Digital Logos Edition
The Apostle Paul wrote 1 Corinthians to a church rife with problems: factions, pride, spiritual immaturity, immorality, improper teaching, and problematic practices in worship. Preben Vang sheds light on these controversies and problems. In particular, he shows how the cultural values of Corinth—especially the patronage system and the rhetorical and philosophical environment—contributed to problems in the church. The issue of cultural influence on Christian life and church ministry is still as relevant as ever. This insightful commentary will equip pastors and teachers to bring the powerful lessons of this letter to bear on the twenty-first-century church.
“ Christians should be more concerned with adherence to the message of the cross than the attractiveness of the preacher” (Page 37)
“Christian spirituality cannot be reduced to human reflection on life.” (Page 38)
“Paul’s word here, however, is naos. Naos (lit., ‘dwelling’) refers to the most sacred area in a temple—the particular room where God (or a god) was thought to reside.1 The church is not a social gathering of the like-minded but the sanctuary where God reveals his presence.” (Pages 46–47)
“God gave his Spirit not as a reward to the ‘wise’ but to enable all believers to comprehend the magnitude of God’s gift through Christ.” (Page 36)
“It is a ‘mystery’ not because it is designed only for a few divinely initiated, as in the mystery religions, but because it runs contrary to human wisdom and therefore is available only through God’s revelation in the cross and resurrection of Christ. What humans cannot discover for themselves, God has revealed through his Son, Jesus Christ. The task of the Christians is to make this mystery, or wisdom, known and visible to the world around them.” (Page 48)
Focused Biblical Scholarship to Teach the Text Effectively
The Teach the Text Commentary Series gives pastors the best of biblical scholarship and presents the information needed to move seamlessly from the meaning of the text to its effective communication. By providing focused commentary, this volume allows pastors to quickly grasp the most important information. Each unit of the commentary includes the big idea and key themes of the passage; sections dedicated to understanding, teaching, and illustrating the text; and full-color illustrations, maps, and photos.
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Lawrence Clark
5/28/2015