Paul admonishes people to 1 Corinthians 11:1 (LEB) Become imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ. This isn’t to assert his authority as an apostle, although he does have this authority, Paul’s message is to direct people to the authority of Jesus Christ who is in Ephesians 1:21–23 (LEB) “above all rule and authority and power and lordship and every name named, not only in this age but also in the coming one, 22 and he subjected all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way”. While there are many that say they are in Christ and claim they are in the “faith” as in Galatians 3:26–27 (LEB) “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ”. Not all have “put on Christ” as Jesus said in Matthew 7:20 (LEB) “you will recognize them by their fruits”. Paul then recognizing divisions in the church says in 1 Corinthians 11:19 (LEB) “For indeed it is necessary that there be factions among you, in order that those who are approved may become evident among you”. We will know those among us as we observe their behavior. It is that hold fast and walk in truth of the gospel as in 1 Corinthians 11:2 (LEB) “that you remember me in all things, and just as I handed over to you the traditions, you hold fast to them” that are true “sons of God”.
Those Who Proclaim the Gospel Live From the Gospel
I Have Enslaved Myself to All
1 Corinthians 9:18–27
Paul has not only made the gospel free to those he encounters, but he has also sought to understand how people perceive the world around them so that he could reach them with the truth of God’s kingdom and salvation through Jesus Christ in a way they can understand it. Paul has adapted himself that “I may save some” as in
1 Corinthians 9:20–22 (LEB) I have become like a Jew to the Jews, in order that I may gain the Jews. To those under the law I became as under the law (although I myself am not under the law) in order that I may gain those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as outside the law (although I am not outside the law of God, but subject to the law of Christ) in order that I may gain those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, in order that I may gain the weak. I have become all things to all people, in order that by all means I may save some.
There are those that say you can’t minister to someone if you haven’t experienced it yourself but we have the Holy Spirit that leads us with what to say and how to say it so it isn’t about our experience. It was Jesus that took on flesh and dwelt among us. It was Jesus who experienced all of sin and death for us in
Philippians 2:6–8 (LEB) who, existing in the form of God, did not consider being equal with God something to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself by taking the form of a slave, by becoming in the likeness of people. And being found in appearance like a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, that is, death on a cross.
While we will not have their experience, we do need to come close to them, or as Paul says, “I have become …” so we are near enough that we can participate with them and they can they will hear us as in
1 Corinthians 9:23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, in order that I may become a participant with it.
Our Fathers Were All Under the Cloud
1 Corinthians 10:1–13
The Cup of Blessing Which we Bless
1 Corinthians 10:14–22
Not All Things Are Profitable
1 Corinthians 10:23–33
Become Imitators of Me, Just as I am of Christ
1 Corinthians 11:1–8
Paul commends them for not only remembering him but also for “holding fast” to his teachings which he calls “the traditions” in
1 Corinthians 11:2 (LEB) “Now I praise you that you remember me in all things, and just as I handed over to you the traditions, you hold fast to them”.
While it is the same word for “traditions”, these are not though, the “traditions” Jesus was talking about that had crept into the Jewish religion in
Mark 7:6–7 (LEB) ‘So he said to them, “Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far, far away from me. 7 And they worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ” ’
These traditions Jesus mentioned prevented people from following God’s word in
Mark 7:13 (LEB) “thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down, and you do many similar things such as this.”
By Paul’s teaching, by Paul’s traditions, we all come under the authority of God through Jesus Christ and it is Him that we follow in
1 Corinthians 11:3 “that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of the woman, and the head of Christ is God.”
Does Not Nature Itself Teach You
I Received From the Lord What I Also Passed On
1 Corinthians 11:17–24
Paul’s intent is to teach them about communion, but he also makes this interesting statement in
1 Corinthians 11:18–19 (LEB) For in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. 19 For indeed it is necessary that there be factions among you, in order that those who are approved may become evident among you.
Many people claim to be Christians, yet Jesus said in
Matthew 7:20–23 (LEB) “As a result, you will recognize them by their fruits. 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many miracles in your name?’ 23 And then I will say to them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you who practice lawlessness!’
Jesus made it clear that it wasn’t prophecy or miracles that would identify those that followed him it was the fruit of the spirit as in
Galatians 5:22–23 (LEB) “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self control. Against such things there is no law.”
Many people read only Galatians 5:22-23 yet the context continues with one other necessary step for this fruit to be made manifest and that is in
Galatians 5:24–25 (LEB) “Now those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh together with its feelings and its desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, we must also follow the Spirit”.
There are divisions among them because they are indulging their flesh and its feelings and desires and he rebukes them as “each one of you goes ahead to take his own” not thinking about the needs of those around them in.
1 Corinthians 11:21 (LEB) “For when you eat it, each one of you goes ahead to take his own supper, and one is hungry and another is drunk”.
Study Verses
- 1 Corinthians 9:18–27 I Have Enslaved Myself to All
- 1 Corinthians 11:1–8 Become Imitators of Me, Just as I am of Christ
- 1 Corinthians 11:17–24 I Received From the Lord What I Also Passed On
Today’s Reading
- 1 Corinthians 9:18-27
- 1 Corinthians 10:1-33
- 1 Corinthians 11:1-24
