"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."
(I Corinthians 13:13)
(I Corinthians 13:13)
The Apostle Paul wrote I Corinthians to the believers in Corinth to correct errors of Christian conduct in the local church. Paul deals with these problems which had been brought to his attention and questions which the Corinthian believers have asked.
One of the first things Paul deals with in I Corinthians is the rumors of division in the Church, (I Corinthians 1:10-4:21) . "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand." (Matthew 12:24-26) Jesus knew it and Paul did as well. He lays out the arguments against church divisions in I Corinthians 1:18-4:5.
After dealing with the subject of division, Paul continues on to discuss the moral problems growing within the church. Immorality (I Corinthians 5:1-13), the evil of litigation before worldly courts (I Corinthians 6:1-11) and the necessity of maintaining the holiness of the body (I Corinthians 6:12-20) are all touched on but Paul is most insistent we regard this third. "Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies." (I Corinthians 6:17-20).
In the next chapter of I Corinthians Paul moves on to marriage (I Corinthians 7:1-40). Speaking through issues of celibacy and separation, he concludes with advice for the unmarried (I Corinthians 7:25-40).
Paul's speech on the aspects of love and it's importance in life, (I Corinthians 13) is one of the most well know passages in the New Testament, in fact; even most secular weddings still use I Corinthians 13:4-13 in their ceremonies. This passage comes in the middle of Paul's discussion on the problems concerning the proper use of spiritual gifts in the Church (I Corinthians 12:1-14:40).
Paul delegates most of chapter 15 to the resurrection of Christ and it's importance in relation our faith. He talks of the witnesses to the resurrection of Christ (I Corinthians 15:5-10), and the consequences others face who deny what they witnessed (I Corinthians 15:13-19). To deny the resurrection of Christ is to deny Christ, and to deny Christ is to deny the integrity of the Bible and therefore the Living God of Abraham and Moses.
Paul ends his first letter to the Corinthians speaking on practical and personal matters (I Corinthians 16:1-24). He reiterates his admonishments of the church in Corinth, and specifies his appeal concerning the house of Stephanas (I Corinthians 16:15-16).
Throughout I Corinthians the overall theme is that love is the greatest spiritual key to effective Christian life and ministry.
One of the first things Paul deals with in I Corinthians is the rumors of division in the Church, (I Corinthians 1:10-4:21) . "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand." (Matthew 12:24-26) Jesus knew it and Paul did as well. He lays out the arguments against church divisions in I Corinthians 1:18-4:5.
After dealing with the subject of division, Paul continues on to discuss the moral problems growing within the church. Immorality (I Corinthians 5:1-13), the evil of litigation before worldly courts (I Corinthians 6:1-11) and the necessity of maintaining the holiness of the body (I Corinthians 6:12-20) are all touched on but Paul is most insistent we regard this third. "Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies." (I Corinthians 6:17-20).
In the next chapter of I Corinthians Paul moves on to marriage (I Corinthians 7:1-40). Speaking through issues of celibacy and separation, he concludes with advice for the unmarried (I Corinthians 7:25-40).
Paul's speech on the aspects of love and it's importance in life, (I Corinthians 13) is one of the most well know passages in the New Testament, in fact; even most secular weddings still use I Corinthians 13:4-13 in their ceremonies. This passage comes in the middle of Paul's discussion on the problems concerning the proper use of spiritual gifts in the Church (I Corinthians 12:1-14:40).
Paul delegates most of chapter 15 to the resurrection of Christ and it's importance in relation our faith. He talks of the witnesses to the resurrection of Christ (I Corinthians 15:5-10), and the consequences others face who deny what they witnessed (I Corinthians 15:13-19). To deny the resurrection of Christ is to deny Christ, and to deny Christ is to deny the integrity of the Bible and therefore the Living God of Abraham and Moses.
Paul ends his first letter to the Corinthians speaking on practical and personal matters (I Corinthians 16:1-24). He reiterates his admonishments of the church in Corinth, and specifies his appeal concerning the house of Stephanas (I Corinthians 16:15-16).
Throughout I Corinthians the overall theme is that love is the greatest spiritual key to effective Christian life and ministry.
Would you like to advertise your business or ministry on LHF? Please contact us via e-mail and ask about our advertising options at: [email protected]