Workers For Jesus Online Bible Study

Workers For Jesus Online Bible Study

The Book of 1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians is one of Paul's Epistles. Epistles are letters Paul wrote to Christians in the early churches.

The Bible Project - summary of 1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians was written to the church that was in Corinth.

Corinth was located in Greece. It was one of the largest and most important cities in Ancient Greece. Paul lived in Corinth and founded the Christian church there.

Events in Paul's history with the church in Corinth.

Event 1. Paul visited the city of Corinth for the first time. He stayed there for about 18 months. Then, he left Corinth and went to the city of Ephesus for 3 years.

Event 2. While he was still in Ephesus, Paul wrote a letter to the people in Corinth. Bible scholars call this letter the "warning letter". This letter warned the people in Corinth that they shouldn't be around immoral people.

Event 3. Paul was still in Ephesus. He wrote another letter to the church in Corinth. This letter is what we call the book of 1 Corinthians.

Paul wrote this letter because he had learned about some problems in the Corinthian church.

The letter has 2 parts.

1. Paul rebukes the church for divisions and problems. He tells them how to deal with sin in the church.

2. Paul answers specific questions that people in the Corinthian church have asked him.

Some of the subjects Paul writes about in 1 Corinthians are:

immoral behavior
Christians and lawsuits
marriage
singleness
Communion
spiritual gifts
resurrection
how to worship
being free in Christ

sexual immorality, lawsuits among believers, marriage and singleness, freedom in Christ, order in worship, the significance of the Lord’s Supper, and the right use of spiritual gifts; he also included a profound teaching on the resurrection. - See more at: http://www.insight.org/resources/bible/first-corinthians.html#sthash.ncb1vzGo.dpuf

Event 4. Paul visited Corinth for the second time. Later, Paul calls this visit a "painful visit". He called it "painful" because the Corinthian church members were not obeying God's rules. Paul had discussed these things with them in the past, but they were still not listening to him. Some of them were following other leaders.

Event 5. Paul wrote another letter to Corinth. Bible scholars call this letter the "letter of tears". In this letter, Paul says things that upset the people in Corinth. He is trying to make them turn back to obeying God.

Event 6. Paul wrote another letter to Corinth. This is the letter that we call the book of 2 Corinthians.

Event 7. Paul visited Corinth for the third time.

1 Corinthians 8 - 11

Food that was sacrificed to idols
Paul and the apostles and how they were supported
Paul warns the Christian not to copy the sins of the Israelites.
Freedom to eat any food
Rules for head cover and worship

1 Corinthians 8

Food that was sacrificed to idols

We all know about eating food that was offered to false gods or idols. Knowing many things makes us conceited and makes us brag. But love is what is important.
[1] Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.

If any man thinks he knows a lot, he really knows nothing important. But if any man loves God, God knows it.
[2] And if any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
[3] But if any man love God, the same is known of him.

About eating food that was sacrificed to idols....we know that idols are nothing. There is only one God. Even though many things are called gods, there is only one God the Father. Everything is His. We are in Him. There is one Lord Jesus Christ. Everything is His, and we are saved by Him.
[4] As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.
[5] For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)
[6] But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

There are people who are weak and believe in idols. If they eat something that was sacrificed to an idol, they will feel guilty.
[7] Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.

God doesn't care what we eat. It doesn't matter to God if we eat food sacrificed to idols or not.
[8] But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.

But you should be careful. Your freedom to eat anything might cause a weaker person to stumble or lose faith.
[9] But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.

If someone sees you eat meat from an idol's temple, he might feel that he can do the same. This person may have weak faith and may be confused about his faith. Christ died for him, too, so if you cause someone to be confused about their faith, you are sinning against God.
[10] For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;
[11] And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
[12] But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.

So, if food makes my brother feel bad, I will not eat anything while the world stands. I don't want to cause my brother any trouble.
[13] Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

1 Corinthians 9

Paul and the apostles and how they are supported

I am an apostle, and I am free. I have seen Jesus Christ our Lord. You are my work in the Lord. You are the proof that I have led you to the Lord.
[1] Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?
[2] If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.

When people ask about me, I tell them that we have the right to eat and drink. We have the right to lead other Christians the way Peter and the other apostles do.
[3] Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,
[4] Have we not power to eat and to drink?
[5] Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

Do you think only Barnabas and I should have to support ourselves by working another job? Do soldiers have to have another job to support themselves? Don't farmers eat and drink from their crops?
[6] Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?
[7] Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?

I am not saying this as a man. God's law said the same thing. In the law of Moses, God said, "Do not put a muzzle on the ox that is treading out the corn." Doesn't God take care of oxen?
[8] Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?
[9] For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?

God said that for all of us. The scriptures say that everyone who plows and helps with the harvest has hope to be able to share in the harvest.
[10] Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.

We have planted the seeds of spiritual things in you. Isn't it a good thing for us to benefit from the material things like food?
[11] If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?

Other people have this right over you. Don't we also have this right? Even so, we have not asked for this. We endure everything so that we don't interfere with the gospel of Christ.
[12] If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.

Don't you know that the people who work in the temple and the altar live off the things brought to the temple and the altar.
[13] Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the alter are partakers with the alter?

The Lord has said that the people who preach the gospel should live off the gospel.
[14] Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

But I haven't used any of these things. I am not writing about this to benefit me. I would rather die than to have anyone think I am trying to help myself.
[15] But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.

Even though I preach the gospel, I don't have anything to brag about for myself. The gospel is given to me, and I will be punished if I don't preach it!
[16] For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

If I preach because I want to, I will be rewarded. But even if I don't want to preach the gospel, it is a job that God has given to me to do.
[17] For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.

What is my reward for preaching? I preach the gospel free of charge so that I don't take advantage of my power in the gospel.
[18] What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.

Even though I am not a slave, I have made myself a slave to all so that I will win more people for Christ.
[19] For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

When I am with the Jews, I behave like a Jew. Even though I am not under Jewish law, I live by the law when I am with them. That is the way I can tell them about Christ and win some of them to follow Christ.
[20] And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
[21] To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.

When I am with weak people, I behave like a weak person. This is how I preach to people and win them to follow Christ.
[22] To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
[23] And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

You know that many people run a race, but only one person gets the prize. Run the race so that you get the prize.
[24] Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

A person who wants to win must do the right things. They do this to win a crown on earth that won't last. But our prize will last forever.
[25] And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

I run the race to preach the gospel and save people. I do not run and beat the air with my fist. I keep myself under control. That way, after I finish preaching, no one can say I'm a hypocrite.
[26] I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
[27] But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

1 Corinthians 10

Paul warns the Christians not to copy the sins of the Israelites.

Also, brothers, I don't want any of you to forget about this. You should remember how our ancestors followed a pillar of cloud and walked through the Red Sea. They were followers of Moses and were baptized with the cloud and the sea.
[1] Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
[2] And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

They all ate the same food and drank the same drink. The drink came from the spiritual Rock that followed them. Christ was the Rock.
[3] And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
[4] And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

But God wasn't happy with many of them because of their actions. They died in the wilderness.
[5] But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

We should learn from these things. We should not feel lust for evil things the way they did.
[6] Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

Do not worship idols the way some of them did. The scripture tells us how some of the Israelites ate, drank, and behaved to worship false idols.
[7] Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

Do not commit fornication (sexual relations between people who are not married). One day, 23,000 of them were killed for this behavior.
[8] Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

Do not act like you're better than Christ. Some others tried that and were destroyed by snakes.
[9] Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

Don't talk against God. People tried that in the past, and they were destroyed.
[10] Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

All of these happened to be examples to us and the people who lived anywhere or anytime on the earth.
[11] Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Be careful - people who think they are strong sometimes fall.
[12] Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

There is nothing new that tempts you. People have always had the same temptations. God is faithful. He won't let you be tempted more than you can stand. You will be tempted, but God will make a way for you to escape so that you can defeat the temptation.
[13] There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

So, my brothers, run away from idols.
[14] Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.

I am talking to people who I think are wise. Listen to what I say and judge it for yourselves.
[15] I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.

When we drink wine for communion, aren't we joining with the blood of Christ? When we eat the bread, aren't we joining with the body of Christ?
[16] The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

There are many of us, but we are one when we take communion.
[17] For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

Israel made sacrifices at the altar. When they ate the food that was sacrificed, they became part of the sacrifice.
[18] Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the alter?

Idols are fake. So, sacrificing to idols means nothing. But, I am saying that you cannot be part of that. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and then be part of sacrifices to idols and devils.
[19] What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
[20] But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
[21] Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.

God wants us to be loyal to Him only.
[22] Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

Everything is allowed by the law for me. But not everything is good. Some things do not praise God.
[23] All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

No one should just be looking out for himself. He should be helping other people, too.
[24] Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.

Freedom to eat any food.

Eat whatever is sold. Don't ask where it came from or if it was a sacrifice to idols. Then, your conscience will be clear. The scripture says that the earth belongs to the Lord and everything in the earth belongs to the Lord, too.
[25] Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:
[26] For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.

If non-Christians invite you to a party and you want to go, eat whatever they serve. Don't ask questions about if it was sacrificed to idols or not.
[27] If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.

But if someone tells you that the food was offered to idols, don't eat it. Don't eat it so it doesn't go against the conscience of the person that showed it to you. The earth belongs to the Lord and everything in the earth belongs to the Lord, too
[28] But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof:

I am talking about the other person's conscience, not yours. But why should my freedom depend on another man's conscience? Why would they talk bad about me for eating something that I thank God for?
[29] Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?
[30] For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?

No matter what you eat or drink or do, do it all to the glory of God.
[31] Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Don't offend anyone, Jews or Gentiles or God's church. If I try to make everyone happy, I am not doing it to help myself. I am doing it to try and save those people.
[32] Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
[33] Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

1 Corinthians 11

Rules for head cover and worship.

Follow what I say just as I follow Christ.
[1] Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

I praise you, brothers, that you always remember what I told you in all you do. You keep the laws as I told them to you.
[2] Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.

I want you to know that Christ is the head of every man. The man is head of the woman. God is the head of Christ.
[3] But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

A man should not cover his head when he is praying. It dishonors his head.
[4] Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.

A woman should cover her head when she prays. If her head is not covered when she prays, it dishonors her head. It is the same as if her head is shaved.
[5] But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.

If the woman doesn't put a cover over her hair, she should shave her head. But if it is a shame for a woman to shave her head, she should cover her head.
[6] For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.

A man should not cover his head because he is in the image and glory of God. But the woman is the glory of the man.
[7] For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.

The man was created first. The woman came from the man.
[8] For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.

The woman was created for the man. She should cover her head because of the angels.
[9] Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.
[10] For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.

Anyway, the man and the woman are both important to God.
[11] Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.
[12] For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of god.

Judge for yourselves - is it good for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?
[13] Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?

Doesn't nature teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a shame to him? But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her. Her hair was given to her as a covering.
[14] Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?
[15] But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.

This is the same for all of God's churches. No one should disagree with it.
[16] But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.

Rules about the Lord's Supper.

I have heard reports that there is arguing going on in some of your services. I believe some of the reports. Arguing makes your worship services worse and not better.
[17] Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.
[18] For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.

There are some people in your church who are not obeying God. But the people who have God's approval are easy to see.
[19] For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

When you go to church, you are not coming to eat the Lord's Supper. Some of you start eating before the others arrive. Some of you arrive drunk.
[20] When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper.
[21] For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.

Can't you eat and drink before you come to church? Do you hate the other people in your church? Do you embarrass them if they are poor? What do you want me to say? I will not praise you for this.
[22] What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.

I have told you before about the night that Jesus was betrayed. He took bread. He gave thanks to God for it. Then, He broke the bread and gave it to His disciples. He told them to eat the bread. It was a symbol of His body that was soon to be broken for them. They should eat the bread now to remember Him.
[23] For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
[24] And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.

He did the same with the cup of wine. He told them the wine was a new symbol of His blood. They should drink it to remember Him.
[25] After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

You should eat the bread and drink the wine to remember the Lord's death until He comes back.
[26] For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

If someone eats the bread and drinks the wine in a bad way, he is sinning against the Lord's body and blood.
[27] Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

Each person should look at themselves and then take the bread and the wine.
[28] But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

The people who eat and drink in a bad way do not understand that they are the Lord's body. They will bring destruction to themselves.
[29] For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

This is why many of you are sick and weak, and many have died.
[30] For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

If we judge ourselves and our behavior, we won't need to be punished later.
[31] For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

When God judges us, He corrects us so that we won't be condemned with the world.
[32] But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

So, my brothers, you should wait for everyone to arrive before you eat.
[33] Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.

If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home before he comes to church. Everything else, I will talk about with you when I come there.
[34] And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.

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1 Corinthians 8

1 Corinthians 9

1 Corinthians 10

1 Corinthians 11 Rules for head cover and worship.

1 Corinthians 11

Rules for head cover and worship.