Thursday: Paul’s Letters to the Corinthians
Daily Lesson for Thursday 2nd of July 2026
Read 1 Corinthians 1:11-13; 1 Corinthians 4:14; 1 Corinthians 5:11; 1 Corinthians 7:1; and 1 Corinthians 14:37,40. Also read 2 Corinthians 1:12, 2 Corinthians 2:9, 2 Corinthians 11:3, and 2 Corinthians 13:10. How do these passages help us understand why Paul wrote letters to the Corinthians?
Paul was in Ephesus when he wrote 1 Corinthians (1 Corinthians 16:5-9). The family of Chloe went to him with the report that things were not going too well back in Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:11). In 1 Corinthians 1:1-31; 1 Corinthians 2:1-16; 1 Corinthians 3:1-23; 1 Corinthians 4:1-21; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 1 Corinthians 6:1-20, Paul addresses the issues brought by Chloe’s household. The problems include factionalism, sexual immorality, lawsuits, and prostitution. Paul also received a letter with specific questions (1 Corinthians 7:1). His response fills the space from chapter 7 onward. The questions were related to marriage, divorce, celibacy, food sacrificed to idols, conduct in worship, the use of spiritual gifts, and incorrect understanding of the resurrection. The church of Corinth was very problematic and immature. Perhaps your local church has many problems. Yet the church at Corinth was probably worse.
Image © Providence Collection from GoodSalt.com
Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians is very relevant to our time, as well. After all, don’t we, to some degree, face some of the same issues in many of our churches today? This letter has much to say to us. It is “one of the richest, most instructive, most powerful of all his letters.”—Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, p. 301.
Paul may have written three or four letters to the Corinthians (compare with 2 Corinthians 10:9). He wrote an initial letter before 1 Corinthians (1 Corinthians 5:9), but it is lost. Before 2 Corinthians, he wrote a letter referred to by scholars as the “severe letter” (2 Corinthians 2:3-4,9; 2 Corinthians 7:8), but it is lost, too. Some think he is referring to 1 Corinthians, or that this letter is partly preserved in 2 Corinthians.
From 2 Corinthians, we realize that the members of Corinth were influenced by the surrounding culture. They valued such things as competition, power, and wealth, all things that can challenge our church today, as well. Conversely, Paul sought to create a Christ-focused culture, a way of seeing the world through the lens of the gospel. How crucial that we, too, see our present world through the lens of the gospel.
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Read 2 Corinthians 2:4 again. What does this verse tell you about how much Paul cared for these people? In contrast, how much love is in your heart for others? |
The rapid economic growth of the city of Corinth created significant social and economic divisions. The wealthy gained greater influence, the educated participated more actively in civic life, while the poor remained marginalized. Corinth’s elite were shaped by an agonistic worldview that prized competition and encouraged individuals to strive for honor in athletics, politics, and public life. This competitive spirit may have contributed to the pride, rivalry, and divisions that emerged within the Corinthian church. In response, Paul urged believers to reject factionalism and pursue unity in Christ: “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters…” (1 Corinthians 1:10). Throughout 1 Corinthians 1:10–4:21, Paul reminds the Corinthians that true wisdom and status come from God rather than from human achievement.
The intellectual environment of Corinth was also influenced by the Greek philosophical traditions of Platonism, Cynicism, and Stoicism. These schools of thought often emphasized the superiority of the spiritual over the physical world. While this outlook may have made some Corinthians more receptive to the Christian message, it also contributed to misunderstandings about the body, morality, and the resurrection. In response, Paul affirmed the goodness of God’s creation and emphasized the centrality of Christ’s resurrection, teaching that Christian faith embraces both spiritual and physical realities. As he declares, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile” (1 Corinthians 15:17).
Letter writing during biblical times was extremely expensive and very uncertain whether it would ever arrive at the desired destination. Paul, who wrote several letters to different churches, must have invested a lot of time and resources in trying to keep in touch with fellow believers. There were no postal services as we know them today, particularly for private citizens. The writing materials were expensive, and few people knew how to read and write. Travel was extremely slow and dangerous indeed. The language barrier was a serious problem. In every respect, we must appreciate the commitment that Paul made to promote the great commission. We are the beneficiaries of Paul’s dedication.
However, in our time, we have cheaper alternative means of communication, for example, social media, phone calls, emails, etc. God is making it a reality for the great commission to be fulfilled in our lifetime. With all the means at our disposal, let us seek God’s guidance on how to become a means to quicken the gospel message of salvation. There is something each one of us can do to hasten the coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
“For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more… I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.”(1 Corinthians 9:19, 22–23, NKJV)
The first epistle to the Corithians has 5 themes.
A quick glance over the upcoming lesson topics indicates we will be spending time studying each of these, so I don’t want to cover them all in this one comment. However, if these is one overarching theme, it is that we are united in Christ. We may be different to one another, but in Christ we should not let those differences distract from our unity. The topics of sex, immorality and food should probably be viewed in this context as a distraction from unity.
In my family life I have had to fix a lot of things. When the kids were little, their toys would break, or something in the house would fall apart and need to be put back together. There is a bit of an art to joining things together again. Sometimes, I would use glue. For other situations I would use nails or screws. And there were many occasions I would have to resort to that old favourite, “duct tape”. Often the materials that needed to be fixed were dissimilar and it required a bit of ingenuity to get them back together and functional once again. And, I have to admit, that I was not always successful either.
Fixing church communities is not easy either. Churches are not homogeneous. We come from different backgrounds, education, cultures, and so on. We have a whole range of fixes; verses we like to quote, about getting on with one another and being united in Christ. But the practical application of these verses is often difficult. Sometimes our ideas sound so good while we are sitting in church, but practising the love of Jesus towards one another outside of the church, where it really matters becomes too hard.
Thought to ponder:
Could it be that I am so keen on identifying and “fixing” the problematic behaviour of others in the church that I can do little or nothing about, while neglecting the need of change in my own attitudes and actions?
“For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears…” It’s amazing how much Paul loved the people of the Corinthian church.
I have had a couple occasions to plead with people not to leave the church, over misunderstandings, or just seeing things differently. It especially hurts when your pleas fall on deaf ears and the party follows through on their threat to leave. At that point you can only let them know how much it pains you to see them leave. Then try to stay in touch with them. Often, they don’t want to keep in touch because doing so reminds them of the church which they have left. Then the only thing you can do is pray for them. Intercessory prayer is an act of love for others. We may never see them again on earth, but we want to see them in heaven.
We may go out of our way to show love to others in many forms. The questions is: do we go out of way to bring Jesus to others?
If Paul were writing to the Adventist Church today, his concerns might include:
• Keeping Christ at the center of every doctrine and message.
• Avoiding divisions and loyalty to personalities rather than to Christ.
• Maintaining the biblical balance between grace and obedience.
• Resisting conformity to the spirit of the age.
• Demonstrating love, mercy, and compassion alongside doctrinal faithfulness.
• Living with urgency in light of Christ’s soon return.
• Depending on the Holy Spirit rather than human wisdom and institutions.
• Remaining focused on mission rather than mere preservation.
In short, Paul might remind us: “Hold fast to the truth, but let everything be done in love and centered in Christ.”
To give love, a person has to have some within. In a world of competition, being altruistic and loving may be seen as a sign of weakness, but quite the opposite is true. A happy and content person does not bother others.
I believe with reading all these text Paul dealing with the issues of the Corinth people he had worked with for 18 months before he wrote from Ephesus, he had much thought on how to present correction without destroying the message of the gospel which is Christ as our righteousness, by His dying for our sins. 1 Peter 2:24, not wanting us to sin, but if we do, He is an advocate before our Father in our behalf, 1 John 2:1-2. From what I understand we are not to praise the gospel, rather we are to praise Christ. We are not to worship the gospel, but the Lord of the gospel. Remember too, we are presenting Christ as our loving Saviour.
Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians is very relevant to our time, as well. After all, don’t we, to some degree, face some of the same issues in many of our churches today? This letter has much to say to us. It is “one of the richest, most instructive, most powerful of all his letters.
Very true indeed.
The instructions Paul gave to the Corinthian church is very relevant to our churches today for without such drastic measures the church will drift into sin and she will never fulfill her missionary calling. Paul also gave instructions on food and drinks of which it is central and vital to Adventist teaching. In the past dietry teaching occupied same time as the word and people embraced the health message with enthuiasm (abstraining from flesh food and caffeinated drinks) some members who had tea plantations was reported to have been struck off from church register as an attempt to discourage them from planting church forbidden plant and after sometime now the church seems silent on diet issue. What has happened? I hope the lesson has come at the right time and diet teaching should be given prominence it had before.
We also have the issue of divorce, well it is low rate here in Africa and I have heard it higher in the west where Adventism is prominent. Why this paradox? I think the lesson has come at the right time to fix the mess for strong marriage means strong faith and vice versa.
There’s also the issue of dress which I think Paul hasnt addreessed,the trouble is when a woman dresses in a trouser designated for a man. Here in Africa, if a woman dresses in a trouser it becomes a big sin but not in the west because I saw some Adventist ladies from the west preaching dressed In a trousers and they were comfortable! And our church members started to doubt what we were teaching that woman for trouser is wrong biblically.so let’s talk here.
I think you are referring to the text in Deuteronomy 22:5. about dressing and this text doesn’t actually say anything specific about trousers.
I recently had a conversation with a sister from Kenya about women in Australia wearing trousers / long pants. We discussed the difference between the climate and wearing warmer clothes because of those differences. Maybe this verse should also be considered in the light of the cultural dress and the climate of the times it was written in because in that time there were also pagan rituals where men and women cross dressed and which also happens now. Also in a practical sense in very cold climates it would be unwise to were dresses. Just sharing some comments that might offer a starting point for further research and discussion.
Julie I have found that if you give 2-3 spaces after and before the text then the computer recognizes that as allowing the text to pop up instead of applying the message text as not available. Also don’t be dismayed to find when you post the computer closes those extra spaces. The goal I find is to make the text available in a click. As in your discussion about dressing Deuteronomy 22:5 of cross dressing. By the way I agree with you. Though I would not make a judgmental, feel sad, or have thoughts of condemnation of those who did, I would let the Holy Spirit, and the way I dress without cross dressing be a testimony. I find it okay to button my lips on commenting to others about their attire for the day. We appreciate your comment, please free to continue posting . Like Maurice, I remember the day when in college the student president announced that the administration has agreed that the women may wear pants suits to class. Yes, I know that is not cross dressing, yet it is an example of dressing appropriateness, or in appropriateness 70 years ago. I go to Church dressed in my best appropriately to honor God.
Thank you John, for your feedback. I never intended my comment regarding cross dressing to be judgemental or offensive to anyone and if that is the case I sincerely apologise to anyone who I might have caused any distress.
I was only trying to highlight the cultural context of this verse and its application in different times of history and climatic zones of the world as it relates to clothing not to gender issues. I will pray for guidance in my wording next time.
I Corinthians does talk about food, but in the context of food offered to idols. To use it to promote other teachings on diet, as good as those teachings may be, is to misuse the text.
I am not pro-divorce by any means and a lot of divorce in the West is probably not Biblical. But be careful about judging. In the past, there was minimal divorce because women did not have the means to support themselves. Many stayed in abusive relationships because they had no choice. We often don’t know what goes on beyond closed doors, so I want to be cautious about what I say about divorce.
As for women wearing trousers, in Bible times everyone wore what we would call dresses. There were differences between male and female robes, but they were still robes. Clothing is very much cultural. The Bible forbids cross-dressing, but that looks different in each culture.
Stating perceived problems is the easy bit. Fixing them is not easy, and solutions do not come by mandating church orders for behaviour. Further, some issues, such as dress, have a diverse cultural interpretation, where a “one rule for all” just will not work.
I like what one of our retired leaders said recently at a conference on what many conceive as a contentious issue (No, I am not going to say what it is because it would probably start a distracting argument.) He said that the answer to this situation probably lies in pastoral care rather than dogma. Jesus came to save sinners, not to frighten them or order them into believing.
What is the heart of Paul’s letters to the Corinthians? I see one overarching message contained in them: introducing the new God of Creation and Salvation, acceptance of this God and His Son Jesus Christ and living by faith a changed life according to the Gospel – the ‘Word of God’. He preached about God’s Goodness, Grace, and Mercy and taught them the right way to live: ‘learn to love God with all your heart by expressing respect and kindness to your fellow man.’
Being judgmental of each other brings disunity and strife, but acceptance of each other’s uniqueness in the Spirit of Christ brings unity. We do not strife for oneness in the flesh, we strife for oneness in the Spirit of Christ – love! Acceptance of other’s choices and personal perseverance in nurturing our relationship with our living God’s Truth is central to living by a faith within a world that follows a different spirit.
Though man always established his environment by incorporating what came before, Scripture tells us that “there is nothing new under the sun”. With God’s New Covenant came the worldwide dissemination of the Holy Spirit’s help to understand and accept the ‘Good News’. It brings God’s Light into every corner of the world, to every people and culture. Bringing this ‘Good News’ to all the world requires strong faith and wisdom to persevere.
Yes, “how much love is in your heart for others?” Is there acceptaince of minor differences? We cannot interact with others in a kind way when displaying a judgmental attitude. Not everyone is prepared and called to be a missionary to serve in a foreign country, but we are all missionaries right here at home where we live – 1 Peter 2:9; 2 Cor. 5:20.
LOVE is the answer…Jesus is love! If we expect anyone to ever be receptive to what was done on the cross for every single one of us, we had best check ourselves before ever considering what a person is wearing, eating, etc. God is our judge and His judgment is ultimately the only judgment that matters. We need to leave that up to Him. Just how much love is in our hearts? Can we not accept that people are individuals…we should be concerned more about clothing and feeding people who have nothing to wear or eat, versus about what someone who is blessed enough to have something, such as ourselves.
I am not trying to dispute or cause argument. I guess it just hits a nerve from when I first went to the SDA church, I was very much appropritely covered in much clothing, a dress I’ll add, but when I once wore slacks, I was condemned behind my back. I could not help but wonder what happened to the love that I was shown when I first darkened those doors. Blessings to all.