The Corinthian church was founded in Acts 18. In those days, Corinth had become an unofficial capital of Greece. It was famous for its wealth, opulence, splendor and culture and it displayed them all to the world as it passed by on the famous trade routes. As it traded and exported its influence, Paul imported the gospel right in the midst of this example of the world. G. Campbell Morgan put it this way:
"To live as they do at Corinth" was an expression of the time, which suggested conditions of luxury and licentiousness, for the city was a veritable hotbed of all kinds of impurity.
[Morgan, G. C. (1908). The Analyzed Bible: Matthew to Revelation (Vol. 3, p. 111). Fleming H. Revell Company.]
Finally, in the city, self was supreme; there was no conscious responsibility for others. Each was for himself, and selfishnesss was the basis of all endeavour, the method of all government. This spirit also had invaded the church, and relative obligations were unrecognized.
Beneath all this there was something profounder. These were really effects, rather than causes. While Paul saw and corrected disorder in detail in the early part of this letter—and indeed throughout it, for even in the constructive part he perpetually returned to correction—he did so consistently by showing that the reason of the disorder was that the church had forgotten the central, unifying word of the Cross.
[Morgan, G. C. (1912). Living Messages of the Books of the Bible: New Testament (Vol. 1, p. 118). Fleming H. Revell Company].
The two central truths which this letter teaches are first that the church fails to fulfill her function in the city when she is invaded by the spirit of the city; secondly, that the church allows the spirit of the city to invade her when she is untrue to the central facts of her own life, when she does not realize in actual experience what she is potentially in the economy of God.
[Morgan, G. C. (1912). Living Messages of the Books of the Bible: New Testament (Vol. 1, p. 119). Fleming H. Revell Company.]
The carnal nature was dominating the Church at Corinth; the body of believers were not to allow this to happen. Were they waiting for someone else to come deal with the issues? Were they afraid of being chastised by speaking up? All the issues that Paul dealt with were manifestations of the carnal dominance. They were not living as saints; thereby the church didn't look like the church. Paul could have easily quoted Elijah on Mt. Carmel when he started this letter.
And Elijah came to all the people, and said, "How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him." [NKJV (1 Kings 18:21). (1982). Thomas Nelson.]
Corinthians 16:1-4
It was the spring of A.D. 57 as Paul wrote this. He would spend the summer in Macedonia and go to Corinth in the fall. He spent the winter there and wrote the book of Romans. He left in the spring to go to Jerusalem. The collection Paul had taken up was spoken about in 2 Corinthians 9 and Romans 15:25-26; it arrived in Jerusalem in Acts 21. Paul really felt this support of the church in Jerusalem was important. They were in need primarily because of a famine. In addition to the famine, they were always many ministry opportunities when thousands of Jews came to Jerusalem for the feasts. Not the least of these opportunities would be to feed a hungry family and speak the gospel to their hungry soul. Many found a new life and new hope in Christ. The church was doing its best to take care of these people. That's the way it's supposed to be.
In all the places Paul speaks of this collection, he uses nine different words to describe it. Words that speak of the collection as a grace, a gift, caring, a sacrifice and more. This collection from the gentile churches of Macedonia, Achaia and Asia would serve at least four important purposes.
- Jerusalem had exported spiritual blessing to the gentile churches; giving to the poor there was a way of returning that blessing.
- A gift from these churches promoted unity. The collection was for the saints; brothers and sisters in Christ helping family. Jerusalem was a kind of home church, or original church of Jewish believers. The gift from these gentiles was a supreme act of grace to those who formerly despised gentiles and looked down their nose at them.
- The opportunity to give to others. Giving is healthy; Paul put their minds on the needs of others and taught them to set a little aside to help them. He was teaching them a discipline or godly habit of good finances. Healthy finances start with the right attitude toward money. While giving is private; in giving we testify to ourselves a worldview that money is a tool to be used. Neither wealth or poverty is to enslave the believer; we are bondslaves of Christ alone.
- The church would have to battle its carnal inclination to give a gift to benefit others. They would have to overcome the focus on self; they would have to unify to do this. It became a church project for a church that wasn't accomplishing anything together. Our tendency is to think we don't prosper enough to go giving money away. Someday, we say, when we bring home more; except we can never be satisfied.
This wasn't the normal collection or what we might call an offering or tithe. This was an extra collection; over and above what they gave to support their church. It is worth noting that Paul didn't give them any guideline for giving. He didn't instruct them to give any percentage or minimum amount. In essence, he let their conscience be their guide.
1 Corinthians 16:5-12
The closing notes, greetings and plans are verses that could quickly be skimmed over and ignored. These verses are also included in God's word for a reason. They show Paul's passion and heart. This is especially true when we see the greater context of Paul's life and ministry; he always had so much going on and was offering suffering in some way. The Lord placed a burden on Paul to preach and teach. And even though there were adversaries, Paul preached because a door was open.
We can also see how important Timothy and Apollos were to him. Paul just said that Timothy does the work of the Lord. No one should despise him; this implies that some did. Maybe just because of his associations with Paul. Timothy may have been going through a tough season in his life and needed the encouragement of the church.
And Apollos was in Ephesus with Paul. They did a lot of work there. With all that was going on, Apollos wouldn't leave or maybe he didn't want to go to Corinth. Remember the first chapter of this letter," some were of Apollos." Maybe Apollos didn't want to promote or renew any kind of division in the church.
1 Corinthians 16:13-14
Watch
Isn't it interesting that Paul begins this exhortation with "Watch?" This is to be alert, on guard or awake.
Stand Fast
He then commanded them to stand fast. Paul uses this word 7 times in his writing; it only shows up one other time in Mark.
- Stand fast in the faith – 1 Cor 16:13
- Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free – Gal 5:1
- Stand fast in one spirit – Philippians 1:27
- Stand fast in the Lord – Philippians 4:1
- Stand fast in the Lord – 1 Thess 3:8
- Stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught – 1 Thess 2:15
This is to persevere, maintaining your position; the position is faith derived from the gospel promise.
Be Brave
'Be brave' is translated from a word meaning to be manly and courageous. The ESV translated this word to 'act like a man'. This is the only place this word is used in the New Testament. This word speaks of male courage but also likely refers to maturity. It is thought this idea caps the earlier idea of putting aside childish, selfish things (1 Cor 13:11). The letter to the Smyrnaeans spoke of Polycarp's martyrdom:
But as Polycarp entered into the stadium, a voice came to him from heaven; 'Be strong, Polycarp, and play the man.' And no one saw the speaker, but those of our people who were present heard the voice.
[Lightfoot, J. B., & Harmer, J. R. (1891). The Apostolic Fathers (p. 206). Macmillan and Co.]
Be Strong
The call to be strong is to be increased in vigor, strengthened; even beyond what is normal or expected.
Paul knew these were easily written but much harder to live out. He capped his exhortation with the reminder that all we do is to be done with love. This is the word agape; Christian agape was about others. Even in those days, the disciples anticipated Christ's return. How much more should we be ready; watching, standing fast in our faith, being brave and strong – and most of all maintaining love in a world full of hatred.
A similar exhortation existed in the Didache (A.D.100-150), a manual detailing the Christian life.
Be watchful for your life; let your lamps not be quenched and your loins not ungirded, but be ye ready; for ye know not the hour in which our Lord cometh. 2And ye shall gather yourselves together frequently, seeking what is fitting for your souls; for the whole time of your faith shall not profit you, if ye be not perfected at the last season. 3For in the last days the false prophets and corrupters shall be multiplied, and the sheep shall be turned into wolves, and love shall be turned into hate. 4For as lawlessness increaseth, they shall hate one another and shall persecute and betray. And then the world-deceiver shall appear as a son of God; and shall work signs and wonders, and the earth shall be delivered into his hands; and he shall do unholy things, which have never been since the world began. [Lightfoot, J. B., & Harmer, J. R. (1891). The Apostolic Fathers (p. 235). Macmillan and Co.]
1 Corinthians 16:15-16
Paul holds this house church up as an example. Stephanas was the first in that region to hear the gospel and come to the Lord. The household of Stephanas was devoted to their work. All the others would do well to submit to a similar labor.
1 Corinthians 16:17-18
These men had come to Paul as representatives of the church of Corinth. They may have been the ones who brought all these questions that Paul answered in this letter. But they also gave encouragement to him. He was refreshed in his spirit by seeing these men that were devoted and caring. They didn't just come to leach off him, using his apostleship, authority and knowledge. They came to give something back to Paul. They refreshed his spirit.
They were also held up as an example. Paul encouraged the others to acknowledge them; recognizing them as brothers and leaders in the faith.
1 Corinthians 16:19-22
Aquila and Priscilla were among the first believers in Corinth. As Paul arrived from Athens, he met them and worked with them as he was planting the church (Acts 18:2). They were in Ephesus with Pau, they had moved there and started a house church.
The word accursed in verse 22 is Anathema. This is something set aside to God with no hope of redemption. There were things consecrated to God that were good; in the same way, there was the other side. Some things were dedicated for destruction. These things could not be redeemed.
No person under the ban, who may become doomed to destruction among men, shall be redeemed, but shall surely be put to death. [NKJV (Le 27:29). (1982). Thomas Nelson.]
Jericho was a city dedicated to destruction:
Now the city shall be doomed by the Lord to destruction, it and all who are in it. Only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent. 18 And you, by all means abstain from the accursed things, lest you become accursed when you take of the accursed things, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. 19 But all the silver and gold, and vessels of bronze and iron, are consecrated to the Lord; they shall come into the treasury of the Lord." [NKJV (Joshua 6:17–19). (1982). Thomas Nelson.]
This was the direst of all circumstances; to be in the crosshairs of the God of all things. This was probably much more practical than we can imagine. The unbelievers and their culture had invaded the church and was damaging it. Those that rejected the gospel were not to be pandered to or compromised with. Then Paul said, O Lord, come! That word is Maranatha! It was both a call for the Lord to come quickly and a warning to those who were outside of His grace. Maranatha is an Aramaic word and some think it is juxtaposed with anathema. Maranatha being the blessing of being set apart for the Lord and anathema being the curse of being set apart for the Lord.
1 Corinthians 16:23-24
That completes this lengthy letter of Paul to the church of Corinth. If you look at this letter as a whole, you see the deep love Paul had for this church. But you also hear the dire concern of this apostle for the people of the Lord who were infected with the world. All through this letter we can see over and over again how relative this is to us. The battles haven't changed that much. It's a battle against sin. It's a battle against the ways of the world or at least letting the world jade your viewpoint and faith. The battle rages daily in our hearts and minds. It may appear Satan is winning the battle at times, but the war was won on the cross. Jesus Christ has already declared victory. When we see evil have its way in this world; people are hurt or damaged. When evil gets another foothold, we need to find resolve to hold fast to the gospel we know is true and right and eternal. Watch, stand fast, be brave and strong, we're almost home. Maranatha, O Lord, come!
©2006, 2010, 2016, 2022 Doug Ford, Calvary Chapel Sweetwater
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