STUDIES

FIRST CORINTHIANS

COMMENTARY BIBLE LESSONS

DR. D. PAUL TUCK SR.

A BAPTIST PULPIT PUBLICATION

STUDIES IN FIRST CORINTHIANS

By Dr. D. Paul Tuck Sr.

DEDICATION

To the students of

Historic Baptist College

Scarborough, Ontario

to whom I taught these studies

as well as the members of

Landmark Baptist Church

Scarborough, Ontario,

Canada.

These studies were first written and taught in 1987

and rewritten by the author and printed by

BAPTIST PULPIT MINISTRIES

48 Cobbler Crescent

North York, Ontario

Canada M3N 2Y7

March 1993.

Permission to copy will be given upon

written request to the publishers.

Revised Edition

June 1995

Second Revised Edition-April 2005

STUDIES IN 1 CORINTHIANS

LESSON ONE 1 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER ONE

First Corinthians could well be called, "The Letter to a carnal church." It probably teaches us more of, what a church should not be like, than to set a good example of Christ likeness.

First Corinthians was written by Paul, while he was in Ephesus about 57 A.D. The need for good Christian conduct is indicated throughout the letter. "Division" is the key word with a call to unity within the local church as its aim. The student is reminded that Paul’s approach to doctrine in this letter is within the confines of the (local) church, a very carnal one at that.

1. INTRODUCTION: 1:1-9

A. Paul was called of God. No truly Christian ministry is a self or man-made appointment.

B. Paul directs his letter to the local church but he no doubt meant it to be shared with other churches. The word "place" here means locality. With Paul, the New Testament Church could always be located. The idea of a mystical, invisible, universal church is foreign to Paul and the New Testament.

C. Sanctified means- "separated unto"- This is a directive against division. We are sanctified unto Christ from the moment of our conversion.

D. Called- This is the operation of God through the gospel.

We are chosen in Christ from eternity. God calls us, in time by His Spirit unto life and then by the message of the gospel unto salvation. This implies God's absolute

sovereignty in grace.

E. To be saints- This is an action word. Christians are set aside as a peculiar or separated people. The term "saints" is applied to all Christians and means "holy ones." The Christian is called to be holy. Jesus expressed this- Matt. 5:48. See what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 7:1 and Romans 12:1-2.

F. The word "call" means to invoke or bring upon themselves by way of use- the name (authority) of Jesus Christ-the anointed one, the Messiah.

G. Our Lord- Our Master- Christ is Head of the Church. He is, from the time of our salvation, to be our Master, the leader, the boss of every Christian.

H. "Grace be unto you" is not just a greeting. Grace does not cease when one is converted. Grace teaches us- Titus 2:11-12. We are to grow in grace. The Bible speaks of grace, more grace, and much grace. Grace is "unmerited favour"- it is "God's riches at Christ's expense." God gives us in Christ what we do not deserve, cannot earn or obtain for ourselves. The Scriptures show that grace continues to be our portion even on into eternity.

I. Every preacher and every Christian should be thankful to see others saved. It should excite us! And note that this grace that Paul talks about, comes by Jesus Christ.

J. The Corinthian Church is unique in that it had come behind no other church in the area of spiritual gifts. The word utterance refers to the apostolic gifts, which Paul later refers to in detail (chapters 12-14.) The word

"knowledge" no doubt also refers to the gift of the word of knowledge." It could not refer to knowledge of the word, or will of God. If so, there would not be a need to correct them in so many areas, as Paul does in this letter. This shows us that so-called spiritual gifts are no sign of maturity or spirituality. Zeal by itself could well be dangerous.

K. Waiting for the coming of the Lord, means they were looking for Christ's promised return to earth. This suggests an imminent return. Signs or no signs, Christ could come at any moment- We need to be ready- Matthew 24:24.

L. The testimony-message-gospel witness was confirmed, established, strengthened or made strong.

M. Blameless - means without blame. Not faultless or sinless.

We are never sinless while in this body of flesh. Christ operates in our lives to present us blameless at His return.

N. God is ever faithful. He cannot be faulted. Any lack of faithfulness is always on the side of mankind.

O. Called- This is by the gospel-into the fellowship of Christ. This I believe refers to the closeness, which can only be in church-body membership. The New Testament Church is as close as anyone can get to Christ in a fleshly body. Not even John the Baptist was this close- Cf John 3:29. While the fellowship of Christ is "joyful", it is said elsewhere to be the "fellowship of His suffering." -Phil. 3:10.

P. In verses 4 thru 9 Paul lists some things he is thankful for. It would do well for the student to list these things.

(There are at least six.)

2. DIVISIONS DEPLORED: 1:10-4:21

A. Natural Wisdom: 1:10-31

Paul calls for unity! This church had union but certainly not unity. A dog and cat can be tied together by the tail; That is union, but there will not be unity. Division kills the effectiveness of any church. It drags the name of Jesus down. It turns people off of the gospel!

No divisions! Division is immature, worldly, and sinful. I have heard of churches splitting over which hymnbook they should use in worship. Division of fundamental issues becomes necessary. That however is not usually the norm.

NO DIVISIONS MEAN:

1. Unity in speech.

2. Perfectly- (completely) joined together- in purpose.

3. The same mind- Cf Phil. 2:5-10

4. The same judgment.

Note: A soul winning, missions minded church has no room for what we find in the Corinth Church.

See Paul's attitude in Galatians 2:10.

VS 11- Their testimony had at least reached the household of

Chloe.

Contentions- Not only were they divided, but at each other’s throats. They contended with each other.

Vs 12- Each clique within the church had their favorite leader. They followed man, rather than God.

Vs 13- Is Christ divided? Should there be division in the church? Who was the one crucified- by whose authority are we baptized? Cf Matt. 28:19.

Vs 14-17-

Is Paul playing down baptism as some would imply?

No, but he is putting it in proper perspective.

Christ before baptism, blood before water, salvation

before baptism.

Paul did baptize, but the preaching of salvation comes before baptism. The emphasis is first upon soul winning, then baptism, etc.

The cross of Christ is made effective by the power and work of the Holy Spirit, not the elegance of fancy words.

Vs 18- The preaching of the cross- We need to learn this

today. The cross is central to the Bible,

the Church,and the Christian life. Cf 1 Corinthians
15:1-5.

Foolishness to them who perish- the unsaved see no need for Calvary. Liberal theologians preach a social gospel, which leaves out "the cross of Calvary." The cross is not a chain around your neck; it is more than the place a good man died. The cross is an act of Divine mercy and grace. Its message is of a finished work, calling men to repentance and faith.

To be saved- it is the power of God! God's power for the Christian is not in some ecstatic experience. Not in a gift, but in the Giver of the gift of eternal life. Pentecost compliments but does not replace Calvary.

Vs 19- This verse refers to Isaiah 29:14.

Vs 20- The world with all of its wisdom never came close to

God, rather it went further away from

Him. This was because of the condition of mans sinful

nature. His depravity!

Vs 21- the foolishness of preaching- foolishness to the un-

saved and perhaps to the worldly

Christian.

God did and still does, use preaching to save lost souls. Preaching is not just from the pulpit. It means -to proclaim-, which can be done anywhere. The best sermon is the life you live before others. Salvation cannot come unless one believes- that is, to trust in, rely upon Christ as personal Saviour and sin-bearer.

Vs 22 -Jews are looking for a sign- Jesus said Calvary was

the only sign they would receive. Matt.

13:38-40.

The Greeks of Paul’s day sought after wisdom-Acts 17:18-23.

Vs 23- We preach- declare to all men- Christ the Messiah of

Israel who was crucified.

Christ is a stone of stumbling to the Jews because of

tradition and the doctrines of men.

To the Greeks the cross was foolishness because it was

just too easy, too simple. They wanted something more

profound.

Vs 24- The called- this refers not to the "general call" but

to the "particular call." Those who

have become enlightened by the work of the Holy

Spirit, of Jews or Greeks (literally-of all

nations) Christ is the power of God. Christ is Wisdom. Christ is, the Greek word is-dynamos- from which we get our word dynamite!

The power of the Christian is in the Person of Christ.

Vs 25- Foolishness (or what men call it) is wiser than men.

Man's wisdom cannot save the soul, but what men call foolishness can save and change lives. Men look to men for strength and consider the ways of God as weakness.

In death Christ became a victor! A Charles Atlas body will rot in hell, but one so-called by the world; a weak Christian will live forever in heaven.

Vs 26- Like the rich man Jesus talked about, Paul says, not

many Charles Atlas types are called-

note the words "are called" are in italics meaning they are not used in the original Greek. However, I think the next verse implies this thought.

Vs 27- God has chosen- the elect in Christ- foolish and weak

in the eyes of the world.

It confounds mans ideas and so-called worldly wisdom.

Cf - Ephesians 1:4-12.

Vs 28-29- God has so chosen sinful men that

no flesh can glory or stand up and take credit before Him.

Vs 30-31- What we are, we are only in Christ. Christ is our

everything-wisdom, righteousness,

sanctification and redemption. All of this is a Person. Externals may make you look better, but Christ in you is the hope of glory- Col. 1:27-29.

We cannot glory in our efforts of good deeds, and good works. Salvation is of the Lord! Our hope is built on Christ the solid rock.

Have you trusted in Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour and Lord?

If not, and you can sense and know your need of a Savior, will you not do so today?

STUDIES IN FIRST CORINTHIANS