Love — exceeds wisdom, but does not exclude it.
Would you say that this pretty much sums up Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian church?
You desire wisdom (and some of you have it), but seek the love of God available to us through our Lord Christ Jesus.
1 Corinthians 16:
I recommend that you read 1 Cor 16 here [in the link above], since I will not detail much of this closing chapter (into which of course Paul's letters were not divided) in this brief synopsis.
Paul closes his epistle to the Corinthian saints first by asking for their charity to help the struggling and persecuted church in Jerusalem. (Their regimen should be like what the Apostle set in place for the Galatian churches.
Part of the collection of gifts and delivery of other epistles (letters) always depends upon who may be available at the time.
Paul is not in person, which is why he writes, and neither is Apollos.
The Apostle closes his letter with several detailed instructions, explanations of where and why they travel with the Gospel, and specific mention of several individuals (to whom we will get after looking back at Paul’s entire epistle to the Corinthians).
Basically, this is his personal closing like any of us would end a personal letter to loved ones.
Corrective Behavior – Guided by Love
Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love [agapē] — but the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13 Christian Standard Bible
We addressed this central theme of agape love in 1 Corinthians 13.
John MacArthur introduces Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians:
Although the major thrust of this epistle is corrective of behavior rather than of doctrine, Paul gives seminal teaching on many doctrines that directly relate to the matters of sin and righteousness.
In one way or another, wrong living always stems from wrong belief.
Another introduction to Paul’s first epistle put’s it this way:
Summary: 1 Corinthians addresses issues within the Corinthian church, emphasizing unity, moral integrity, and spiritual gifts.
Paul advises on matters like divisions, immorality, and worship practices, highlighting love as the greatest virtue.
He confirms the resurrection of Christ and its implications for believers.
We might note Paul's caution in the verses preceding our opening verse here.
Many of you know this and understand that it has little to do with age and more to application of Christ's love in your mortal life.
When I was a child,
I spoke like a child,
I thought like a child,
I reasoned like a child.
When I became a man, I put aside childish things.
The Apostle’s entire letter to worshipping saints of the church in Corinth sought to correct childish morals with the firm and gentle love of God.
megas agapē – the Greatest Love
In addition to Paul, advice on LOVE also proceeds from the words of Jesus.
“Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold.
Christ is prophesying signs of the end of the age.
Let the Common Era reader understand.
Like the Apostles Paul, John and others, Jesus also addresses His followers (any disciples) as “little children.”
“Little children, I am with you a little while longer…
.. you are also to love one another.
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Gospel of John 13:33a,34c-35 CSB
Paul’s great dilemma in ‘fathering’ the Corinthians was to correct some of these disobedient children in the faith with the love Christ commands for each of us who claim Jesus as Lord.
The Wisdom of Mature Love in Christ
What do you want? Should I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?
1 Corinthians 4:21 CSB
Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “we all have knowledge.” Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up...
But if anyone loves God, he is known by him.
1 Corinthians 8:1,3 CSB
Speaking of human wisdom, Paul compares it by saying that ‘knowledge makes arrogant’ [KJV] gnōsis physioō;
while agapē Love edifies [KJV].
Grow-up from the wisdom of an arrogant child, beloved believer, into the love and faith in Christ Jesus who loved us so much as to have died for us.
And we all know and many can quote some translation of Paul’s famous ‘love chapter’ 13 highlighted above.
If I speak human or angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal…
13-1 CSB
How many clanging christians in our Common Evangelicalism claim Jesus without love?
Love – ἀγάπη -agapē
suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up…
Synopsis of 1 Corinthians
The opening and closing of Paul’s epistle both appeal to the individual love [agapē] of the Corinthians the Apostle knew and loved so well.
He contrasted the morals and behaviors of those who challenged their faith in Christ Jesus to the childish ways of the wisdom of the world worshipping SELF — even with the crowds in Corinth’s temples of worship of myths and wisdom of the logic of mythological man-created gods and goddesses.
Wisdom of the Cross *a few points
* from ROAD MAPS for the PAULINE EPISTLES - Kress Biblical Resources
- The church must deal with unrepentant sin. (5)
- The church must deal with disputes among its members. (6)
- Stay focuses on serving Christ whether married or single. (7)
- The right practice and purpose of the Lord’s Supper (11)
- Spiritual gifts should unify and build up the church (12)
- Spiritual gifts should prioritize the proclamation of the truth to others in an orderly manner — not pacification of self. (14)
- The RESURRECTION is certain
- The RESURRECTION is supernatural
- The RESURRECTION is our sure hope and motivation
HOW IS YOUR CHURCH DOING WITH THESE?
Paul loved the Corinthian saints as Christ has loved us.
The Apostle closes his epistle with these important points:
- Plans and communication are important for and effective gospel ministry.
- Personal relationships and communication are important for and effective gospel ministry.
In closing, let's look at what the Apostle writes to the leaders and saints of Corinth — and to the pastors and Sunday sheep of our Common Era christian flocks.
After all, when you write to someone you love, don't you want to leave them with a final thought about you and what you write to them?
Final Exhortation
16:13
γρηγορέω – Be alert
“Therefore be alert, because you don’t know either the day or the hour.[in which the Son of Man is coming.]
Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, [NASB]
στήκω – stand firm in πίστις – the faith
Then he said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith? ”
And they were terrified[filled with awe] and asked one another, “Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey him! ”
ἀνδρίζομαι – act like a man [be courageous]
andrizomai – Middle voice from ἀνήρ (G435) – man, husband, sir, fellow (not a boy or woman)
κραταιόω – be strong.
The boy grew up and became strong, filled with wisdom, and God’s grace was on him.
Gospel of Luke 2:40 CSB
6:14
Let all that you do be done in love.
1 CORINTHIANS 16:14 ESV – Paul’s closing appeal to the CHURCH
Paul’s talking AGAPE here.
Other translations read:
- Let all your things be done with charity. – KJV
- And do everything with love. – NLT
- All that you do must be done in love. – NASB20
One FINAL WARNING
Whoever does not love our Lord Yeshua The Messiah,
let him be damned. our Lord has come.
1 Corinthians 16:22 – Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Quite a CONVICTING affirmation!
Other translations use simply Lord, or ‘the Lord Jesus Christ’ but the Person of their intent is the same Lord and God NONE dare oppose!
1 Corinthians 16:22 Translations
- let him be Anathema
- accursed
- that person is cursed
- let that person be cursed!
- tis & eimi (here) are not specific to males
- a curse be on him.
- Let anyone who has no love for the Lord be accursed.
Don't get to hung up on the specific words — or English parts of speech.
The seriousness of the Apostle’s line-in-the-sand for Christians cannot be missed.
The term “curse” translates from the Greek “anathema,” meaning something devoted to destruction.
In the Jewish context, it referred to things set apart for God, often through destruction, as seen in Joshua 6:17 with the fall of Jericho.
Paul uses strong language to stress the seriousness of rejecting Christ,
aligning with Galatians 1:8-9, where he condemns any gospel contrary to the one he preached. This reflects the early church’s struggle against false teachings and the necessity of maintaining doctrinal purity.
a FINAL word
Unfamiliar to MOST Common Era christians, Paul uses the words: μαράνα θά — marana tha – [English: “Maranatha“]
Most English translations substitute its meaning — an invitation worthy of our most serious consideration.
Of Aramaic origin (meaning our Lord has come).
The Apostle concludes his epistle to the Corinthian church:
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.
My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.
And thus do I conclude our study of Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians, joining the Apostle in His love for all of you.
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