1 Corinthians
Upside down, opposite, alternative way of thinking:
Remember, […] few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing[,] what the world considers important.
Powerless, foolish, despised:
- Generosity
- Kindness
- Non-violence
- Humbleness
I feel like I'm only counting very small, obvious, surface-level things. Below the surface there are many more, deeply ingrained things we never consider. Things that are just part of our culture not to do.
If you pay attention to what I have quoted from the Scriptures, you won’t be proud of one of your leaders at the expense of another.
This tends to be a popular pastime for most of us.
Chapter 5
Then you must throw this man out and hand him over to Satan so that his sinful nature will be destroyed and he himself will be saved on the day the Lord returns.
‘Hand him over to Satan’?
‘Saved in the day the Lord returns’?
What does this mean?
Most dangerous, are the wolves in sheep’s clothing. As I have been; a believer who indulges.
I understand this better as I've grown older.
When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin. But I wasn’t talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that. I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don’t even eat with such people.
Don’t judge, unless they’re in the church.
It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, “You must remove the evil person from among you.”
The first part makes sense; why judge people who don't go to church? They didn't ask to be judged.
But the second part seems wrong.
Do we judge our church friends? Should we judge our church friends? How should we judge our church friends?
A interesting rule for divorce I've never heard of:
But if the husband or wife who isn’t a believer insists on leaving, let them go. In such cases the believing husband or wife is no longer bound to the other, for God has called you to live in peace.
I can see the reasoning. 'Called to live in peace' is an interesting way of phrasing it.
Don’t you wives realize that your husbands might be saved because of you? And don’t you husbands realize that your wives might be saved because of you?
Do they save their partner through themselves being saved, or have they indirectly encouraged their partner to be saved through living life?
Yes, we know that “we all have knowledge” about this issue.
Lol, sassy Paul.
It’s good to know that food offered to idols doesn’t mean anything. It’s your conscience that creates meaning.
But be careful of others who are not so strong.
Sometimes I see strong people in challenging situations, and I think, “is this okay?” I guess it’s really up to interpretation and debate, but everything has its context.
Some are accustomed to thinking of idols as being real, so when they eat food that has been offered to idols, they think of it as the worship of real gods, and their weak consciences are violated. It’s true that we can’t win God’s approval by what we eat. We don’t lose anything if we don’t eat it, and we don’t gain anything if we do.
But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble. For if others see you—with your “superior knowledge”—eating in the temple of an idol, won’t they be encouraged to violate their conscience by eating food that has been offered to an idol? So because of your superior knowledge, a weak believer for whom Christ died will be destroyed. And when you sin against other believers by encouraging them to do something they believe is wrong, you are sinning against Christ. So if what I eat causes another believer to sin, I will never eat meat again as long as I live—for I don’t want to cause another believer to stumble.
Even more to unpack here.
You can sin against others by encouraging them to do something they believe is wrong. It may not be wholly wrong, but they believe it is wrong.
For me, this is an important key in understanding sin.
“You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.”
Just in case you were wondering, oxen would “walk on grain stalks, which breaks open the husks and allows the grain to be released for use.”[1]
Be like the people:
When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ.
Always enjoyed paragraph.
Brings comfort:
He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
Topical today in our world of free speech:
You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial. Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others.
I wonder about the history of free speech, and what it means in today’s world.
Very man based:
The head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.
What is this about? What context would be helpful here?
A man dishonors his head if he covers his head while praying or prophesying. But a woman dishonors her head if she prays or prophesies without a covering on her head, for this is the same as shaving her head. Yes, if she refuses to wear a head covering, she should cut off all her hair! But since it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut or her head shaved, she should wear a covering.
A man should not wear anything on his head when worshiping, for man is made in God’s image and reflects God’s glory.
Sometimes I wear a hat when playing drums. Is that bad?
It helps with sweat from my forehead.
The angels are watching? So many questions.
And man was not made for woman, but woman was made for man. For this reason, and because the angels are watching, a woman should wear a covering on her head to show she is under authority.
Isn’t it obvious that it’s disgraceful for a man to have long hair?
I used to have long hair.
Everyone is important. It’s nice to look at everyone this way:
In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, while the more honorable parts do not require this special care.
Corinthians 13
Yes, I’ve been to a wedding…
Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless.
Has it already become useless, or is it relevant in today's world?
So anyone who speaks in tongues should pray also for the ability to interpret what has been said. For if I pray in tongues, my spirit is praying, but I don’t understand what I am saying.
Feel like there needs to be more emphasis on understanding tongues.
Speaking in tongues is to be listened by unbelievers.
Prophecy is to be listened by believers.
However, if you walked in on people speaking tongues it can seem a little strange, so prophecy is also to be listened by unbelievers.
So you see that speaking in tongues is a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for the benefit of believers, not unbelievers. Even so, if unbelievers or people who don’t understand these things come into your church meeting and hear everyone speaking in an unknown language, they will think you are crazy. But if all of you are prophesying, and unbelievers or people who don’t understand these things come into your meeting, they will be convicted of sin and judged by what you say. As they listen, their secret thoughts will be exposed, and they will fall to their knees and worship God, declaring, “God is truly here among you.”
Look, it's church as we know it!
When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you.
Should there be more of this though?
Most of the time it's; one will sing, one will give notices, one will let the kids out, then another will teach.
Why do we speak out? Sounds like we shouldn’t really be doing it.
No more than two or three should speak in tongues. They must speak one at a time, and someone must interpret what they say. But if no one is present who can interpret, they must be silent in your church meeting and speak in tongues to God privately.
Encouragement is 100% my vibe.
Can people who receive revelations not control their spirit?
Let two or three people prophesy, and let the others evaluate what is said. But if someone is prophesying and another person receives a revelation from the Lord, the one who is speaking must stop. In this way, all who prophesy will have a turn to speak, one after the other, so that everyone will learn and be encouraged. Remember that people who prophesy are in control of their spirit and can take turns. For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the meetings of God’s holy people.
Women should be silent during the church meetings. It is not proper for them to speak. They should be submissive, just as the law says. If they have any questions, they should ask their husbands at home, for it is improper for women to speak in church meetings.
Yes
a. Or in unknown languages
Are tongues general languages or random sounds?
I didn’t know more than 500 people saw Jesus after he was resurrected? Let alone at one time?!
After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died.
So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life.
Poetic.
So, God put all things under his authority, then he gave Jesus, God’s authority, then Jesus gave the authority back to God?
the Son will put himself under God’s authority, so that God, who gave his Son authority over all things, will be utterly supreme over everything everywhere.
What does this mean?
If the dead will not be raised, what point is there in people being baptized for those who are dead? Why do it unless the dead will someday rise again?
Encouragement!
So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.
