Quizzing the New Testament: 1 Corinthians

Answer: A sporting event called the Isthmian games

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever." (1 Corinthians 9 v. 24-25)

Corinth's wealth and importance developed both from its proximity to rich agricultural land and through trade, as it was situated next to an important isthmus in southern Greece. The town was sacked by the Romans in 146 BC but re-established as a Roman colony under Julius Caesar and resettled with freed slaves from around the empire. This gave it a very cosmopolitan flavour.

The games took place every two years with winners (in Paul's day) receiving a crown of pine leaves. It is probable that Paul planned his first visit to Corinth, described in Acts 18, to coincide with the games of 51 AD and the influx of people that these would have brought.

Answer: Moses

"One of you says, 'I follow Paul'; another, 'I follow Apollos'; another, 'I follow Cephas'; still another, 'I follow Christ.'" (1 Corinthians 1 v. 12)

Relations between the Christians of Corinth were clearly strained as elsewhere we learn that some had taken out lawsuits against fellow church members (1 Corinthians 6 v. 1-8). The nature of the "Christ party" is not known. It may represent a genuine faction or a protest by some in the church against the factionalism. It may even be an ironic touch added by Paul to try to shame his readers into sense.

Answer: Through "some from Chloe's household"

"My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you." (1 Corinthians 1 v. 11)

We have no further information as to the identity of Chloe. There is speculation, though, that the factionalism described in Paul's letter doesn't arise from one united church that was falling apart but from an umbrella of house churches that Paul was trying to bring closer together. Paul and Apollos clearly acted as visiting evangelists to the Corinthian church but other people listed in the letter such as Chloe, Crispus, Gaius and Stephanas (1 Corinthians 1 v. 14-16) and Achaicus and Fortunatus (1 Corinthians 16 v. 17) probably functioned as house church leaders.

From the accounts in Acts, we learn that Paul went on to Ephesus where he lived for at least two years (Acts 19). Most scholars presume that 1 Corinthians was written at this time as Paul writes:
"But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me." (1 Corinthians 16 v. 8-9).

Answer: The crucifixion of Jesus

"When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." (1 Corinthians 2 v. 1-2)

Paul says that if he preached to Jews, they looked for miracles as proof. The idea of a crucified messiah was an anathema. If he preached to Greeks, they sought esoteric wisdom. Again, the cross made no logical sense to them (1 Corinthians 1 v. 22). But, he states, what seems like foolishness is the power of God to those that are saved (1 Corinthians 1 v. 18) and shows that their faith does not rest upon human eloquence (1 Corinthians 2 v. 4-5).

Answer: A man had paired up with his stepmother

"It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father's wife." (1 Corinthians 5 v. 1)

The cosmopolitan nature of Corinth meant that Gentile converts would have come from a wide variety of backgrounds, without the same expectations of morality and ethical behaviour found within Judaism. Paul alludes to this when he writes:
"Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were." (1 Corinthians 6 v. 9-11)

Answer: He is happy to eat such food but would abstain if this gave someone the wrong impression.

"Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall." (1 Corinthians 8 v. 13)

Paul's basic position was that, after the death and resurrection of Jesus, the letter of the Law no longer applied. This was subject to two caveats:
(1) "Everything is permissible for me - but not everything is beneficial" (1 Corinthians 6 v. 12). In other words, some actions would be distinctly harmful. He trusted the promptings of the Holy Spirit to provide guidance.
(2) He believed that some actions, such as eating food that had previously been used in Pagan rituals, were morally neutral, but should be avoided if they impacted on somebody else's faith. This was a very real problem in Corinth with its diversity of religious cults.

Answer: Speak to her husband

"And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head - it is just as though her head were shaved. If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head." (1 Corinthians 11 v. 5-6)

Note, firstly, that Paul's words assume that there will be women leading worship, which there almost certainly were in the Corinthian church. The issue, therefore, is what they do with their long hair whilst leading. Note also that Paul does give an alternative option, that of an uncovered head with short hair or no hair, although his assumption is that all women will probably choose to avoid this. This section has caused disputes throughout history. There have been many different interpretations, largely because the arguments that Paul offers to support his case are far from incisive. I think that he is all too aware of this because his final recourse is simply to say - that's just the way it is. If you don't like it, tough!:
"If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice - nor do the churches of God" (1 Corinthians 11 v. 16).

Paul's advice about speaking to husbands comes in the context of women who are not leading worship:
"As in all the congregations of the saints, women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church" (1 Corinthians 14 v. 33-35).

Answer: Speak five intelligible words to instruct others

The problem in Corinth seems to have been an excess of speaking in tongues to the detriment of worship. This may have also been accompanied by a belief that some spiritual gifts were on a higher level than others.

Paul is keen to lay down some ground rules. Firstly, he maintains that the Holy Spirit works in all Christians but in different ways, for the common good (1 Corinthians 12 v. 4-7). He then lists specific abilities that the Spirit will produce in some but not all (1 Corinthians 12 v. 7-11). Speaking in tongues is included on this list but the inclusion of "interpretation of tongues" immediately after it suggests that, here, Paul is referring to prophetic messages uttered in tongues and then interpreted for all to hear (1 Corinthians 12 v. 10). This would usually happen in the context of public worship and is distinct from the use of tongues as a private prayer language, which Paul seems to believe is potentially available to all Christians (1 Corinthians 14 v. 5). It is this latter practice that Paul feels has no place in worship as it does nothing to build up the church, because no-one can understand what is being said (1 Corinthians 14 v. 1-12).

Answer: Baptism on behalf of those already dead

"Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them?" (1 Corinthians 15 v. 29)

This is the only occasion in the Bible where the practice is mentioned. It has not carried over into mainstream Christianity but has been embraced by the Mormon church.

The tenor of Paul's argument in chapter 15 suggests that there were some who questioned whether there was life after death and who may even have begun to live as though there would be no final judgment.

His rationale is based upon the incarnation. Jesus died, was buried and was raised (1 Corinthians 15 v. 3-4). He was seen, post-resurrection, by many witnesses (1 Corinthians 15 v. 5-8). This, according to Paul, could not have happened if there were no resurrection of the dead (1 Corinthians 15 v. 12-13). He goes on to add that, in his opinion, the resurrection body will be spiritual and not flesh and blood (1 Corinthians 15 v. 50).

Answer: Love

"And now I will show you the most excellent way. ... And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 12 v. 31 and 13 v. 13)

The thirteenth chapter of the letter is probably one of the best-known Bible passages, if only from weddings and funerals, and a fitting note upon which to conclude. Paul states that acting in love is far more important than being able to speak in tongues or prophesy, and surpasses the accumulation of "spiritual knowledge" or self-denial (1 Corinthians 13 v. 1-3). Any labels, therefore, that groups may have used to consider themselves superior to others in the Corinthian church, become meaningless in the face of love. Furthermore, love is an antidote to the barbs of others as it is not "boastful," "self-seeking" or "easily angered," and "keeps no record of wrongs" (1 Corinthians 13 v. 4-5).

Paul's appeal is taken up again in some of the letter's closing words:
"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love" (1 Corinthians 16 v. 13-14).