What Is The Church? What Are Her Leaders?

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Study Group meeting June 5 to study 1 Corinthians 3.  This chapter continues the discussion Paul has been having with the church in Corinth about their behavior.  In some ways, this concludes the discussion for Paul (or his side), but not entirely.  He returns to themes he started in chapter 1, refers to elements he brought up in chapter 2, and wraps them up under his essential problem with what he hears about the Corinthian believers.

Read through the chapter several times.  It may be helpful in this case to also re-read from chapter 1 through 3 to get sense of how this particular piece holds together (which it does nicely).  That way you can better see what elements he revisits here, and how he uses prior comments and positions.  In this chapter, focus on the 'imagery' Paul uses.  Look for what he considers to be of utmost importance the problems among the Corinthian believers. Jot down questions and observations as you go through the chapter several times.

After going through the chapter a few times making notes and questions, go back through using the questions below:

• If Paul's accusation against the Corinthian believers is that they are 'infants' and 'fleshly', then what problem do you think he's trying to correct?
• What 'clues' does Paul point to with the Corinthians to substantiate his assessment of them?
• Verse 4 pulls back the argument elements from Chapter 1.  So, what do you think that means for our understanding of this and previous chapters?
• Read Mark 4:26-29.  Now read verses 5 through 7 in 1 Corinthians 3.  What do you think might be similarities here?  What might be some differences?
• In Paul's use of the field and workers as imagery how much do you think he 'borrowed' from words of Jesus?  Where would he have 'heard' these words?
• What do you think Paul means by 'reward' in verse 8?  And who gets whatever the reward might be?
• Who is the 'field' and 'building? And who do they belong to?
• Why do you think Paul means by 'foundation'? How is Jesus the 'foundation' of the Corinthian church?
• So, what do you think it means to 'build' on Jesus Christ?  And what do you think it means to build with various materials?
• How will fire 'test' the quality, and what do you think Paul means by 'fire'?  What fire will test the quality?
• Paul again returns to 'reward' in verse 14.  How do you think this is or isn't similar to 'reward' in verse 8?
• In verse 15, 'loss' and 'saved' are both used, but what do you think they are referring to?
• In verses 10 through 15, who is being addressed?  Who is this for?
• Paul again returns to 'wisdom' and 'foolishness' to wrap up his argument.  How do you think he is tying 'wisdom versus foolishness' to 'building'/'planting' and various factions?  What's his point?
• How do you think 'all things' belong to the Corinthian church?  What does that mean for us?

That should keep us busy for a while.  I'm not sure we will be able to answer all these questions, some really may not be answerable.  Be sure to bring your own questions as well.

Wisdom Versus Foolishness, Spiritual Versus Natural: Building New Paradigms

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting May 29 to study 1 Corinthians 2.  This is a short chapter, and much like a continuation of the previous one.  There are lots of elements chapters 1 and 2 have in common, like where Paul 'leaves off' in chapter 1 is continued in chapter 2, and what ends chapter 2 continues into chapter 3, and so on.  In fact, through 4 at least is the same topic.  Chapter 5 seems to start something new, and 6 seems to change the subject again, but is clearly connected to where 5 ends.  It's interesting.

In any case, we'll be looking at the 16 verses of chapter 2.  Perhaps we'll take 3 and 4 together, but that's for another week.  Focus on the elements in this chapter and read through them several times.  You may find it helpful to read 3 and 4, perhaps re-read 1, for context.  Look for elements that are different from 1 or build on things Paul said in 1.  If you read ahead, see what he does with the things in 2.  Jot down questions and observations about what he has in these 16 verses.

After going through this chapter several times, read back through with the questions below:

• Paul clearly builds of his contrast of the wisdom of God versus the world here.  Considering how involved these chapters are, what do you think of Paul's claim that he 'did not come with superiority of speech or wisdom'?
• Considering that in the previous chapter Paul says that God uses the foolish things of this cosmos to destroy the wise, what do you think of the content of Paul's message (verse 2)?  Why do you think the 'Crucified Messiah' would fit that description?
• The 'fear and much trembling' sounds weak.  What do you think it truly meant in Paul's message, why do you think he would tremble and be afraid?
• What sort of things do you think made up Paul's 'demonstration of the Spirit of power'?  You can find another reference like this in chapter 5 (verses 3-5).  How does that affect your understanding of what Paul means in chapter 2?
• In verses 6 through 9, who do you think are the 'rulers of this age'?  
• To whom did Paul speak of 'wisdom' and what what do you think he told them?
• In verses 10 through 16, Paul talks about the 'role' of the Holy Spirit. Consider where he starts, and the last statement in verse 16.  What do you think that means for us?
• These final verses contrast natural man and spiritual man.  Considering their view that the spiritual has nothing to do with the natural man (hence they can be immoral and not affect their spirit), what do you think about Paul's contrast?  How do you think the church accepted or understood this?

That should be plenty to discuss Thursday.  Remember to bring your questions and observations.

How Similar Can We Be?

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting May 15 to study 1 Corinthians chapter 1.  This chapter introduces some critical themes which form the basis for the rest of the letter.  It also introduces the first of the problems that the Apostle Paul addresses with this church in this letter.

Read through this chapter several times.  In letters, it is sometimes helpful to consider the 'topical arrangement' of what is written.  So, think in terms of where what Paul writes 'breaks', what constitutes a 'section', and what topics seems to form the core of those sections.  In other words, where does Paul seem to 'change the subject', even slightly?

Jot down questions and observations you have of the text as you read through several times.  Some of these will be answered on subsequent readings, and more will crop up.  Revise your 'arrangement' of this chapter, perhaps read chapter two to see if there is an 'artificial' break between chapters.  Keep working through it, especially using several versions (you pick, just different ones).

After you have some idea of your questions and arrangement, go back through using the questions below:

• Where was Sosthenes mentioned in Acts? Who was he? 
• What do you think is important about including this church along with 'all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ'?
• Through verse 9, Paul is still in the 'Introduction'.  In these verses, Paul seems to tie down some important concepts.  List how many you can find (it's subjective, there's not a 'right' answer).
• Look up the word, 'blameless' in the Strong's on the Blue Letter Bible website. The word is a legal term used in court cases, and had to do with bringing someone before the judge.  This word seems to mean that the object can't even be brought before the judge; the case is thrown out before it begins.  What does that mean in this place as Paul uses it?
• The word for divisions is the Greek word from which we get 'schisms'.  Look this word up at Dictionary.com; where does it come from?  What does it mean as Paul uses it here?
• In verse 10, Paul uses the Greek word for 'same' three times.  Can you spot all three in English?
• The final two 'same mind', 'same judgement' are Greek words for thinking.  One refers to the 'location' of thinking (i.e. the head/brain), and the other to the 'directing of ones faculties on an object'; so one is the 'tool' and the other the 'thing fixed' in terms of thought.  Big deal, why so precise here?  What do you think Paul is getting at?
• The 'schisms' stem from 'personalities'.  Which 'group' does Paul seem to favor? Which group(s) does he seem to be against?  Why one over the other?
• What seems to define who is in what group?
• In verse 18, Paul seems to begin a discussion of the Cross of Christ, but what is he contrasting it to?  What problem do you think Paul is addressing in this way?  How are we guilty of this today?
• In verse 20, Paul lists some 'types' of people (3 types).  To which people groups do these types belong?  Why do you think he is referring to them this way?
• What forms (or 'about Whom is') the core of Paul's 'preaching' or proclamation of the good news?  How is that different from 'wisdom'?
• Considering the 'solution' Paul is pushing in chapter 1, what do you think is the problem the church in Corinth is having?

That should keep us going for one night.  I look forward to seeing you all on Thursday!