Understanding The Fixed-Meaning Canon

The letters Paul writes to the Church in Corinth are prompted by desire to save save their souls, because their actions are defying their claim to being God's children. He's clearly disappointed that they many members have continued practicing sinful behaviors - including, perhaps the most prevalent- sexual sin. Paul cautioned the church that continuing in these sins does not demonstrate that one has become a new creature in Christ Jesus, and that unrepentant, habitual sin will keep them out of heaven (1 Corinthians 6 vs 9-11). He questions how they can judge the church, as unrepentant sinners.

     Paul wrote First Corinthians primarily because of a division in the local church caused by several different situations. Paul writes, “Now, dear brothers and sisters, I appeal to you by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ to stop arguing among yourselves. Let there be real harmony so there won’t be divisions in the church. I plead with you to be of one mind, united in thought and purpose” (First

When reading and interpreting biblical law, there are several important features to consider. First, there should be an understanding of the nature of law (“Lecture 1,” 2015). Torah, or תּוֹרָה, is the Hebrew word translated for “law” (Vogt, 2009). Its meaning refers to ‘instruction” or “teaching,” much different than the contemporary world defines the law. Moreover, it carries a “theologically centered” (Vogt, 2009, p. 26) teaching, providing for the ancient Israelites guidance in how to live in such a way that is pleasing to God (Vogt, 2009). Rather than looking at the law from a legalistic approach as is common today, it is important to understand that the Israelites received the law as a gift from God (Psalm 119:111, NIV) upon their deliverance from Egypt.

Although it can be tempting to break one of these laws, I believe that as long as I keep my faith with God and abide by these laws, I won’t have to doubt my future salvation. The Ten Commandments are significant to me because they

“We have a moral responsibility to disobey any law that conflicts with the law of god.” (Paragraph 16)

In this passage of the second letter to the Corinthians, Paul addresses several concerns. He is addressing the situation of a man who has sinned not only against himself, but against the Corinthian Church as well. He explains why he wrote a letter rather than bringing sorrow upon them. Paul is sensitive to the Lord’s leading, and in love, writes to the church encouraging them to discipline this man in love for the purpose of restoring him. He urges the Corinthians to be obedient and love the man through forgiving and encouraging him. Paul shares with them his trust in the Lord for the outcome of this matter and how burdened he was for restoration to take place. He warns them of the need to not allow Satan a foothold through this

Paul had written this letter to explain his love and appreciation for the believers in Philippi. You can find out more information about the backround of this story in the closing section of Acts and again in chapter 16, it tells about Paul when he visited Philippi and the founding of the church to which he wrote this letter. Paul did a great deal of preaching which interested the people. All of the word spreading around led some to agree and disagree with his beliefs, when his preachings reached the rulers of the city Paul was thrown in jail. Although soon enough he got out due to an earthquake that hit the jail and freed all prisoners.

Traditionally, 1 Corinthians is attributed to Paul, as are many of the New Testament letters. Paul was writing to a church in Corinth, a church and town that would have been primarily Gentile. This means the congregation would likely have been familiar with, and influenced by, pagan practices. Paul had since left Corinth and it seems that other Christian leaders had visited after Paul’s departure. Paul writes to correct and address issues that have arisen in the church. It seems the Corinthians have written Paul with a list of questions, but this has been lost. Some of the issues seem to have arisen from poor reports of the church reaching Paul. It is important to read this letter in the context of a church asking for direction regarding specific issues. This letter allows us to eavesdrop on Paul’s side of the conversation, but we not not privy to the other side of the conversation.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 is part of a larger literary unit that deals with unholy conduct. It begins in 5:1 and ends at 6:20 and is discernible by an antithetical inclusio: 5:1-13 sexual immorality and 6:12-20 glorifying God in your body. 6:1-11 is the mid-section, a sub unit that deals with lawsuits between believers. In 6:9-11 Paul weaves in the wrongdoing and rightful judgement of it from Chapter 5. This is evident in the repetition of all of the items of 5:11 in the catalogue of 6:9-10. This list builds upon the listed items in 5:11 which builds upon 5:10. 6:11 acts as a lead in to the opposite end of the inclusio of 6:12-20 - being washed, sanctified and justified in the name of Jesus is what makes the body the temple of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, Paul exhorts the Corinthians to at the

After writing his initial letter to the Corinthians and proclaiming his loyal love for the congregation (Harris, 2014). By the time the Apostle Paul wrote 2nd Corinthians his relationship with the Christians in Corinth had dramatically changed and significantly deteriorated based upon the incursion of superlative and sham apostles into the Corinthian congregation. After rising to prominence within the Corinthian congregation of Christians, the superlative and sham apostles openly questioned the Apostle Paul’s qualifications to lead the church, his integrity, and impugned his credibility as an apostle by noting he refused to accept payment for the services he performed for the church.

His evidence for making such a request flows from reports he has received from members of Chloe’s household (1 Corinthians 1:11, 5:1). Also, Paul seems to have received several questions from the church in Corinthian because of Paul’s reference to them (1 Corinthians 7:1, 7:25 8:1, 12:2, 16:1). However, Paul’s main issue with the Corinthian’s division comes down to a misunderstanding of the Gospel and claiming to have spiritual knowledge apart from Christ (Fee 49,

We can find meaning that applies to the church as a whole as long as we understand the context surrounding it. With my chosen text, it is actually fairly easy to know that it is something that applies to a wider audience than just the church of Corinth as Paul includes something very similar in other letters written. Knowing that it does exist beyond just the letter to the Corinthians helps us to understand that it isn’t just an issue that Corinth faces, but rather it’s a widespread

In 2 Corinthians 12:1 – 10, the Apostle Paul is writing to the Corinthians to make a spirited defense against

Paul’s final request towards the people of Corinth is found in his second letter (2 Corinthians). The last chapter however is similarly a conclusion, or overview of the letter. Although there are some differences throughout the translations, Paul’s final message/warning is evident and clear.

The first letter to the Corinthians as a whole alternates between responses to reports and answers to questions from the church, and 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 is found in the beginning of Paul’s first response to reports dealing with factions and divisions within the body of believers.