I Corinthians 50 Shades Of Sanctification - 1626 Words

I Corinthians: 50 Shades of Sanctification I Corinthians offers the reader an insight into the early beginnings of the New Testament church, its structure, methods, and message. I Corinthians is Paul’s answer to a previous letter he has written to the Corinthians regarding the conditions in the Corinthian church. The picture Paul painted of the early church also includes a problematic, non-typical congregation (Utley 18). Paul is not questioning their salvation per say but challenging their sanctification (Wallace). The goal of this paper is to communicate Paul’s dilemma of how a Christian is supposed to conduct himself and live in an appallingly†¦show more content†¦They have been cowardly and acting like children (3:1-2), as well as full of strife (1:11). Paul desires, on behalf of the Corinthians, the pardoning mercy, sanctifying grace, and comforting peace of God, through Jesus Christ (Henry). Paul references Our Lord Jesus Christ six times in the salutation to remind the Corinthians to not make too frequent or too honorable mention of him (McGee). By the time Paul reached Corinth, it was a booming Roman town, having been colonized by Julius Caesar in 44 B.C. Paul ministered in Corinth for 18 months, probably in A.D. 51 and 52. When others depict a person as Corinthian, the implication is one of lust, lasciviousness, and luxury. Corinth was ignorant of the true God, entirely self-governing as a Roman colony, and self-centered in her own world. The city was going in the opposite direction that God had planned for his church (Constable). Much of this discourse was caused by the fact Corinth had become a crossroads for both land and sea trade. Much of the sea trade of the Mediterranean from east to west passed directly through Corinth. Such trade venues made Corinth a vast commercial center with great wealth. With great luxuries comes sin and discourse (Deffinbaugh). Paul begins by addressing the divisiveness in the church (1:10-4:21). The divisiveness was a result of l oyalty to a person and the influence of their own distinct