In 1 Corinthians, Paul deals with some very delicate issues. The Church had slipped off the rails and some urgent matters had to be rectified. False doctrines and practices had crept in.

Paul wrote this letter of rebuke to voice his displeasure about these activities. Surprisingly many people use this epistle to justify the very doctrine that Paul is condemning. Here are some of the issues that Paul was dissatisfied with, and for which he rebukes the Corinthians:

Division

...there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name (1 Corinthians 1:11-15).

Fornication and Adultery

It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you (1 Corinthians 5:1-2).

Wronging Brethren

But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren (1 Corinthians 6:6-8).

Drunkenness and Greed

For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? what shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not (1 Corinthians 11:21-22).

Misconceptions about Marriage 

A newlywed couple leaving their wedding. Source: Ville Miettinen on Flickr

Now concerning what you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to the husband…Do not deprive one another, except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer. And come together again so that Satan does not tempt you for your lack of self-control (1 Corinthians 7:1-3,5 NKJV).

One of the classic misconceptions regarding Paul is that he was anti-marriage and anti-women. Nothing could be further from the truth. Paul speaks fondly of the women who supported his ministry, such as Phoebe, Priscilla, and Mary.

He never said that it was good for a man not to touch a woman. It was the Corinthians who said it in their letter to Paul ("Now concerning what you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman"). This was part of the confusion of philosophies in the Corinthian Church.

On the one hand was the group that believed that it did not matter how they treated their bodies, and on the other hand was the group that believed that dedication to the Lord meant abstinence from sexual relations with women even in marriage. Both of these ideas stemmed from pagan origins, and a misunderstanding of God’s character.

After quoting what the Corinthians wrote in their letter, Paul uses the word “nevertheless” to indicate his disapproval of their statement. He then continues, “let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to the husband,” saying exactly the opposite to what their dictum inferred. 

Later in the letter, Paul speaks about spiritual gifts. Read his thoughts in the next article

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