1 Corinthians: A Theological, Pastoral, and Missional Commentary

Description

An engaging theological commentary on 1 Corinthians that emphasizes practical applications for Christian life and ministry Authored by renowned New Testament scholar Michael J. Gorman, this commentary is designed for pastors, students, scholars, and lay people who want a careful exposition of 1 Corinthians that stresses its theological content and considers its spiritual, pastoral, and missional implications for today. As Gorman leads readers through the biblical text, he explores key Pauline themes found in his previous work on Paul while he interprets 1 Corinthians as a pastoral letter about the marks of the church—a summons to the body of Christ then and now to be one, holy, catholic, and apostolic. Like Gorman’s highly regarded commentary on Romans, this commentary on 1 Corinthians emphasizes the letter’s practical applications and includes questions for reflection and sidebars on important topics, all of which make it an essential resource for teaching and preaching at any level. Preface List of Abbreviations INTRODUCTIONS INTRODUCING PAUL Approaching Paul Paul’s Life and Ministry Sources for Paul’s Life and Theology A General Chronology From Persecutor to Apostle Paul the Letter Writer Paul’s Theology and Spirituality Human Condition, Divine Response The Death and Resurrection of Jesus Jesus as Lord and the Gift of the Spirit Human Response to the Gospel Paul’s Spirituality Conclusion Reflections and Questions for the Introduction to Paul Spiritual, Pastoral, Missional, and Theological Reflections Questions for Those Who Read, Teach, and Preach For Further Reading Highly Accessible Books Midlevel Books More Technical Works INTRODUCING THE COMMENTARY INTRODUCING 1 CORINTHIANS The Complex Character of 1 Corinthians 1 Corinthians as a Theological Text The Fundamental Issue: The Cross (Christ Crucified) and the Spirit Ecclesial Identity: Ongoing Conversion and the Marks of the Church 1 Corinthians as a Pastoral/Formational Text 1 Corinthians as a Liturgical Text 1 Corinthians as a Missional Text 1 Corinthians as a Contemporary Text Summary The Story behind the Letter Paul’s Mission Divisions and Scandals: Chaos at Corinth At the Root of the Chaos The Letter as Paul’s Response to the Chaos The Story within the Letter Paul’s Bifocal Approach to Community Formation Charismatic (Spirit-Filled/Spirit-ual) Community Resurrectional, Charismatic Cruciformity The Marks of the Church One Holy Catholic Apostolic Participation/Koinōnia and the Marks of the Church The Marks of the Church and the Character of God: Father, Son, and Spirit The Marks of the Church and the Letter’s Structure For Further Reading and Study Highly Accessible Books Midlevel Works Advanced/Technical Works COMMENTARY WITH REFLECTIONS AND QUESTIONS 1:1–9 OPENING: SALUTATION AND THANKSGIVING 1:1–3. Salutation: Senders, Recipients, and Greeting 1:1. Senders 1:2. Recipients 1:3. Greeting 1:4–9. Thanksgiving Summary of 1:1–9 Reflections and Questions for 1:1–9 Spiritual, Pastoral, Missional, and Theological Reflections Questions for Those Who Read, Teach, and Preach For Further Reading 1:10–4:21 ADDRESSING ECCLESIAL CHAOS: UNITY THROUGH THE WISDOM AND POWER OF THE CROSS (ONE CHURCH) 1:10–17. Divisions 1:10–12. Paul’s Appeal for Unity in the Face of Divisions 1:13–17. Paul’s Rhetorical and Historical Perspective as Theological Rejoinder Reflections and Questions for 1:10–17 Spiritual, Pastoral, Missional, and Theological Reflections Questions for Those Who Read, Teach, and Preach For Further Reading 1:18–2:5. The Word of the Cross and the Mission of God 1:18–25. Christ Crucified as the Power and Wisdom of God 1:18–20. The Cross as Divine Subversion 1:21–25. The Cross as Divine Power and Wisdom Summary: The Cross as Divine Self-Revelation 1:26–31. The Cross and the Composition of the Corinthian Community 1:26–29. Divine Choice, Corinthian Constitution 1:30–31. God as the Source of Life in Christ 2:1–5. The Cross and the Shape of Paul’s Ministry Summary of 1:18–2:5 Reflections and Questions for 1:18–2:5 Spiritual, Pastoral, Missional, and Theological Reflections Questions for Those Who Read, Teach, and Preach For Further Reading 2:6–3:4. Cruciform Spirituality and Corinthian Immaturity 2:6–16. Cross and Wisdom, Cross and Spirit in the Self-Revelation of God 2:6–13. The Revelation of God’s Wisdom as Self-Revelation 2:14–16. The Spirit-ual and the Mind of the Lord 3:1–4. Division as Evidence of Spirit-Impoverishment Reflections and Questions for 2:6–3:4 Spiritual, Pastoral, Missional, and Theological Reflections Questions for Those Who Read, Teach, and Preach For Further Reading 3:5–4:13. Ministers as Cruciform Servants in God’s Church 3:5–9. God’s Coworkers in God’s Field 3:10–17. Workers on God’s Building—God’s Temple 3:10–15. Building on the Foundation 3:16–17. God’s Temple 3:18–23. Wisdom and the Role of Leaders 4:1–7. Ministerial Accountability 4:8–13. Ministerial Cruciformity Reflections and Questions for 3:5–4:13 Spiritual, Pastoral, Missional, and Theological Reflections Questions for Those Who Read, Teach, and Preach For Further Reading 4:14–21. Concluding Warning: Paul’s Potential Parousia Summary of 1:10–4:21 Reflections and Questions on 1 Cor 1–4 as a Whole 5:1–7:40 ADDRESSING MORAL CHAOS: HOLY LIVING BETWEEN CROSS AND PAROUSIA (ONE HOLY CHURCH) Key Themes Scripture-Based Distinctives in a Pagan World Bifocal Existence in Christ 5:1–13. Incest and the Holiness and Witness of the Church 5:1–5. The Situation, the Individual, and Immediate Action to Take 5:6–13. The Situation and the Community Summary Reflections and Questions for 5:1–13 Spiritual, Pastoral, Missional, and Theological Reflections Questions for Those Who Read, Teach, and Preach For Further Reading 6:1–11. Lawsuits, the Justice of God, and the Witness of the Church 6:1–6. Lawsuits in the Community 6:7–11. Lawsuits and Cruciform Justice 6:7–8. The Lawsuits as Defeat and Injustice 6:9–10. The Unjust and the Kingdom of God 6:11. Transformation by the Triune God: Justification and Justice Conclusion: Injustice and Justice in the Church Reflections and Questions for 6:1–11 Spiritual, Pastoral, Missional, and Theological Reflections Questions for Those Who Read, Teach, and Preach For Further Reading 6:12–20. Sex with Prostitutes and the Temple of the Spirit The Situation in Corinth and the Texture of the Passage The Structure of the Passage 6:12–18a. Flee from Sexual Immorality! 6:18b–20. Glorify God with Your Body/Bodies Summary Reflections and Questions for 6:12–20 Spiritual, Pastoral, Missional, and Theological Reflections Questions for Those Who Read, Teach, and Preach For Further Reading 7:1–40. Confusion about Marriage and the Missional Call of God Structure, Style, and Themes 7:1. The Subject: Sex More Generally 7:2–16. Concrete Instructions about Marriage for Specific Situations 7:2–5. Instructions to Married Believers about Sexual Relations in Marriage 7:6–7. Paul’s Preference for Singleness 7:8–9. Instructions for the Unmarried and Widows 7:10–11. Instructions for Married Believers about Separation 7:12–16. Instructions about Mixed Marriages and Salvific Intentionality 7:17–24. Theological Reflections: The Persistence Principle and Vocational Contentment 7:25–40. Further Concrete Instructions and Theological Reflections 7:25–28. Engaged Couples and General Principles 7:29–35. Eschatology and Devotion 7:36–40. Betrothed Men and Final Theological Reflections Conclusion: Marriage Instructions and Theology Reflections and Questions for 7:1–40 Spiritual, Pastoral, Missional, and Theological Reflections Questions for Those Who Read, Teach, and Preach For Further Reading Summary of 1 Cor 5–7 Reflections and Questions on 1 Cor 5–7 as a Whole 8:1–14:40 ADDRESSING LITURGICAL CHAOS: THE CROSS, WORSHIP, AND SALVATION FOR ALL (ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC CHURCH) 8:1–11:1 Meat Associated with Idols and the Church’s Mission 8:1–13. The Problem of Idol Meat and Paul’s Initial Solution 8:1–6. Slogan, Counterslogan, and Agreement 8:1–3. Knowledge and Love 8:4–6. One God, One Lord 8:7–13. Knowledge, Rights, and Cruciform Love Summary Reflections and Questions for 8:1–13 Spiritual, Pastoral, Missional, and Theological Reflections Questions for Those Who Read, Teach, and Preach For Further Reading 9:1–27. The Example of Apostolic Cruciformity and Salvific Intentionality within the Church 9:1–14. Paul’s Apostleship: Apostolic Freedom and Rights 9:1–2. Paul’s Freedom and Apostleship 9:3–14. An Apologia: Paul’s Apostolic Rights 9:15–27. Christlike, Missional Accommodation as Freedom and Love 9:15–18. Paul’s Sense of Obligation and Boast 9:19–23. Paul’s Cruciform Ministry 9:24–27. The Goal of Eschatological Salvation Summary Reflections and Questions for 9:1–27 Spiritual, Pastoral, Missional, and Theological Reflections Questions for Those Who Read, Teach, and Preach For Further Reading 10:1–11:1. Koinōnia with and Imitation of Christ, and Salvific Intentionality outside the Church 10:1–22. Participation with Christ Is Exclusive 10:1–14. Flee from Idolatry! Learning from Israel 10:15–22. Exclusive Communion with Christ 10:23–11:1. Imitators of Christ via the Imitation of Paul 10:23–24; 10:31–11:1. Summary Admonitions 10:25–30. Eating Meat: Other Contexts Summary Reflections and Questions for 10:1–11:1 Spiritual, Pastoral, Missional, and Theological Reflections Questions for Those Who Read, Teach, and Preach For Further Reading Summary of 1 Cor 8:1–11:1 Reflections and Questions on 1 Cor 8:1–11:1 as a Whole 11:2–14:40 The Church (Ekklēsia) Gathered for Worship 11:2–16. Prophetic, Prayerful Women and Men in the Assembly Interpretation A: One Voice (Paul) Interpretation B: Two Voices (Paul and Certain Corinthian Men) Conclusion Reflections and Questions for 11:2–16 Spiritual, Pastoral, Missional, and Theological Reflections Questions for Those Who Read, Teach, and Preach For Further Reading 11:17–34. Abuse of the Lord’s Supper 11:17–22. The Problematic Situation: Not the Lord’s Supper 11:23–26. The Tradition of the Last Supper 11:27–34. The Remedy for the Problematic Situation The Significance of the Lord’s Supper Reflections and Questions for 11:17–34 Spiritual, Pastoral, Missional, and Theological Reflections Questions for Those Who Read, Teach, and Preach For Further Reading 12:1–31. The Church as Christ’s Richly Gifted Body Overview of Chapter 12 12:1–3. Jesus Is Lord: The Criterion of Christian Authenticity 12:4–11. The Gifts of the Triune God 12:12–13. The Critical Point 12:14–26. The Body 12:27–31. The Body That Is the Church Reflections and Questions for 12:1–31 Spiritual, Pastoral, Missional, and Theological Reflections Questions for Those Who Read, Teach, and Preach For Further Reading 13:1–13. The Rule (Criterion) of Cruciform Love in Eschatological Perspective 13:1–3. Love’s Necessity 13:4–7. Love’s Character 13:8–12. Love’s Permanence and Human Transformation 13:13. Faith, Hope, and Love’s Superiority Summary Reflections and Questions for 13:1–13 Spiritual, Pastoral, Missional, and Theological Reflections Questions for Those Who Read, Teach, and Preach For Further Reading 14:1–40. Edification and the Use of Gifts in Worship 14:1–25. A Practical Theology of Gifts and Loving Edification 14:1–5. The Criterion: Loving Edification of the Body 14:6–12. The Necessity of Intelligibility for Edification 14:13–19. The Practical Consequence for Tongues Speakers 14:20–25. Missional Maturity in the Exercise of Gifts 14:26–40. Instructions for the Assembly’s Worship 14:26–36. Order in Worship 14:37–40. Summary Exhortations Reflections and Questions for 14:1–40 Spiritual, Pastoral, Missional, and Theological Reflections Questions for Those Who Read, Teach, and Preach For Further Reading Summary of 1 Cor 11:2–14:40 Reflections and Questions on 1 Cor 11:2–14:40 as a Whole 15:1–58 ADDRESSING THEOLOGICAL CHAOS: THE APOSTOLIC WITNESS TO THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST AND OF BELIEVERS (ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC, AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH) The Presenting Problem: Some Are Denying the Resurrection of the Dead Paul’s Perspective 15:1–34. Christ’s Resurrection and Its Consequences 15:1–11. The Common Creed: Christ Has Been Raised 15:1–2. The Gospel and the Corinthians 15:3–7. The Gospel in Four Acts 15:8–11. The Gospel, Paul, and the Corinthians Believers’ Participation in the Story/Reality of the Messiah 15:12–34. The Consequences of Christ’s Resurrection as Fiction or Fact 15:12–19. The Consequences If Christ’s Resurrection Is Fiction 15:20–28. The Reality of Christ’s Resurrection and Its Consequences 15:29–34. Paul’s Peroratio: Further Consequences If the Resurrection Is Fiction, and Concluding Admonitions 15:35–57. The Nature of Believers’ Resurrection in Eschatological Perspective 15:35–50. The Nature of the Resurrection 15:35. Two Questions 15:36–41. An Analogy from Nature 15:42–49. The Analogy from Nature Applied to Bodily Resurrection 15:50. Conclusion to the Analogy and Its Application 15:51–57. The Final Victory 15:58. Concluding Exhortation Summary Reflections and Questions for 15:1–58 Spiritual, Pastoral, Missional, and Theological Reflections Questions for Those Who Read, Teach, and Preach For Further Reading Summary of 1 Cor 15 16:1–24 CLOSING: THE APOSTOLIC WITNESS CONTINUES (ONE HOLY, CATHOLIC, AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH) 16:1–4. The Ecumenical Collection for Jerusalem 16:5–9. Paul’s Missional Plans 16:10–12. Concerning Timothy and Apollos 16:13–14. Summary Exhortations 16:15–18. Concerning Certain Corinthians 16:19–24. Greetings and Final Words Reflections and Questions for 16:1–24 Spiritual, Pastoral, Missional, and Theological Reflections Questions for Those Who Read, Teach, and Preach For Further Reading Acknowledgments