1:1The Romans had made Corinth the capital of Achaia (the southern half of present-day Greece}. The city was a flourishing trade center because of its seaport. With the thousands of merchants and sailors who disembarked there each year, it had developed a reputation as one of the most immoral cities in the ancient world; its many pagan temples encouraged the practice of sexual immorality along with idol worship. In fact, the Greek word “to Corinthianize” came to mean “to practice sexual immorality.” A Christian church in the city would face many pressures and conflicts. For more information on Corinth, see the first note on 1 Corinthians 1:2.
Life Application Study Bible2 CorinthiansChapter 1
2 Corinthians 1
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 1960, 1961, 1962
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12 Corinthians 1
1. Paul explains his actions
1Greetings from Paul
This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, andfrom our brother Timothy.lam writing to God’s church in Corinth and to all of his holy people throughout Greece.*
2May God our Father and the LORD Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
God Offers Comfort to All
33All praise to God, the Father of our LORD Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. 4He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 5For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. 7We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us. 8We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters,* about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. 9In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead.
10And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our4:4 Greek Achaia, the southern region of the Greek peninsula. 1:8 Greek brothers.also mean receiving strength, encouragement, and hope to dealwith our troubles. The more we suffer, the more comfort Godgives us. If you are feeling overwhelmed, allow God to comfortyou. Remember that every trial you endure will help you comfortother people who are suffering similar troubles.4:5 Suffering for Christ refers to those afflictions we experienceas we serve Christ. At the same time, Christ suffers with hispeople, since they are united with him: In Acts 9:4, 5 Christasked Paul why he was persecuting him. This implies that Christsuffered with the early Christians when they were persecuted.1:6, 7 Paul had a radically different view of suffering. Sufter-ing—especially trials and discomfort associated with theadvancement of Christ’s Kingdom—is God's way of allowingChristians to become more like Jesus, to suffer for the gospeljust as Jesus sutfered for it (Philippians 1:29; 3:10). Peteragreed with Paul: Christians should rejoice when they suffer,for in their own suffering they will in some small way experiencewhat it meant for Jesus to suffer for their sins (1 Peter 4:12, 13).In addition to drawing people closer to Christ, sufferingcan also help them grow in their faith. God uses suffering toimprove his people and shape them into better Christians. Infact, suffering should be thought of as the necessary pain thataccompanies spiritual growth. In Romans, Paul noted thatsuffering produces perseverance, which, in turn produces Chris-tian character (Romans 5:3, 4; see also James 1:3, 4; 2 Peter1:6; Revelation 2:2, 19). This passage highlights another benefitto suffering: It teaches the sufferer how to encourage otherswho are also suffering.4:8-10 Paul does not give details about their hardships in Asia,although his accounts of all three missionary journeys recordmany difficult trials he faced (Acts 13:2-14:28, Acts 45:40-21:17). He does write that they felt that they were going to dieand reatized that they could do nothing to help themselves-—they simply had to rely on God.4:8-10 We often depend on our own skills and abilities whenlife seems easy and only turn to God when we feel unable tohelp ourselves. But as we realize our own powerlessness with-out him and our need for his constant help in our lives, we cometo depend on him more and more. God is our source of power,and we receive his help by keeping in touch with him. With thisattitude of dependence, problems will drive us to God rather thanaway from him. Learn how to rely on God daily.
confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us. ‘And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety.
Paul’s Change of Plans
1212We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness* and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you. 13Our letters have been straightforward, and there is nothing written between the lines and nothing you can’t understand. I hope someday you will fully understand us, 4even if you don’t understand us now. Then on the day when the LORD Jesus* returns, you will be proud of us in the same way we are proud of you. 15Since I was so sure of your understanding and trust, I wanted to give you a double blessing by visiting you twice—16 first on my way to Macedonia and again when I returned from Macedonia.* Then you could send me on my way to Judea. 17You may be asking why I changed my plan. Do you think I make my plans carelessly? Do you think I am like people of the world who say “Yes” when they really mean “No”? 18As surely as God is faithful, my word to you does not waver between “ Yes” and “No.” 19For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, does not waver between “Yes” and “No.” He is the one whom Silas,* Timothy, and I preached to you, and as God's ultimate “Yes,” he always does what he says. 20For all of God's promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “ Yes”) ascends to God for his glory. 21]t is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us, 22and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us. 23Now I call upon God as my witness that I am telling the truth. The reason I didn’t return to Corinth was to spare you froma severe rebuke. 24But that does not mean we want to dominate you by telling you how to put your faith into practice. We want to work together with you so you will be full of joy, for it is by your own faith that you stand firm.
Textual footnotes
- northern region of Greece.
- 1:12 Some manuscripts read honesty.
- 1:14 Some manuscripts read our LORD Jesus. 1:16 Macedonia was in the
- 1:19 Greek Silvanus.
Life Application Notes 9 notes
1:11Paul requested prayer for himself and his companions as they traveled to spread God’s message. Pray for pastors, teach+ ers, missionaries, and others who are spreading the Good News. Satan will challenge anyone making a real difference for God.
1:12-14Paul knew the importance of honesty and sincerity in word and action, especially in a situation as in Corinth, where Constructive criticism was necessary. So Paul did not come with impressive human wisdom. God wants us to be rea! and transparent in all our relationships. If we aren't, we may end up lowering Ourselves to spreading rumors, gossiping, and second-guessing.
1:15-17Paul had recently made a brief, unscheduled visit to Corinth that was very painful for him and the church (see 2:1). After that visit, he told the church when he would return. But Paul changed his original travel plans. Instead of sailing from Ephesus to Corinth before going to Macedonia, he traveled from Ephesus directly to Macedonia, where he wrote a {etter to the Corinthians that caused him much anguish and them much sorrow (7:8, 9). He had made his original plans, thinking that the church would have solved its problems. When the time came for Paul’s scheduled trip to Corinth, however, the crisis had not been fully fesolved (although progress was being made in some areas; 7-11-16). So he wrote a letter instead (2:3, 4; 7:8) because another visit might have only made matters worse. Thus, Paul stayed away from Corinth because he was concerned over the church’s unity, not because he was fickle.
1:17-20Paul's change of plans caused some of his accusers to say that he couldn't be trusted, hoping to undermine his authority. Paul said that he was not the type of person to say yes when he meant no. Paul explained that it was not indecision but concern for their feelings that forced him to change his plans. The reason for his trip—to bring joy (1:24)—could not be accomplished with the present crisis. Paul didn’t want to visit them only to rebuke them severely (1:23). Just as the Corinthians could trust God to keep his promises, they could trust Paul as God’s representative to keep his. He would still visit them, but at a better time.
1:19,20Instead of defending himself, Paul reminded the Corinthians of God's faithfulness. There was no duplicity in God. His promises would be fulfilled. There would be no wavering between “yas” and “no.” Jesus Christ was the premier example of this. “All of God's promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding ‘yes!’” Jesus is the embodiment of God's faithfulness. Because Jesus Christ is faithful, Paul (a messenger appointed by Jesus) would also be faithful in his ministry.
1:21,22The Holy Spirit guarantees that we belong to God and will receive all his benefits (Ephesians 1:13, 14). The Holy Spirit guarantees that salvation is ours now, and that we will receive so much more when Christ returns. The great comfort and power the Holy Spirit gives in this life is a foretaste or down payment (“first installment”) of the benefits of our eternal life in God's presence. With the privilege of belonging to God comes the responsibility of identifying ourselves as his faithful servants. Don’t be ashamed to let others know that you are his.
1:23The Corinthian church had written to Paul with questions about their faith (see 1 Corinthians 7:1). In response, Paul had written 1 Corinthians. But the church did not follow his instructions. Paul had planned to visit them again, but instead, he wrote a letter that caused sorrow (7:8, 9) but also caused them to change their ways. He had not wanted to visit and repeat the same advice for the same problems. He wrote the emotional letter to encourage them to follow the advice that he had already given in previous letters and visits.
1:24Standing firm is not a way to be saved but the evidence that a person is really committed to Jesus. Endurance is not a means to earn salvation; it is the by-product of a truly devoted life. Endurance grows out of commitment to Jesus Christ. In Matthew 10:22, Jesus predicted that his fallowers would be severely persecuted by those who hated what he stood for. In the midst of terrible persecutions, however, they could have hope, knowing that salvation was theirs. Times of trial serve to sift true Christians from false or fair-weather Christians. When you are pressured to give up and turn your back on Christ, don’t do it. Remember the benefits of standing firm and continue to live for Christ.
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DIFFERENCES BETWEEN 1 AND 2 CORINTHIANS
The two letters to the Corinthian church that we find in the Bible are very different, with different tones and focuses.
2 Corinthians/Personal
1 Corinthians/Practical Focuses on the character of the Corinthian church Deals with questions on marriage, freedom, spiritual gifts, and order in the church Paul instructs in matters concerning the church’s well-being Contains advice to help the church combat the pagan influences in the wicked city of Corinth
Focuses on Paul as he bares his soul and tells of his love for the Corinthian church
Deals with the problem of false teachers, whereby Paul defends his authority and the truth of his message Paul gives his testimony because he knows that acceptance of his advice is vital to the church’s well-being Contains testimony to help the church combat the havoc caused by false teachers