The word Bible is derived from the Greek word biblia which means
books, suggesting that the Bible is a collection of books, 66 in
number, a library consisting of the information God wants us to
know about himself, our world, and ourselves. Many people are
acquainted with several books of the Bible, but the other books
may represent little more than names on the index page in the
front of their Bibles. Each edition of Touch of Comfort includes
background information and a summary of one book of the Bible.
Readers are introduced to the author, background, theme, and
concepts of the book. It is an opportunity to become more
knowledgeable about that book’s position and purpose and more
encouraged to learn more about it. and read it.
books, suggesting that the Bible is a collection of books, 66 in
number, a library consisting of the information God wants us to
know about himself, our world, and ourselves. Many people are
acquainted with several books of the Bible, but the other books
may represent little more than names on the index page in the
front of their Bibles. Each edition of Touch of Comfort includes
background information and a summary of one book of the Bible.
Readers are introduced to the author, background, theme, and
concepts of the book. It is an opportunity to become more
knowledgeable about that book’s position and purpose and more
encouraged to learn more about it. and read it.
Book of the
Bible Summary
Bible Summary
| A Touch of Comfort Cheer and Consolation from the Bible |
| Please provide a Summary for one of the following: Genesis Mark John Please enter your choice in COMMENTS |
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| First Corinthians |
| When you study the Scriptures “hit or miss,” you’re likely to miss more than you hit. |
If you think your church has problems, you haven't seen anything until
you read the Apostle Paul's first letter to the congregation at Corinth. A
Greek city, Corinth was a part of the Roman Empire at the time of Paul.
In 50 AD he founded a congregation there and worked to build it for 18
months. While we do not know the exact population, it is clear that
Corinth was a cross-cultural and multi-racial city with a reputation for
sexual immorality and religious diversity. The idolatry and wickedness of
the city may have been behind the fear and trembling he mentions in 1
Corinthians 2:3
Paul was fortunate in finding a few wealthy Jewish families with Roman
names, probably exiles from Rome due to a persecution there at that
time, who could introduce him to the synagogue. His association with a
Jewish husband and wife, Aquila and Priscilla, who were tent makers,
gave him the opportunity to support himself with his trade. As the
church grew, however, the membership became more diverse
representing Jews and Greeks, rich and poor, freemen and slaves. No
doubt the seeds of discontent were already brewing.
Soon after he left to establish a congregation in Ephesis, another Greek
city, he received news that quarrels and divisions were breaking out at
Corinth. He sent his first letter to Corinth dealing with these problems,
probably in 53 or 54 AD. Either the letter had little effect or Paul was
impatient, for he made a visit to Corinth. He was not warmly greeted and
stayed only a short time. After a while, however, Titus, who was pastor
in Corinth, brought good news that the congregation at Corinth had
begun to deal with the sin in its midst. This occasioned Paul's second
letter in AD 55 or 56.
Both letters to the Corinthians are doctrinal, second in length and depth
only to the epistle to the Romans. The problems that faced Paul read like
a litany of paganism. The congregation was split into factions about their
leaders, there was open immorality, questions about the value of
marriage, lawsuits among the believers, sexual immorality, the eating of
meat that had been sacrificed to idols, squabbles about the Lord's
Supper, speaking in tongues, and a rejection of Jesus' resurrection by
some members.
Paul's motive and theme for the epistle is in First Corinthians 1:10:
"I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all
of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among
you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought."
Lessons from 1 Corinthians:
God doesn't overlook sin, strife, faithlessness, or immorality in his
church. He knows all that exists, but never gives up on his people.
Neither are the men he sends to preach the gospel without sin. In the
midst of a godless world, God administers his grace through people who
have to live in frightening and threatening circumstances. Faithfulness to
Jesus and holiness among Christians is to be pursued regardless of the
state of the world. That's the message of First Corinthians.
Next Time: Second Corinthians
you read the Apostle Paul's first letter to the congregation at Corinth. A
Greek city, Corinth was a part of the Roman Empire at the time of Paul.
In 50 AD he founded a congregation there and worked to build it for 18
months. While we do not know the exact population, it is clear that
Corinth was a cross-cultural and multi-racial city with a reputation for
sexual immorality and religious diversity. The idolatry and wickedness of
the city may have been behind the fear and trembling he mentions in 1
Corinthians 2:3
Paul was fortunate in finding a few wealthy Jewish families with Roman
names, probably exiles from Rome due to a persecution there at that
time, who could introduce him to the synagogue. His association with a
Jewish husband and wife, Aquila and Priscilla, who were tent makers,
gave him the opportunity to support himself with his trade. As the
church grew, however, the membership became more diverse
representing Jews and Greeks, rich and poor, freemen and slaves. No
doubt the seeds of discontent were already brewing.
Soon after he left to establish a congregation in Ephesis, another Greek
city, he received news that quarrels and divisions were breaking out at
Corinth. He sent his first letter to Corinth dealing with these problems,
probably in 53 or 54 AD. Either the letter had little effect or Paul was
impatient, for he made a visit to Corinth. He was not warmly greeted and
stayed only a short time. After a while, however, Titus, who was pastor
in Corinth, brought good news that the congregation at Corinth had
begun to deal with the sin in its midst. This occasioned Paul's second
letter in AD 55 or 56.
Both letters to the Corinthians are doctrinal, second in length and depth
only to the epistle to the Romans. The problems that faced Paul read like
a litany of paganism. The congregation was split into factions about their
leaders, there was open immorality, questions about the value of
marriage, lawsuits among the believers, sexual immorality, the eating of
meat that had been sacrificed to idols, squabbles about the Lord's
Supper, speaking in tongues, and a rejection of Jesus' resurrection by
some members.
Paul's motive and theme for the epistle is in First Corinthians 1:10:
"I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all
of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among
you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought."
Lessons from 1 Corinthians:
God doesn't overlook sin, strife, faithlessness, or immorality in his
church. He knows all that exists, but never gives up on his people.
Neither are the men he sends to preach the gospel without sin. In the
midst of a godless world, God administers his grace through people who
have to live in frightening and threatening circumstances. Faithfulness to
Jesus and holiness among Christians is to be pursued regardless of the
state of the world. That's the message of First Corinthians.
Next Time: Second Corinthians
| Key Passages from First Corinthians 1 Cor. 1:23-24 We preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 1 Cor. 13: 1 and 13 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal . . . . And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Cor. 15:19-20 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. |