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Sacred Didactics

By J. W. McGarvey

Chapter 2 EXEGESIS OF FIRST CORINTHIANS

I. The Parties:

A. Paul and Sosthenes, 1:1.

1. Paul the writer, 1:4-10.
2. Sosthenes mentioned only in the salutation. Unknown unless the chief ruler of the synagogue. Acts 18:17.

B. Church of God at Corinth and all other saints.

1. Epistle intended for general circulation.

II. Circumstances of the writer:

A. Place—in Ephesus, 15:32; 16:8,19.
B. Time—Second visit to Ephesus, 16:18, 19; Acts 18:20, 21. (Between book burning and mob, I Cor. 16:18 with Acts 19:19-23)
C. Had written to them before, 5:9-10. Had received a letter from them, 7:1.
D. Engaged in making collection for the poor saints in Judea, 16:1-3.
E. His great distress on their account.

III. Circumstances of the church:

A. In a cultivated and commercial but very dissolute city.
B. Founded by Paul with 18 months labor, 3:9,10; Acts 18:1-4.
C. Strife and divisions among them, 1:10, 16; 3:1-4.
D. They tolerated incest, 5:1, 2; 6:9, 20.
E. Law suits, 6:1, 4.
F. Inquiring about marriage and divorce, Chapter 7.
G. Some eating idolatrous sacrifices, 8:10-13.
H. Questioning Paul's Apostolic authority, chapters 9 and 10.
I. The women immodest, 11:1-6; 14:34-36.
J. Profaning the Lord's Supper, 11:17-34.
K. Jealous about spiritual gifts, 12:1-14; 12:28-31; 13:1-13.
L. Some denied the resurrection, 15:1-2.

IV SYNOPSIS

Section I, 1:1-9. Salutations and commendation.
Section II, 1:10-4:7. Strife and division discussed.
Section III, 4:8-21. Their depreciation of Paul.
Section IV, Chapters 5, 6. Fornication and covetousness discussed.
Section V, Chapter 7. Marriage and divorce.
Section VI, Chapter 8. Idolatrous sacrifice discussed.
Section VII, 9:1-23. His Apostolic authority.
Section VIII, 9:24-10:33. Examples and marriage.
Section IX, Chapter 11. Improprieties in their public worship.
Section X, Chapters 12,13, 14. Spiritual gifts.
Section XI, Chapter 15. The resurrection.
Section XII, Chapter 16. Personal statements and salutations.

SECTION I

Salutation and Commendation

I Corinthians 1:1-9.

I. Salutation, 1-3.

A. The writer a "called Apostle," Acts 26:15-18.

1. Through the will of God, Gal. 1:15; Rom. 1:1; Acts 22:14.

B. Party addressed—the names.

1. "Church of God."

a. This is a general designation.

2. "Sanctified in Christ," II Thess. 2:13-14.
3. "Called Saints."
4. "With all who call." (Connection between with and call.)
5. "Theirs and ours."
6. Connection of their thoughts with each other.

C. Benediction: Favor of whom? Peace with whom? Source of them.

II. Commendation, 4-9.

A. Thanks for favor in Christ.
B. Specification of this favor, 5-7.
C. Their gifts establish the testimony of Christ which Paul had presented.
D. Revelation made by them preparatory to revelation made by Christ, 1:7.
E. They establish testimony of Christ and he will establish them, 8.
F. Assurance of this, 1:9.
G. Another effect of the call.

1. Into the fellowship of Christ, 1:9.

SECTION II

Strife and division discussed.

I Corinthians 1:10-4:7.

I. Their divisions rebuked, 1:10-17.

A. Exhortations to:

1. "Through the name," Compare 1:2, 3, 9.
2. To speak the same things for it prevents schisms and brings unity.
3. Possibility of this.

B. Statement of their case as a reason for the exhortation, 1:11.

1. Source of his information
2. "The strifes," not "schisms" of verse 10 but lead to them.

C. Strifes explained, 1:12.

1. The names of Paul, Apollos, etc., were substituted for the real names, 4:6.
2. The probable issues between the parties were those discussed in the epistle.

D. Absurdity of the existence of parties.

1. Implies Christ is divided.
2. That leaders immersed into their own names.

E. Rebukes the boast about immersing, 1:14-16.
F. Immersion is subordinate to preaching.

1. Arguments of some against immersion for remission of sins.

a. Paul sent to do that (which) was necessary for salvation.
b. Was not sent to baptize, ergo baptism not for remission of sins.

2. Answer:

a. Though he was not sent to baptize, all his converts were baptized by someone.

(1) Are always addressed as baptized when there is any allusion to the subject,

b. When no one with him, he "Paul" baptized hence:

(1) Baptism so important it was never neglected or omitted.
(2) Paul went beyond his commission to prevent its being omitted.

II. Preaching the cross versus wisdom, 1:17-25.

A. The two are in opposition, 1:17.

1. "Wisdom" equals speculation about God, 24, and human good, 1:30. (Eophia equals philosophy.)

a. This proved by the position of the parties, 1:18.
b. Foretold by the prophets, 1:17; Isa. 29:14.

B. This prediction was fulfilled.

1. In the present condition of the wise.
2. In the contrast between believer and unbeliever, 1:21, 24, 30.

C. God's method wiser and more efficient than man's.

1. Proposition, 1:25. This proposition is laid down in 1:25, and we have the proof.

a. The wise not among the saved.
b. The other class in advance of them, or if H. T. Anderson's version is correct, the preachers more effective than the wise, 1:27, 30. Reason of difference: It was not in the superiority of the preachers, not in the individuals chosen for the sanctification and redemption—but in the work of Christ for them and in them.

D. Paul's preaching according to the preceding precepts, 2:1, 5.

1. Not a display of wisdom, but of Christ crucified, 2:1, 2.

a. "Know nothing,"—make known nothing.
b. Christ crucified—Everything necessary to make Christ the savior.

2. His feeling opposed to the display of wisdom.
3. He made a display of the presence and power of the spirit.
4. This done to give a solid basis to faith.

III. True wisdom and how attained, 2:6-3:4.

A. He does preach wisdom, 2:6, but only to the matured, 3:1,2.

1. It is unlike the former wisdom.
2. Is God's wisdom, 2:7,—mysterious and hidden.
3. Unknown to the rulers of the ages. Hence they crucified Christ, 2:8.
4. What is it? 2:9. Includes all the blessings in Christ but chiefly the forgiveness of sins through his blood.

B. How obtained?

1. By revelation through the Spirit, 2:10.

a. Spirit able to reveal it, 2:10,11.
b. Spirit given for that purpose, 2:12.

2. By words of inspired men.

a. These words dictated by Spirit.

3. Not obtained by natural man, 2:14.

a. For it is foolishness to him.
b. He cannot know them because they are spiritually discerned.

4. Obtained by spiritual man. 2:15.

a. Reason of difference, 2:16.

5. Corinthians not prepared for this, 3:1, 4, because not spiritual but carnal, i.e. babes in Christ, hence food suited to them. Compare 2:6.

a. Proof of carnality, 3:4.

NATURAL MAN AND SPIRITUAL MAN

Conjectures

I. Natural man.

A. The unconverted man.
B. The uninspired man.
C. The man without the spirit's teaching, i.e. revelation.
D. The man who rejects the spirit's teachings—revelation.

1. If either of these is true, then the spiritual man may be known by the antithesis—hence:

II. Spiritual man.

A. The converted man,
B. The inspired man.
C. The man with Spirit's teaching.
D. The man who accepts Spirit's teachings.

1. The question is to be determined by the context.
2. What does it require

III. Facts in the case.

A. Natural man.

1. Receives not things of the Spirit, 2:14.
2. Are foolishness to him.
3. Cannot know them for they are spiritually discerned.

B. Spiritual man.

1. Examines (H.T.A.) all things of Spirit, 2:15.
2. Is examined by no one, i.e. in reference to these things, 2:15.
3. He has the mind of Christ.

C. Conclusions:

1. Conjecture A (I. Natural man) forbidden by 2 and 3 of natural man, (III).
2. Conjecture B (I. Natural man) forbidden by 1, 2, 3, of natural man, (III).
3. Conjecture C (I. Natural man) forbidden by 2 of natural man, (III).
4. Conjecture D (I. Natural man) agrees with all natural man, (III).

a. Verse 19 confirms the conclusion that "D" of natural and spiritual man correct.
b. The antithesis of "D" natural man agrees with all the facts of spiritual man.

IV. Preachers and teachers not to be party men, 3:5-4:7.

A. Humble position of preachers.

1. Mere servants for faith.
2. Mere hired laborers, 3:8, 9.
3. Builders of God's house, 3:9,10.

B. A warning to builders, 3:10,15.

1. Must build on true foundation.

a. Corollary—if anything built on other foundation, not Church of Christ. (Infants in the church on the foundation of circumcision, etc.)

2. Character of the materials, 3:12.

a. Shall be made manifest, 3:13.

3. His wages or reward depends on the materials built on, 3:14.

C. Caution against destroying the church.

1. It is God's temple in which His Spirit dwells, 3:16.
2. God will destroy him who destroys it, 3:17.

D. Caution against self-deceit.

1. Shows how the conceited may become wise, 3:17-20.
2. Preachers and all things belong to the church, 3:21, 23.

E. Accountability of preachers and teachers.

1. They are stewards and required to be faithful, 4:1,2.
2. It is a small matter to be judged by men or self—but will be judged by God, 4:3, 4.
3. The Lord's judgment not to be anticipated.

F. Design in preceding argument.

1. States the disguise, 4:6.
2. The object of it, 4:6.
3. Another argument to same point.

SECTION III

Depreciation of Paul

I Corinthians 4:8-21-5:1

I. Rebuke for despising him, 4:8-13.

A. Their boasted independence of him, 4:8.
B. Abasement of Apostles, 4:9.

1. Force of "spectacle," unto the world, theatrical show. Extent of "to angels and to men," is to all intelligence.

C. Their pretensions ridiculous, 4:10.
D. Specification of abasement, 4:11, 13.

II. They ought to be like Paul, 4:14-17.

A. Object of this section, 4:14.
B. Paul their father in Christ, 4:15.
C. Hence they should imitate him, 4:16.
D. Sent Timothy, older son, for this purpose, 4:17.

III. Paul asserts his authority, 4:17-5:1.

SECTION IV

Fornication and Covetousness

I Corinthians 5 and 6

I. A case stated and adjudged, 5:1-5.

A. The crime specified, 5:1.
B. Their indifference, 5:2.
C. Sentence pronounced. (Question: How then is the flesh destroyed? Satan would not inflict punishment to reformation.)

1. Some argue a miraculous infliction of bodily punishment such as disease, blindness, etc., by Christ from:

a. Verses 4, 5. Say Christ's power of a physical nature. Also, 4:20, 21.
b. Prom II Cor. 13:2,10.

(1) Objections to this interpretation.

(a) These latter are just as hard to understand as the passage under consideration.
(b) I Cor. 11:30 contains no proof.
(c) No proof that miraculous power was ever exercised by Apostles in the discipline of the church.—Ananias and Sapphira not a parallel case.
(d) Exclusion from the church is sufficient to account for the language.
(e) If a person is not in the kingdom of Christ, he must be in the kingdom of Satan. "Whosoever is not for me is against me."
(f) The power of the Lord must attend their act to satisfy it. Jno. 20:22, 23; Matt. 18:18.

2. Exclusion agrees with the facts in the case, Comp. 5:13, with II Cor. 2:6.

a. We see from this that he was excluded from the church and that grief caused him to repent.
b. He was afterwards restored. How was his spirit to be saved?
c. Exclusion was the only means. This will lead him to repentance. If he had been kept with the church and no notice to him of his crime, he might have thought he was good enough.

II. Necessity for excluding corrupt persons, 5:6-8.

A. Their pride again rebuked, 5:6.
B. Diffusiveness of corruptiveness, 5:6.
C. It must be removed.

1. First to keep the church pure.
2. To enable them to keep the passover, 5:7.

D. The new passover like the old—to be kept without leaven.

1. What does leaven here mean? a. Malice and wickedness.
2. What does unleaven here mean? a. Purity and truth.

III. Non-intercourse with fornicators and some others enjoined, 5:9-13.

A. Explanation of former prohibition, 5:9.

1. Former prohibition stated again, 5:9.

a. Proof that Paul has written them an epistle before this. Verse 9 may refer to this or a former letter— and other to a former.
b. No such prohibition in former part of this epistle.
c. Now (11) is contrasted with former writing, therefore:
d. He must have written a former epistle.

2. Those out of church not included, 5:10.
3. Repeats it more definitely, 5:11.

B. Reason of this distinction between those out and those in the church, 5:12, 13.

1. Church's judgment restricted to those within.
2. Those out left to God's judgment, 5:13.

IV. Covetous practices rebuked, 6:1-11. (Their covetousness led to their law suits. This digression was suggested by 5:11)

A. Suits before the unrighteous, 6:1-8.

1. Should go before the saints in preference, 6:1.
2. Saints are qualified — will judge the world and angels, 6:2, 3.

a. How judged there ?

(1) It must be in same subordinate sense for Christ is the superior judge.
(2) The Apostles were to sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes, Matt. 19:28.
(3) Paul and the church not to judge those without, 5:12.
(4) It is not in matters of this life, 6:3-4.
(5) Farther we know not.

3. The least esteemed to be appointed to judge, 6:4.
4. Their excuse (saints not qualified) 6:5. A shame to them, 6:3-6, compare with 4:10.
5. No excuse for the suits, 6:7.
6. Really unjust and wrong, 6:8.

B. Fate of all the unrighteous, 6:11.

1. They shall not inherit the kingdom (Heaven.)
2. Some of the unrighteous specified, 6:10.
3. Corinthians were such but now are changed.

a. The conclusion is suppressed, but is strongly implied, that they should not become such again.

V. Fleshly indulgence restricted, 6:12-20.

A. All things lawful for use, i.e., in their proper way.

1. Two restrictions:

a. It must be for good.
b. They must not control us, 6:12.

B. Meats: They and that for which they are used temporary, 6:13.
C. Body not for fornication, but for the Lord, 6:13. Proof in part:

1. The Lord is for the body to raise it up.
2. Our bodies members of Christ, hence not to be joined to harlot, 6:15-17.

D. Fornication is sin against the body. In this different from other sins.

1. Drunkenness and gluttony effect our bodies, but not so much.
2. It has been recorded from statistics that prostitute women average not more than seven years of life after they begin their course of vice.

E. Body a temple of God bought by him. Hence must be used for His glory, 6:19, 20.

SECTION V

Marriage and Divorce

I Corinthians 7

I. Celibacy preferred but matrimony permitted, 7:1-9.

A. About to answer letter, 7:1.
B. Marriage advised to avoid fornication, 7:2.

1. Monogamy implied.

C. Marital duties prescribed.

1. Each to yield to desire of other.
2. No separation but by agreement for a short time for prayer, 7:5.

a. Seasons of self-denial for prayer implied.

3. Why for a short time only? 7:5.

D. The above given as advise and not as a command, 7:6.
E. Paul's preference: Prefers all to be like him—unmarried. Admits this not suited to some, 7:7-9.

II. Divorce and marriage of divorced person treated of, 7:10-24.

A. General prohibition of divorce, 7:10,11.

1. Wife not to leave her husband.
2. If she leaves him, she must remain unmarried.
3. Same law for the husband.
4. It is implied in v. 11, that a woman may rightly leave her husband, but if she does, she must remain unmarried. (May leave him for adultery, comp. Matt. 19:1-12)

B. Special prohibition. Where one party is an unbeliever, 7:12-18.

1. The believer (husband or wife) must not put away or leave the unbeliever.
2. Reason for it: unbeliever sanctified in the believer.

a. Proof: Cleanliness of their children who are also unbelievers, 7:14.
b. "Sanctify" and "holy" used in opposition to "unclean" in a figurative sense. Comp. Ex. 9, 10, whence the Jews got their ideas.

3. If the unbeliever depart, the believer not in bondage to him, 7:15, but must keep peace. Must try to live with him (or her.)
4. Another reason why should not separate. May save the unbeliever by living together, 7:16.

C. No social or political relation dissolved by the Gospel, 7:17-24.

1. General under "walk" in these relations as when called, 7:17.
2. So of circumcision, 7:18.
3. So of slavery, 7:20-22. Admits that freedom is to be preferred, 7:21. Enforces this by relation of both servant and freeman to the Lord, 7:22.
4. Limits service not to be the slave of men. This means that we are not to be the slaves of men in such a way as to prevent our being free in the Lord.

III. Giving virgins in marriage, 7:25-40.

A. No sayings of Jesus on this subject, but he gives his judgment as an apostle, 7:25.
B. Prepares for his conclusion by general statements, 7:26-35.

1. Repeats the judgment, 7:7-9, more fully, 7:27-28.

a. Reason: Present distress.

2. Times require freedom from earthly care, 7:29-32.

a. "The times," equal "present necessity" of the preceding, 7:28.

3. The married have more worldly care than unmarried, 7:27-32. This the general rule in such times.
4. These statements made for their good, 7:35, and not merely to bring them under his control, 7:35.

C. Conclusions, 7:36-40. (May marry on certain conditions.)

1. On certain conditions may let virgin marry.

a. If the father thinks he would be treating her harshly by preventing her marriage.
b. If it is necessary that she should marry.

2. In absence of these conditions, keep her single, 7:37.
3. Who keeps his daughter does better than he who does not, 7:38.
4. Caution: If she marry, she is bound for life, 7:39.
5. The woman is happier in the single state, 7:40.

a. All these modified by the "times" and circumstances of the Corinthians.

6. Claims the Spirit of God for all of this, 7:40. a. "I also," alludes to the claims of his opponent.

SECTION VI

Meats offered to idols.

I Corinthians 8

I. Not to be eaten by Christians, chapter 8.

A. Knowledge of brethren in reference to idols.

1. Subject named, 8:1.
2. Digression suggested by "we know."

a. Inferiority of knowledge to love. Gal. 4:9.
b. Compare Matt. 7:23; II Tim. 2:19.

3. Theme renewed and eating specie fixed, 8:4.
4. Brethren knew difference between idols and God, 8:5,6.
5. Some without this knowledge, 8:7, and defiled their conscience by eating.

B. Admission: Abstractly considered, eating neither good nor bad, 8:8.
C. Why wrong for them who had knowledge to eat, 8:12.

1. It emboldens the other class.
2. It causes the ruin of the weak class.
3. This is a sin against them and Christ.

D. Several conclusions.

1. Eat no flesh when such is the effect.

a. Corollary: Do nothing to cause a brother to stumble unless it is a positive duty. Applies to dancing, etc.

SECTION VII

Depreciation of Paul

I Corinthians 9:1-23

I. Paul's equal rights with other Apostles, 9:1-6.

A. Free from human control because he is an Apostle.

1. Proves he is an Apostle.

a. By seeing Jesus.
b. By their existence as a church.

(1) He was an apostle to them at least, 9:1, 2.

B. He has the same right to eat, drink, marry and cease labors as other Apostles, 9:3, 6.

1. These things were admitted to be right for others, ergo, they were right for him.

II. His right to a support for preaching, 9:7- 23.

A. He argues his right to support:

1. From analogy of soldiers, vine dressers and shepherds, 9:7.
2. From the law of Moses.
3. From the law of equitable exchange, 9:11.
4. From what others had received, 9:12.

a. Paul had waived this right for the sake of the Gospel.

5. From examples of priests and Levites, 9:13.
6. From the Lord's order on the subject, 9:14.
a. Compare, Matt. 10:9, 10; Luke 10:7.

(1) Corollary: If this argument good for Paul— good for evangelists now.

B. How he had acted in this matter and why, 9:15-23.

1. Had waived his right and would still do so, 9:15.

a. Rather die than not have cause for glory in the Gospel.

2. He must preach, pay or no pay, 9:17-18.

a. This so of every one who is called—every man to whom in the judgment of his brethren, God has given the ability. They are to be judges. If he cannot get a support, he must work enough to get it and preach the rest of the time.

3. His reward: Satisfaction that laboring without pay gave, 9:18.
4. Had resigned his freedom to gain the more souls, 9:19.
5. Became all things to all men for the same purpose.

a. He became all things not inconsistent with the law of Christ. Such a course pursued for selfish manners would be the height of meanness, but pursued for the sake of the Gospel, it is the height of self-sacrifice. This should be our example.

SECTION VIII

Examples and Warnings

I Corinthians 9:24-10:33

I. Examples of perseverance, 9:24-27.

A. Example from the race course, 9:24.

1. Urging them to run.

B. Example from boxers, 9:25, urging self-control.
C. Example of Paul himself, 9:20, 27.

1. He was like the runners and boxers.

II. Warning from Jews in the wilderness, 10:1-22.

A. Cases are analogous, 10:1-4.

1. They were immersed into Moses as Christians are into Christ.
2. Had the same food in type that the Christian has in antitype.

a. Argument: For infant baptism: All in the type must be in the antitype. Children in the type, therefore they must be in the antitype.
b. Answer:

(1) Granting the major premise: cattle, sheep, and goats in the type, therefore in the antitype. This proves too much.
(2) Infants, cattle, etc., could be immersed into Moses, (i.e. be put under his government and authority,) but not into Christ. Hence the major premise false. (The Israelites, their cattle, etc., were not fully under the rule of Moses till they crossed the red sea. Up to that time, they were in the dominion of Pharaoh.)
(3) Paul's statement includes only those who were over 20 years of age at the time of their passage. Compare 1 and 5. "our fathers," "they were," "most of them," Hence the minor premise false. Away it goes.

B. Most of them fell, 10:5. Therefore Christians in the same danger.
C. As types of us they warn us, 10:8-12.

1. Against desire of evil things.
2. Against idolatry.
3. Against tempting (testing) the Lord.
4. Against murmuring, 10:10.
5. Against fornication, 10:8.
6. Repeats more fully, 10:5.

D. An excuse anticipated, 10:13.

1. They might say, "ours an uncommon temptation."

a. Theirs, not uncommon temptation.
b. God would not allow an irresistible temptation to come upon them.

E. Special application to idolatry, 10:14-22.

1. Their attention called to the subject.
2. The Lord's Supper a joint sharing of his body and blood, 10:16, 17. This illustrated by the priests and altars, 10:18.
3. Idols' table a sharing with demons, 10:19, 20.
4. Shows they cannot share both. (i.e., The Lord's table and that of demons.) 10:21.
5. To try this is to stir God's jealousy, 10:22.

a. Compare Ex. 20:5, "Jealous God." in. Returns to principles of verses 8 and 12, 10:23:11:1.

F. Extent of its application.

1. All things allowed for use but limited by good for ourselves and others, 10:23, 24.
2. No question about meats sold in the markets or on the tables, 10:25,27.
3. When said to be offered to idols, abstain from them for others good, 10:28.
4. Objection: "Why am I judged by other's conscience? 10:29, 330.

a. Answer: All things must be done for glory of God.
b. Tripping a man of any class contrary to this, 10:31, 32.

5. Paul sets an example, 10:33 and 11:1.

SECTION IX

Improprieties in Worship

I Corinthians 11:2-12:1

I. In reference to covering the head, 11:2-16.

A. Introduction to the subject, 11:2.

1. The grades of authority, woman, man, Christ, God.
2. States proof in reference to man and woman, 11:5.
3. Proof:

a. As to woman. By their admission, 11:6.
b. As to man, in the image of God, 11:7.
c. Returns to case of the woman—she to be subordinate, 11:8-10.

(1) Angels—they present and pleased with good order but displeased with bad.

4. Neither independent of the other, 11:11, 12.
5. Argues as to both by their natural notion of propriety, in reference to wearing hair, 11:13, 15.

a. "Nature," the general sense of propriety among men.

6. Contentions answered.

a. The Apostles and churches have no such customs. (i.e., of wearing long hair and therefore they ought not.) 11:16.

II. In reference to the Lord's Supper, 11:17-34.

A. Another exception to verse 2.

1. Their public assemblies for the worse, 11:17.

B. First specification: Divisions, 11:18, 19.

1. The necessity stated in verse 19, not absolute, but conditional.

C. Eating one's own supper instead of the Lord's, 11:20, 22.

1. Some brought a feast, others did not. 11:21, 22.
2. The ones who brought a feast ate it before the Lord's Supper, 11:20.
3. This was displeasing to the church (not the house) and shaming those who had brought nothing, 11:22.
4. No praise for this, 11:22, comp. verse 2.

D. Correct order of Lord's Supper, 11:23, 24.

1. How instituted, 11:23, 25.

a. This to show how celebrated and its design.

2. In doing this they show forth the Lord's death, 11:26.

a. To be done till He comes, (i.e. to be done in all ages of the church.) 11:26.

3. Guilt of eating unworthily. Meaning of unworthily, 11:27.
4. Corinthians were suffering punishment for this guilt, 11:30, 32.
5. How to avoid this in future, 11:33, 34.

SECTION X

Spiritual Gifts

I Corinthians 12, 13, 14

I. Introduction, 12:1-3.

A. Must not be led about as when idolatrous, 12:2.
B. None with the Spirit dishonor Christ—none honor Christ but by the Spirit, 12:3.

II. Sameness of Spirit in all gifts, 12:4-11.

A. Proposition of sameness (or identity) in gifts, services, and workings, 12:4-6. (Notice the distribution between Father, Son and Spirit.)
B. Object of every gift: Good of the church, 12:7.
C. Specifications under main proposition, 12:8-10.

1. "Faith", 12:9, the faith to perform miracles. There was need of a conviction of power to do them.
2. Compare Matt. 14:31, 21:20-22; James 5:15.
3. Discerning of Spirit equals the distinguishing of true from pretended inspiration. (See I John 4:1).

D. Repeats proposition more fully, 12:11.

1. Why the emphasis on this?

III. Unity of the body of Christ, 12:12-31.

A. The many members are one body, 12:12.

1. Proposition stated and illustrated, 12:12.
2. Came to this oneness by the one Spirit, 12:13.

a. Of the first clause of verse 13, there are two interpretations:

(1) We are immersed in the Spirit into the body. This done when the person receives the Holy Spirit and Holy Spirit brings him into the church.

(a) Objections: Immersion in water brings into the one body, Romans 6:3-4; Matt. 28:19.
(b). The known immersion in the Spirit did not bring the persons into the body, Acts 2:4; 10:47, 48.

(2) By or under the control of the Spirit, we are immersed in water into the one body. The first interpretation disproved by (a) and (b) of objections, hence second correct. This agrees with "speaking words of wisdom," "faith," "healing" by the Spirit in verses 3, 8, 9, also with process of conversion.

B. No member independent of another, 12:15-20.

1. Lowliness of some does not separate them. 12:15-20.
2. The more honorable members not independent of the others, 12:21, 22.
3. Less honorable more adorned, 12:23, 24.
4. The design to harmonize the parts, 12:25.
5. Complete sympathy among all, 12:26.

C. The above applied to the body of Christ, 12:27-31.

1. The church is Christ's body and the members part of it.
2. Special application to members with gifts, 12:28-30.
3. Seek the best gifts, but still a better way, 12:31.

a. That way is love, 13:2.

IV. Love superior to gifts, chapter 13.

A. All gifts and self-sacrifice worthless without love, 13:1-3.
B. Superior effect on character, 13:4-7.
C. Its permanency compared with gifts, 13:8-12.
D. Superior even to faith and hope, 13:13.

V. Prophecy the best gift, 14:1-25.

A. Seen by its effect on the church, 14:1-19.

1. Tongues speak only to God and edify the possessor— prophecy edifies the church, 14:1-4.
2. No edification in tongues unless translated, 14:5-6.
3. Illustrated by musical instruments and other sounds, 14:7-11.
4. One with gift of tongue should pray for the power to translate, 14:12-15.
5. No edification in tongues reported, 14:15-19.

B. Seen by its effect on unbelievers and those ungifted, 14:20-28.

1. Must think like men, 14:20.
2. Tongues for unbelievers—prophecies for believers, 14:20-28.
3. In the church even unbelievers best affected by prophecy, 14:23-25.

VI. All gifts must be used for edification, 14:28-40.

A. The miraculous gift, 14:26-33.

1. Proposition, 14:26.
2. Specifications (two)

a. As to tongues, 14:27, 28.
b. As to prophecy, 14:28, 33.

B. Women to be silent in church, 14:34, 36.

1. It is not permitted them to speak, 14:34.
2. Law of subjection (Gen. 3:16) forbids, 14:34.
3. Indecorous for them to :speak, 14:35.
4. This church (one at Corinth) not superior that it should have novel customs, 36.

a. Reconcile this (B) with 11:5. Two Methods:

(1) Women with miraculous gifts an exception to this rule.
(2) In 11:5, Paul only rebukes the manner, but here the thing itself. In favor of the last, II Tim. 2:11, 12. Let the women (wife) learn in "silence."

(a) Question—"Why did the women have these gifts if not to be used?"

b. Answer: Their gifts for use in private and among their own sex. Titus 2:4. Greater need of this then than now. Not so much mingling of the sexes in the East as in countries of Europe and America. Women had a separate court among the Jews.— "Court of the women."

C. Conclusion, 14:37-40.

1. The way this instruction and by the prophets a test of their claim, 14:37, 38.
2. Prefer prophecy, but forbid not tongues, 14:39.
3. Decorum in good order to govern in all things, (can't be too careful on this point.)

The Word PROPHECY In This Section

CHAPTER 14

1. It primarily means foretelling future events.
2. Its effects: Edification, and encouragement, Compare 3, 4.
3. Distinguish from revelation, knowledge and teaching, 6. "Revelation" not used in its widest sense. In that sense would include all the others.
4. It convicts unbelievers, 24, 25.
5. It teaches something.
6. Conclusion: It is a hortatory address, enforced by predictions leading to conviction and edification. Compare the prophetic books of the Old Testament, John the Baptist's teaching as that of others in New Testament.

SECTION XI

The Resurrection

I Corinthians 15

I. The resurrection a part of the Gospel, 15:1-11.

A. Will restate in what form he (Paul) had preached and they had received the Gospel, 15:1, 2.
B. The form stated, 15:3-4.

1. Force of "according to the scriptures," means the full teaching of all prophecies as types on subject.

C. Witnesses of the resurrection introduced, 15:5-7. Refers also to self.
D. Parenthesis on his own unworthiness, 15:8-10.
E. Such the preaching of all the Apostles, and such the former belief of the Corinthians themselves.

II. Absurdity of denying the resurrection, 15:12-19.

A. It would prove that Christ not risen. 15:12-19.
B. This proved, his preaching vain, 15:14.
C. Apostles false witnesses, 15:15-16.
D. They yet in their sins, 15:17.
E. The dead saints perished; the living ones miserable, 15:18-19. (This argument assumes the mutual dependence of the resurrection and separate existence of the Spirit; as in Matt. 22:31-32. If anyone should prove the existence of the spirit after death, the Sadducees would acknowledge the resurrection. Christ did this.)

III. The resurrection of all argued from that of Christ, 15:20-28.

A. Christ, the first fruit, implying the gathering up of all the other harvest, 15:20.
B. Proposition that all will rise in him, 15:21, 22.

1. "In Kim,"—by his influence.

C. This will be at his coming, 15:23.
D. Proved by all enemies being put under his feet, death being one and the last enemy, 15:24-27.
E. A limit to "all things under him," God excepted, 15:27-28.

IV. Argument from immersion and exposure of life, 15:29 34.

A. From immersion, 15:29.

1. Resurrection declared in raising the immersed person from the water. Compare Romans 6:4; Col. 2:12. "Immersed for the dead" used because immersion and rising from it declare the resurrection of the dead.

B. From Paul's exposure, 15:30-32.
C. Hints at the cause of their unbelief, 15:33-34.

V. The resurrection body, 15:35-50.

A. An objection implying doubt and making inquiry discussed, 15:35.
B. Decay of the body not in the way, as proved by grain, 15:36.
C. As in the case of the grain, should expect the resurrection of the body to be different from the present. 15:37-38.
D. Difference illustrated by the difference in other bodies 15:39-42.
E. Points of difference stated, 15:42-44.
F. Illustrates the difference by the two Adams, 15:45 49.
G. The resurrection body cannot be flesh and blood, 15:50.

1. Therefore there must be a change of the present body.

VI. Change of the bodies of the living saints at the resurrection, 15:51-57.

A. The last generation before the resurrection shall not die, but shall be changed, 15:51-52.
B. Shall be changed to the same as those raised, 15:53.
C. The triumph over death and sin, 15:54-57.

VII. An exhortation, 15:58.