16:8).
John MacArthur :: Bible Introductions – 1 Corinthians

Paulus vocatus apostolus Christi Iesu per voluntatem Dei et Sosthenes frater
– 1 Corinthios (1 Corinthians) 1 :: Latin Vulgate (VUL)

in the context of the culture of Corinth

CORINTH, ACHAIA is ROMAN; not Macedonian (as in the former Empire of Alexander the Great).

Neither is the large city of Corinth simply Greek, as in ‘ancient Greece’ with ancient Athens whose glory had long ago been reduced to ruins.

In 146 BC, the battle of Corinth signified a defining moment in the history of ancient Greece. Situated on the narrow strip of land connecting the Peloponnese to the mainland of Greece, Corinth was a city-state with a significant strategic and economic position.
source:

The language of Greek (thanks to the Great Macedonian Alexander) has become the international language of the Roman Empire.

So in Corinth, Philippi, Ephesus, Antioch and even in Jerusalem the GOOD NEWS and Epistles [Letters] typically were written and read in GREEK.

Παῦλος κλητὸς ἀπόστολος Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ διὰ θελήματος θεοῦ καὶ Σωσθένης ὁ ἀδελφός
Α΄ Κορινθίους (1 Corinthians) 1 :: Textus Receptus (TR)

Paulos klētos apostolos Jēsous Christos dia thelēma theos kai Sōsthenēs ho adelphos;

To the church of God which is at Corinth,

to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints,

with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
1 Corinthians 1:2 NKJV

Here in CORINTH we immediately read the opening of Paul’s Epistle written in Greek to the CHURCH, beginning with the Apostle’s universal greeting to ALL and specifically to the saints separated to the calling of Christ Jesus our Lord.

Paul had been there and wrote back to encourage these Christians in Corinth.

See if this A.D. first century city of CORINTH sounds vaguely familiar to any city of destruction in our 21st century the Common Era.
```
Once again, the commentary of John Macarthur on the culture of Corinth.
```
Even by the pagan standards of its own culture, Corinth became so morally corrupt that its very name became synonymous with debauchery and moral depravity.

To “corinthianize” came to represent gross immorality and drunken debauchery. In 6:9, 10, Paul lists some of the specific sins for which the city was noted and which formerly had characterized many believers in the church there.

Tragically, some of the worst sins were still found among some church members.
John Macarthur Commentary – the Background and Setting of Corinth

Here the Apostle writes to a chosen few SAVED from the surrounding sinful culture of CORINTH (and most every other city in their culturally correct Roman Empire) in a CHURCH separated in worship yet living and working with all of those destined to the wrath of God’s punishment.
```
These Corinthian Christians were taught and sought to live in complete contrast to sinful lifestyles hopefully left behind. 
```
Later in his letter Paul will describe their love [ ἀγάπη ] more fully.

Although some contemporary Christians include parts of Paul’s list of LOVE in ceremonies of Christian marriage, the love of which Paul writes is not romantic or specifically marital in any way.

These CORINTHIANS were recognized in the city for their uniquely personal LOVE –

ἀγάπη – agapē love,

sometimes translated as CHARITY for each other and for others.

Their agapē LOVE stood against a CULTURE OF SIN characterized in a “corinthianized” city, fallen nation or evil empire.

Paul later writes what he knows of their Corinthian challenges warning:

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?

Do not be deceived;

.. neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.

And such were some of you…
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 excerpt LSB

Starting with Encouragement

Paul begins his Epistle with an agape-rooted encouragement.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Grace, for which Christians should be so well recognized, written χάρις in Greek charis is:
- that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech
- good will, loving-kindness, favour
- of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues
```
CAN YOU THINK OF ANY GREETING WHICH ENCOURAGES MORE THAN 'GRACE?'
```
I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all word and all knowledge,
even as the witness about Christ was confirmed in you, so that you are not lacking in any gift, eagerly awaiting the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, beyond reproach in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
```
Paul practically embraces these Corinthian believers in a personal prayer written for them.

Could any introduction of LOVE and Grace be more encouraging?
```
God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians 1:9 LSB [in context of 1:3-9]
```
Theos is faithful, through Whom you were kaleō into koinōnia with His Son Ἰησοῦς Χριστός [iēsous christos] our kyrios.

*Linked definitions of GREEK words from 1 Corinthians 1:9 from BlueLetterBible.org 
```
Reintroducing our Lord

Paul begins his letter to a beloved church in a city caught-up in the sins of SELF and worshipping multiple gods of ME with encouragement in the Lord Jesus Christ.

In the Apostle Paul’s two Epistles to the Corinthians he uses:
- iēsous – 45x
- christos – 111x
- kyrios – 95x
- θεός – theos – an amazing 185x
```
- king - only once in his second letter & not referring to Jesus
- prophet - prophētēs - only once but referring to gifts of the saints
- priest not at all in writing to the Corinthians
```
TO:

THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN SANCTIFIED – ἁγιάζω – hagiazō – Paul uses this four times in this letter.

Are YOU sanctified?

ἅγιος – agios – sacred (physically, pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially, consecrated):—(most) holy (one, thing), saint.

That’s what the apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God asks the church of God which is at Corinth.
```
(It's a good question for those claiming Jesus Christ facing a refining and sanctification of our sinful mortal flesh.)
```
The Apostle Paul refers to the church as SAINTS, a most holy thing, TWENTY TIMES in his epistles to the Corinthians including his encouragement of the church in this introduction.

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:
τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ τοῦ θεοῦ τῇ οὔσῃ ἐν Κορίνθῳ ἡγιασμένοις ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ κλητοῖς ἁγίοις σὺν πᾶσιν τοῖς ἐπικαλουμένοις τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐν παντὶ τόπῳ αὐτῶν τε καὶ ἡμῶν·
1 Corinthians 1:2 NIV, TR –
```
The Apostle Paul has many more things to write to the Corinthians (and to you, God-willing).
```
To be continued…

Talk of JESUS .com

Comment on Scripture + Share the Gospel
June 12, 2024
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?
```
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.
```
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
```
Allow me the liberty to move Luke's account of ACTS 18 from good narrative into chronological order of events.
```
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.
```
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.
```
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.
```
in the year of our Lord (A.D.) 51
```
Here ends the SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEY OF PAUL …

Comment on Scripture + Share the Gospel
June 30, 2023