Gospel to the Corinthians - Study 5/19/11
Gospel to the Corinthians
How did the Church in Corinth come about? Who preached to the Corinthians? These questions are necessary to be answered before we begin our study of Paul’s Letters to the Corinthians.
After a rough time in Athens where he encountered the philosophers and some mean people, Paul came to preach to the people of Corinth. Paul often went where no one had been in preaching the Gospel. Apostle Paul was determined to preaching the Gospel because he took the command of Jesus very seriously but more so because of his love for God who saved him, the worst of sinners.
Having an understanding of Paul’s ministry in Corinth will help us appreciate his Letters to the Corinthians. He did not do the preaching alone. God provided help and God will give us help when He sees our heart to preach the Good News of Salvation to those yet to believe.
Next week, we will learn more about Corinth, a coastal major city of it’s time. It was a tough place to preach the Gospel just as we have many of our major cities of today. God is able to penetrate any darkness with the light of the Gospel. Let’s be encouraged wherever we are and keep making disciples for Christ.
Acts 18: 1-17; 24-26
1 After these things Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth. 2 And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome); and he came to them. 3 So, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked; for by occupation they were tentmakers. 4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.
5 When Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ. 6 But when they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook his garments and said to them, “Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” 7 And he departed from there and entered the house of a certain man named Justus,[a]one who worshiped God, whose house was next door to the synagogue. 8 Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized.
9 Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.” 11 And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
12 When Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him to the judgment seat, 13 saying, “This fellow persuades men to worship God contrary to the law.”
14 And when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or wicked crimes, O Jews, there would be reason why I should bear with you. 15 But if it is a question of words and names and your own law, look to it yourselves; for I do not want to be a judge of such matters.” 16 And he drove them from the judgment seat. 17 Then all the Greeks[b] took Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. But Gallio took no notice of these things.
24 Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. 27 And when he desired to cross to Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him; and when he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace; 28 for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. Paul identified a common ground and made friends with Aquila and his wife Priscilla. They were both in the tent-making business and Paul was also a tent-maker. This union, made possible by the Holy Spirit would last many years and become instrumental in the spread of the Gospel (See Romans 16:3). Talk about being at the right place and at the right time. Aquila and Priscilla had ended up in Corinth because of troubles in Rome which sent the Jews packing. Paul ends up in Corinth at the same time because of persecutions in Athens. Does God have a plan? Yes, and He will allow things to happen and use them to accomplish His purposes. What is God doing around you that may just be part of his bigger plan to reach a person, a city or nation with His Good news? Let’s look out for these circumstances. Though sometimes painful and inconveniencing, God will cause all things to work for the good of His purpose (Romans 8:28).
2. Notice that the preaching mission of Paul happened in the ordinary course of daily living. “Because he (Paul) was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. 4Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks” v.3-4. Do you see yourself as a minister of God in your profession? You may be a software engineer or school teacher. God has given us all abilities to work for him. Let’s use our skills for him while we make disciples for Christ along the way. We only live one life – life in the Spirit. There is no separation between the secular and the Spiritual for a believer in Christ. My professional work and life at home are all spiritual and so is yours.
3. Paul goes first to the Jews in the city of Corinth, and they reject his message. “Paul was compelled by the Spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ. 6 But when they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook his garments and said to them, “Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” We must keep going regardless of the response we receive. Some Jews believed too including Sosthenes (the ruler of the synagogue) who Paul mentioned in the first Chapter of First Corinthians. See vs. 7, 8, and 17. Paul preached a simple message: “that Jesus is the Christ”. Jesus is the anointed One who was promised to save all from sin. May we only preach Christ and not the “enticing” words of the “prosperity gospel preachers”.
4. Paul then goes to the Gentiles in Corinth. The Gentiles believed. “And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized”. God brings the increase as we plant the seed of the Gospel. Darkness can never overcome light.
5. God speaks to Paul not to fear. He has many in the city. 9 “Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.” 11 And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them”. This was evidenced by the many who believed in the Gospel. When God is behind our mission, we will only move when God says so. May we like Paul listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit even in threatening times and difficult circumstances.
6. God will use others to argue our case even in persecutions. 14 “And when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or wicked crimes, O Jews, there would be reason why I should bear with you. 15 But if it is a question of words and names and your own law, look to it yourselves; for I do not want to be a judge of such matters.” 16 And he drove them from the judgment seat” May God speak for us always. Jesus said He will build His Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.
7. Please note the mention of Apollos (vs. 24-28). He was discipled by Aquila and Priscilla and would later become a key figure in the spread of the Gospel in Corinth. We will find Paul mentioning Apollos in his Letter to the Corinthians when division arose in the Church. Also, not that we are to reproduce our kind in God. Paul through the Holy Spirit taught Aquila and Priscilla. Now the couple are opening their home and teaching Apollos. Their home became a house Church (see 1 Cor. 16:19). The Church of God is not the building but the people with the Spirit of God. It did not matter where they met. In fact it is not a matter of meeting for church but being the Church wherever we go. Are you being the Church instead of just “attending church”?
A Corinthian Church is born though not without persecution and adversity. Paul would later write to encourage them and correct errors in behavior. It was a growing infant church as we will see in our study. But nevertheless, it was still a Church of Christ, the body of Christ.
I invite you to journey with me as we together study the Letter of Paul to the Corinthians. The truth contained therein will stretch us and build our faith in God. Please read the entire Letter of 1 Corinthians at a go to get the landscape. It is only 16 chapters.
Lord Jesus, I pray that you give us hunger for your word. Open our eyes to your truth and may your TRUTH set us free. May our learning be for living righteously in Christ. Lord, help us to preach your Good News of salvation to those yet to believe in season and out of season. Amen
How did the Church in Corinth come about? Who preached to the Corinthians? These questions are necessary to be answered before we begin our study of Paul’s Letters to the Corinthians.
After a rough time in Athens where he encountered the philosophers and some mean people, Paul came to preach to the people of Corinth. Paul often went where no one had been in preaching the Gospel. Apostle Paul was determined to preaching the Gospel because he took the command of Jesus very seriously but more so because of his love for God who saved him, the worst of sinners.
Having an understanding of Paul’s ministry in Corinth will help us appreciate his Letters to the Corinthians. He did not do the preaching alone. God provided help and God will give us help when He sees our heart to preach the Good News of Salvation to those yet to believe.
Next week, we will learn more about Corinth, a coastal major city of it’s time. It was a tough place to preach the Gospel just as we have many of our major cities of today. God is able to penetrate any darkness with the light of the Gospel. Let’s be encouraged wherever we are and keep making disciples for Christ.
Acts 18: 1-17; 24-26
1 After these things Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth. 2 And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome); and he came to them. 3 So, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked; for by occupation they were tentmakers. 4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.
5 When Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ. 6 But when they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook his garments and said to them, “Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” 7 And he departed from there and entered the house of a certain man named Justus,[a]one who worshiped God, whose house was next door to the synagogue. 8 Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized.
9 Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.” 11 And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
12 When Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him to the judgment seat, 13 saying, “This fellow persuades men to worship God contrary to the law.”
14 And when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or wicked crimes, O Jews, there would be reason why I should bear with you. 15 But if it is a question of words and names and your own law, look to it yourselves; for I do not want to be a judge of such matters.” 16 And he drove them from the judgment seat. 17 Then all the Greeks[b] took Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. But Gallio took no notice of these things.
24 Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. 27 And when he desired to cross to Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him; and when he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace; 28 for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. Paul identified a common ground and made friends with Aquila and his wife Priscilla. They were both in the tent-making business and Paul was also a tent-maker. This union, made possible by the Holy Spirit would last many years and become instrumental in the spread of the Gospel (See Romans 16:3). Talk about being at the right place and at the right time. Aquila and Priscilla had ended up in Corinth because of troubles in Rome which sent the Jews packing. Paul ends up in Corinth at the same time because of persecutions in Athens. Does God have a plan? Yes, and He will allow things to happen and use them to accomplish His purposes. What is God doing around you that may just be part of his bigger plan to reach a person, a city or nation with His Good news? Let’s look out for these circumstances. Though sometimes painful and inconveniencing, God will cause all things to work for the good of His purpose (Romans 8:28).
2. Notice that the preaching mission of Paul happened in the ordinary course of daily living. “Because he (Paul) was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. 4Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks” v.3-4. Do you see yourself as a minister of God in your profession? You may be a software engineer or school teacher. God has given us all abilities to work for him. Let’s use our skills for him while we make disciples for Christ along the way. We only live one life – life in the Spirit. There is no separation between the secular and the Spiritual for a believer in Christ. My professional work and life at home are all spiritual and so is yours.
3. Paul goes first to the Jews in the city of Corinth, and they reject his message. “Paul was compelled by the Spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ. 6 But when they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook his garments and said to them, “Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” We must keep going regardless of the response we receive. Some Jews believed too including Sosthenes (the ruler of the synagogue) who Paul mentioned in the first Chapter of First Corinthians. See vs. 7, 8, and 17. Paul preached a simple message: “that Jesus is the Christ”. Jesus is the anointed One who was promised to save all from sin. May we only preach Christ and not the “enticing” words of the “prosperity gospel preachers”.
4. Paul then goes to the Gentiles in Corinth. The Gentiles believed. “And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized”. God brings the increase as we plant the seed of the Gospel. Darkness can never overcome light.
5. God speaks to Paul not to fear. He has many in the city. 9 “Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.” 11 And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them”. This was evidenced by the many who believed in the Gospel. When God is behind our mission, we will only move when God says so. May we like Paul listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit even in threatening times and difficult circumstances.
6. God will use others to argue our case even in persecutions. 14 “And when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or wicked crimes, O Jews, there would be reason why I should bear with you. 15 But if it is a question of words and names and your own law, look to it yourselves; for I do not want to be a judge of such matters.” 16 And he drove them from the judgment seat” May God speak for us always. Jesus said He will build His Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.
7. Please note the mention of Apollos (vs. 24-28). He was discipled by Aquila and Priscilla and would later become a key figure in the spread of the Gospel in Corinth. We will find Paul mentioning Apollos in his Letter to the Corinthians when division arose in the Church. Also, not that we are to reproduce our kind in God. Paul through the Holy Spirit taught Aquila and Priscilla. Now the couple are opening their home and teaching Apollos. Their home became a house Church (see 1 Cor. 16:19). The Church of God is not the building but the people with the Spirit of God. It did not matter where they met. In fact it is not a matter of meeting for church but being the Church wherever we go. Are you being the Church instead of just “attending church”?
A Corinthian Church is born though not without persecution and adversity. Paul would later write to encourage them and correct errors in behavior. It was a growing infant church as we will see in our study. But nevertheless, it was still a Church of Christ, the body of Christ.
I invite you to journey with me as we together study the Letter of Paul to the Corinthians. The truth contained therein will stretch us and build our faith in God. Please read the entire Letter of 1 Corinthians at a go to get the landscape. It is only 16 chapters.
Lord Jesus, I pray that you give us hunger for your word. Open our eyes to your truth and may your TRUTH set us free. May our learning be for living righteously in Christ. Lord, help us to preach your Good News of salvation to those yet to believe in season and out of season. Amen
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