For the Second Sunday of Epiphany in Year A, the readings are 1 Corinthians 1.1–9 and John 1.29–42.
Paul’s introduction to his letter to the Corinthians offers the most remarkable affirmation of what God has already done in the lives of his writers. This is very striking given the way he is going to warn and challenge them as the letter unfolds. But the things God has done for them also offer the answers to the problems that they are encountering.
My review of Andrew Wilson’s PhD thesis, on warnings and assurance in 1 Corinthians, can be found here.
The commentary on John 1.29–42 is here.
and the video discussion is here.
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I am an employee relations specialist specializing in conflict resolution. Paul’s approach to the conflict-ridden church at Corinth displays two of the approaches that are used in my profession. 1. Reminding people what they have in common with each other before addressing the issue of conflict itself: identifying common ground and shared purpose. I recently reminded two social workers who were dealing with some of the neediest and most dysfunctional families in the UK that they needed to be at their very best in order to help those who were at their very worst. This motivated them to work through their differences. 2. Affirming those in conflict from the beginning. People often feel very diminished personally by conflict. This is especially so when they have developed deeply entrenched strategies for avoiding conflict and/or are very reactive and defensive. Dr. Henry Virkler (Speaking the Truth in Love) recommends the 3-A model: Affirmation – Assertion – Action. His book is well worth reading as a practical resource. Several of the New Testament letters seem to have been prompted by the need to address conflict. So Paul and other leaders needed to quickly develop conflict resolution skills. That of course, is no less a challenge today. So this passage has a very contemporary feel. Thank you for so skilfully explaining its meaning and relevance.
Lots there but one or two comments.
1 Name: its weight, significance, uniqueness.
2 sanctified is a position in union with Christ Jesus, on calling on/in him, but it is also growing in likeness to Him, not dishonoring his Name.
3 Holy as God. So far there has been no consideration of what holiness is, as integral to the Name of God.
3 Question: is there any information on what the people of Corinth thought of holiness, as an idea, as a way of living, as part of the mixture of gods and beliefs, a gentile understanding of holiness, if there was one at all. ( Maybe their understanding of ‘spirituals’ would include and countenance, permit the life, behaviours, that so exercises Paul?
4 Who you are now, in and through Christ, is not who you once were. It is not your doing.
Although this Grace is truly Amazing it is not an open door to living as we please, not a licence to liberal antinomianism, but an imperative to be holy, to sanctification.
Is this a seminal moment for the Church today given current other issues being discussed.? Is Corinthians a parallel?
The term “a Corinthian” meant a profligate, and “to Corinthianize” (Korinthiazomai lit., to act the Corinthian) meant to engage in prostitution (to practice fornication). In the Greek plays Corinthians were usually represented as drunkards.
Paul’s view of the Church and Himself.
They were/ we are what they were by the grace of God as was/is their Minister/priest/pastor.
For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called (not divine calling but simply being designated as) an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I laboured even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.
Boyer comments “ If Paul were to write a letter to the evangelical, Bible-believing churches of late twentieth century America, I believe it would be much like I Corinthians. Their world was like our world: the same thirst for intellectualism, the same permissiveness toward moral standards, the same fascination for the spectacular. And their church was like our churches: proud, affluent, materialistic, fiercely eager for intellectual and social acceptance by the world, doctrinally orthodox but morally and practically conforming to the world.
We are all in ministry so the question should resound in our ears “Am I where I am in ministry by His will or my will?” It’s a question worth pondering, for apart from Him we can do absolutely nothing of eternal value (Jn 15:5, cf fruit that remains in Jn 15:16). What a sad occurrence it will be if we stand before Jesus at the Bema and discover that all our works are burned up (1 Cor 3:10-14, 15+) because they are our works, not His works!
“God prepared good works beforehand so that we would walk in them” = Eph 2:10+
“by the will of God” This phrase ought to be the watchword of every Christian, the “warp and the woof (weft)” undergirding all our daily activities, all our goals and aspirations,. Paul was called by His Will and thereafter ordered his steps (and stops) by His Will! And he (Paul) calls us all to IMITATE him (1 Cor 4:16+, 1 Cor 11:1+ .
Paul imitated Jesus (1 Cor 11:1+), Whose very food was “to do the will” of His Father Who sent Him (Jn 4:34+) (even as He Jesus had sent Paul. And even as He sends you and I out as His light into the lost world!
Note also Holy Spirit-Walking. Like Jesus Walked!
There are many a “saint who ‘aint.[Precept Austin]
Foundational Grace and Peace
What did Paul understand by the concept of Grace?
Grace requires the response of Faith and which Paul says he excelled
The fight, The walk , the Labour of, the Prayer of, the Overcoming by,
the Victory of, the Joy, Peace and Rest of Faith.
The mention by Paul of P. Yancey [of whom I know zilch}
Causes me to wonder what it is about Grace that He and
perhaps Evangelicals do not understand by Grace as this
seems to b e a recurring theme of tragedy which robs them
of the moral high ground, and robs God of His Glory.
The Apostles calling and the calling of all the saints is not
To filthiness but to Holiness {Not to Love, Love, Love is all you need
all you need is Love]
“Let each man take heed how he builds”
May God in His Rich Mercy and Grace show PY what Grace really is. Shalom.
Weymouth New Testament
“It is not every man,” He replied, “who can receive this teaching,
but only those on whom the grace has been bestowed. Matt 19:11.