DAY 071: JOURNEY THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR – 1 CORINTHIANS 5-6

March 10, 2024

1 CORINTHIANS 5-6
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DAY 071: JOURNEY THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR

As we continue our journey with the young church at Corinth, we see that it is bogged down with problems impeding their spiritual growth and damaging their testimony. The church found itself struggling with how to deal with a case of incest and ongoing problems with sexual immorality. The church also found members taking other members to court regarding civil matters. The church at Corinth was imploding.

Take a few minutes and pray for God’s wisdom and direction for yourself as we journey through 1 Corinthians 5-6 today. Now read 1 Corinthians 5-6.

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 5-6: A person at the church of Corinth was engaged in sexual relations with his mother. This was happening while his father was still living. The Jeremiah Study Bible indicates the woman was actually his stepmother. It doesn’t matter. It is incest, a sexual sin forbidden by God. This person even bragged about it! The Apostle Paul directed the church to remove him from church fellowship until such a time as he repents. By removing this person from church fellowship, it is made clear that this person’s willful sin will not be tolerated in the house of God. The fellowship must protect other members, by forbidding those who brag about sexual immorality to fellowship with them. It also allows the person to consider his offense and repent, avoiding eternal separation from God. The church must enforce God’s law within its body. Civil disputes were also developing between members of the fellowship at the church in Corinth. Instead of taking their disputes before the elders of the church, they took them before civil (secular) courts. The Apostle Paul writes, that it is better to suffer wrongdoing than to take matters to a civil court. (1 Corinthians 5:1-6:20)

After reading chapters 5 and 6, 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!