THE KING’S BUSINESS
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(a) False or worldly wisdom (i. 18- ii. 5). (b) Divine or true wisdom (ii. 6- iii. 4)-. 3. The relation of true teachers to Christ and the gospel (iii. 5-iv. 5). 4. The summing up of the case (iv. 6- 21). II. Social Purity—Failure to Exercise Dis cipline in Moral Affairs (Chaps, v, v i).’ 1. The failure to exercise discipline rebuked (v. 1-5). 2. The contaminating influence of the sin in question (v. 6-8). 3. The duty of excluding the offender (v. 9-13). 4. The sin of litigation among church members (vi. 1-8). 5. Christian liberty does not allow license in such matters—Self-Judgment (vi. 12-20). III. Marital Problems (Chap. vii). , 1. The Unmarried and Married state contrasted (vii. 1-17). (a) Paul’s reference to our Lord’s teaching regarding the marriage estate (vii. 10-17, 39; cf. Romans vii. 1-7) ; also our Lord’s teach ing (Matthew v. 31, 32; xix. 3-12; Mark x. 2-12; Luke xvi. 18). 2. Each should abide in his or her own calling (vii. 18-24). 3. Advice concerning virgins and wid ows (vii. 25-40). IV. Christian Liberty (viii. 1-xi. 1). 1. The general aspect of the case stated (Chap. viii). (a) It is admitted that to partake of meat offered in sacrifice to idols is not in itself sinful, particularly when it is recognized that an idol is nothing and that there is but one God (vii. 3-7). (b) But this knowledge and convic
years after his visit to Corinth, while he was en route from Jerusalem to Mace donia on his third missionary journey (Acts xvi. 5-9; xix. 21; xx. 1, 2). The date of composition, then, was probably between 57 and 59 A. D. The Occasion of Writing. Paul had received certain communications from members of the Corinthian church asking him to reply to certain questions' which they had put to him (cf. vii. 1; xvi. 17, 18). Certain alarming reports had reached him regarding the serious nature of cer tain matters threatening the spiritual life of the Corinthian church (cf. i. 11). Paul had sent Timothy to restore order (iv. 17; xvi. 10), at the same time notify ing the Corinthians of his intended pur pose to visit them himself (iv. 19). which he probably did for a very short visit (cf. 2 Corinthians ii. 1; xiii. 1). The Purpose of Writing. It seems clear from a careful study of the epistle itself that the apostle had a threefold purpose in writing this epistle: First, to correct certain disorders in the church (i. 11-17). Second, to answer cer tain questions that had been propounded to him, probably by some specially sent messenger (vii. 1; viii. 1). Third, to meet the claims.of false teachers and to defend his own apostleship (ix. 1-27). SYNOPSIS The Introduction to the Book (i. 1 -9 ). 1. The salutation (i. 1-3). (a) The writer (i. 1). (b) The persons addressed (i. 2). (c) The greeting (i. 3). 2. The thanksgiving (i. 4-9). I. Party Factions (i. 10-iv. 21). 1. A clear and definite’statement of the case (i. 10-17). . (a) The “Paul” party.
tion with regard to idols is not shared alike by all, and therefore it is the, privilege, if not the duty of the strong to give up the indul-
(b) The “Cephas” party. (c) The “Apollos” party. (d) The “Christ” party. 2. A digression (i. 18-iii. 4).
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