Corinthians - Brothers and Sisters in Christ
(Sunday Evening Sermonette)
-Consider some of the things that the Corinthians struggled with:
-contentions and division - 1 Cor. 1:10-11, 1 Cor. 3:1-4
-presence of sexual immorality - 1 Cor. 5
-lawsuits among brethren - 1 Cor. 6
-associations with idolatrous ways - 1 Cor. 8-10
-abusing the Lord’s Supper - 1 Cor. 11
-misusing spiritual gifts - 1 Cor. 12-14
-doubts regarding the resurrection - 1 Cor. 15
-Paul’s first visit - Acts 18 (Paul’s 2nd missionary journey)
-Acts 18:18-19 - Aquila and Priscilla (1 Cor. 16:19)
-Acts 19 - Paul at Ephesus (3rd missionary journey)
-vs 8-10
-It seems that it was while Paul was at Ephesus that he received a report from the
house of Chloe (1 Cor. 1:11) and a letter from the Corinthians (1 Cor. 7:1), probably
delivered by those mentioned in 1 Cor. 16:17.
-In response to the report and the letter, Paul wrote what we know as 1
Corinthians.
-However, we know that this was actually Paul’s 2nd letter to the church at
Corinth (1 Cor. 5:9).
-Paul made a second visit, a “painful” one. (2 Cor. 12:14, 13:1; 2 Cor. 2:1)
-It was after his second visit that Paul wrote a third letter - the “severe” letter. This was
probably sent with Titus.
-Paul left Ephesus, went to Troas and on into Macedonia. There, he was reunited with
Titus who reported on the situation at Corinth (2 Cor. 7:5-7).
-In response to Titus’ report, Paul issued what we know as 2 Corinthians.
-Even though Paul was encouraged by Titus’ report, he still presented a defense of
himself and his apostleship. Evidently, there were still those in Corinth who
questioned and resisted Paul and his work.
-2 Cor. 11:28 - The Corinthians certainly didn’t make things easy on Paul! Yet, notice
how Paul referred to them in his letters - “brothers” (i.e. brothers and sisters).
-1 Cor. 1:2; 1:10 (see ESV f.n.); 1 Cor. 2:1; 3:1; 10:1; 12:1; 15:1; 16:15
-2 Cor. 1:1, 8; 8:1; 13:11
-Even though we might say, “Those Corinthians were a mess,” Paul always
remembered that they were his brothers and sisters in Christ.
-Application: There are times when we will frustrate one another. There will be times
when we deal with disappointments. Please, don’t forget to look in the mirror and
honestly examine self (2 Cor. 13:5). And, always remember - whether in good or
difficult settings - we are brothers and sisters in Christ.
-And, consider Hebrews 2:11. Even though we are a mess, Jesus considers us His
brothers and sisters!