1 corinthians 1:20-25 christians in corinth were struggling with their environment surrounded by...

1 Corinthians 1:20-251 Corinthians 1:20-25

Christians in Corinth were struggling with their environment

Surrounded by corruption and every conceivable sin

They felt the pressure to adapt They knew they were free in Christ,

but what did this freedom mean?

Christians in Corinth were struggling with their environment

Surrounded by corruption and every conceivable sin

They felt the pressure to adapt They knew they were free in Christ,

but what did this freedom mean?

What Should they do What Should they do about:about: Marriage Women in the Church Gifts of the Holy Spirit To top it all, the church was being

undermined by:•Immorality and •spiritual immaturity

Marriage Women in the Church Gifts of the Holy Spirit To top it all, the church was being

undermined by:•Immorality and •spiritual immaturity

Paul heard of their Paul heard of their struggles:struggles: Wrote a letter to address their

problems Paul had a very difficult relationship

with the Corinthian church But they were not really impressed

by Paul The church is experiencing division

Wrote a letter to address their problems

Paul had a very difficult relationship with the Corinthian church

But they were not really impressed by Paul

The church is experiencing division

3 Kinds of Worshippers:3 Kinds of Worshippers:

The JewsThe GreeksThe Christians

The JewsThe GreeksThe Christians

The Jews:The Jews:

Demands miraculous signsBelieve in resurrectionGood News is foolishMessiah is the one conquering

kingAccompanied by signs and

miracles

Demands miraculous signsBelieve in resurrectionGood News is foolishMessiah is the one conquering

kingAccompanied by signs and

miracles

The Greeks:The Greeks:

Looks for wisdom Did not believe in bodily

resurrection They did not seen Jesus in Jesus the

characteristics of a their mythological gods

They thought that no reputable person would be crucified

Death is a defeat not a victory

Looks for wisdom Did not believe in bodily

resurrection They did not seen Jesus in Jesus the

characteristics of a their mythological gods

They thought that no reputable person would be crucified

Death is a defeat not a victory

The Christians:The Christians:

Christ Crucified a stumbling block to both Jews and Greeks

Jesus came as a humble, poor servant

Offers his kingdom those who have faith

Knowing Christ is the greatest wisdom anyone could have

Jesus died and resurrected

Christ Crucified a stumbling block to both Jews and Greeks

Jesus came as a humble, poor servant

Offers his kingdom those who have faith

Knowing Christ is the greatest wisdom anyone could have

Jesus died and resurrected

THE THE CROSSCROSS

THE THE CROSSCROSS

Paul’s simple message:Paul’s simple message:Paul’s simple message:Paul’s simple message:

The Cross, CrucifixionThe Cross, Crucifixion(Holman Bible Dictionary)(Holman Bible Dictionary)

The method the Romans used to execute Jesus Christ. The most painful and degrading form of capital punishment in the ancient world, the cross became also the means by which Jesus became the atoning sacrifice for the sins of all mankind. It also became a symbol for the sacrifice of self in discipleship (Rom. 12:1) and for the death of self to the world (Mark 8:34)

The method the Romans used to execute Jesus Christ. The most painful and degrading form of capital punishment in the ancient world, the cross became also the means by which Jesus became the atoning sacrifice for the sins of all mankind. It also became a symbol for the sacrifice of self in discipleship (Rom. 12:1) and for the death of self to the world (Mark 8:34)

Historical DevelopmentHistorical Development(Holman Bible Dictionary)(Holman Bible Dictionary)

Assyrians and Persians– Used to display the heads of

captured foes or of particularly heinous criminals on the palisades above the gateway into a city.

– Later crucifixion developed into a form of capital punishment, as enemies of the state were impaled on the stake itself.

Assyrians and Persians– Used to display the heads of

captured foes or of particularly heinous criminals on the palisades above the gateway into a city.

– Later crucifixion developed into a form of capital punishment, as enemies of the state were impaled on the stake itself.


Greeks and Romans – At first reserved the punishment only

for slaves, saying it was too barbaric for freeborn or citizens.

– By the first century, however, it was used for any enemy of the state, though citizens could only be crucified by direct edict of Caesar.

– As time went on, the Romans began to use crucifixion more and more as a deterrent to criminal activity, so that by Jesus’ time it was a common sight.

Greeks and Romans – At first reserved the punishment only

for slaves, saying it was too barbaric for freeborn or citizens.

– By the first century, however, it was used for any enemy of the state, though citizens could only be crucified by direct edict of Caesar.

– As time went on, the Romans began to use crucifixion more and more as a deterrent to criminal activity, so that by Jesus’ time it was a common sight.


The eastern form of crucifixion was practiced in the Old Testament – Saul was decapitated and his

body displayed on a wall by the Philistines (1 Sam. 31:9-10)

– And the “hanging” of Esther 2:23; 5:14 may mean impalement (compare Ezra 6:11)

The eastern form of crucifixion was practiced in the Old Testament – Saul was decapitated and his

body displayed on a wall by the Philistines (1 Sam. 31:9-10)

– And the “hanging” of Esther 2:23; 5:14 may mean impalement (compare Ezra 6:11)


• According to Jewish law (Deut. 21:22-23) the offenders were “hung on a tree,” which meant they were “accursed of God” and outside the covenant people.

• Such criminals were to be removed from the cross before nightfall lest they “defile the land.”

• According to Jewish law (Deut. 21:22-23) the offenders were “hung on a tree,” which meant they were “accursed of God” and outside the covenant people.

• Such criminals were to be removed from the cross before nightfall lest they “defile the land.”


• During the intertestamental period the western form was borrowed when Alexander Janneus crucified 800 Pharisees (76 B.C.), but on the whole the Jews condemned and seldom used the method.

• Even Herod the Great refused to crucify his enemies. The practice was abolished after the “conversion” of the emperor of Constantine to Christianity.

• During the intertestamental period the western form was borrowed when Alexander Janneus crucified 800 Pharisees (76 B.C.), but on the whole the Jews condemned and seldom used the method.

• Even Herod the Great refused to crucify his enemies. The practice was abolished after the “conversion” of the emperor of Constantine to Christianity.


A person crucified in Jesus’ day was first of all scourged (beaten with a whip consisting of thongs with pieces of metal or bone attached to the end) or at least flogged until the blood flowed.

A person crucified in Jesus’ day was first of all scourged (beaten with a whip consisting of thongs with pieces of metal or bone attached to the end) or at least flogged until the blood flowed.


• This was not just done out of cruelty but was designed to hasten death and lessen the terrible ordeal

• After the beating, the victim was forced to bear the crossbeam to the execution site in order to signify that life was already over and to break the will to live

• A tablet detailing the crime(s) was often placed around the criminal’s neck and then fastened to the cross

• This was not just done out of cruelty but was designed to hasten death and lessen the terrible ordeal

• After the beating, the victim was forced to bear the crossbeam to the execution site in order to signify that life was already over and to break the will to live

• A tablet detailing the crime(s) was often placed around the criminal’s neck and then fastened to the cross


• At the site the prisoner was often tied (the normal method) or nailed (if a quicker death was desired) to the crossbeam.

• The nail would be driven through the wrist rather than the palm, since the smaller bones of the hand could not support the weight of the body.

• The beam with the body was then lifted and tied to the already affixed upright pole.

• At the site the prisoner was often tied (the normal method) or nailed (if a quicker death was desired) to the crossbeam.

• The nail would be driven through the wrist rather than the palm, since the smaller bones of the hand could not support the weight of the body.

• The beam with the body was then lifted and tied to the already affixed upright pole.


• Pins or a small wooden block were placed halfway up to provide a seat for the body lest the nails tear open the wounds or the ropes force the arms from their sockets.

• Finally the feet were tied or nailed to the post.

• Death was caused by the loss of blood circulation and coronary failure.

• Pins or a small wooden block were placed halfway up to provide a seat for the body lest the nails tear open the wounds or the ropes force the arms from their sockets.

• Finally the feet were tied or nailed to the post.

• Death was caused by the loss of blood circulation and coronary failure.


• Especially if the victims were tied, it could take days of hideous pain as the extremities turned slowly gangrenous; so often the soldiers would break the victims legs with a club, causing massive shock and a quick death.

• Such deaths were usually done in public places, and the body was left to rot for days, with carrion birds allowed to degrade the corpse further.

• Especially if the victims were tied, it could take days of hideous pain as the extremities turned slowly gangrenous; so often the soldiers would break the victims legs with a club, causing massive shock and a quick death.

• Such deaths were usually done in public places, and the body was left to rot for days, with carrion birds allowed to degrade the corpse further.

Four types of crosses were Four types of crosses were used:used:(Holman Bible Dictionary)(Holman Bible Dictionary)

Four types of crosses were Four types of crosses were used:used:(Holman Bible Dictionary)(Holman Bible Dictionary) The Latin cross has the crossbeam

about two-thirds of the way up the upright pole;

St. Anthony’s cross (probably due to its similarity to his famous crutch) had the beam at the top of the upright pole like a T.

St. Andrew’s cross (supposedly the form used to crucify Andrew) had the shape of the letter X.

The Greek cross has both beams equal in the shape of a plus sign.

The Latin cross has the crossbeam about two-thirds of the way up the upright pole;

St. Anthony’s cross (probably due to its similarity to his famous crutch) had the beam at the top of the upright pole like a T.

St. Andrew’s cross (supposedly the form used to crucify Andrew) had the shape of the letter X.

The Greek cross has both beams equal in the shape of a plus sign.

Louis EvelyLouis EvelyLouis EvelyLouis Evely If the cross suited us, it would

no longer be a cross, and if we refuse those that hurt us, we will refuse all crosses. The cross that God sends us must of necessity always be humiliating, painful, paralyzing, difficult. The cross is precisely what hurts us in that place where we are most disarmed and vulnerable.

If the cross suited us, it would no longer be a cross, and if we refuse those that hurt us, we will refuse all crosses. The cross that God sends us must of necessity always be humiliating, painful, paralyzing, difficult. The cross is precisely what hurts us in that place where we are most disarmed and vulnerable.

Madame Jeane Marie dela Mothe Madame Jeane Marie dela Mothe GuyonGuyonMadame Jeane Marie dela Mothe Madame Jeane Marie dela Mothe GuyonGuyon

God gives us the cross, and then the cross gives us God.

God gives us the cross, and then the cross gives us God.

Thomas KempisThomas KempisThomas KempisThomas Kempis

Carry the cross patiently and with perfect submission and in the end it will carry you.

Carry the cross patiently and with perfect submission and in the end it will carry you.

1 corinthians 1:20-25 christians in corinth were struggling with their environment surrounded by...

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