FIRST CENTURY CITY FIRST CENTURY CITY OF CORINTH (ATHENS)OF CORINTH (ATHENS)

““wholly wholly given to given to idolatry”idolatry”

(Acts 17:16)(Acts 17:16)

CITY OF CORINTH CITY OF CORINTH (ATHENS)(ATHENS)

Two vices plagued the Two vices plagued the town; greed for material town; greed for material gain and sexual lust. gain and sexual lust. [1][1]

The sensual and corrupt The sensual and corrupt forms that the worship of forms that the worship of the goddess took, made the goddess took, made the city a notorious seat the city a notorious seat of immortality. of immortality.

This seat of wealth, luxury This seat of wealth, luxury and corruption became and corruption became the testing ground for the the testing ground for the power of the Gospel power of the Gospel message. message.

The Apostle Paul First The Apostle Paul First Epistle to the Corinthians Epistle to the Corinthians reflects the difficulties of reflects the difficulties of maintaining a Christian maintaining a Christian community in such a community in such a cosmopolitan city. cosmopolitan city. [2][2]

[[1]1] Unger: Archaeology of the Old Testament. Unger: Archaeology of the Old Testament. [2] [2] Wilkipedia Encyclopedia Wilkipedia Encyclopedia

TRUTH IN CORINTHTRUTH IN CORINTH

Paul became concerned at the environment of the Ecclesia and its influences upon its Paul became concerned at the environment of the Ecclesia and its influences upon its members (2 Cor 12:21). members (2 Cor 12:21).

He both warned and appealed to them to take care, and on leaving, supplemented his He both warned and appealed to them to take care, and on leaving, supplemented his labour with a short letter, exhorting the brethren to strictly exclude the pollution of labour with a short letter, exhorting the brethren to strictly exclude the pollution of the prevailing immorality from out of the Ecclesia (1 Cor 5:9-10). But his appeal was the prevailing immorality from out of the Ecclesia (1 Cor 5:9-10). But his appeal was ignored. ignored.

Paul now speaks of the Fathers’ “lust and fornication” associated as it was with Paul now speaks of the Fathers’ “lust and fornication” associated as it was with “idolatry”, in order to point out to the Corinthians how easily such things can become “idolatry”, in order to point out to the Corinthians how easily such things can become a snare. Did Paul know that they were more interested in these feasts than they a snare. Did Paul know that they were more interested in these feasts than they admitted? The selection of the ‘ensamples’ seem appropriate, in view of the thousand admitted? The selection of the ‘ensamples’ seem appropriate, in view of the thousand sacramental prostitutes who acted as priestesses in the Idol’s temple which they sacramental prostitutes who acted as priestesses in the Idol’s temple which they visited frequently. visited frequently.

CHAPTER BREAKDOWNCHAPTER BREAKDOWN

V1-6V1-6 Israel, as a warning Israel, as a warning example. ALL had example. ALL had privileges – few proved privileges – few proved faithful. faithful.

V7-11V7-11 Tempting God is Tempting God is fraught with peril. fraught with peril.

V12-14V12-14 Self-confidence is Self-confidence is false security. false security.

V15-22 V15-22 The question of The question of fellowship. Consistency fellowship. Consistency comes before expediency. comes before expediency.

V22-23V22-23 The final The final question: Is total question: Is total abstinence therefore abstinence therefore necessary in principal?necessary in principal?

CHAPTER 10v1-5CHAPTER 10v1-5

1 Moreover, brethren, 1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be I would not that ye should be ignorantignorant (1), how that (1), how that ALLALL our fathers were under the our fathers were under the cloud, and cloud, and ALLALL passed through the sea; passed through the sea;

2 And were 2 And were ALLALL baptized unto Moses in the cloud and baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;in the sea;

3 And did 3 And did ALLALL eat the same spiritual meat; eat the same spiritual meat; 4 And did 4 And did ALLALL drink the same spiritual drink: for they drink the same spiritual drink: for they

drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.that Rock was Christ.

5 5 But with many of them God was not well But with many of them God was not well pleasedpleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

(1) (1) 12v1, 11 Cor 1v8, Rom 1v13, 11v25, 1 Thess 4v1312v1, 11 Cor 1v8, Rom 1v13, 11v25, 1 Thess 4v13

MAP: SINAI PENINSULAMAP: SINAI PENINSULA

WHY WAS GOD NOT WHY WAS GOD NOT PLEASED?PLEASED?

Their actions included the Their actions included the following:following:

1) Idolaters (V7)1) Idolaters (V7)

2) Fornicators (V8)2) Fornicators (V8)

3) People tempted God (V9)3) People tempted God (V9)

4) Murmurers (V10)4) Murmurers (V10)

SIX GUILDLINES TO TEST SIX GUILDLINES TO TEST OUR BEHAVIOUR BEFORE OUR BEHAVIOUR BEFORE GOD:GOD:

1) Can I offer thanks beforehand, and thus 1) Can I offer thanks beforehand, and thus commit what I am doing to God? (Romans commit what I am doing to God? (Romans 14:6)14:6)

2) Will what I am doing be edifying to myself 2) Will what I am doing be edifying to myself and others? (1 Cor 8:1)and others? (1 Cor 8:1)

3) Will it cause my brother or sister to stumble? 3) Will it cause my brother or sister to stumble? (1 Cor 8:11)(1 Cor 8:11)

4) Can I do it to the glory of God? (9:23)4) Can I do it to the glory of God? (9:23)5) Can I share it as an act of fellowship with my 5) Can I share it as an act of fellowship with my

brothers and sisters? (10:21)brothers and sisters? (10:21)6) Would I do it if Christ was with me? 6) Would I do it if Christ was with me?