Jump to:   02   03   04   05   06   07   08   09   10   11   12   13   14   15   16

I Corinthians {Corinth was the "Las Vegas" of the ancient world. It was the ultimate party town. Lots of travelers passed through it. It was also the center of the 'Isthmus Games' which were similar to the Olympics. The population was primarily Greek and heavily influenced by the teachings of Plato who taught that the body was basically evil and once we pass on, we lose that evil body. So, the concept of a resurrected body was denied by many Christians in Corinth who had the tendency to want to pick and choose which doctrines they wanted to believe. Finally, in Corinth all the best was found in the Greek temples to the so called Greek Gods. The best meat, the best drink, and the best sex was in the temples with the priests, priestesses, and even farm animals (to each his own!). Anyway the above background is necessary in understanding what Paul was saying to the Church he founded in Corinth - and through this Epistle to all of us also. Next, to help understand the corrected translation of 1st Corinthians, I found it necessary to explain the Greek language's use of 4 class conditions of the IF STATEMENT. Conditional Clauses 1. A conditional clause is a statement of supposition plus the fulfillment of which is assumed to secure the realization of the potential fact expressed in the companion clause. First clause gives the supposition and the second clause gives the fulfillment. 2. The clause containing the supposition is called 'Protasis'. 3. The clause containing the statement based on the supposition is called 'Apodosis'. 4. All conditional clauses are categorized on the basis of the attitude they express with reference to reality. 5. For example:   a. 1st Class condition - Supposition from the viewpoint of reality   ('ei' plus the indicative in the Protasis) IF and it is true   Luke 4:3: "If you are the Son of God . . . and you are . . ."   b. 2nd class condition - Supposition from the viewpoint of   unreality - contrary to fact condition   ('ean' in the Protasis plus 'oun' in the Apodosis)   IF and it is NOT true   Luke 4:7: "If you will fall down and worship me-but you won't"   c. 3rd class condition - The 'more probable' future condition   ('ean' plus the subjunctive in the Protasis}   IF . . . maybe we will, maybe we won't   I John 1:9 : "If we confess our sins - maybe we will, maybe we   won't . . ."   d. 4th class condition - The 'less probable' future condition   ('ei' plus the optative mood in the Protasis; OR   {I think this is OR} 'oun' plus the optative mood in the Apodosis)   IF . . . and I wish it were but it is NOT true   I Peter 3:14: "But if you should suffer for the sake of   righteousness, I wish it were TRUE but it is NOT . . ." ********* Debaters 1st class condition - assumes something false to be true so the debater can then go on and prove by logic that it really is a falsehood. Should be translated "Let's assume . . . then it is logical to conclude"} Chapter 1 1~~ Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ because of the instrumentality of God's will and {with} Sosthenes our brother, 2~~ unto the church of God which is at Corinth . . . to them who are sanctified in Christ Jesus . . . called to be saints . . . with all, who in every place . . . call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord . . . - to advantage - both theirs and ours. 3~~ Grace to you and peace/tranquility/'relaxed mental attitude' from the ultimate source of God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. {Note: The Holy Spirit is usually not mentioned in the Salutation - it is His job to Glorify Christ in the Church Age - but He is mentioned in the benediction usually.} {Thanksgiving verses 4-9} 4~~ I keep on thanking my God always on your behalf for the grace of God which is given you . . . in Christ Jesus. {Note: This is 'Positional Truth' . . . Union with Christ.} 5~~ With the result that in all things once and for all you are enriched in Him in all speech and in all knowledge. 6~~ Even as the witness concerning Christ was made a stand in you. {Note: In the past they were effective witnesses.} 7~~ With the result that you do not lack any spiritual gift eagerly waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ {Rapture of the Church}. 8~~ Who {Jesus} shall also confirm you {means you will receive a resurrected body} unto the end that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. {Note: Blameless here means the removal of your Old Sin Nature.} 9~~ God . . . faithful! By Whom you were called - once and for all - into fellowship with His Son - Jesus Christ our Lord. 10~~ Now I exhort you, brethren through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: that you all speak the same content   {speak from divine viewpoint on all subjects}, that there be no divisions among you all, and that 'the machine be tuned up'. {Note: In Greek Drama, actors were hung from a stage and the machine sometimes went bad leaving them dangling over the stage - hence the term 'tune up the machine' - meaning get things in order}. 11~~ For it has been declared unto me concerning you, my brethren by them who are of the house of Chloe that there are contentions {factions} among you. {Note: RBT says Chloe was a stable, mature believer that the Corinthians knew and respected.} 12~~ Now this I say {dramatic}, that every one of you says: "I am of Paul"   {this faction 'knows some doctrine'}, and "I am of Apollos"   {this group likes the great orator style typical of the Greeks   which Apollos was a great speaker though short on doctrine}, and  "I am of Cephas"   {this group followed Peter (Cephas) - the legalist crowd who   wanted to concentrate on following the Mosaic Law, etc.}, and "I am of Christ"   {self-righteous crowd - sounds good but is really the 'Holier than   Thou' crowd - any faction is BAD!}. 13~~ Is The Christ divided? {NO} Was Paul crucified for you? {NO} Or, were you baptized into the name of Paul? (NO) 14~~ I thank God that I baptized none of you . . . but Crispus and Gaius. {Note: This is Paul's ritual baptizing record in Corinth. Apparently in Corinth they thought they were superior because of who baptized them! "I am better because I was baptized by Peter, Paul, or Apollos" attitude. This is a passage of emphasis.} 15~~ Lest any should say that I had baptized in 'mine own name'/'for my own glory or advancement'. 16~~ And, I baptized also the household of Stephanas . . . other-wise, I know not whether I baptized any other. 17~~ For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel. Not with wisdom of words   {Paul was not an eloquent speaker like Apollos - it is content   that counts not oratory skill}, lest the cross of Christ should be neutralized or made void/'deprived of its essence or virtue'. 18~~ For The Logos/Doctrine of the cross {title of Jesus} is for them in the process of perishing . . . foolishness - to their disadvantage {because of negative volition}. But to us who receive salvation {passive tense - God does the work} it {the Cross} is the power of God {in salvation}. {Note: Logos means a doctrine or word. RBT says the Logos of the Cross refers to the Hypostatic Union of Christ - true humanity and true deity - more than a thought or word - Christ - the revealer of God. That salvation is possible because of the work of Jesus Christ on the cross . . . for all who believe in Him.} 19~~ For it is written {Isaiah 29-14}, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent   {the 'human genius' with human viewpoint only}." {Key to the rest of the Chapter and the next are the 3 next questions} 20~~ Where is the professional philosopher?   {Tried to use logical thinking to beat down Christianity} Where is the Jewish theologian?   {Emphasizes legalism or Salvation by Works} Where is the professional debater of this world?   {Part of the Greek culture to appreciate good orators regardless   of the content of their message- they hated the dogmatic   nature of Bible Doctrine} Has not The God proved foolish the wisdom {human viewpoint} of this cosmos? {Verses 21-29 - Question One's Answer - Christianity is NOT a culture or philosophy} 21~~ For in as much as in the wisdom of God the world - by the instrumentality of wisdom - knew not God, God decided with pleasure - through the foolishness of preaching - to save forever {sozo} them that believe. {Note: This means that God provides the simple gospel from simple speaking people instead of just using professional orators.} {Note: Sozo meaning 'saved' is in the arist tense. The arist tense means you take a point in time . . . out of time . . . and perpetuate it forever. So this should be translated 'saved forever'.} {Verses 23-24: Christian Emphasis} 23~~ But we declare Christ crucified . . .   {faith - no merit to the subject ('we')} unto the Jews . . . a stumbling block . . .   {"Christ being crucified" is the impediment to the Jews even   today} and unto the Greeks . . . foolishness.   {death was considered 'foolishness' in their culture} {Note: Empiricism and Rationalism bring merit to the subject (the one doing the action) . . . the one thinking or reasoning. But there is NO MERIT to person exercising FAITH. The merit is in the object of Faith . . . here the Lord Jesus Christ. The Jews can not accept Jesus as the Christ because the can not 'feel it is true'. They wanted the 'Crown' of the Messiah {Jesus to defeat the Romans} without the Cross. The Greeks also can not accept Jesus as the Savior because they can not 'get their minds around the concept'. To the Greeks, 'death' is the end of their plans - death is 'foolishness'. For God, the death of Jesus Christ on the cross is just the beginning of His Plan. The Plan of God is based on the Character of God - the Essence of God - all that God always continues to be.} 24~~But unto them . . . the elected ones . . . whether Jews or Greeks . . . Christ . . . and only Christ . . . is the power of God . . . and the wisdom of God. 25a~~ Because the 'foolish act of God' . . . keeps on being wiser than men. {Note: Sarcasm here. Christ dying on the Cross is a 'foolish act' to the rational Greeks, but it really is a brilliant plan. And going to the cross was weak to the empirical Jews who wanted to see the 'savior' bring the invincible Kingdom of the Jews now, not later.} 25b~~And the 'weak act of God' . . .   {Christ humanly speaking was weak hanging on the cross} is stronger than men. 26~~Take a look at election . . . brethren . . . how not many philosophers . . . how not many mighty {human talent} . . . how not many who rule . . . are called. 27~~ But God has chosen the 'foolish things of the world' . . . that he might put to shame the wise {human wisdom}. And God has chosen the 'weak things of the world' . . . to confound the 'things which are mighty'. 28~~ And base/insignificant things of the world   {'base' is no family tree - no important lineage}, and things which are despised   {examples: believing prostitutes and tax collectors} . . . has God chosen. Yes, and things which are not . . . to bring to nothing things that are. 29~~ That no flesh should be glorified or boast in His presence. {Note: All salvation is a GIFT of God . . . not of works . . . based on God's grace . . . no human glory or human credit or 'human works' in heaven.} {From Verse 20: 'Where is the Scribe or Jewish Theologian?' Answered in 30-31} 30~~ But, from the source of Him {God the Father}, you keep on being in Christ Jesus, Who became what He was not before - to our advantage {He became true humanity} - unto us:   wisdom from God,   righteousness,   and sanctification,   and redemption. 31~~ That, according as it is written, "He that glories/boasts . . . let him keep on glorying/boasting in the Lord".