Week 24, June 7–13: Romans 7–16; 1 Corinthians 1–7; Psalms 84–89

• Sun      Jun 7   Rom. 7–8        Ps. 84
• Mon     Jun 8   Rom. 9–11      Ps. 85
• Tue      Jun 9   Rom. 12–14    Ps. 86
• Wed     Jun 10 Rom. 15–16    Ps. 87
• Thu      Jun 11 1 Cor. 1–2       Ps. 88
• Fri        Jun 12 1 Cor. 3–4       Ps. 89
• Sat       Jun 13 1 Cor. 5–7      

First Corinthians is the first of two canonical epistles we have from Paul to the church in Corinth. This letter is different than Romans in several ways, but probably the most notable difference is that 1 Corinthians addresses more concrete and specific issues in the life of the Christians and the church in Corinth, whereas Romans had a more broad, theological scope. This is not to say 1 Corinthians is not theological (or that Romans is not practical). It is highly theological, it just emphasizes certain implications of the theological truth of the gospel, particularly regarding the way Christians relate to each other in the church and outside the church.

Paul addresses specific issues and particular questions in 1 Corinthians. Verse one of chapter 7 opens with, “Now concerning the matters about which you wrote.” This suggests he was responding to questions they had posed to him in an earlier correspondence. 2 Corinthians will continue this sequence of letters between Paul and the Corinthian church, and this correspondence had apparently already been going on prior to what we have in the two letters in the NT. Paul referred to another letter he had written, apparently before 1 Corinthians (1 Cor. 5:9), and another letter most agree came between 1 and 2 Corinthians (2 Cor. 2:9).

The phrase, “Now concerning” continues through 1 Corinthians, apparently as a shorthand way of referring to those earlier questions. We do not have access to any earlier letter, or the other non-canonical letter written later, but we can read 1–2 Corinthians with confidence that whatever those other letters said, knowing their contents is not necessary to understand what we are reading here in the letters we do have.

As we continue reading through the epistles of the NT, it will be helpful to keep in mind a couple principles about these letters between the Apostles and the churches and individuals to whom they wrote. The NT epistles were all written either to individual churches or groups of churches or to individuals. Because of this, we should keep in mind their audiences and remember they were written to address particular situations the recipients were experiencing. On the other hand however, they were written for us too.

First Corinthians begins with a greeting that is fairly typical of the epistles in the NT. This was his typical pattern and the standard practice of letter writing in the first century. Paul identifies himself (similar to how we do at the end of our letters), and mentions Sosthenses, who was probably with Paul when he wrote. He then identifies his readers, the recipients of this letter. “To the church of God that is at Corinth.” Then he broadens the audience beyond just the one church, also including “those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours” (1 Cor. 1:2). He then gives this greeting to the Corinthian Christians and to us: “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor. 1:3; see 2 Cor. 1:2)

While we read through the rest of the NT, we will do well to keep in mind that the NT epistles were written to certain Christians and churches; those first readers were the direct audiences in mind. And perhaps equally important, we should read them as if they were meant for us. For, as believers today, we too are certainly included in “all those who in every place call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.” These are not just historical documents written to ancient people to address their issues. They are God’s word to us today too.

Early on in the year I suggested starting your time each day with God in his word with a brief prayer, asking him to open your eyes to see what he has said in the words you are about to read. This week we read David’s wonderful prayer in Psalm 86, where he praises God for who he is and asks the Lord to instruct him in his ways. May this be our prayer too.

There is none like you among the gods, O Lord,

       nor are there any works like yours.

All the nations you have made shall come

       and worship before you, O Lord,

       and shall glorify your name.

For you are great and do wondrous things;

       you alone are God.

Teach me your way, O LORD,

       that I may walk in your truth;

       unite my heart to fear your name.

I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,

       and I will glorify your name forever.

For great is your steadfast love toward me;

       you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. (Ps. 86:8–13)