The Surprising God

This exegesis of 1 Corinthians chapter 15 provides context for the RCL Epistle readings on Epiphany 5, 6 & 7 (2/9, 2/16 & 2/23/25). Insights are drawn from commentary by Warren Wiersbe ("Bible Expository Commentary") and Bruce Winter ("New Bible Commentary"). (via Tim Staples at https://timstaples.com/2019/resurrection-of-the-body/) Introduction   The doctrine of the resurrection of the dead is an encouraging core teaching of the Christian faith. Sadly, it was rejected by Greeks who embraced a dualistic philosophy that viewed the body as evil and the spirit (viewed as an immortal soul) as good. Death was thus seen as the release of the spirit/soul from its bodily prison. The idea that God will resurrect people bodily was thus to Greeks both absurd (Acts 17:32) and unwelcome. Despite this Greek viewpoint, Corinthian Christians (most who were Greek) embraced (at least at first) the doctrine of the bodily resurrection. However, by the time Paul wrote 1 Corinthi...

This exegesis of 1 Corinthians chapters 12-13 provides context for the RCL Epistle reading on Epiphany 4 (2/2/25). Insights are drawn from commentary by Warren Wiersbe ("Bible Expository Commentary") and Bruce Winter ("New Bible Commentary").   Reconstruction of the city of Corinth in Paul's day (via Wikimedia Commons) Introduction   In 1 Corinthians chapter 11 Paul exhorts the Corinthian church to resolve the disorder occurring in its assemblies due to controversy about head coverings in church and wrong approaches to sharing the Lord’s Supper. Now in chapters 12 and 13, Paul addresses a third source of their disorder—the misuse of spiritual gifts: " Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant " (1Cor. 12:1). Though they possessed many and varied spiritual gifts, the Corinthian Christians displayed immaturity in their use. How sad that the gifts given by the Spirit to create unity in the church were a source of disorder and d...