[Mickmrly]

Welcome to this Weekly Bible Reading thread. In this thread we'll be going through 2-3 verses of the Bible every week, from either the Old Testament or the New Testament.

This thread has been made so that it will be easier to keep track of what books we have already read via Threadmarks.

I'll usually upload the new verses every Monday. Please feel free to comment with your thoughts or questions about the bible readings, or just aspects of the Bible in general.

 

[Mickmrly]

John

Weekly Bible Reading Thread

Thanks for checking out this weekly Bible reading thread. I'll try to keep everything updated well. I'll try to post a new reading in the first half of every week, and I'll try to keep the length of the reading very manageable (5-10 minutes). My goal is to post a reading each Monday, but if life...

d-pad.life

James

Weekly Bible Reading Thread

Sorry for the week break. I haven't had a single day when someone in my house hasn't been sick since Christmas morning. John 21 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john+21&version=NKJV Audio: https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/bubb/nkjv/John.21 This week's reading is short, but it...

d-pad.life

Joshua

Weekly Bible Reading Thread

Often the elites of the ancient world were heavily involved in religion. The rich and powerful of the Greek and Roman world would often finance temples as well as religious festivals and the like. Ancient temples like the Parthenon had multiple benefactors and accreditations. The Jewish world...

d-pad.life

Judges

Weekly Bible Reading Thread

You're really trying hard to paint me as some sort of malevolent creature who has it out for Christians. In reality what happened is you randomly asked me why I don't believe in Jesus. I laid out my reasoning in a respectful manner and was met with a man aping out. After being called a mod edit...

d-pad.life

Ecclesiastes

Weekly Bible Reading Thread

That was the last of the book of Joshua. There is an extreme disregard for life at this time in Israel, with a concubine left outside to be brutally abused, her corpse cut into pieces to send a message to fellow Israelites, the tribe of Benjamin being almost completely destroyed as punishment...

d-pad.life

Proverbs

Weekly Bible Reading Thread

Ecclesiastes 4:4-6 And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person's envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. Fools fold their hands and ruin themselves. Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.

d-pad.life

 

[Mickmrly]

While I was planning to go to Genesis next, seeing as how we have gone through 4 Old Testament threads in a row, I thought it would be nice to go back to the New Testament for a little bit.

Since I was planning to do Corinthians 1+2 after Genesis, I'll just switch the order around and go through the two books of Paul's letters to the Corinthians instead.

This week's reading is 1 Corinthians: 1-2

Bible Gateway passage: 1 Corinthians 1-2 - New International Version

Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and...

www.biblegateway.com

Spoiler: Verses

1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,
2 To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:
3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving
4 I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. 5 For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge—6 God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you.7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 8 He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

A Church Divided Over Leaders
10 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters,[a] in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. 11 My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12 What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas[b]"; still another, "I follow Christ."
13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so no one can say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don't remember if I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

Christ Crucified Is God's Power and Wisdom
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written:
"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."[c]
20 Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: "Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord."[d]

2 And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.[e] 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God's power.

God's Wisdom Revealed by the Spirit
6 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 No, we declare God's wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 However, as it is written:
"What no eye has seen,
what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived"[f]—
the things God has prepared for those who love him—
10 these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.11 For who knows a person's thoughts except their own spiritwithin them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.[g] 14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. 15 The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments,16 for,
"Who has known the mind of the Lord
so as to instruct him?"[h]
But we have the mind of Christ.

 

[Mickmrly]

I thought 1 Corinthians 1:18 was interesting:

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

It does seem these days that those who are strongly against Christianity think that Christians are stupid and bigoted. I don't think it's a coincidence that the most fervent anti-Christians tend to be very bitter and angry themselves. In contrast, I find that Christianity to be a nice subtle strand of stability in a chaotic world. Going to church is especially fulfilling and calming for me.

 

[Franky Family]

1 Corinthians 1:4-9 (NIV) I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. 5 For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge— 6 God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. 7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 8 He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.


It's comforting to know that Christ enriches us in every way. It's also comforting to know that we do not lack any spiritual gift, although I am unsure of what Paul means there about that?

 

[Mickmrly]

It's comforting to know that Christ enriches us in every way. It's also comforting to know that we do not lack any spiritual gift, although I am unsure of what Paul means there about that?

I think Paul is trying to say we have the potential to enjoy the gifts of the holy spirit already, and don't need to do special things to have access to them. No spiritual DLC required. Working on our spiritual gifts is what we need to do, not worry about how to qualify for them.

For reference the gifts of the holy spirit are: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety and Fear of God. With their original reference being in the Old Testament, Isaiah 11:2-3:

2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of might,
the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—
3 and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.
He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,
or decide by what he hears with his ears;

 

[Mickmrly]

The reading for this week is 1 Corinthians 3-4:

Bible Gateway passage: 1 Corinthians 3-4 - New International Version

The Church and Its Leaders - Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For...

www.biblegateway.com

Spoiler: Verses

The Church and Its Leaders
3 Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? 4 For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not mere human beings?

5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants,through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 9 For we are co-workers in God's service;you are God's field, God's building.

10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person's work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.

16 Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in your midst? 17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy that person; for God's temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.

18 Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wiseby the standards of this age, you should become "fools" so that you may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: "He catches the wise in their craftiness"[a]; 20 and again, "The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile."[b] 21 So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas[c] or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, 23 and you are of Christ,and Christ is of God.

The Nature of True Apostleship
4 This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed. 2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 3 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself.4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent.It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.

6 Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, "Do not go beyond what is written." Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other. 7 For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive?And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

8 Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have begun to reign—and that without us! How I wish that you really had begun to reign so that we also might reign with you! 9 For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like those condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to human beings. 10 We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! 11 To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. 12 We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; 13 when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world—right up to this moment.

Paul's Appeal and Warning
14 I am writing this not to shame you but to warn you as my dear children. 15 Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me. 17 For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.

18 Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing,and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have. 20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. 21 What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline, or shall I come in love and with a gentle spirit?

 

[Rock And Roll]

I have to admit, this is a section of the Bible I just can't really seem to pay attention in. Not sure if it's the tone or how it is written but I struggle with this section of the new testament. I'm hoping your insight will make it click.

One verse I find very interesting is 1:25

25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

I think this is maybe the only time in the Bible God is tied in with faults. I get what Paul is saying here, he is not saying God is foolish or weak. But it's probably the only part in the Bible where you read something like this and it catches my attention because of that

 

[Franky Family]

I have to admit, this is a section of the Bible I just can't really seem to pay attention in. Not sure if it's the tone or how it is written but I struggle with this section of the new testament. I'm hoping your insight will make it click.

One verse I find very interesting is 1:25



I think this is maybe the only time in the Bible God is tied in with faults. I get what Paul is saying here, he is not saying God is foolish or weak. But it's probably the only part in the Bible where you read something like this and it catches my attention because of that

I just read some commentary from the Catena Bible app and a Christian named Ambrosiastor from 400 AD said this about the verse:

When Paul speaks of the "foolishness of God," he is not implying that God is foolish. Rather he is saying that since God's way of reasoning is in accord with things of the spirit, it confounds the reasoning of this world. It is wiser than human reasoning, because spiritual things are wiser than carnal ones. Spiritual things do not exist through carnal ones, but the other way around. Therefore carnal things are understandable in relation to spiritual ones. Similarly, what belongs to heaven is stronger than what belongs to earth. So what seems like the weakness of God is not really weak at all. Christ appeared to be defeated when he was killed, but he emerged as the victor and turned the reproof back on his persecutors. Commentary on Paul's Epistles.

Here's another commentary, which is lengthy, but very useful. It puts a lot into perspective regarding 1 Corinthians 1:25, written by Cornelius a Lapide from AD 1637:

Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. That Isaiah , say Ambrose and Anselm, the foolishness and weakness of God, or what men think is the foolishness and weakness in God and in Christ incarnate and suffering, as e.g, His humanity, morality, Passion and Cross, was just that by which Christ, when seemingly conquered, yet most wisely and most powerfully conquered men, Satan, and the whole world. In other words, God"s wisdom and strength by what was foolish and weak, viz, the Cross. And therefore Jerome and S. Augustine explain the passage of Habakkuk (iii4) "He had horns coming out of His hands," thus: The strength and weapons by which, as by horns, Christ slew His foes were the arms of the Cross to which the hands of Christ ere nailed. Hence it is that the cross in the sky appeared to Constantine the Great as he was going to battle against Maxentius, with the inscription, "In this sign thou shalt conquer" (Euseb, Life of Constantine, lib. i. c22). Literally and morally the power and wisdom of the Cross are seen (1.) in that on the Cross God showed His supreme love to us, that so He might draw us to Him; for God, under no necessity, with no prospect of advantage to Himself, of His own will stooped to the Cross from love of Prayer of Manasseh , solely. This He yet did with such wisdom that no damage was dine by it to the loftiness and glory of His Godhead; for the Godhead in Him suffered nothing, but He bore all His suffering in the Manhood which He had assumed. (2.) In that on the Cross He redeemed Prayer of Manasseh , not by the power of His Godhead, but through the righteousness and humility of His Passion, as S. Augustine says. (3.) In that on the Cross He set before us a most perfect example of obedience, constancy, endurance of punishment, patience, fortitude, and all virtues, as well as mortification of vices. (4.) In that on the Cross He condemned the wisdom and pride of the world, and gave to Prayer of Manasseh , who had fallen through pride and self-indulgence, a mirror of life, viz, a mode of recovery through humility and the Cross. (See also S. Thomas3 , p. qu46 , art3,4 , and S. Augustine, De Trin. lib. xiii. c12.) S. Bernard, in his exhortation to the Soldiers of the Temple (c11), says: "The weakness of Christ was no less beneficial to us than His majesty; for although the power of His Godhead ordered the removal of the yoke of sin, yet the weakness of His flesh destroyed by death the rights of death over man. And therefore the Apostle beautifully says: "The weakness of God is stronger than men." But His foolishness by which He was pleased to save the world, so as to confound the wise; which made Him, though He was in the form of God and equal to God, empty Himself, and take upon Him the form of a servant; by which, though he was rich, He yet for our sake became poor, though He was great He became little, though he was high yet He became humbled, though He was powerful He became weak; through which He hungered, thirsted, and was weary on the journey, and suffered all that His own will and no necessity laid upon Him; this foolishness of His, was it not to us the way of prudence, the form of righteousness, the example of holiness? Therefore the Apostle also adds, "The foolishness of God is wiser than men." Death then set us free from death, life from error, grace from sin. And truly His death won the victory through His righteousness; because the Just One, by paying what he never took, rightly recovered all that He had lost." Hence it is that Francis and the greatest Saints have sought to be considered foolish by the world, in order that they might the rather please God. Some religious Orders, indeed, so regard this as the height of perfection and Christian wisdom that they enjoin their members to love, desire, and embrace contempt, ridicule, insults, and injuries, and to long to be considered fools, just as eagerly as worldly men seek for a reputation for Wisdom of Solomon , for honour, and renown. They do this to teach them in this way (1.) to utterly despise the world; (2.) to humiliate themselves and uproot their innate desire of honour, praise, glory, and high position; (3.) to be more like Christ, and to clothe themselves with His garments and His marks, who for our sakes, and to give us an example of virtue and perfection, chose these things Himself, willed to be considered foolish, and became a scorn of men, and the outcast of the people, They say, therefore, with S. Paul, "God forbid that I should glory save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified to me and I to the world." All this does the Cross of Christ teach if you often meditate on it; nay, the Cross is the fount of wisdom. S. Bonaventura, when asked where he had drunk in so much Wisdom of Solomon , showed a crucifix almost worn away by kisses. S. Jacoponus, a man of good birth and of great learning, after having learned from the Cross of Christ to become foolish to the world, was asked by Christ, who appeared to him in a friendly and familiar way, why he was so enamoured of this foolishness, and he answered with his customary pious pleasantry, "Because Thou, Lord, hast been more foolish than I." In short, S. Chrysostom (Hom4on the Cross and the Robber) sums up the power and praise of the Cross as follows: "If you to know the power of the Cross, and what I have to say in its praise, listen: The Cross is the hope of Christians, the resurrection of the dead, the way of them that despair, the staff of the lame, the consolation of the poor, the curb of the rich, the destruction of the proud, the punishment of them that live badly, victory over the demons, subjection of the devil, the instructor of the young, nourishment of the needy, hope of the hopeless, the rudder of seafarers, haven to the storm-tossed, wall to the besieged, father to the fatherless, defender of widows, counsellor of the just, rest to the weary, guardian of little ones, head of men, end of the aged, light to them that sit in darkness, the magnificence of kings, an everlasting shield, wisdom of the foolish, liberty to the slaves, a philosophy for kings. law ro the lawless, the boast of martyrs, the self-denial monks, the chastity of virgins, the joy of priests, the foundation of the Church, the destruction of temples, the rejection of idols, a stumbling-block to the Jews, perdition to the ungodly, strength to the weak, physician to the sick, bread to the hungry, water to the thirsty, clothing to the naked."

 

[Franky Family]

I have to admit, this is a section of the Bible I just can't really seem to pay attention in.

I felt the same way. Paul has some of the greatest verses in the entire Bible in my opinion, and it was inspiring to see read about his turn around in the book of Acts. But in his letters, he loses me a lot of the times too. It might be the way he explains things, to me there's something about it that is hard to fully grasp. Not sure if it's way of speaking or jumping around from what he says in one particular verse to the next or what, but it annoyed me and I found his preaching of the gospel kind of lacking in explanation. Like if it weren't for others, there's no way I would have understood what he meant. It might have taken me months or years or a decade before I came to understand that he was talking about or referring to Jesus and how the Lord overcame everything on the Cross.

 

[Franky Family]

1 Corinthians 3:16 Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in your midst? 17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy that person; for God's temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.

Spoiler: Discussion

I just wanted to make sure, Is Paul referring to the church in this verse? At first, I thought he was referring to the literal body being God's temple, which makes a ton of sense to me. But then I figured maybe he's talking about the church because he says "you together are that temple." So maybe it's both? Seems likely to be both to me.

 

[Mickmrly]

1 Corinthians 3:16 Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in your midst? 17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy that person; for God's temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.

Spoiler: Discussion

I just wanted to make sure, Is Paul referring to the church in this verse? At first, I thought he was referring to the literal body being God's temple, which makes a ton of sense to me. But then I figured maybe he's talking about the church because he says "you together are that temple." So maybe it's both? Seems likely to be both to me.

I think it is likely both as well. In the reading for this new week, Paul talks about how the body is a temple of the Holy Spirit:

1 Corinthians 6:19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;

I think the people together are the Temple as well, as the congregation are the ones who fill the Churches/Temples and are the physical manifestation of the church.

 

[Mickmrly]

This week's reading is 1 Corinthians 5-6:

Bible Gateway passage: 1 Corinthians 5-6 - New International Version

Dealing With a Case of Incest - It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife. And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man...

www.biblegateway.com

Spoiler: Verses

Dealing With a Case of Incest
5 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father's wife.2 And you are proud! Shouldn't you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this? 3 For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesus on the one who has been doing this. 4 So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present,5 hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh,[a][b] so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.

6 Your boasting is not good. Don't you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? 7 Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11 But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister[c] but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.

12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked person from among you."[d]

Lawsuits Among Believers
6 If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord's people? 2 Or do you not know that the Lord's people will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! 4 Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned in the church? 5 I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? 6 But instead, one brother takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers!

7 The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 8 Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters. 9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men[e] 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Sexual Immorality
12 "I have the right to do anything," you say—but not everything is beneficial. "I have the right to do anything"—but I will not be mastered by anything.13 You say, "Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both." The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16 Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, "The two will become one flesh."[f] 17 But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.[g]

18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

 

[Franky Family]

1 Corinthians 4:1-5 This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed. 2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 3 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. 4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.

Spoiler: Discussion

This passage kind of is an eye opener for me. God is going to trust everyone to do their part, at least something for the benefit of all, I believe. So it's important for everyone to realize what they must do, and try to prove faithful and do what they can. But it's the part where Paul is indifferent to the judgement of men that is noteworthy. He sets his sights higher towards heavenly things. And even more impressive to me is how he is a servant of Christ with a clear conscience. I think a lot of people, myself included, would be better off if judgements were withheld and we stopped being so harsh on ourselves. It's not an easy thing to do. But I know God wants us to not worry and for it to be well with us, so next time there are thoughts of beating oneself down for past mistakes it is good to know that the Lord would prefer that we take it easy on ourselves and to have a clear conscience like Paul, while also knowing that we are sinners. The idea is to be faithful servants of Christ so that all may benefit and hopefully live well.

 

[Rock And Roll]

Corinthians 3: 18-21

18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.

21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are your's;

I like the KJV translation of 19 because it works in two different contexts. The first context is what has been translated in other versions, the basic gist is what seems wise to us is actually foolish in the grand scheme of things before God. But when I read it in KJV, I thought of "foolishness with God" referring to ourselves being foolish with God. "Wisdom" in this world is supposedly atheism and the non-belief of God, which gives people ample opportunity to sin and generally do things they would not do if they believed in a creator. So we are being "foolish with God" in the way we conduct ourselves, much like you would be foolish with a lion to pull on it's whiskers.

20 is another truth, the "wisest" among us are usually incredibly vain and it's a way for them to feel superior towards others.

 

[Mickmrly]

1 Corinthians 4:5

5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.

I do find this verse a little challenging. Waiting for people to die/for Jesus to come back in order to properly judge people seems very illogical. While some people may behave badly on earth and eventually repent of their ways before their death, I find it more likely that those who practice evil usually will keep going that way until their death.

People can change theoretically, but it seems extremely unlikely they will do so. At least in my view. Judging wrongdoers based on their actions and separating from them seems to me the best way to live. Following God's commandments is difficult enough without bad people dragging others down with them.

 

[Mickmrly]

1 Corinthians 4:1-5 This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed. 2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 3 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. 4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.

Spoiler: Discussion

This passage kind of is an eye opener for me. God is going to trust everyone to do their part, at least something for the benefit of all, I believe. So it's important for everyone to realize what they must do, and try to prove faithful and do what they can. But it's the part where Paul is indifferent to the judgement of men that is noteworthy. He sets his sights higher towards heavenly things. And even more impressive to me is how he is a servant of Christ with a clear conscience. I think a lot of people, myself included, would be better off if judgements were withheld and we stopped being so harsh on ourselves. It's not an easy thing to do. But I know God wants us to not worry and for it to be well with us, so next time there are thoughts of beating oneself down for past mistakes it is good to know that the Lord would prefer that we take it easy on ourselves and to have a clear conscience like Paul, while also knowing that we are sinners. The idea is to be faithful servants of Christ so that all may benefit and hopefully live well.

Reading through your post again, I thought about why I am so set on being judgemental about people. I think I am that way because of some people behaving badly in the past. Judging has become a form of protection.

While protecting people is important, I think that perhaps I should focus more on protecting people in the present and refrain from letting judgment fester.

 

[Franky Family]

1 Corinthians 5:6-8 (NIV) 6 Your boasting is not good. Don't you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? 7 Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Spoiler: Discussion

I didn't understand this the first time I read the chapter a few months back. But what Paul is essentially telling us is that even a little bit of pride that takes root in the heart can boost or inflate our sense of self-worth and lead us astray from the narrow path, and onto a dangerous path, is that correct? He's basically calling for us to be even-keeled from what I can understand here. But I'm not sure what Paul means about keeping the Festival at this moment

 

[Franky Family]

1 Corinthians 6:2-3 Or do you not know that the Lord's people will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels?

Spoiler: Discussion

How does Paul know that God's elect will judge the world and judge even angels? Is there a verse in the OT that confirms what Paul says?

 

[Rock And Roll]

I find the chapters this week to be confusing in the same parts you mentioned @Franky Family

I don't have much insight about the reading this week, I think it's either hard to understand or self explanatory. I do like 6:18 from purely a thought/philosophical view point

18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body

The idea of all other sins being out of the body while sexually immorality is inside the body. Although I suppose that alcohol/substance abuse could also be considered as sinning inside the body as it destroys God's temple.

 

[Mickmrly]

1 Corinthians 5:6-8 (NIV) 6 Your boasting is not good. Don't you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? 7 Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Spoiler: Discussion

I didn't understand this the first time I read the chapter a few months back. But what Paul is essentially telling us is that even a little bit of pride that takes root in the heart can boost or inflate our sense of self-worth and lead us astray from the narrow path, and onto a dangerous path, is that correct? He's basically calling for us to be even-keeled from what I can understand here. But I'm not sure what Paul means about keeping the Festival at this moment

I think with the festival reference, he means that we should keep the faith and church alive and healthy. Instead of having Christianity being full of boastful and wicked people manipulating others, it should be full of honest and kind people.

 

[Mickmrly]

I find the chapters this week to be confusing in the same parts you mentioned @Franky Family

I don't have much insight about the reading this week, I think it's either hard to understand or self explanatory. I do like 6:18 from purely a thought/philosophical view point



The idea of all other sins being out of the body while sexually immorality is inside the body. Although I suppose that alcohol/substance abuse could also be considered as sinning inside the body as it destroys God's temple.

I also think that substance abuse should be considered as sinning inside the body. The main difference with sexual immorality is that you don't need to have any outside substance or tool to partake in it, so it is mainly a manipulation of normal bodily functions.

 

[Mickmrly]

This week's reading is 1 Corinthians 7-8:

Bible Gateway passage: 1 Corinthians 7-8 - New International Version

Concerning Married Life - Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. The husband should fulfill his...

www.biblegateway.com

Spoiler: Verses

Concerning Married Life
7 Now for the matters you wrote about: "It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman." 2 But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. 5 Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 I say this as a concession, not as a command. 7 I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.
8 Now to the unmarried[a] and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. 9 But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry,for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
10 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. 11 But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.
12 To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. 13 And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.
15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. 16 How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

Concerning Change of Status
17 Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. 18 Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God's commands is what counts.20 Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.
21 Were you a slave when you were called? Don't let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. 22 For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord's freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ's slave. 23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings. 24 Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.

Concerning the Unmarried
25 Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy. 26 Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for a man to remain as he is. 27 Are you pledged to a woman? Do not seek to be released. Are you free from such a commitment? Do not look for a wife. 28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.
29 What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; 30 those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; 31 those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.
32 I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's affairs—how he can please the Lord. 33 But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— 34 and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. 35 I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.
36 If anyone is worried that he might not be acting honorably toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if his passions are too strong[b] and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. They should get married. 37 But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind not to marry the virgin—this man also does the right thing. 38 So then, he who marries the virgin does right, but he who does not marry her does better.[c]
39 A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord.40 In my judgment, she is happier if she stays as she is—and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

Concerning Food Sacrificed to Idols
8 Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that "We all possess knowledge." But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. 2 Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know. 3 But whoever loves God is known by God.[d]
4 So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that "An idol is nothing at all in the world" and that "There is no God but one." 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many "gods" and many "lords"), 6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.
7 But not everyone possesses this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. 8 But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.
9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol's temple, won't that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols? 11 So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 12 When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.

 

[Mickmrly]

1 Corinthians 7:2-5

2 But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. 5 Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

I think this was a nice, practical and equal way of describing marital relations. Spouses denying each other unreasonably can only lead to bitterness and flirtation with sin.

 

[Mickmrly]

I also thought that Chapter 8, referring to eating food sacrificed to idols, was interesting.

I suppose that in those days, they had either free food or certain food providers distributing meat from temples to idols. It is sort of similar with the communion bread, but that is the Christian distribution of food.

Even if it was easier to find good food in pagan temples, utilising that option would have caused some issues. An example being in 1 Corinthians 8:9-12:

9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol's temple, won't that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols? 11 So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 12 When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.

Even communists use food to control the population. While I would try my best to uphold my values, having to choose between eating from wicked sources or not eating, I might eventually succumb to the flesh. I pray that none of us have to suffer from that kind of situation.

 

[Franky Family]

1 Corinthians 7:17-20 17 Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. 18 Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God's commands is what counts. 20 Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.

Spoiler: Discussion

I found this passage to be a solid lesson. Before I knew any better, I was racking my brain trying to understand why so much of the Old Testaments ways were so antiquated and even obsolete. I used to think that we in this modern age were sinning for not living according to BOTH the Old Testament and the New Testament even though some things like sacrificing animals for our sins is no longer needed ever since Jesus came into the world. Correct me if I'm wrong anywhere in saying any of that by the way. But there's a lot of comfort in knowing that the Lord understands us well and the times we live in, and has guided us accordingly. I can understand the old covenant decent enough, although I am still learning, and the new covenant that God made with us makes a lot of sense. There are still plenty of questions and mysteries that remain no matter how much we read and study the Bible so my belief is that it's important to listen very closely to what the Lord might be telling us or trying to show us; convey to us in this life.

 

[Franky Family]

1 Corinthians 8:9-13 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol's temple, won't that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols? 11 So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 12 When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.

I'm not too sure about what this means for us now in today's setting. There was a point in which I was invited to a mosque to enjoy a large banquet with some of my friends. At the time I was a Christian, but I had lost my way tbh. Would eating there at their mosque where they worship the false prophet Muhammad apply to this passage? Where by me sharing my time with others even if friends and simply being present in a mosque eating with those friends - would that be a sin against Jesus? This is one of those passages where Paul completely loses me, unfortunately.

 

[DonDonDonPata]

I'm not too sure about what this means for us now in today's setting. There was a point in which I was invited to a mosque to enjoy a large banquet with some of my friends. At the time I was a Christian, but I had lost my way tbh. Would eating there at their mosque where they worship the false prophet Muhammad apply to this passage? Where by me sharing my time with others even if friends and simply being present in a mosque eating with those friends - would that be a sin against Jesus? This is one of those passages where Paul completely loses me, unfortunately.

Jesus ate with sinners and tax collectors, and He shared the gospel early on with the samaritans. But Jesus used this time to preach, to heal, to correct, and to extend forgiveness. The Pharisees spoke out against Jesus eating with sinners and tax collectors, to which he responded "it is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick".

The passage explains itself plainly in verse 9: be careful that the exercise of your freedom does not cause others to stumble. Sin does not only affect yourself but others around you. Eating a pagan meal in ancient times was tied into the rites and mysteries of that religion. Even Christianity has the sacrament of bread and wine. So on the one hand, Paul is reassuring any Christians that the demons behind the idols have no power against Jesus, and that ultimately food is just food. But at the same time, freely associating with pagan practices and groups might cause weaker Christians to follow your same pattern of behavior and fall away.

Also, ancient pagan religious were very syncretic, meaning it was ok to worship (and take a meal) at the temple of Aphrodite, walk down the street the next day and do it at the temple of Hermes. There was no contradiction or betrayal of a god. It was normal. But in Christianity, we worship one God and Lord as revealed by Jesus Christ, the image of our Father. It's a fact of history that the ancient world was offended and hostile to Christianity's exclusive worship of one deity. So for a weaker Christian who was accustomed to visiting various pagan temples and participating in meals and ritual, seeing another Christian (seemingly?) continue the same behavior might lead them to believe it was ok to worship Christ but also worship other gods on the side.

 

[Mickmrly]

This week's reading is 1 Corinthians: 9-10

Bible Gateway passage: 1 Corinthians 9-10 - New International Version

Paul’s Rights as an Apostle - Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. This is my defense to those who...

www.biblegateway.com

Spoiler: Verses

Paul's Rights as an Apostle
9 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? 2 Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

3 This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. 4 Don't we have the right to food and drink? 5 Don't we have the right to take a believing wifealong with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord's brothers and Cephas[a]? 6 Or is it only I and Barnabas who lack the right to not work for a living?

7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk? 8 Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn't the Law say the same thing? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses: "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain."[b] Is it about oxen that God is concerned? 10 Surely he says this for us, doesn't he? Yes, this was written for us, because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. 11 If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? 12 If others have this right of support from you, shouldn't we have it all the more?

But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.

13 Don't you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? 14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.

15 But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast. 16 For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. 18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel.

Paul's Use of His Freedom
19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law.22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

The Need for Self-Discipline
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Warnings From Israel's History
10 For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2 They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: "The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry."[c] 8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 9 We should not test Christ,[d] as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. 10 And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.

11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 13 No temptation[e] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted[f] beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,[g] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

Idol Feasts and the Lord's Supper
14 Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf.

18 Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar? 19 Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons.21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord's table and the table of demons. 22 Are we trying to arouse the Lord's jealousy? Are we stronger than he?

The Believer's Freedom
23 "I have the right to do anything," you say—but not everything is beneficial. "I have the right to do anything"—but not everything is constructive. 24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.

25 Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, 26 for, "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it."[h]

27 If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, "This has been offered in sacrifice," then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience. 29 I am referring to the other person's conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom being judged by another's conscience? 30 If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?

31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— 33 even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

 

[Rock And Roll]

1 Corinthians 7:12-16

12 To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. 13 If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. 15 But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you[b] to peace. 16 For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

This passage answered a question I had long before I had even read the Bible. I always wondered how marriages/relationships worked where one partner believed in God and the other did not. Seemed like it would be a weird dynamic to me and I wondered what the religious partner would feel towards the non-religious partner. Funny enough, now I'm the one who has faith and my girlfriend isn't a believer. She doesn't have any problems with my beliefs and I don't have any problems with her.

 

[Franky Family]

1 Corinthians 7:12-16



This passage answered a question I had long before I had even read the Bible. I always wondered how marriages/relationships worked where one partner believed in God and the other did not. Seemed like it would be a weird dynamic to me and I wondered what the religious partner would feel towards the non-religious partner. Funny enough, now I'm the one who has faith and my girlfriend isn't a believer. She doesn't have any problems with my beliefs and I don't have any problems with her.

Mark 10:6-9 6 But from the beginning of the creation, God 'made them male and female.' 7 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, 8 and the two shall become one flesh'; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate."

Jesus tells us that a man and woman become one flesh when they become married. I'm not married, but I have seen men and women who you could tell were likely to end up getting married and were kind of right for each other I guess one could say. Obviously, I don't know for sure if they are right for each other as that's for them to know and decide eventually, but what I'm trying to get at is that the couple is basically united to such a degree that they are practically one person unified even though they are two individuals. Their thinking and their minds become aligned with the same purpose and way of life. They're very agreeable on plenty of things and where they want to go or be in life. Some couples are nearly inseparable. I don't understand it completely as I would need to be married and have that experience of being maried I suppose, but I sort of see what Jesus was getting at when He said that the two will become one flesh.

 

[Mickmrly]

1 Corinthians 7:12-16



This passage answered a question I had long before I had even read the Bible. I always wondered how marriages/relationships worked where one partner believed in God and the other did not. Seemed like it would be a weird dynamic to me and I wondered what the religious partner would feel towards the non-religious partner. Funny enough, now I'm the one who has faith and my girlfriend isn't a believer. She doesn't have any problems with my beliefs and I don't have any problems with her.

That sounds great Rock and Roll. I think I am a bit too influenced by people around me, so I probably won't get into a situation like that. Trying to maintain my faith in isolation would be a challenge for me for sure.
I think finding a good marriage partner is complicated enough without having to deal with any spiritual differences.

 

[Mickmrly]

1 Corinthians 10:25-28 talks about eating food from idols again:

25 Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, 26 for, "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it."[h]
27 If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, "This has been offered in sacrifice," then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience.

It seems to me that these verses are saying that eating of food from other sources is generally acceptable, unless someone specifically says the food has been consecrated to idols. Then it would be better to refuse the food, so as to not actively participate in idol worship.

I'm not sure how Halal food goes though, because I think that means that there is some kind of Islamic ritual done to the meat. I remember an Australian Cardinal said eating Halal food was okay because it is to the same God, but I wouldn't go out of way to eat Halal food.

 

[Franky Family]

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

This need and the call for discipline that Paul points to is a wake up call. I actually do not like this analogy or how Paul presents it to us, but it is the truth. This passage makes life seem so cutthroat. Obviously in a race, everyone tries, but only a few get a medal. But I suppose this passage is preparing us and Paul is our apostle and our coach, making sure we're good to go for the race and the final lap when the going gets really tough and every step of the way at the end becomes a major struggle. There are still some things I have to work on; there have been plenty of mental battles and physical ones and no doubt spiritual ones the same. The one thing I do like about 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 is that Paul makes it clear to us that we need to train and ready to go with our eyes on the finish line, which is the prize of eternal life. The bottom line is that Paul urges us to do what is right and to live the right way. Life kind of is like a race. It's exciting, thrilling at points, kind of fun, maybe some dislike it, but you have to be focused and run it the best that you can. There are probably other ways to interpret Paul's lesson here, but I see it as words of encouragement that line up with Jesus's advice to us to make every effort to listen to Him and to live the correct way in this life. It's not easy and I think our sinful nature is opposed to such holiness a lot of times because we are just that flawed; but I will try to keep Paul's advice in mind daily if I can.

 

[Mickmrly]

This need and the call for discipline that Paul points to is a wake up call. I actually do not like this analogy or how Paul presents it to us, but it is the truth. This passage makes life seem so cutthroat. Obviously in a race, everyone tries, but only a few get a medal. But I suppose this passage is preparing us and Paul is our apostle and our coach, making sure we're good to go for the race and the final lap when the going gets really tough and every step of the way at the end becomes a major struggle. There are still some things I have to work on; there have been plenty of mental battles and physical ones and no doubt spiritual ones the same. The one thing I do like about 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 is that Paul makes it clear to us that we need to train and ready to go with our eyes on the finish line, which is the prize of eternal life. The bottom line is that Paul urges us to do what is right and to live the right way. Life kind of is like a race. It's exciting, thrilling at points, kind of fun, maybe some dislike it, but you have to be focused and run it the best that you can. There are probably other ways to interpret Paul's lesson here, but I see it as words of encouragement that line up with Jesus's advice to us to make every effort to listen to Him and to live the correct way in this life. It's not easy and I think our sinful nature is opposed to such holiness a lot of times because we are just that flawed; but I will try to keep Paul's advice in mind daily if I can.

Life definitely feels very cutthroat at times. Trying your best is what we should do, but there sure are a lot of obstacles.

 

[Mickmrly]

This week's reading is 1 Corinthians: 11-12

Bible Gateway passage: 1 Corinthians 11-12 - New International Version

Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. On Covering the Head in Worship - I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to you. But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is...

www.biblegateway.com

Spoiler: Verses

11 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

On Covering the Head in Worship
2 I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to you. 3 But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man,[a] and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. 5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved.6 For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head.
7 A man ought not to cover his head,[b] since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; 9 neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 10 It is for this reason that a woman ought to have authority over her own[c]head, because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 12 For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.
13 Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, 15 but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. 16 If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.

Correcting an Abuse of the Lord's Supper
17 In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 18 In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. 19 No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God's approval. 20 So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord's Supper you eat, 21 for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. 22 Don't you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!
23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
27 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. 32 Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.
33 So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together. 34 Anyone who is hungry should eat something at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment.
And when I come I will give further directions.

Concerning Spiritual Gifts
12 Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed,"and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,[d] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.[e] 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

Unity and Diversity in the Body
12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by[f] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
15 Now if the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues[g]? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.

Love Is Indispensable
And yet I will show you the most excellent way.

 

[Franky Family]

Life definitely feels very cutthroat at times. Trying your best is what we should do, but there sure are a lot of obstacles.

Agreed. I have faith that we will overcome sin with God's help. I wish I understood things from an eternal perspective better so that it would be easier to stand firm during times of temptation. But I suppose that's another conversation entirely to be had. Here's my favorite passage from 1 Corinthians 10

1 Corinthians 10:31-33 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God—even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

 

[Franky Family]

1 Corinthians 11:2-16 I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to you. 3 But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. 5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved. 6 For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head.

7 A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; 9 neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 10 It is for this reason that a woman ought to have authority over her own head, because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 12 For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.

13 Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, 15 but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. 16 If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.

I've read this scripture a few time now, and it still seems somewhat inconsequential. I suppose that it would be odd to see many members at church with all kind of different headwear and hats and all that while at church. But this doesn't seem like anything to be concerned about. This is one of those chapters where I get really agitated with Paul's teaching style. He also forgets about Samson, whose long hair was the source of his strength as given to him by God. Sometimes, I get the feeling that Paul 'stumbles' sometimes in his preaching. Maybe that's wrong of me to say, but it's what I think at this current time. Like why is he concerned about hair at all? Pretty sure we were given hair for many good reasons but Paul is saying to cover it away? Seems to me like this lesson is of little importance if no importance but maybe one day it'll come to me and I'll think the opposite.

 

[Mickmrly]

I've read this scripture a few time now, and it still seems somewhat inconsequential. I suppose that it would be odd to see many members at church with all kind of different headwear and hats and all that while at church. But this doesn't seem like anything to be concerned about. This is one of those chapters where I get really agitated with Paul's teaching style. He also forgets about Samson, whose long hair was the source of his strength as given to him by God. Sometimes, I get the feeling that Paul 'stumbles' sometimes in his preaching. Maybe that's wrong of me to say, but it's what I think at this current time. Like why is he concerned about hair at all? Pretty sure we were given hair for many good reasons but Paul is saying to cover it away? Seems to me like this lesson is of little importance if no importance but maybe one day it'll come to me and I'll think the opposite.

I was doing some research this morning about the whole hair/head thing in church and I think that it is mainly about differentiating the genders while worshipping at mass.

Apparently in the 1st Century, it was popular for some Roman and Greek men to be clean shaven and also wear hoods over their heads, similarly to women of the time. To prevent any movement towards androgyny, Paul was attempting to keep a visual point of difference between the genders.

While married women were to cover their hair, to prevent other men from fawning over them, I suppose that men having no head coverings was simply to starkly show that they were men.

Why men of the time would have been lusting after a woman's hair I don't know, but attempting to reduce lust during the church service is a worthwhile goal at least.

 

[Mickmrly]

1 Corinthians 12:7-11
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,[d] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.[e] 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

1 Corinthians 12:27-28
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.

I thought that these two parts of Chapter 12 were a nice summary of the different kinds of gifts that people have, both within the church and within their own personal lives.

While I don't really know of many supernatural things that occur within my life, I do find that the more practical gifts of the holy spirit like knowledge and wisdom have been very important in my life. While I have used those gifts sometimes in my life, I could always use more, especially during uncertain times.

Also, I'd like to think this bible study thread is a nice example of us helping and guiding each other within the body of Christ. It's nice to share thoughts about the Bible with other people that care about Christian teachings.