Bible Discussion Thread

INTRODUCTION TO 1 CORINTHIANS (Part 1):

It's interesting that Paul said in 2 Timothy 3:16 that all scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness.

The book of Romans follows in line with that. Romans is the book of doctrine. All the doctrines of the Christian faith are established in the book of Romans. 1 and 2 Corinthians is for reproof, to present to them their guilt. For correction, we have the book of Galatians. And then from Ephesians down to Philemon, we have instruction in righteousness.

These books are not in chronological order according to when Paul wrote them, but they are in order, and I hate to say this, but in matter of importance. If I were going to choose which one of Paul's letters to start with, I would start with Romans because that's the doctrine of the Christian faith.



The next one in importance is 1 Corinthians. If you take Romans and 1 Corinthians together, you've got the doctrine, and you've got the correction about the doctrine, about the misuse of it.

I: ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Paul is the author. His inscription is on all 13 of his letters. Also, from Sosthenes, who is a convert from Corinth who came with Paul. He got saved in Corinth when Paul visited there. What happened was that Sosthenes started a riot in Corinth to try and get Paul beat up by the crowd. Well, it backfired because the crowd started beating up Sosthenes.



So Sosthenes was taken in by Paul and some of the other Christians to doctor him up and help him. And because of that, Sosthenes received Christ. And so, he now was in danger because they were after him because they already beat him up. When Paul went over into Ephesus, Sosthenes met him there. In fact, Ephesus is where 1 Corinthians was written from.

So Sosthenes is there in Ephesus with Paul, and because the Christians in Corinth to whom Paul is writing know Sosthenes, he gives them his greeting as well.