BibleProject | One Story That Leads to JesusSample

Things have run amok in Corinth.

Paul first planted the Corinthian church during the early missionary journeys. He stayed to teach and serve there for one and a half years. He knows these people well. So when Paul receives a letter from them, asking him to settle a few controversies, no problem. Spiritual fathers want to help their beloved.

But there’s more to this story.

Paul hears that the Corinthians are acting like teens whose parents have left town for the weekend. It’s a house party in Corinth, and not the good kind. The Corinthians think Christ gave them freedom from restraint, freedom to do whatever they want.

They fight with each other and form factions. They engage in sexual sin, file lawsuits against each other for sport, and try to dominate over one another during the worship gathering. It’s relational chaos (and harm).

So, with some frustration and lots of affection, Paul writes 1 Corinthians to respectfully answer their questions and boldly address their behavior. Watch today’s video to see how Paul tackles each issue and shows the Gospel pointing toward a better way.

The first problem? Disunity. Like rival sports fans, the Corinthians have taken sides, rallying behind their favorite church leaders—Paul, Apollos, Cephas (Peter), and even Christ. But this is no friendly competition. What should have been loving, co-laboring teamwork has devolved into tense fighting over who is better.

As a loving father, Paul pokes fun at how silly these divisions are. If only Christ actually saves, then everyone—Paul, Apollos, Cephas, and whomever else—follows after Jesus, albeit with different approaches, all working toward the same goal.

The Gospel gives freedom, but it’s not the modern concept of freedom from all restraint. Gospel freedom breaks the chains of pride and status that bind us to ways of competition and division. With those chains broken, people are free totruly love. It does not grant license to harm one another through lawsuits or freely use one another sexually. It sets us free to bless and love one another, according to God’s design.

It’s the kind of freedom that sets you free to rally around Jesus and his people, united as one.

Reflection Questions

• Take a moment to review the story of Paul first planting the Corinthian church in Acts 18:1-18. How might this background help you understand the community to which Paul was writing?
• Meditate on Paul’s discussion of wisdom. How would you summarize his argument? What does this wisdom allow a person to know and do?