I Wonder What Paul Wrote?

So God made a mistake?

 

Bill, of course we know what the questions were. When Paul answered these questions/assertions from the people of Corinth (a church which he founded by the way and a place where he had stayed for a long period of time), he repeats the question/assertion in 1 Corinthians. We don’t have to see their letters to know what they asked and what people had been coming to Paul personally and telling him – he discloses that for us.


Almost the whole of 1 Corinthians is addressing these known questions/assertions. I couldn’t copy and paste his answers in entirety as I would have had to copied and pasted the whole book. I didn’t have time to get into 2 Corinthians.

For example:

Lack of unity (an assertion that had been delivered to him)

(1:10-12) I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ…….then he goes on to give a lengthy answer why unity is necessary and what unity actually is.........

Sexual immorality INSIDE the church membership (an assertion that had been delivered to him)

(5:1 and 9-12) It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife ……. I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people - not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people......

Lawsuits among believers (an assertion that had been delivered to him)

(6:4-7) Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned in the church? I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? But instead, one brother takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers! The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already........

Sex and marriage (a question that had been written to Paul - he is quoting someone)

(7:1-4) Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife..........

Eating food sacrificed to idols (part of the series of questions that had been sent to him)

(8:1) Now about food sacrificed to idols: ……….

Christian liberty (either this was part of the question or someone had reported this to Paul - he is quoting someone)

(10:23-24) I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.

Abuse of the Lord’s supper (this had been reported to Paul)

(11:17-22) In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!

The gifts of the Holy Spirit (he brings it up as an apparent continuation of answering of their questions)

(12:1) Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.