1 CORINTHIANS

TITLE. AUTHOR AND DATE

The title and the apostle Paul as author of the letters to the Corinthians is the most supported and the ones that show with more clarity the character of Paul, his doctrine and characteristic expressions. Internally Paul confirms to be the author 1:1 and 16:21. Externally already Clement of Rome in (95 A.D.), and Ignatius, Polycarp, Hermas, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, the Didache and the Canon of Muratori give testimony. The most possible date is the spring of 54 or 55 A.D. It does not mention the destruction of the Temple, which is prophecy of Yahshua, Jesus-Christ.

 

RECIPIENTS AND PURPOSE

Paul writes to the church of Corinth firstly, but also in a universal way. The purpose was double: to give reply to the questions about Christian life as well as to correct the church of God in this city, in which the world was living, more than they living in the world. To restore a previous letter lost. Pagan life permeated their conduct lacking knowledge of the O.T. He exhorts them to a holy life centred in the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ – Yahshua, to learn the centrality of the Cross, the order in the church, to serve with the use of the spiritual gifts in truth and brotherly love.

 

HISTORIC CONTEXT

Paul, in his third missionary trip before he was arrested, continues to visit the churches while he writes to the Corinthians. The city of Corinth was known for the production of bronze, as the “city of two seas”, and commercial city based in craftsmanship and leather products for athletes. A life of idolatry and delivered to sin and to Greek-Roman philosophical ideas. But Rome had converted this city in capital of the province of Achaia and headquarters of the proconsul, was living its golden and prosperous age in times of Paul, who has to focus his letter to bring the world out of the Corinthian Christians. An heterodox church who would include people with not much culture, judaizers, leaders who did not accept Paul and wanted to “modernize” his doctrines 15:12, as well as the internal divisions.

 

THEOLOGICAL TEACHINGS

Differently than to the letter to the Romans, Paul, when writing the first letter to the Corinthians concentrates first in the correction of the life of the church towards holiness due to the moral deviation they had. 1 Corinthians 13:13 is the key Text in this letter in which we find the theology and the practice by the hand. Jesus Christ is the wisdom of God 1:2 argument for those of Greek origin, the second Adam 15:22; the rock 10:4 and Jesus as Lord appear 222 times. His expiatory life (15:3) for all of us. Eschatology of now, but not yet, which takes them to think in the coming of Christ and flee of the sinning present. The individual Christian is the temple of God 6:19 as well as the local church is 3:17, so they may see holiness of which they are part, and of Whom they are.

 

POSSIBLE INTERPRETATIVE PROBLEMS

Before this context we can find many problematic matters, although Paul precisely what he has done is to provide interpretative order. Toda, like then there were problems with the food in pagan celebrations. Divorce, holy sex only in marriage, or celibate (volunteer and/or obligatory), offerings and/or tenth. On the other hand we have the use of the veil in women to pray 11:2-16, and over all the Holy Supper, in its ways, in the right place, but more than all when one has sinned and confession, 11:1-34. Today, depending of the denomination, there are still interpretative differences in these matters.

 

 

2 CORINTHIANS

TITLE. AUTHOR AND DATE

The title and the apostle Paul as author of the letters to the Corinthians is the most supported and the ones that show with more clarity the character of Paul, his doctrine and characteristic expressions. Internally Paul confirms to be the author 1:1 writing from Philippos, Macedonia. Externally already Clement of Rome in (95 A.D.), and Ignatius, Polycarp, Hermas, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, the Didache and the Canon of Muratori give testimony. The most possible date is the spring of 54 or 55 A.D. It does not mention the destruction of the Temple, which is prophecy of Yahshua, Jesus-Christ.

 

RECIPIENTS AND PURPOSE

Paul writes to the church of Corinth firstly, but also to the saints that are in all Achaia and always with a universal intention. The main purpose was to re establish the apostolate and ministry of Paul, attacked by the enemies of the Church, from outside as false apostles with supposed apostolic authority, falsifying about the offering, against his doctrine, etc. Re conduct the church of God in this city, to love the world, to love God and the brothers with brotherly love showing in reconciliation and in the offerings for the poor, in this case those in Jerusalem.

 

HISTORIC CONTEXT

Paul writes his second letter to the Corinthians while annoyed with them, so this is a personal letter. It is worth remembering that the city of Corinth was known for the production of bronze, as the “city of two seas”, and commercial city based in craftsmanship and leather products for athletes. A life of idolatry and delivered to sin and to Greek-Roman philosophical ideas. We now see Paul suffering do to the fight in the Corinthian church, for the lies and discredit against him and his ministries, and he explains in Chap. 1. In 2 he goes towards the triumph of Christ. From 3 to 5 the change between the Old and New Covenant. In 5 to 7, the ministry of reconciliation between Christians, after repentance. In 8 and 9 he must teach the offering for the poor of the church in Jerusalem. In 10 to 13 Paul concludes having to explain his own ministry before the false accusers and obtain the trust of the Corinthians, exhorting them to keep the faith and order of unity in the church, and he closes with deep love.

 

THEOLOGICAL TEACHINGS

2 Corinthians is one of the great epistles. Differently to 1 Corinthians, objective and practical, this second is subjective and personal but it provides great theological themes and Christianity in the own hands of the Holy Spirit. God the Father appears as merciful consoler (1:3; 7:16), as well as Creator (4:6), raised Jesus from the dead and will do with believers (1:9; 4:14; 13:4). The nature of the New Covenant (3:6-17), together with substitutionary atonement of Christ (5:18-29). The Holy Spirit is God (3:17,18). Jesus is the Lord and the glory of God (4:5). The power of God shows itself in our weakness.

 

POSSIBLE INTERPRETATIVE PROBLEMS

The 2 letter to the Corinthians is questioned due to it’s structure that could be a composition of different letters in the sections of the Chaps. 1-9 and 10-13. There are several hypothesis about who where the enemies of Paul, or the identity of the brother who brought the offerings (8:18). Paul’s vision of the third heaven; the thorn of the flesh and the emissary of Satan to “hit him” and keep him humble (12:1-7).