The subject Paul is continuing is mixed-religion marriages: a Christian with a non-believer. He is given illustrations to show the basic concept applies to more than mixed-religion marriages. The basic concept is repeated a third time in verse 24, “Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to.” […]
Tag: Bible
1 Corinthians 7:10-11. Divorce. Today’s BDBD.
Apostle Paul responds to a request related to the one he addressed in the previous two verses. The subject is divorce. Paul repeats what the Lord Jesus taught concerning divorce (Matthew 5:31-32, 19:1-12; Mark 10:1-12; Luke 16:18) The most notable quote comes from Apostle Matthew. Jesus told some Pharisees who came to test him, “Moses […]
1 Corinthians 7:8-9. Is This For Me? Today’s BDBD.
When a person is not married, the questions they ask themselves are, “Does God intend me to marry?” “Is there someone out there I am supposed to be with for the rest of our lives?” “Can I live alone?” “Am I designed to live alone?” “I know God is with me always, but sometimes I […]
1 Corinthians 7:3-7. Practical Union. Today’s BDBD.
“The two will become one flesh,” so wrote Paul in 6:16, quoting Jesus, who added, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife… So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore, what God has joined together, let man not separate. Anyone who divorces his wife […]
1 Corinthians 7:1-2. But Since. Today’s BDBD.
Corinth was on a peninsula. Ships needing to get from two important shipping seas would be taken across land at Corinth. Sailors would have several hours to explore the city as their ships traversed the land. The temple prostitutes for the goddess Aphrodite numbered in the hundreds, even thousands, at Corinth, profiting from the sailors. […]
1 Corinthians 7 Overview. Today’s BDBD.
Chapter 7 is long, with a lot of advice about husbands and wives, marriage, divorce, and indirectly sex. Paul is answering questions they had while continuing the subject at the end of the previous chapter. Corinth was the center of much immorality, causing the new congregation to be confused about many things involving marriage and […]
1 Corinthians 6:11. Washed, Sanctified, Justified in Jesus, Part 2. Today’s BDBD.
Those in Corinth who put their faith in Jesus were washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ by the Spirit of God. (11) What did Apostle Paul mean by washed, sanctified, and justified? The original Greek word for washed is “apolouo” meaning “washed away”, not “ablution”. Ablution is a washing […]
1 Corinthians 6:1-8. Settle It Within. Today’s BDBD.
The disputes Apostle Paul addresses are civil matters, not criminal. If it were criminal violations, the Roman state would be involved. (Romans 13:3-4) Also, Paul’s declaration, “Why not rather be cheated?” (7), also indicates that the disputes were civil matters involving money and property. The Romans allowed Jews (Christians were still considered a Jewish sect) […]
1 Corinthians 5:9-11. Association, Part 2. Today’s BDBD.
Apostle Paul lists Christians not to associate with. They call themselves a brother or sister in Christ Jesus, but continue to apply these six. They are sexual immorality, greed, idolatry, slander, drunkenness (substance addiction), and swindling (11). The confessed Christian knows these are sins, but does not resist committing them. The 5 Biblical sexual immorality […]
1 Corinthians 5:9-11. Association, Part 1. Today’s BDBD.
Apostle Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians is the third-earliest letter that we have today, 1 & 2 Thessalonians being earlier. In verses 9-10a, Paul has them recall an earlier letter that we do not have. That letter stated, “Do not associate with sexually immoral people.” He adds here, “…not at all meaning the people […]
1 Corinthian 5:6-8. Hold the Yeast. Today’s BDBD.
Understanding the Biblical Holy Week (aka Passover Week) helps in understanding Paul’s analogy. (Exodus 12:1-30, Leviticus 23:4-8; Deuteronomy 16:1-8; John 13:1-2, 18:27, 19:14) Preparations were needed before Passover began. According to tradition, cleaning the location of any yeast was first. “Get rid of the old yeast,” Paul repeats the Mosaic Law (7). Yeast is usually […]
1 Corinthians 5:1-5. Sinful Nature Destroyed. Today’s BDBD.
Apostle Paul addresses another problem at the Corinthian congregation, their handling of a member who is engaging in sexual immorality of a kind that does not occur even among pagans (1). The woman involved, according to the phrase the apostle used, “father’s wife”, suggests that the woman was his step-mother. Some commentators have suggested that […]
1 Corinthians chapter 5 Overview.
Some avoid this chapter because some could be offended. I do not mean to offend. I am looking at Paul’s instructions here to understand and thus to have hope, faith, and love to continue in my life. Paul addresses sexual immorality in the congregation. Incest is specifically mentioned in 1 thru 5. He says that […]
1 Corinthians 4:3-5. The Appointed Judgement. Today’s BDBD.
The point is clear. A judgment is coming. All will be judged, a judgment that Apostle Paul does not exclude himself from. If the man God chose to write a large section of the New Testament is going to stand before the judgment seat of Christ Jesus, then which person who considers themselves a Christian […]
1 Corinthians 2:6-12. Analyze Your Wisdom. Today’s BDBD.
Solomon, imprinted by the Holy Spirit, was gifted with God’s wisdom as the Corinthians were gifted with knowledge and speech. However, wisdom can be flawed and misguided when based on improper morality and ethics. When one’s concept of right and wrong is not based in absolute truth, then the wisdom that comes forth, though it […]
1 Corinthians 2:1-5. The Spirit’s Power. Today’s BDBD.
The Spirit of God was promised and still is promised to be the means by which a person comes to faith in Jesus. Wisdom and elegant words were not promised and is not promised to be the means. One of the reasons believers in Jesus give for not witnessing to their faith in Jesus is […]
1 Corinthians 2 Overview. Pure White Flowers. Today’s BDBD.
Paul was highly educated for his day. Yet his human education led him to false beliefs that were reinforced by an impure spirit and mind. Knowledge is one thing, wisdom another, and the truth is absolute. Paul did not know the truth. This leads him to cruel and evil acts. He persecuted Christians. God’s wisdom […]
1 Corinthians 1:10-12. Quarrels. Today’s BDBD.
Apostle Paul addresses the first problem amongst the believers in Jesus Christ at Corinth, divisions and quarrels. I believe the meaning of divisions here is “the condition of being divided in opinion, which leads to separate meetings and isolation of groups and individuals.” All suffer with divisions and quarrels, especially the weak and vulnerable. But […]
1 Corinthians 4:7-9. God is Faithful. Today’s BDBD.
The Holy Spirit, through Paul, made it clear in prior verses that each member of the young congregation was sanctified and called to be holy because of their faith in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit did so by giving them gifts to be used for the benefit of others. Collectively, they did not lack any […]
1 Corinthians 1:4-7. Gospel Effect Abuse. Today’s BDBD.
The Apostle Paul had visited the city of Corinth around two years earlier, sharing his testimony about Christ. The congregation listened and believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. God’s grace in the form of spiritual gifts confirmed that the good news was received. They were enriched in every way -especially with the gifts of speaking […]
1 Corinthians 1:1. Called to Be… Today’s BDBD.
Apostle Paul’s defined himself with, “called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God”. Apostle means sent on a mission with full authority of representation; an ambassador. Jesus chose twelve to be his apostles during his earthly ministry. (Mark 3:13-19) When Judas betrayed Jesus another was chosen to take his place. […]
1 Corinthians Chapter 1 Overview. Today’s BDBD.
Paul wrote this letter in 55 or 56 AD while he was at Ephesus during his 3rd missionary journey. Paul is dealing with problems concerning the young congregation as a whole and also with personal problems. The first issue makes it clear that Jesus is the head of the church. I belong to him. I […]
