05/29/02 rjs Corinthian notesC:WINDOWSDESKTOPcornotes
[ Children, a general reminder, these are the notes from my lifetime Bible marginal collectings. They are not intended to be read as a story, but are a help for the serious student who wants to come to know better what God has said. Every person has to dig deeper into the Scriptures for him/herself. The pastors and Bible translators generally do a good job, but they are still one more layer of human interpretation between us and the Word of God. (A parenthetic caution - departing very far from the historic interpretation of any scripture is very, very risky.) We refer to the Greek roots often, not because the Common (KOINE) Greek is more precise, but because it is a "dead" dialect and doesn't wriggle around so much, and of course, because the very best and earliest recorded New Testament documents were recorded in it. These notes, thus, are best read with a Greek interlinear text open and with a pencil in hand, or next best, with a King James Version AND your favorite version also open and with a pencil in hand.. There is no ONE BEST version or translation of Scripture, except, perhaps that one made in your heart because that one causes you to know the God who created and loves you and me. Knowing about God and knowing what He has said is a good first step in coming to know Him, which step cannot be skipped if we are to come to love Him. Read my essay on the definition of LOVE every once in a while.
Some may ask, "Can't we just love God and forget about all this study?" Those who ask, underestimate the standards of The Holy God; perhaps more seriously, they also underestimate the depth of their own sinfulness; some seem to think God grades on the curve. Three BIG mistakes I wish to help you to avoid. dad]
ps, when you see ( ) it means that I highlighted that verse in my Bible; MH stands for Matthew Henry's Commentary.
Schismatics differ from heretics, but to the same end; heretics seriously entertain doctrines that differ from the established norm.
1 "called" +v2(x2),v9, [v8="blameless," same root, lit "unimpeachable"], Ga1:15. I'm called v1, you're called v2; the goal is to so live that no one can get a hearing to threaten us with recall v8. Name of Christ used 10x in 1st 10 v.
3 EIRANA "peace" the Heb wd is SHALOM.
5 PANTI "every thing...all...all" [5,6,7=good; v10,11,12,13=not good]
10 Paul took a long time getting started on this epistle - "Now I beseech you." SCHISMATA...ERIDES...MEMERISTAI "divisions"v10..."contentions"v11..."divided"v13. The party spirit leads to fights which leads to being ripped apart.
11 "by" Paul quotes his source. +5:1
12 "Paul" the intellectual ones, "Apollos" the smooth ones, "Cephas" the crude ones, "Christ" the smug ones. +Acts18:24 (Doctrinalists, relevant charismatics, traditionalists, individualists.) [The real root of the party spirit is not merely the quest for power(v7), but power over others - ego! The controller says, "do it my way," but moves on to "act my way," and then on to "think my way" - "or else." The personality cult -> acquisition of power -> of power over others -> depersonalizing the others -> take no prisoners -> nuke 'em all, they aren't human anyway.]
17 baptize - Paul wasn't a pastor, he was a missionary, so he mostly evangelized, he didn't much baptize; "not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect."
18 ( ) DUNAMIS "power."
19 SUNESIN...SUNETON, "understanding...prudent." Lk2:47
21 ( ) EGNO "knew" the perceptive kind of knowing.
22-29 the religious crowd seek both - sign's get a stumbling block and wisdom's get foolishness, but the "called" get both.
23 Christ was (is) a stumbling block to the Jew of that day because circumcision and the Kosher laws were done away with. See Gal5:11
24 "which are called...Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God."
26 "not many wise men after the flesh" He didn't say "not any" but he did also say that it was "after the flesh." SOPHOI...DUNATIO...EUGENEIS...MORA, not sophisticates, not dynamics, not eugenics - but morons!
27 "foolish" but he didn't chose the "knavish."
29 "That no flesh should glory in his presence."
1-5 +1:17, "I...I came to you...I v2...I v3...my v4" to others he came differently, but these carnal christianettes needed just v2.
2 "among you" see v6, 3:1
4 DUNAMEOS, power (forceful rather than authoritative.)
6 "Howbeit;" TELEIOIS "perfect" better = "mature," Lit, brought to the end point.
7 "mystery" is something that was before hidden, but now is revealed. This verse makes this definition rather well. The Christian faith does not require us to "believe" a lot of strange stuff, but rather enables us to explain a bunch of strange stuff - now that our spiritual eyes are opened - but our explanations are understandable only to those others whose spiritual eyes are opened.
10 "deep things of God" +Rev2:24
11 What man? - the psychiatrist, even the amateur psy. of our day. [A man's motives are known only by his own spirit, so God's motives are known only by His Spirit. This verse can be used as an argument for the Trinity, as a man's mind is to his person, so the Holy Spirit is to God, but be careful not do drift over into tripartness.]
12 ( ) The Spirit of God is to be our tutor, "freely given" (CHARISTHENTA a gift of grace) to us in order that we might "know" (OIDOMEN the inner kind of knowing) - and then we have to meditate on it and "work" it out to our outer living and to GINOSKO, the objective kind of knowing and to true understanding when it becomes a part of our framework, our character. The triple PNEUMATOS PNEUMATIKOIS PNEUMATIKA is interesting.
14 ( ) PSUCHIKOS "natural" psychological man, the educated sophisticate does not DECHETAI take it into his hand...because it is MORIA moronic to him. He cannot GNONAI know, the objective kind of knowing (certainly not the intuitive kind of knowing either). Contrast this with ANAKRINEI used three times following and in v15 translated as "discerned" or "judged."
16 "for" SUMBIBASEI (?) see Col2:19
1 NAPIOIS, "babes" lit. without speech, a toddler, a babbler; same 13:11, could be translated "childish" an adult who displays irresponsible characteristics of a child - see Heb5:11-14, contrast with 1P2:2
2 However, even a toddler is able to chew, so what exactly was their spiritual condition?
3 ZELA, "envying" the NIV uses "jealousy" probably not either, but rather a hot desire to dominate.
6 "planted" churches, not individuals.
7 ( )
8 "according to his own labour"
10 ARCHITEKTON, "master builder" our word "architect."
11 ( )
12 EPOIKODOMEI, "build upon" same wd 2X in v10 and same root in v16, but there, tx as "dwelleth." From "gold -> stubble" Gold not mfg, only found...stubble cultivated - WE can plant it - that about covers everything.
13 PURI APOKALUPTETAI, "by fire" a demo, a flame test in the chem lab; "prove" a functional test - yes, even here it is a demonstration test! - not an ultimate test!!
14-15 ( ) most evangelicals ignore these verses as if they hadn't been written, indeed, their felt doctrinal portfolio denies them.
16 ( ) NAOS, "temple" a "shrine" of God, consider the context! These were fooling around w immorality - yet this! OIKEI, "dwelleth" a residence, a house; see v12.
17 suicide (or slow suicide, like drugs etc.) PHTHEREI, PHTHEREI, "defile, defile" "you mess around, God will let you get messed up," see emphesema, cirrosis of the liver, STD's and finally AIDS. [The logical context is 4:14, 4:18->5:1] This is the verse that holiness groups use to classify as "sin" so many practices (that are merely fatal insults to the body). It is never wise to teach beyond the scripture - or to teach that scripture may be ignored. This is a very, very strong verse, but to overuse it may very well mess up ones doctrinal portfolio as badly as ignoring it may mess up one's body.
18 DOKEI, "seemeth to be" or "thinks" NIV, it is the same root as for a functional test, hence "for one to draw a conclusion from the surrounding evidence, (lit. from the times)." So what, big deal, if the worldlings consider you a moron (lit.) because you seek more to be wise in spiritual things -
19 they outsmart themselves - God makes it so. (Job5:13) The God of the Bible is NOT a passive God. This and the previous couple of verses teach a most active God. Better to be a "moron" in the eyes of the worldlings than to be a "moron" before God.
20 Ps94:11
22 Cephas = Peter.
1 Slavery was an important part of Roman life. There were several levels of servants/slaves - all the way from a professional "servant" down to a "true" slave with no rights except what he was given by his immediate master/owner. 1)OIKONOMOUS, "stewards" professional help, lit "house manager" we would call them business managers. +Rom12:1, 2)DIAKANOS, paid help, 3)DOULOS, unpaid slaves, 4)HUPARETAS, galley slaves or death march porters; Perhaps like 1)Gold & silver plates, 2)Fine China, 3)Clay Pots, 4)paper plates. [we have to add, x)Religious servers and another y) Heb3:5?? THERAPON, Act24:16] Here in v1 Paul uses the lowest and the highest term to describe our service for Christ, HUPARETOS and OIKONOMOUS. As "ministers" of Christ we are the lowest of the lowest slaves, but as to the "mysteries of God, we are the OIKONOMOUS "business managers." Many a pastor has become shipwreck in failing to keep these two straight. Charles Swindol asked: "Why would anyone volunteer to be a Galley Slave?" His answer went something like: (for Jesus)? A Galley Slave: v6 not proud of what he does, v7 not a self made success, v9 but the apostles (including himself), v10 a fool for Christ's sake, weak - both physically and politically, without honor, v11 hungry, thirsty, poorly clothed, homeless v12 toiling, laboring, v13 no rights of their own.
2 "Moreover it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful" God's FAT men 1)Faithful, 2)Available (found), 3)Teachable (stewards). [probably from Al Inglis.]
2 (in v1a, HUPARETAS, v1b & v2, OIKONOMOUS)[I think Paul is making a distinction between professional servants of the Lord and regular servants of the Lord. He starts out v2 with "as for the rest (of the servants).]
5 EPAINOS, "praise" or recognition for a good job etc. different from the usual word DOXON.
6 The first part of this verse is somewhat obscure, and the latter part is translated differently "not to think of men above that which is written"KJV, "'Do not go beyond what is written'"NIV That the NIV put the phrase in quotes indicates they felt it was a "common saying." There's good arguement for the accuracy of each and for the need of both.
7 ( ) "and what hast thou that thou didst not receive?" as we age, we "just forget our sources!"
8 2Tim2:12
9 THEATRON, "a spectacle" our word theater; to angels!
10 "you are a 'doxology,' we are a 'jangling tin whistle'," ENDOXIO...ATIMOI +v5
11 "Even unto this present hour" still?
14 good model for fathers to children.
15 EGENNASA, "begotten"KJV, "became your father"NIV; but in v16, GINESTHE is translated as "be ye"KJV and "urge you"NIV. These are both from the root word "generated," so it seems the KJV is a little better except the word MIMATAI "followers"v16 is more like "mimic."+11:1
19 TACHEOS, "shortly" KJV, better than the NIV "very soon;" GNOSOMAI, "know" the experimental kind of knowing; "if the Lord will...but the power" +Rom15:30;
20 "For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power." The NIV is blunt, "For the kingdom if God is not a matter of talk but of power." Would this were true today! - in the church.
1,2 PORNEIA, "fornication," our word pornographic comes from this Greek root; it seems a man had taken his deceased fathers second wife to be his own wife. Today the church wouldn't give the matter a second thought, even if his living father had divorced her; our culture might even applaud him as doing good. Paul here says that even the pagans forbid one to marry his own step-mother. Either Paul is still far too taken up with the ceremonial law or else we have strayed too far from good sense. "taken away" = excommunication +v7; contrast w. 7:8-11 "puffed up" a broadmindedness that is above the ceremonial law - v6.
3 Paul says not to bother trying to plead special circumstances in the matter, he has made up his mind.
5 To formally give to Satan a church member! "the destruction of the flesh" 2P2:1, 3:16
6 "glorying" OIDATE "know ye not" the inner kind of knowing, intuition.
7 EKKATHARATE, "purge out;" "old leaven...new lump" contrast +v9, 2Ths3:14; that he calls Christ our passover, may mean that he is referring to the communion ceremony as much as to the Jewish Passover; see 11:17-.
9 Then possibly this is not his 1st letter to the Cor. church? like Jude 3 or as 2Pet3:1? "company"= make close friends with.
10 "then must ye needs go out of the world.
11 "is called a brother" "eat" eat communion. +Mk10:29
12 "do not ye judge them that are within?" Yes, we are to judge - some - things, some - people. But trying to pass laws to force the pagans to live up to some spiritual principle is not supported by this passage.
13 "Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person" link vs. 10,11,13.
1 Clearly he forbids legal action in a pagan court against another Christian. For one to take, instead, a matter to Christian arbitration is good practice for the future state during the Millenium.
2 v2-at least to v4 or beyond, pertain to our future state during the Millenial Reign of King Jesus; but for our practical living in the mean while, it should be studied along with Mt18:15. OUK OIDATE,"Do ye not know" the intuitive kind of knowing, used 8x, 5:6 - 9:24. ANAXIOI, "unworthy" the negative of our study of axiology, of values.
3 ( ) "know ye not" [see v2 above]
5 ENTROPAN, "shame" better, "disorder" borrowed as a scientific term, see Jas1:17. (Henry Morris) The universal law of entropy: all systems left to themselves go to disorder, only reversed if ordered energy is effectively applied from outside that system. Paul is warning them that their spiritual condition, if not reversed, will universally degenerate into confusion and death. "Is it so that there is not" lit. "Thus, there is no room among you, no wise man..." The word "room" is worth meditation - along with v7 and 8 leading directly to v9 and on.
8 APOSTEREITE, "defraud" lit. to move away from - that which is solid or firm. [As a medical term, stereo means something solid, without a cavity. The physical sciences use "stereo" to mean solid, and by extension that which is three dimensional and by further extension to mean a representation of three dimensions.] So, to defraud is to move away from that which is solid - same word 7:5 - check it out!
9,10 ( ) It's not the sin that prevents inheritance, but the character - else none of us would make it. "know ye not...be not deceived" see Rom7:1-3; MALAKOI, "effeminate" lit soft or overly fine clothes. One who makes overmuch of clothing, a woman who might have been called a "clothes horse" by an earlier generation, or especially a male cross dresser (and male prostitutes). [ARSENOKOITAI, "abusers of themselves with mankind" lit a sodomite. Yes, Paul did know the shade of difference between a male who serves as a prostitute and the male who used the male prostitute - and his technical language is clear and precise. Those who claim that the NT is not clear in opposition against the practice of homosexuality ignore clear passages such as this one or else they are deliberately deceptive.]
12 PANTA MOI EXESTIN, "All things are lawful for me," X2 is this a Gk common slogan? But the way Paul uses it leads to the idea that "I refuse bad habits." The divine love that forgives and frees us also makes alive a tough sense of personal responsibility, and our maturing character is thus determined by how we use our freedoms. Prolonged spiritual babies who persist in behaving as undisciplined cultural adolescents ought not to be pitied overmuch when they have physical problems, but that's what is demanded today. An older "Christian" comes to the Elders with a natural consequence of his/her undiscipline and wants them to grovel on the floor with him/her over the pain he/she is in. If the Elders do not perform up (down-on-the-floor) to expectations, then it is they who are judged as monumentally uncaring! MH notes the rhetorical change of the natural order here - sanctified is placed before justified, yet Jesus listed before the Spirit. Maybe, we are saved by Jesus, Sanctified by the Spirit and Justified by the Father? [this is awfully close to tritheism.]
13 "meats...fornication" same pairing of ideas in Acts15.
15 The logical chain used here is most startling; "know ye not...God forbid" May it not be, see Gk, used here 13X
16 A doubling of the logic of v15; "know ye not"
18 PHEUGETE, "flee" our word fugitive - it means "run, do not walk to the nearest exit!" used 4X in NT, 10:14, 1Ti6:11, & see Jas4:7.
19 "know ye not...your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost...ye are not your own" We are not our own property any longer, we need to KNOW this and we need to act as if we knew it - so v20.
20 ( ) "For...therefore"
1 "Now;" Prior to ch7 he had been asking questions, "now" he answers theirs. The KJV says "not to touch a woman," and is more literal than the NIV "not to marry" although this seems to be the plain sense.
2 Delayed marriage may make good economic sense, but not for clear morals - and the NIV seems closer to the Gk on v3. "hath not power of his own body, but..."+Heb13:14 the word for "power" is EXOUSIA, the authority sort of power.
5 "Except it be with consent...and come together again" APOSTEREITE see 6:8 for this word; SUMPHONOU, "consent" our word symphony, a harmonious agreement; PEIRADZA, "tempt" the devil always "tests" us with an aim to destroy. But why blame the devil for this inner lack of control? but Paul does! Most of us would agree with Paul, especially when we were younger.
9 is a little clearer in the NIV.
10 "let not the wife depart from her husband...let her remain unmarried...let not the husband put away his wife." Interesting that Paul addresses this first to the wife - has it always been true that it is the wife most responsible for holding the marriage together? Marriages are comming apart today exactly because the women are not willing to do and to endure with grace what their forebearers did.
14 "unclean," this is true morally, and culturally, and may be true even as to diseases.
15 "let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases:" DEDOULOTAI, "bondage" or "bound" the same root Gk word is tx "slave" in v21.
16 OIDAS (x2) "knowest" the inner or intuitive kind of knowing.
17 Sums up these previous few verses and the following few. Orderliness is our calling, not necessarily achievement! Try telling this to our "success" oriented culture!
19 ( )"but the keeping of the commandments of God"
22 Culture and family living conditions do determine, sometimes, the service we can perform for the Lord, but attitude is the important factor, especially for the "professional" servant. [meditate a bit on the two phrases of this verse.]
23 "Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men." AGORASTHATE,"bought" as in a market place, even as in a slave market. This Greek root is used in several languages for "market." A warning against excessive attention to commercial activity, perhaps. But in any case, a clear message that we belong to Christ by purchase, a purchase at great cost.
25 "virgins" lit, and from context = celibates.
26 "for the present distress"
28 "but I spare you" But it is these very troubles that drive our self-centered vices. Paul, the doer, is focusing on performance.
29 "the time is short...this world passeth away v31" [SUNESTALMENOS "short", but lit. "having been shortened" why do the translators ignore this difference? If Paul felt pressed to be so busy, and if it wasn't the imminent return of Christ that drove him, what other time driven enemy could he have had in mind?]
31 A text for an environmentalist [even if slightly out of context - the word for "world" is KOSMOU the cultural world with it's "fashion" SCHAMA our technical word "schematics", not the physical one GIA].
33,34 There is a minor problem between the KJV and the NIV over where to divide these two verses. The KJV adds the "also" to smooth out the meaning whereas the NIV by means of a "-" hangs it on the previous verse. Either way, it seems Paul is telling us that married people in "full time Christian service" have a divided loyalty - whether men or women. [Remember, the ancient Greek mms had neither punctuation marks nor verse denotations. These are later additions to aid us in reference work.] This passage is key to the Roman Catholic priestly celibacy. If this issue is a problem to you, meditate on v35-38 from the NIV and others.
38 "better"
39 ( ) "only in the Lord"
1 Another "now" indicating that he is answering their questions. In v1-4 six uses of knowledge are GNOSIS, the objective kind of knowing; and two, the first and the last, are OIDAMEN, the inner or intuitive kind of knowing; "knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth." [ignorance puffeth up also]
2 ( )
3 "But if any man love God, the same is known of him."
4 [It would be difficult to use verses 4-6 as proof texts that Paul has in mind the modern trinitarian doctrine for the exact relationship between the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, but it is clear that he describes our creation to each using the exact same words; the only difference is the opening EX (out of) and the closing EIS (in) for the Father and the opening DI (through "whom") and the closing DI for Jesus. EK or EX before a vowel, and EIS indicate motion and source, DI or DIA indicates the personal agent or the efficient cause.] The issue is not the idol (4) or the meat (8), but the attitude (1) & the testimony (10+1), therefore our relation to God (12).
7 The objective kind of knowing, and the polite term for eating, and in v8 twice the more common word for eating. I can't see a reason for this change of words, nor can I see why the KJV placed the positive first and the negative last; both the NIV and Nestles Greek do it the other way around. Can we extend what he says about meats offered to idols and assume that he has no spiritual use at all for the Jewish Kosher dietary laws or for any other religious dietary laws?
9 [Thru knowledge, what I allow myself in moderation, my children indulge to excess - using me as their excuse. +v.12]
8 ( ) +rev2:20, Acts15:29
9 "but"
13 ( ) that is, meats offered to idols - our context is v.1.
1 Paul claims HEORAKA, to have "seen" Jesus.
2 Perhaps Paul can use this argument, but I would seriously recommend that you or I not engage in this kind of logic, it could lead to several problems. By negative extension: "What happens to the 'missionary' who has labored for some time and has little to show for it? Is his apostleship in doubt?" Is faithfulness in an unproductive venture, worthless? The balance of this chapter give his reasons why his efforts should be supported by their financial contributions.
5 "and Cephas?" Is he saying that Peter was married?
6 EXOUSIAN, "power" the authority kind of power. Evidently the "other" apostles did not "work," meaning that they were supported by the church - Paul and Barnabus had to depend on designated contributions or hand-labor. Much the same today, pastors are "authorized" to receive a salary, missionaries have to beg!
9, 10 Proof of typology.
14 ( ) DIETAXEN, "ordained" designated, appointed.
16 "Woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!"
17 OIKONOMIAN, "dispensation" better see NIV; lit. a stewardship, a trusted position, but one not entirely entered into voluntarily.
19 I am free - but I made myself a slave. I am not under the law - but I put myself under v20,21.
21 "under the law to Christ," see Gk, lit "inlawed to Christ" "gain"
22 "gain" "I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some."
24 "Know ye not...receiveth...so run, that ye may obtain." "Know" = OIDATE the intuitive kind of knowing; TRECHONTES, "run" our word "trek" see v26+Heb12:1; "obtain" better= "receive" same Gk root for both and in v25.
25 "obtain;" STEPHANON a victors crown.
27 HUPOPAIDZO...DOULAGOGO, "bring it into subjection" lit to strike under the eye or to give oneself a black eye...make my body a slave; ADOKIMOS, "castaway" lit. the negative of a functional test, hence to flunk a functional test. He is saying that those who would "win" must discipline themselves, but he goes much farther than mere self-discipline.
1 AGNOEIN, "ignorant" lit. agnostic, see Ro1:13, 11:25, 1Co12:1, 2Co1:8, 2:11, 1Th4:13. "all...all...all(v2)...all(v3)...all(v4)"
2 EIS TON MOUSAN, "unto Moses" see discussion of EIS in 8:6 it is an expression with numerous shades of usage, generally implying an action, not merely a status.
4 "and that Rock was Christ"
5 "many" The NIV has: "their bodies were scattered all over the desert." This is somewhat better, but "their bodies" were added by the translators, perhaps it would have been better to have added "their graves were scattered." The implied meaning is not that they were scattered living all over the desert, but that as they died off, their graves were left all over the route with no fixed or cared-for grave-yards. All this as a lesson in v6.
7 "Neither be ye idolaters" [ANESTASAN "rose up" or better, "stood up." The Jehovah's Witnesses make much of this phrase "stood up;" this, here, does not help their case. +v12]
8 "Neither let us commit fornication" the OT passages do not list this sin as a dominant feature of the wilderness wanderers, but here it seems to be listed as a serious problem with them and potentially with the Corinthians ( - and what of modern Westerns?).
9 EKPEIRADZOMEN...EPEIRASAN, "Neither let us tempt Christ" This is the "test to the limits" kind of test, a test to the ultimate. An unruly child who tests the limits of a parent or a teacher finds those limits abruptly limited! It is a warning that those who test God's limits will find those limits moved UP-ward!
10 "Neither murmur" The Gk word is pronounced as gong-gudz-ete, a ringing sort of sound, perhaps bell like in effect. We tend to make light of this matter which he takes so seriously. [The NIV adds the word "angel" but it is not in the text - I do not know why the words "destroyed...destroyer" are same translations of different Gk roots.]
11 "are come"KJV, "on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come"NIV.
12 ( ) [DOKON "thinketh" - What is the relation between this and DOKIMOS = a functional test?]
13 ( ) PEIRASMOS...PEIRASTHANAI...PEIRASMO, all ultimate tests. Even the ultimate tests we face are only what is common to mankind because God, Himself makes sure we aren't tested to the ultimate - before our time. One writer noted that God makes exit doors available, but He usually won't push us out them.
14 "Wherefore" Ex20:4 (C#2) FEUGETE, "flee" our word fugitive.
16,17 ( ) KOINONIA, "communion," usually translated "fellowship;" "participation" NIV; "one...one...many...all...one"
20 "they sacrifice to devils, and not to God"
21 ( ) "you can't be a Christian and mess around with the occult or voodoo."
23,24 ( )
25 This is not a contradiction of the previous; see note w. Acts15:29 + v29 here.
29 "for his sake...but of the other" It is the conscience of the one "pointing out" that needs to be preserved [ - even that of the "professional weaker brother?" see note w. 8:9]
31 ( )
32 After all this he mentions the Jew, first, then the Greek speaking Jews (or perhaps the gentiles, representative of all those outside the church), then those inside the church, as v29 above. Appearances may be deceiving, but they are important + Tit2:10
33 "that they may be saved" [Rough Calvinists skip the last phrase of this verse]
1 "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ" +4:16, MIMATAI, our word mimic.
2 If it was Paul's responsibility to "deliver" the ordinances, how can it not be ours? It IS our responsibility to inculcate the new ones in the faith, not to accommodate them - but we do not have to insult them either. But between the two postures, the motion must be finally measured as toward maturity, not toward carnal immaturity.
3 EIDENAI, "know" the "ah-ha" kind of knowing, a knowing that you knew all along intuitively, but now after it is pointed out, you know by observation. "head...head...head" If KEPHALA = "source" rather than "authority" in 11:3b then Christ be not God because of 11:3c. For those who dislike a "chain of comand" in spiritual things, a reminder that Christ is not asking us to do what He has not already done. +ch 14, 1Ti2:12.
4,5 Which head? The one with hair on it, or the one designating headship? Answer, see v3. THIS is why grandpa took his hat off in church - and when the national flag came by. It was, to him, a sign of voluntary submission to authority. See also that it is assumed that women can prophesy - under authority. The same Gk. root is translated "dishonoureth"v4,5 and "shame" v6,22, 14:35. Rare, indeed, is the woman who gives ANY thought to how her actions or dress reflect on her husband - or the man who gives much thought to how his actions or dress reflect on his head, Christ.
7 No hats for men? (but see v10 for women) link v7, v9 and v14 to see how far Paul was out of step with his culture - "a man indeed ought not to cover his head;" the Jews did not (do not) pray without the special little prayer cap. EIKON, "image" our icon.
10 "For this cause" a symbol of subjection. See v7; "because of the angels," for those women who object to wearing a hat to worship because it isn't fashionable, "What possible interest could angels have in ladies current fashions?" hence the admonition is timeless. [Also, note, that some angels are good, some bad. Both kinds are looking on. If bad angels see bad behavior or on the other hand, if they see behavior that signifies Biblical submission, will this influence their actions? Think about this.]
11 "In the lord," for those who are bothered by equal rights for women, note this qualifier. Women should have equal rights in the market place and in the work place, in politics and in education, but women are exceedingly unwise to press for equal rank in the church or in the home - because "everything comes from God" v12 NIV.It's not a "value" thing, it's a "chain of command" thing for orderliness and for efficiency.
14 "if a man have long hair...contentious" since ancient times the youth (both boys and girls) have used length of hair as a statement of independence (or rebellion, depending on where you fit in the cultural age scheme). This minor matter is not so minor when tied to the underlying attitudes on both sides of the issue. Crusty oldersters and independent youth really, really need to discuss this whole matter in some depth - with one another. But the focus needs to be on the attitudes, not only the hair length. ATIMIA, "shame" but not the same Gk wd as in v4,5,6.
17,18 Incredible introduction to v20.
19 HAIRESEIS...HINA...DOKIMOI" lit. "heresies"..."in order that"..."functional demonstration of approval."
20 Here is Paul's teaching on the Ordinance of Communion. The context is 1) Schism and a party spirit 2)Corinthian culture of licentiousness, temple feasts, meats to idols 3)Judahizers wanting more of the Feast of Unleavened bread and less of Passover. [footnote, KURIAKON; an adjective, for which no exact English equivalent is available. Only other Rev1:10 also, I do not know why he changes the word for "eat" v20=PHAGEIN, v22=ESTHIEIN, from simple eating to the "polite;" same change in v33,34. I suppose we could take an application that: "It doesn't matter whether we observe Communion simply or as a high liturgy, the command and warning apply equally."]
23 "...I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you." The dry yeastless bread of the Law and of the Word come before the tangy wine of the power of the Spirit; an object lesson for teachers (and for Charismatic preachers).
24 "Take, eat: this is my body...in remembrance of me." Note the word "is," Jesus is saying that He IS the Passover lamb. The word "broken" in KJV is not in the Gk text.[In Mt. Jesus used Eulog..., then EUCHARIS...; here EUCHARISTASAS.]
25 This cup is the new testament in my blood...in remembrance of me." KAINA, "new" in quality.
26 KATAGGELLETE "do show" NIV has "proclaim;" the intensive form of "announce." "till he come"+Gen14:18
27 "unworthily...guilty" MH says, "instead of being cleansed by His blood, they were guilty by it." ANAXIOS lit. the negative of "valuable."
28 "examine himself...eats...drinks" if the person is not old enough to "examine," then that person is not old enough to "eat" and not otherwise; DOKIMADZETO, to do a functional test.
29 KRIMA "damnation to himself," our word "crime"+Mal1:12
30 "for this cause" or better "therefore;" "many...many" in the Gk. it's "many...quite a number of."
If the exercise of the gift of Tongues follow this outline, how can there be problems?
1-for edification of the particular group - if it divides, quit. v25, 14:26.
2-only with an interpreter - another person. 14:28.
3-only 2 or at most 3. 14:27.
4-under the control of the Elders.
5-no women to take part. 14:34. See also Rom12:3-8; Eph4:7-11; 2Pet1:4
1 "Now," PNEUMATIKON, "concerning spiritual(s)" the word "gifts" is not in the Gk text - it is the context of v4 that supplies it, allowing for a translation "spiritual things," "spiritual matters," "spiritual gifts." (Do not omit the latter part of this verse.)
2 APHONA, "dumb" lit. "voiceless," underscoring that our God speaks to us, albeit, rather quietly. [It is thought there is a scribal error in this verse - see commentaries on the Gk text; esp GGFindlay, The Expositor's Greek Testament.]
3 May have been the 1st century "shibboleth."
4 "same Spirit...same Lord...same God" (Distribution is the responsibility of the Holy Spirit.)
5 Origin (Ministration is the responsibility of Christ.)
6 ENERGON, "operations...worketh" (Operations is the responsibility of the Father.)+v10
7 (?) (Not to bless me, but to edify the church.)
7-13+ "every man...wisdom...knowledge...same spirit...faith....healing...miracles...prophecy...discerning of spirits...kinds of tongues...interpretation of tongues...selfsame Spirit...as he will...one Spirit...one body...one Spirit" Every believer has a "gift" for use to the "body," not to be used selfishly! see v18
8 LOGOS "word...word" Speaking gifts? If so, then why skip over "cures" of v9 or "discerning" of v10? "wisdom" = insight into truth, Rom11:33; "knowledge" in ch 13 & 14:6, associated with mysteries and revelations.
9 "faith" see 13:2, "of" healing - James 5 is the normal function of the church, this here is a special gift. [Boy, is this idea controversial - and abused.]
10 "of spirits" - to analyze the fads of faiths. The NIV uses the words "prophesy...distinguish" and "tongues...interpretation" - two pairs, see 1Ths5:20,22; in any case, tongues is for worship, not for evangelism - see 14:22.
11 "as he will" - if He decides then no group of theologians or teachers can decide what He will or won't give. v18
13 "baptized by one spirit" NIV see Mt3:11.
17 "If the whole...were an eye" some are, indeed, all "I."
23, 24 See Phillips; "The parts which do not look beautiful have a deeper beauty in the work they do, while the parts which look beautiful may not be at all essential to life! But God has harmonized the whole body by giving importance of function to the parts which lack apparent importance, that the body should work together as a whole with all the members in sympathetic relationship with one another."
24 SUNEKERASEN "tempered ..together" only other use Heb4:2, the SUN makes the intensive form of "to pour out" as to mix thoroughly, in this case as to join intimately to a completion.
25 "no schism" and how we divide over "gifts;" to God, and to Paul, it's about caring for one another.
26 The typical church is so opposite to this - instead, the lesser gifted member envies the greater gifted member who in turn despises the lesser gifted member; a healthy body must avoid these two evils of envy and pride. "I must be able to worship the Lord when another member exercises his gift, indeed, I must be edified."
28 "apostles" the twelve + Gal1:19, Rom16:7 + Paul and Barnabus; "helps" gifts associated with Deacons (Acts20:35), "governments" lit. a ship captain, gifts associated with Elders (Acts27:11).
28-30 lead into ch13 "apostles...prophets...teachers...miracles...healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues." Note the question marks - count 'em! He is saying something important that most ignore.
31 "You are zealously seeking the preferred gifts, yet show I..." "covet" see Gk+3:13,14:1, Jn5:39; "best" instead of concentrating so much on the lesser ones. ZALOUTE, "covet earnestly;" MacArthur says this can be translated in the imperative: "But you are zealously desiring the preferred gifts, yet..." 13:4, using this same Gk wd., is an argument in favor of this.
1 "Without love, I am a noisy nobody doing nothing." Note the string of EAN, "though", simpler "if" v1,2,2,3,3.
2 EIDO, "understand" the "ah-ha" kind of knowledge, GNOSIN, "knowledge" the experimental kind of knowledge.
3 The word "poor" is implied, it is not in the gk text. Some early mms "surrender my body that I may boast" hmm, volunteering to be a martyr - a center-stage martyr.
4 ZALOI, "jealous" same 12:31, could use some more meditation on the meaning in this verse.
5 ASCHAMONEI, "unseemly" or "rude" NIV; "out of character" perhaps, "easily" (?) while this word may be implied, it is not in the Gk text; LOGIDZETAI, "thinketh no ..." perhaps better "does not spend time thinking of ways to get even."
6 OU CHAIREI...SUGCHAIREI, a simple couplet, "rejoiceth not...rejoiceth with."
7 STEGEI, "beareth" the word refers to a roof or roofing, hence to protect or to keep confidential. [This is an important part of the "masculine code" that has been nearly lost in the modern church!]
8 "fail...cease...vanish away" [the 1st and 3rd are the same, the 2nd is a different word. I doubt the difference is worth mentioning, except that the 3rd has to do with "knowledge;" perhaps a code word for "special kinds of knowledge."] In the context of v13 the spiritual adolescent Must move toward maturity - v11.
10 "when...then" TELEION, "perfect" lit. reaches it's end point; "done away" same as 1st and 3rd in v8.
11 "spake...when I became a man, I put away childish things." "When I was a child, I talked about myself, I thought about myself, I made myself the center of attention." [We are encouraged to be childlike in our faith, not childish.] NAPIOS, "child" lit. "without voice" hence "toddler" a babbler; a bit of a contradiction of terms - hence "a child" here is one who says words, but uses the words without precision. MH comments on EPHRONOUN, "understood" = "prophesied," as "I was taught the mysteries in such an extraordinary way as showed I was not out of my childish state."
12 ( ) "glass" should be "looking glass," or "mirror." +2Co3:18; AINIGMATI, "darkly" our word "enigma," all three words for "know" are the demonstrable type of knowing something.
13 contrast w. v8. So, love is not only better than gifts, it is also better than faith and hope! This verse has a singular verb MENEI "abideth" with a plural object (either "faith, hope, charity" or "these three"). This is either an error in the text or else Paul did it deliberately to teach the unity of "these three."
1Corinthians 14 [Use of Gifts](Manners in the assembly: do nothing childish v20; do nothing to be thought mad v23; do nothing to breed confusion v33.)
1 DIOKETE "Follow", from a root meaning to persecute; see notes at 12:31; include the word "persistently" emphasize "desire." So, it is proper to desire, to eagerly desire genuine spiritual gifts HINA lit "in order that," but even with this reminder of purpose, the best of these are the ones that reach others. [Paul's missionary heart?]
3 Giving out, not receiving, but see 29-32.
5 "all spake" see 4:8 [It seems from the grammar that a person MAY become his own interpreter, but v28 says not.]
7 "a distinction" MH says "a monotone - a single string harp." [DIASTOLAN, "distinction" not to be confused with the medical term pertaining to the heart. The linguistic connection is real, but so circuitous as to confuse the original logic.]
8,9 Excitement without direction - A PEP RALLY! GNOSTHASETAI, "understood" the objective kind of knowing.
10 a play on words "voices...signification" PHONON...APHONON.
11 DUNAMIN, "meaning", lit "the power of the sound;" interesting turn of words, worth meditating on?
12 put our zeal to good use - another case of "too much, too soon."
14 AKARPOS "unfruitful" and can this mean inner spiritual fruit?
15 so, do both! Ac16:20-26, 2Chr20:21,22
16,17 So, don't speak over the heads of your hearers.
18,19 see MH, "I do not speak down on your gift because I envy you - I have more than you have, so how could I envy you."
19 "yet" this with v9 emphasizes the practical nature of this passage.
20 So, a fondness for show-off gifts is an evidence of immaturity. We are to be child-like, not child-ish. Spiritual maturity is to be our steadfast goal.
21 EISAKOUSONTAI, "hear" it's a lot more than merely "hear;" lit "to hear exactly the same as what is said;" a quite rare word in the NT. [a quote of Is28:11, + Deut28:49]
22 This v. is text for those who believe "tongues" are merely a supernatural endowment to be able to converse with people of another human language - and also a reminder that it is a waste to try overmuch to teach spiritual truths to pagans! They need evangelism, not tutoring. Our mandate is not to satisfy their spiritual curiosity, but to evangelize them.
23 They will and they do. If there is a place for a "special gift of unknown tongues" in the church, it would be in small group settings, not in the combined assembly.
25 Yes, there is place for evangelism IN the church, but here it is accidental, not the main focus of the "meeting." See NIV.
26 "let all things be done unto edifying" +33,40.
26-33 ( ) "at the most"(v27)
29-32 ( )
32 "I AM responsible for MY behavior; You ARE responsible for your behavior!" None of this "the devil made me do it" - or "The Holy Spirit told me..."
33 "for God is not the author of confusion, but of peace" +26,40
34 "obedience" KJV, "submission" NIV; Context has only 2 gifts being discussed - tongues & preaching, therefore, since women are allowed to prophesy so long as they are in subjection to the elders (v31 + 11:5) so that leaves tongues. S.Olford says: "No woman should speak in tongues in public." see notes at ch.12.
35 "let them ask their husbands at home" instead of carrying on a whispering conversation, leave it for later - or instead of having the wife whisper (?) to prod her husband to speak up, do it at home - later. "shame" same as 11:6
36 Ho! and v38 another Ho!
39 "forbid not to speak with tongues"
40 "Let all things be done decently and in order."+26,33. The word "decently" is EUSCHAMONOS, better translated "becomingly." We ARE to manifest good manners, and especially IN the church.
2 "if" (?)
3 " PAREDOKA...PARELABON...HOTI...APETHANEN, "I declare...I recieved...that...died...according to the scriptures" technical terms concerning an authorized tradition. [If 14 yrs of Gal2:1 means 14 yrs after his conversion and if 3 yrs of Gal1:18 are to be added, then his visit to Jerusalem can be fixed at 49 A.D. and therefore his conversion can be calculated to have been in 33 A.D. - and thus this v3 is VERY fresh!]
4 HOTI ETAPHA...HOTI EGAGERTAI...(V5)HOTI OPHTHA, See this change of tense! "that he WAS (aorist) buried...that he rose again (perfect)...that he WAS (aorist) seen" The Aorist tense is commonly used for events in the past; the Perfect tense for past events that have present overtones and effects. [Scholars think that because of the repeated use of HOTI "that" that Paul is quoting from a very old document - as Is53, Ps16:10, Is53:10,11 - see also Job14:12, 19:15, Dan12:2 ]
5 "by Cephas" (- after the two Marys -) then James (v7). His documentation includes, now, 5 eyewitness events + his own.
8 EKTROMATI "born out of due time" lit EK = "out;" TROMATI = "trauma"(?) hence, a distressed birth. The ancients used this word for an abortion - the ONLY time abortion is used in scriptures - in spite of what our pro-life advocates may trumpet. [Abortion is nasty business and does all sorts of damage to our society - but scripture is silent on the subject - and to go beyond scripture is dangerous.] Obviously Paul survived the "abortion" or "miscarriage" so context would lead us to believe that these older words are not the better translation. The phrase introduces the personal aside of v9&10, so Paul is describing his own spiritual birth as pressured and rushed - and in an atmosphere of danger.
9 "I am the least of the apostles" see Jn3:30, Eph3:8. The last phrase of v8, all of 9 and 10 are a personal digression. v10, God says "I am THAT I am...period" we say "I am WHAT I am...BY the grace of God." [check LXX on this OT phrase.]
13, 14 ( ) There is no gospel apart from the resurrection.
16-20 "then...and...then...if...but" a string of logic leading to the "but..."
19 ( ) Sadducees = modernists, "If only for this life...we are to be pitied MORE..." NIV
20 APARCHA "firstfruits" +Heb2:10.
24 The goal of all of history! KAI "even" same Tit2:13
25 This suggests that it will take some time before the entire earth is subdued during the Millenium.
28 "when all things shall be subdued unto Him" That'll be the day! in the mean time, we, the visible church behave like a herd of independent geese, forming an uneasy truce between the herders and the herdees.
29 A problem text used much by the Mormons. +1Pet4:6 The problem is solved if we see this as a description of "they" in v29 and a description of "we" in v30.
30 "jeopardy"+2Co11:26
31 "I die daily"
32 I do not know of this Ephesus event. "what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die." The Epicurean code of logic from Is22:13.
33,34 "communications" is better translated as "companions," or as "customs" and see the NIV on this blunt pair of verses. EKNAPSATE, "Awake" lit "return to your senses" as a drunk to sobriety; ENTROPAN, "shame" in the physical realm it is a "running down-hill" a dissipation of energy thru loss, and in the social realm it amounts to the same end, but with a moral stigma. With more population and more environmental laws to address careless use of natural resources the two realms grow closer together.
36 APHRON, "Thou fool" also Ro2:20.
41 ( )
44 As surely as there is a natural body, so surely "there is a spiritual body"
45 "living soul...quickening spirit," or more literally, "a living soul, a life-giving spirit." (?)from Ge2:7
49 ( ) Some early translations put this in the imperative "so let us" [for computer users, the word here is EIKONA, "icon" when you click on an icon, you get everything that icon represents!]
50 "flesh and blood cannot inherit" therefore we must have a NEW body - see last phrase of next verse. [OU DUNATAI, lit, "not have power" and he used two different words in the v. for "inherit," why?]
51 "Behold, I shew you a mystery" hence a new revelation +1Ths4:15; "but we shall all be changed" - see v50. [some wag said this is THE text for a baby nursery worker.]
52 ATOMO an atom of time, the English word "moment" is used only 3 times in the NT and all are different Gk wds. Lk4:5, 2Co 4:17.
54 from Is25:8
55 from Hosea13:14
56 Perhaps, his logic runs like this "What gives the thought of death a sting is our sin - and what gives our sin a sting is the thought of the law." [Thus the more an unconverted person knows of the Law of God, the more nervous he becomes - either to conversion or to madness. So, don't be surprised if those to whom you repeatedly witness of the love of Christ come to hate you.]
57 ( )
58 ( ) "Therefore" See NIV, 1)stand firm, 2)Let nothing move you (unmovable, but not inflexible), 3)always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord. [KOPOS = labor, KARPOS = fruit.]
1 "Now...even so do ye"
2 "On the first day of the week" Mt28:1, for the poor, "as God hath prospered him" This is level one giving - from my excess such that my lifestyle is not altered; "that there be no gatherings when I come" implies that he doesn't want to have to use pressure to make a collection, see 2Co9:7 [every 6th sermon Jesus preached was on stewardship.]
3 [DOKIMASATE here tx as "approve" elsewhere tx as a test to demonstrate or to test to approve.]
7 HO KURIOS EPITREPSA "If the Lord permit" [or sometimes abbreviated as D.V. in older writings, from the Latin DEO VOLENTE (I think I spelled the Latin correctly)]
9 ( ) "and" Is opportunity so often accompanied with opposition that he uses "and"?
11 better "I, with the brethren, look for him."
13 GRAGORIETE "Watch ye" or "shake off your lethargy" or "be active," and don't let others add anything to Grace for salvation. Be men, and not merely males; lit. "play the man," be manly and with charity.(v.14)
14 "all...with charity" better translated for today as "all...in love"
15 "addicted" the word is ETAXAN lit. "they taxed themselves" [and the way our legislators attend to taxes is an addiction!]
16 Listen to and follow those who demonstrate a true service of the Lord - even if they don't hold high office. Contrast this with v22.
17 "for that which was lacking on your part they have supplied" Is this a gentle reprimand?
19 moved? see Acts18:26
20 PHILAMATI HAGIO "holy kiss" lit. a friendship kiss.
21 And Paul put his signature on it with his "own hand." see 2Th3:17 + added.
22 one accursed until the coming of the Lord; or, "let him be a curse." "May the Lord come." [ATO ANATHEMA. MARANA THA. Since there are no punctuation marks in the earliest mms, the periods must have been supplied by later scholars. But in any case, then, the meaning is somewhat different from the KJV that runs it all into a single expression. Any attempt to make this support universalism by suggesting that "the curse" lasts only until the "coming of the Lord" isn't supportable.] [Is ANATHEMA an Aramaic word?]
24 postlogue note, Paul lists his "scribes" and that for this epistle he used 4 of them. [not included in all mms.]