Questions, Questions, Questions

Corinthians 5-11

I have never noticed how many questions Paul asks in these chapters, but then again I have never read this much of Corinthians at one time.

The obligation of love is at the heart of these chapters (no pun intended). Immorality in Corinth was a big problem because of temple prostitutes - men as well as women. According to some sources there were around 1000. That could wreak havoc on a community - especially on marriages. (Estimated population of Corinth at that time is believed to have been around 500,000.) Human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation is a fast growing industry. The Home of Hope - Texas was at Annual Conference this year. The information they were handing out stated "the U.S. State Department estimates that as many as 18,500 men, women, and children are trafficked into the U.S. each year, many for sexual exploitation. Twenty percent of these are found in Texas."

1 Cor. 8:8 is an interesting verse that you don't hear quoted much, "Food will not bring us close to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do." That taken out of context could have a tendency to really confuse people. I think we are better off if we eat. If we don't eat, we will be closer to God because we will starve. In context it is talking about eating food offered to idols.

The "stumbling block" verse (8:9) is tricky. "Take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak." Why do I have to be responsible for their weakness? Then verse 9:22 explains, "To the weak I become weak so that I might win the weak." Can't we become strong with the strong and win the strong?

I like verse 10:31, "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God". That I can do with gusto! Until verse 33 cautions us about this freedom. The Message puts it this way, "Don't be callous in the exercise of your freedom, thoughtlessly stepping on toes of those who aren't as free as you are. I try to be considerate of everybody's feelings in all these matters; I hope you will be, too". Everybody has such different feelings. That's a tall order Mr. Paul.

Verse 10:24 was interesting because it is so different in all of the translations I was checking.
NRSV "Do not seek you own advantage, but that of the other".
KJV "Let no man seek his own, but every man anothers wealth."
NIV "Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others."
Commentary "Let no one seek the thing of one's own, but the thing of the other".
That is why there are so many translations of the Bible.

The discussion about covering the head in chapter 11 is one we don't talk about much. I have always seen Paul pictured as a bald man and now I understand why: verse 14 "Does nature itself teach you that if a man wear long hair it is degrading to him...?" There must have been a lot of bald men back then. Come to think of it, I have seen Roman and Greek pictures and statues, and many of the men were bald! As far as women and head coverings - these are those Bible verses it looks like we have decided to ignore in American Christian culture.

The end of Chapter 11 is about the Lord's supper. 11:29 is one of those verses that we don't pay much attention to either:"For all those who eat and drink without discerning the body eat and drink judgement against themselves." If our relationships with each other are not good, we are not to take communion. I know that has kept people from going to church because others were judging their goodness. I also know people who because they were allowed to take communion have turned their lives around because they were accepted for being human and turning away from their sin. The meal made the difference.

Paul can be controversial. I am glad there are commentaries to help us understand him a bit more.