1 Corinthians – a summary/paraphrase translation  11 October 2020

Chaps 1-4 = Divisions in the church  

Ch.1:1-9 
Dear Corinthians, God’s grace be with you. I am always thanking God for you and pray that you will stay strong in him.  

Ch.1:10 
Please don’t let there be divisions and factions among you, saying we are better than they are, or supporting one leader over another.  Jesus has one church, and it’s about following Him, He is everything.  The gospel is not about cleverness or philosophy, it’s actually about foolishness -  only God is truly wise, and the cross makes no sense to the wisdom of this age. So God uses the foolish things of this world to show up those who think they are clever, so that no-one can boast.

Ch.2 
So knowing God is not about clever words or philosophy, it’s about the power of the Holy Spirit using things that seem simple or illogical. God didn’t choose the strongest, cleverest people, He chose ordinary simple people like us.  If you want to boast about any one, boast about Jesus and what he’s done for us.  It’s not even about clever preaching, I am not the best preacher by a long way but my message came with power and the Spirit so you wouldn’t trust in me, but the message.  God has a different kind of wisdom which is revealed by the Holy Spirit.  How can we know anything about God unless the Holy Spirit reveals it to us?

Ch.3 
My brothers in Christ, I wish I could talk to you about complicated spiritual things, but you are not ready for it.  Why are you still quarrelling over small things? you are one fellowship, like one building.  Different people have built different parts of the building, but it is God who oversees the construction.  Make sure that what you build on the foundation of Jesus Christ is high quality, valuable to God.  Don’t you know that you are God’s temple and that the holy Spirit lives in you?  Concentrate on the truth of Christ and on his wisdom and stop arguing amongst yourselves as to which of you is better, or which of you is right.
 
Ch.4 
You think that you are so spiritually gifted, that you have all knowledge, and enjoy a good standard of living  Yet us apostles seem to struggle… we are hated and beaten, and we go hungry; but we respond to hate with love, unkindness with kindness.  You seem to be much better than us!  – you must have God’s blessing! 
Forgive my cynicism, I’m not trying to shame you but to warn you.  I want you to imitate us apostles in the way that we live and speak.  I will be coming to visit you.  Can I come in love and encouragement or do I have to come and put you right again?

Chaps 5-7 = Immorality in the church membership, and sexual relationship advice

Ch.5. 
I understand that there is serious immorality among you and some of you are even proud of it.  Is this a twisted idea of grace?  Although I’m not there I know what is going on.  I have told you not to associate with immoral people, but by that I do not mean those outside the church, as then you would have no one to witness to!  It is those within the church that you need to be careful of – the sexually immoral, drunkards, swindlers and thieves, don’t spend time with them, but challenge them and remove them from the church if they won’t change, so they realise how serious their situation is.

Ch.6:1-11 
I have heard that some of you are taking each other to court.  How can someone who doesn’t know God, judge between Christians? They can’t judge God’s people.  You should have enough discernment to be able to judge this sort of thing yourselves, and anyway it would be much better for the person who is wronged to just take it on the chin, put it behind them and move on.  Because those who cheat their brothers will not inherit the Kingdom, and nor will those who clearly live lives contrary to God’s standards. You used to be like that, but now you are justified and sanctified through Christ, so you no longer live in the same way.

Ch.6:12 
Now on the subject of being free in Christ, you are right that the old laws no longer apply to us, and that we can live under grace instead.  But that does not give you licence to ignore everything that other people consider to be rightful behaviour.  Once you have given yourself to Christ, you are his temple, you belong to him, soul and body, so whatever you do, you are doing with Christ as well. So how can you use your body with a prostitute?  You are not your own, you are bought with a price.

Ch.7 
Now on marriage, it is good to be single in these difficult times, so that like me you can concentrate on working for God.  But if you are already engaged, or cannot cope with being single, it is better to marry.  Now if you have a partner who is not a Christian, that is not a reason to divorce them, so long as they can accept you as you are.  If you have recently become a Christian, accept your current situation unless God clearly shows you otherwise, and if you are in a position of looking for someone to marry, they should also be a believer. Each one of us should stay in the situation we are when God called us, and we should live for Christ in the here and now, because this world is passing away.

Chaps 8-10 = Other behaviours within the church. 

Ch.8 
Returning to the thoughts on our freedom in Christ, there are many things that we are free to do, which would be frowned upon by some Christians,  and even non-Christians too! You are right to say that religious traditions don’t apply to us, but we need to think about the affect of our actions on others.  If we act on our freedom so that others may feel hurt or upset by our actions, it may cause weak Christians difficulties with their conscience, and even lose their faith.  So we must put the needs and feelings of others first.  Don’t exercise your rights without thinking of the possible consequences for others,

Ch.9 
Now some of you think I’m a freeloader, that I came to preach to you so that I could get free meals and lodgings.  But don’t you think that those who lead and teach you deserve to be looked after? Where in other areas of life do you not provide for those who serve you? For myself I can say that I actually worked to keep myself most of the time I was with you, so that I wouldn’t be a burden. And even if I didn’t get any support from God’s people, I would still preach the gospel wherever I can, as God has called me to it, and I cannot do anything else with my life.  I will live in whatever circumstances are necessary to bring the gospel to all people – to the Jews I will live like a Jew, to the poor I will live like the poor – whatever it takes to bring the good news with integrity.

Ch.10:1-22 
We all need to understand how important our life with God is, how critical it is.  If we look at the history of the Jewish people, we can see how God was tested to the limit, and how many people refused to do what God said, and died as a result.  So if you think you know it all, that you’ve got it sorted, you need to question yourself.  We all get the same kind of temptations, it happens to all of us, but God will not allow us to be tempted beyond our power to say no, and we should run from sin and temptation.  

Ch.10:23 
Do everything you can to avoid being a stumbling block to other Christians and those who don’t yet know him. You cannot live like someone who doesn’t know God, when you do know him;  you cannot have one foot in God’s kingdom, and one outside it.  Some things which are permissible as Christians may not be beneficial; not everything is constructive.  Don’t look for your own satisfaction, but for the good of others.  Listen to the conscience that God has given you, and remember that everything you do, should be done to the glory of God.

Chaps 11-14 – How to act when gathered together

Ch.11:1-16 
“Well done for remembering the traditions I taught you, regarding head coverings in church. 
To say that men should have uncovered heads, and women covered heads in worship seems a natural way to do things, and shows a line of authority. Also since some people will be offended by women showing their hair as loose women do, then they all need to wear a head covering.  Whatever your opinion, this is the way all other churches operate.

Ch.11:17 
I have heard that the way you are doing communion is a mess.  Although the basis of communion is a meal, some of you are turning up and starting before others have arrived, and some of you are stuffing yourselves when others don’t have anything to eat because they are too poor!  Remember what actually happened at the last supper and do it in the same way, remembering that it is Jesus’ sacrifice that you are remembering.  Treat it with reverence, or risk the discipline of God.  Do it together, sharing and honouring each other.

Ch.12 
Now another issue is about Spiritual gifts.  No-one can say “Jesus is Lord” unless the Spirit enables them to say it.  So use that as a guide – there are lots of different kinds of gifts, but the same God who gives them. They are all meant to work together.  The church is like one body – it has many parts, but they are all different.  We need all the parts to function properly – no eyes, and you can’t see, no hands and you can’t do anything.  Some of the parts you don’t see are the most important.  Some gifts are more important than others, but we still need them all – leaders, teachers, prophets, healers, administrators etc..  Some gifts are only more important because they build up the body, and you should ask God for these.

Ch.13 
However, we need to keep things in perspective. The best gift of all is love, more important than all the Spiritual gifts,  It doesn’t matter what amazing, powerful spiritual gifts I have, if I don’t have love like God’s love, I have nothing.  Everything else will fail and will pass away, but love like His will never get it wrong, and it is the one thing that will last beyond the return of Christ.  

Ch.14 
So follow the way of love, whilst still seeking the Spiritual gifts, especially of prophecy, as we then hear God speaking to us.  Speaking in tongues is good, but not helpful to anyone else, unless there is an interpretation of it.  So use tongues sparingly – it will put off non-Christians if they are in church, but through prophecy God may speak to them.
When you get together, people should bring something to share – a song, a thought, some teaching, a prophecy.  Everything should be done to strengthen and encourage the church, and the leadership should decide whether things are from God or just made up.  Take turns with your gifts so that everything can happen in order .  And don’t allow too much chatting in church, we are there to meet with God, not just have a chin-wag.

Chaps 15,16 – Answering the final question, and practical and personal issues

Ch.15 
Now on the resurrection, there seem to be some of you who are questioning it. I have passed on to you what I have heard from those who were there – about how Jesus died, and after 3 days appeared to various disciples, and in the end 500 followers.  Eventually He appeared to me. If Jesus rose again, how can there not be a resurrection for us?  If He did not come back from the dead, we are wasting our time, suffering needlessly for the gospel.  We should just live for today, as death would be the end.  Don’t spend time with people who bring false teaching like this.  
We’re like a seed, which looks nothing like the plant it will grow in to.  It dies, and then something wonderful emerges which is completely different.  Our Spiritual body will be completely different – it won’t be weak like this one.  Not everyone will die, but we will all be changed at the same time when Christ returns.
Stand on this truth, don’t be persuaded away from it, and give yourselves fully to the work of God.

Ch.16:1-5 
When it comes to collections, don’t feel you suddenly have to find a large amount – put away a small amount each week so that you have it when it is needed.

Ch.16:6-12 
I am desperate to see you, but first I need to stay at Ephesus until Pentecost. Timothy should be coming to see you, so treat him well, he is a good man.  I have asked Apollos to visit you, but he says he is too busy at the moment, but will come as soon as he can.  

Ch.16:13 – end
Be on you guard, stand firm in your faith,  Be courageous and strong, and do everything in love.  Treat Stephanus with respect and recognition, he has been faithful and hard working in his service to you. 
The churches in this Province send you their greetings, as do the leaders and fellow Christians who are with me now.  I have signed this letter to show it is me writing.  Grace and love in Christ be with you all.
Paul.