2005 Bible Reading

1 Corinthians

This page is not a commentary, nor an outline. It is something to bear in mind in this kind of reading. These materials I learnt from two books by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart (How To Read The Bible For All Its Worth; How To Read The Bible Book By Book). You could consult these books if you are interested.

(Pastor Raymond)

This letter has several interesting features. First, it is very easy to break this letter into smaller units each revolving around one particular subject. This feature makes it very attractive to use these individual units for Bible Study. The second feature is that as soon as the reader delves into the contents of each of these units, the material encountered is so archaic to be of any relevance to the present-day. This feature explains why this letter is often used as a source of examples in most books on interpreting the Bible, explaining how an ancient text could have modern applications. The third feature is less readily appreciated. It has to do with the “whole” of the letter. The question to ask is this: “Does a unifying theme connect these individual units?”

Most people will quickly observe the first feature, noticing that Paul moves from one topic to another. In fact, this letter displays most vividly that letters are “occasional,” written to deal with certain occasions and not to set out a doctrine. The letter itself gives the readers some clues on these occasions. One is clearly to deal with the reports from some people of the Chloe’s household who came to Paul (1:11). Another is most likely to respond to the issues raised in the letter sent to Paul by the Corinthians (7:1). Paul repeatedly uses the formulae “now about” to introduce each of the issues.

Many of the issues raised appear on the surface to be very remote to our culture. The most undeniable one is that which deals with head covering and the Lord’s Table in chapter 11. Our sisters now do not wear hats on Sunday; neither do we hold meals on Holy Communion days. Another item that continually baffles the western minds, but less so to our Asian background, is the issue of eating food sacrificed to idols or dining in temples. Clearly, for us to follow exactly what Paul commands the Corinthians to do does not make much sense. To learn something from Paul’s instructions, it is necessary for us to know something about the historical and cultural contexts.

Recently commentators begin to explore the possibility that Paul is not merely stringing together some answers to questions unrelated to one another in a letter. Margaret Mitchell (Paul and the Rhetoric of Reconciliation) suggests that Paul is battling to reconcile differences of opinions which threaten the unity of the church. The most likely sources of the friction are the views on wisdom, on Spirit and on superiority, exacerbated by the different socio-economical background many of the members of the Corinthian churches are from. Paul’s advice is that love enables the common good to be placed above one’s own status or benefit. The supreme example of Christ on the Cross thus begins the letter and His future return concludes it.

Finally, two tips for reading this letter: First, watch out for ‘slogans’ which Paul may have borrowed from the Corinthians to begin a discussion. It does not mean that Paul agrees with its view. An example is, “all things are legal.” Second, bear in mind Corinth was the biggest city of the Roman Greece at the time with two harbors, bustling trade, and recently accumulated riches and status. The city was newly rebuilt by ancient standards and the culture was ‘liberal’ and ‘tolerant.’ Shrines and temples were everywhere whilst moral virtues were of low priority.