Clues from Corinth

CLUES FROM CORINTH FOR OUR CULTURAL CONTEXT

1. DON'T PANIC: The church has struggled with this from the start and the world is the world.

Contentious issues from start for small, minority community in wider society.
Novelty of our situation is post-Christian pagan society not pre-Christian but much same cf 5.9ff

2. Unlimited freedom and satisfying appetites is not the way to live.

6.12,13 cf "genitals for sex and sex for genitals" – common attitude today rejected by Paul.

3. Christians are easily confused and compromised.

Slogans were those of Corinthian Christians – not to be surprised by this today esp among new converts.
Practice also poor – 5.1; 6.15ff.
Due to importing pagan attitudes, not being renewed in our minds, misunderstanding gospel.

4. Issues of sex, marriage & the body are very important, not all-important.

Cannot pretend unimportant issue and avoid challenge cf 6.9-10,18.
But neither should we over-emphasise cf other sins listed and concern over legal action in 6.1-8

5. Christians need & can be offered guidance on the most intimate areas.

Not to "privatize" and make laissez-faire even if reaction to control and over-shepherding.
Paul addresses very intimate issues eg 7.3-6,39
If Christ is Lord then no purely private area of life before Him.

6. Rules are therefore necessary but they are not the only response.

Paul will give rules (eg 6.18; 7.3-6,39)
But that is not all – makes concessions (7.6), own judgment which not insist on (7.25ff), personal preference (7.7), "second best" (7.9,11).

7. New situations may arise for which we lack explicit teaching

Paul knew Jesus' teaching but faced new situations – 7.10,12ff,25ff
Often we also cannot just appeal to an authoritative word of Scripture in our new situations.

8. We therefore need serious Christian thinking, teaching and explanation.

Paul's rules, opinions etc all set in context of explanation and education.
Various forms of appeal – pragmatic (7.26), consequences (7.32ff), theological rationale (6.13ff).
Need to understand and explain how Christian truths about God, creation, redemption etc relate to sex and marriage.

9. The Christian church is to be distinctive

Despite its problems Paul opens with 1.2 and clear distinction from world eg 5.9-11
God accepts us where we are (6.10) but never leaves us there (6.11) and holiness is very powerful and strong reality (7.14).
Need to be forming distinctive, holy, transformed and transforming Christian communities.

10. Scripture is to be our source and guide.

Paul refers to Christ's teaching (7.10)
Paul quotes OT (6.13,16)
Paul throughout is rooted in Scripture (eg 5.6ff on Passover, argument up to 5.13 based on Deut theology of purity & punishment in Israel, possible allusion to Joseph and Potiphar's wife in 6.18, new word for homosexual conduct in 6.9 based on Lev 20.13 etc – see Brian Rosner's study on these).

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

What is your response to these 10 'clues from Corinth' ?
In explaining your understanding of 1 Corinthians what in the summary above would you change ?
What other important biblical guidance is there about how to respond to our culture in this area ?
How would some of these 'clues' apply to our response as God's people to the current cultural context?