DAY 064: JOURNEY THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR – 1 CORINTHIANS 3-4

March 3, 2024

1 CORINTHIANS 3-4
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DAY 064: JOURNEY THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR

On today’s Journey Through The Bible in A Year, we are journeying through the city of Corinth, specifically visiting the church at Corinth. Our journey reveals that churches have harmony issues. Churches are a body of people. It is difficult for people to gather without people vying for position which leads to positioning, forming cliques, leading to conflict. Let’s see how the Apostle Paul teaches them to restore harmony.

Before we get started on this journey, a very practical one for the churchgoers among this crew, let’s take a moment to ask God in prayer, to help us understand His true meaning of this teaching and to help us grow our faith through it. Now open up your Bibles to 1 Corinthians 3-4 and read. Let’s journey!

Corinth was a major port city, with many temples to false gods. It was also a rather wealthy city and known for its immorality. In Acts 18, we read about Paul helping to form the church in Corinth. He remained with them for about 18 months before moving on to continue his missionary work elsewhere. While in Ephesus, Paul received reports that there were problems, big problems in the church at Corinth. This letter follows a distinct pattern, in that Paul addresses and describes one of five problems, and responds with a message from the Gospel. The problems Paul addresses are Divisions (1-4), Sex (5-7), Food (8-10), The Gathering(11-14), and The Resurrection(15).

1 Corinthians 3-4: Sects, divisions, were developing between members of the church at Corinth. The dispute centered on whether the church should follow the teaching of Paul or Apollos. At this point in the Church at Corinth’s history, it appears, that no one challenged Christ’s teaching as differing between the two men; only, which should be designated as follower of the church. (Some reading between the lines took place here) It appears some people liked Apollos more than Paul. It appears some people liked Paul more than Apollos. Paul clarifies that each person is the temple which contains and maintains their individual relationship with God. It is a warning as well as a clarification. We must nourish our relationship with God, bundling a firm foundation for our relationship with God through His word.

Paul stressed the importance of keeping everyone focused on the written word to protect the new church from false teachings that were on the rise, through charlatans of Paul’s day. The world really hasn’t changed much in 2000 years. The Apostle Paul shares the cost of discipleship with the Church at Corinth. Paul tells them that true discipleship is serving the Lord regardless of the cost. There will be times of suffering, ridicule, hunger, and possible loss of life. True discipleship comes at a price. Paul sends Timothy to shepherd the church at Corinth. Corinth was a new church. A church of young Christians. A church that needed guidance in their growth as new believers. (1 Corinthians 3:1-4:21)

After reading chapters 3 and 4, consider the following: What problem is Paul addressing? In your own words, summarize what Paul is saying to address this problem. Is Paul’s message still applicable today? How and why?

Godspeace!