Category: Commentary

Credentials of a True Ministry. Paul, in response to claims from false apostles in Corinth, will present a positive testimony of his credentials in this section. In the first half of the chapter, he exposed the false apostles in Corinth, for they were preaching “another gospel” and discredited his apostleship. Paul presents a positive testimony […]

A cult is a religion or religious sect of Christianity generally considered to be extremist and false, with its followers often living unconventionally under the guidance of an authoritarian, charismatic leader. Apostle Paul refers to the leaders as apostles and workmen, but calls them false, deceitful, and masqueraders. They are the same as Satan, the […]

How did Paul identify the “super-apostles” and their gospel as false? How can I identify a false Jesus, a false Spirit, and a false gospel? The Corinthian congregation did not have a New Testament as I do. Most had not been written down in a codex (the precursor to the bound book). They did have […]

Apostle Paul had finished the previous chapter by boasting about his ministry of reconciliation, which led to their faith in Christ and the formation of the Corinthian congregation (10:12-18). He acknowledged that the Lord Jesus made everything possible and did all the real work (10:17-18). Paul knew that boasting was foolishness, but his reason to […]

There is a time for everything, including boasting. A day will come when we will be able to boast about our work obeying the gospel. The time of the gospel is when efforts are made to expand the work of the gospel. Paul would boast, but only within the field God had assigned to him […]

A way to self-improve is to use comparative analysis. Comparative analysis is taking two or more things and comparing how they are alike and different. Some people use comparative analysis for self-improvement, and unfortunately, others use it for self-condemnation. A wise competitive runner and swimmer compare their times from one trial to the next to […]

How many have been accused of making pretenses or false advertising and proven true? How many claim to be one thing and are not, motivated by ill profit? People at one time said, “What you see is what you get.” Often what is presented is not what is promised and expected. So, we go about […]

In times such as ours, when authority is misused in government, business, education, and even the church, I need to set an example of what God says about authority. Paul stated clearly that the Lord came to him in a vision while he was on his way to persecute Christians in Damascus. Jesus told him […]

Who is on the side of the truth of Christ and who is not can be determined by the weapons they utilize. Words are the weapons of both sides. Jesus told Pilate that the reason he was born, the reason he came into the world, was to testify to the truth. (John 18:37) Jesus’ double-edged […]

Is Apostle Paul making a threat, a warning, or presenting a proposal to the Corinthian congregation in these two verses? Since he is begging them (2), Paul is not threatening them. So, is this a warning or proposal? Since Paul confesses that his words are in the meekness and gentleness of Christ, this is not […]

Paul expends most of the chapter explaining and defending his ministry of reconciliation. Others, especially from within the church, were trying to undermine him and his ministry. Verses 3 through 6 stand out. Here Paul defines his work allegorically. He sees his ministry as a spiritual war. Jesus told his disciples, “Go into all the […]

Paul compares charitable giving to a farmer sowing seeds. He borrowed and expounded upon Jesus’ “Parable of the Sower”. (Matthew 13:1-23; Mark 14:1-14; Luke 8:1-15) In that parable, a farmer scattered seed on four different types of soil. Only one produced a crop. The point of the parable is to be the good soil that […]

Steady steps walk a mile. One mile turns into two, so soon, tens of thousands of footsteps, reach the goal. The Corinthian congregation, as soon as they received news that fellow congregations in Judea were experiencing a drought and persecution, responded by preparing a donation. Sometime later, evil people entered their congregation, posing as important […]

Understanding what transpired before Paul wrote this letter clarifies an important concept Jesus taught his disciples in Matthew 21:28-32. Paul had learned of the drought and persecutions the congregations in Judea and Jerusalem had experienced a year before this letter. The Lord inspired Paul to collect a charitable gift from the Gentile congregations. So he […]

The Bible distinguishes between charity and tithing. Tithing is giving ten percent back to what God has graciously given. Tithing can require faith at times. Yet still, tithing is a command, and not without God’s promise. (Leviticus 27:30-33; Malachi 3:8-12) Tithing predates the Old Covenant law, as Cain and Abel presented offerings to the Lord […]

Apostle Paul concluded his previous thoughts by saying in 7:12-16 that he had bragged to Titus before he delivered the first letter to Corinth about the congregation at Corinth. Paul said they were devoted to him and would follow his direction, as hard as it was. Paul told Titus they would, and their positive response […]

Paul is continuing the instruction of giving to the poor, suffering believers in Judea that he started in chapter 8. The principle that when I give to the poor, God supplies me back and increases my money and makes me more profitable is introduced (12). This is true. Yet, not all the time is it […]

The eastern shore of the Mediterranean was experiencing a drought. The Judean churches were experiencing hardships not only because of the drought but also because they were ousted from the synagogues, forbidden from taking some jobs (i.e., priests), and became social outcasts. Paul was coordinating a free-will gift from the Gentile churches to help their […]

Ancient Christian Steps -based on John Cassian’s (360-435 A.D.) “The Rule of the Master” (5th century A.D.), the source of St. Benedict’s (480-530 A.D.) “12 Steps of Humility”, chapter 7 of the book “The Rule” (6th century A.D.). John Cassian’s concepts are drawn from the ascetic traditions of the “Egyptian Desert Fathers,” monks who date […]

Lately, I have come to passages in this letter that I find hard to apply or make fresh. This is one of them. Paul tends to repeat himself, as he does in 2-4. Added to that, the subject matter started in 2:12-13; Paul has deviated from it until now, when he returns to it in […]

If Apostle Paul was a coward in his youth, the power of God overcame his cowardice as a servant of God. Paul did not show ignoble fear in the face of troubles, hardships, and distress. (4b) God enabled Paul to have great endurance. Three troubles Paul lists that he endured are beatings, imprisonments, and riots. […]

Paul wanted to live an exemplary life so as not to discredit the ministry of reconciliation he was called to. (4, 5:18) If I talk the talk but do not walk the walk, then, as people notice my contradictory walk, they will not listen to my reconciliatory talk. When I repeat Jesus’ message of turning […]

Every human who has ever lived has experienced events they never wanted to happen, whether self-imposed or due to nothing they had done or failed to do. In this world, everyone has troubles. Added to that some suffer from frequent depression. Troubles rebuff even the strongest souls. Jesus’ apostles experienced perhaps some of the worst […]

Apostle Paul continues his logic with a transitional statement, “Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men.” “Fear” is the Greek noun “phobos”. The English words “fear” and “terror” are used to translate several Hebrew and Greek words. In the Old Testament, the most common word used […]

I had estranged myself from God. I did this by not believing he loves me and that his ways are best. I harbored lust, envy, greed, and other kinds of godlessness in my heart. I thought about these and occasionally acted on those thoughts. God told me not to do these, for they were harmful. […]

Apostle Paul utilizes clever word crafting by altering the use and meaning of “at home”, “body”, and “away”. While “home” always means where we dwell, in one sentence, the place of occupation is the physical body, and in another, the place of occupation is in paradise with the Lord. The meaning all depends on which […]

God created humans with 3 parts: a physical body, a soul, and a spirit. The soul is my emotions, thoughts, and will. My spirit was dead until Jesus gave it new life when I first believed in him many years ago. (John 3:3) My physical body is like a tent. It temporarily contains my soul and […]

Believing in Jesus, faith in him, leads a person to give testimony about him. Jesus, who entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey, was given great praise. The Jewish religious leaders told him to stop the praise. His reply was, “I tell you, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” (Luke 19:40). “I believe,” […]

The human body is like a jar of clay, a fragile shell made of the ground we walk on, meant to store goods. When closed, it is without light. Ancient cultures used plain clay jars to conceal valuable treasures – sacred scrolls, hard jewels, and untarnished precious metals. The wonderful treasure in Christians is God’s […]

Light overcomes darkness. Darkness cannot overcome light. Light penetrates darkness. Darkness cannot penetrate light. Light is glory. Darkness is not glory. A mind can be blinded so that it cannot see light. The light of the gospel is the glory of Christ. The light cannot be stopped, but it can be rejected. The god of […]

Apostle Paul, not losing heart, though some attacked his character and motives, continued to preach the gospel, the very ministry given him by the Lord. Jesus tells all his disciples that opposition is sure to come. Paul contrasted his methods to accomplish the mission given to him with those of his detractors. We can learn […]

Today’s Bible Daily Bread Devotional (BDBD) is for those who are weak from serving in Jesus’ name. These are the volunteers, faithfully ministering from infants to the elderly. They are men and women of the Spirit, who continually walk the streets talking to strangers about Jesus. They are displaying the image of the Son of […]

The Spirit is the Lord of those who believe in Jesus (17-18). Lord, in the original Greek, has the equivalent meaning of the Hebrew word Adonai. (Exodus 3:14) The meaning of both is the “Supreme and Almighty Master”. Abraham called God, “Adonai Elohim”. “Elohim,” meaning “Almighty God,” is the name for God in Genesis 1:1. […]

Moses was on Mount Sinai with the Lord, receiving the ten commandments carved in stone. When he came down the mountain, his face was radiant with glory, and Aaron and Israel were afraid to come near him. So, Moses put a veil over his face. The radiance began to fade until it was no more, […]

Glory is one of those words that has so many meanings and applications that it is hard to define. We can say, “Her hair is her crowning glory.” “The sun is a ball of blazing glory.” “Give God praise and glory.” And here Paul wrote, “If what was fading away came with glory, how much […]

How can it be determined if a person is an authentic instructor or a cult authoritarian with a desire to control people and take their earnings? The Jewish religious leaders insisted that Jesus was a charlatan because he was not “one of us”. Pseudo-apostles insisted that Apostle Paul was a pretender because he was not […]

Paul presents the Corinthian congregation as a living witness to his credentials as a minister of the New Covenant (1-6). Then, he compares the Old Covenant to the New Covenant (7-18). The Lord God presented the Old Covenant to Israel at Mount Sinai, in the desert (modern-day western Saudi Arabia), through Moses on two stone […]

A year ago, for a work-related change, my wife and I moved from the East Coast to the center of the country. The trip involved stops at a relative’s house, Nashville, and Memphis until we finally arrived at the city where we now live. Normally, a three-night trip to such locations would be very enjoyable. […]

Grief, distress, and anguish, especially grief, are repeated ten times in the first ten verses, all deriving from the Greek noun “lype” (a transliteration), referring to deep emotional pain. Contrasting “lype” are forgiveness, joy, comfort, and love; together they are stated twelve times. One man’s sin in the Corinthian congregation led to grief, distress, and […]

Paul gave instructions in his first letter to the Corinthian congregation in chapter 5 concerning a man engaging in a grievous sexual immorality. He said that they should cast him out of their congregation. Now, Paul reveals two motives behind that directive. (Some point out that he may be referring to another person’s sin and/or […]

“Stand firm in Christ!” The first place in Israel’s history the command to “stand firm” is given is the Lord’s answer through Moses to Israel concerning the approaching Egyptian army led by Pharaoh, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see […]

“The day of the Lord Jesus”, referring to Jesus’ coming to assess the saints’ actions while in the flesh, as Paul is using it here, is one day only. It can be understood as one twenty-four (24) hour day that starts at sunset, goes through dawn, the light period, and ends at sunset. It can […]

Some who falsely portrayed themselves as super apostles were attacking Paul’s character. They claimed that the collection was not for the poor in Jerusalem as Paul claimed, but that Paul secretly planned to keep it for himself. They also claimed that Paul’s writing was unintelligible (13-14). The super apostles said these are the reasons why […]

Apostle Paul, God’s chosen instrument to carry Jesus’ name before the Gentiles and before the people of Israel (Acts 9:15), did not live a life that some Christians today would define as “the blessed life” and “the abundant life”. While in the Roman province of Asia, which included the cities of Ephesus, Philadelphia, Colosse, Troas, […]

“My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done,” so Jesus prayed on the eve of his suffering and death. (Matthew 26:42) Later that night, he took the cup and said during the Last Supper, “This cup is the new covenant […]

Today may contain a moment when the soul lies still, curled up in the smallest possible ball, seeking the serenity of the womb that the subconscious remembers. If not today, nature’s future holds a grave lament. Life in the world makes this promise to all. No one is spared the pang of these scorpions. Those […]

Paul wrote this letter to the young congregation at Corinth shortly after the previous one. He wrote it as he neared the end of his third missionary journey in the very late 55 AD while residing in the Roman province of Macedonia. Paul wanted to visit Corinth to the south again, but had not done […]

Five more believers in Jesus are mentioned in Paul’s closing remarks: Stephanas and his household, Fortunatus, Achaicus, Aquila, and Priscilla. Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus delivered the letter containing the Corinthian congregation’s questions to Paul (17, 7:1). Stephanas is Greek. Fortunatus is Latin. Achaicus is Latinized Greek. Aquila and Priscilla were a Messianic Jewish couple who […]

Apostle Paul delivers five encouraging and heartening directives at the conclusion of this bitter scolding letter. “Be on your guard” was a phrase Paul received from Jesus. (Matthew 10:17, 16:6, 11-12; Mark 13:9, 23, 33; Luke 12:1, 15) I am a soldier on the wall of my soul and body seeking to repel the enemy’s […]

Paul wanted to send Timothy with his letter to Corinth per 4:14-17. However, it appears that neither he nor Apollos (12) were compelled to return to the congregation, for Paul used the phrases, “if Timothy comes…” and speaking of Apollos, “I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He was quite unwilling […]

An inciter to a depressing grey day is manifested in the mumbled thought, “Nothing ever goes my way.” A person makes plans that have good, right, and pleasant goals. When the goals are blocked, moved, and prove inadiquit, the mood turns from sunny rays to an overcast soul. We feel alone, perhaps even abandoned by […]

Paul addresses the Corinthian congregation’s final question. They wanted to know how to collect money for God’s people in Israel. Paul had asked them for this charity in an earlier letter that we do not have. Those in need were poor, persecuted Jewish Christians in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and Galilee. (Acts 8:1, 11:28, 44 or […]