Even worse, people are putting more importance in money than in their faith. This is obvious because certain people in the church have sued other people in the church. Paul is beside himself trying to understand how these lawsuits are good for the church or are examples of faith. Instead, they simply serve to add conflict and disagreements into the church. Worse, the disagreements over money prevent the church from speaking unanimously to deal with other sins (like sexual promiscuity).
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Reading the Bible in Its Entirety
The second reading provides insight into Paul's own conflicted motivations for writing to the congregation in Corinth. While he offers lessons and insights that grow out of his faith and theology, many of Paul's comments come more from his own personal views. In fact, some issues seem to touch raw spots in Paul's psyche -- especially issues about money and women. In this reading, Paul is rather passive aggressive in wondering why the wealthy Corinthians don't support his ministry more. Despite his statements to the contrary, it seems that Paul cannot quite understand why these new Christians should get wealthy while he, a very hard-working and long-suffering preacher and teacher of the gospel, is poor.
Elsewhere in this letter (and sometimes in other letters), Paul also shows that he is quite touchy about the subject of women. Frequently, he harshly comments on the proper place for women and prefers them to stay silent in worship and church affairs. (This is odd, given that elsewhere he praises women who are leaders in other congregations, like Rome.) And Paul is particularly tough on marriage; in this letter, Paul suggests that abstaining from marriage is the highest form of Christian faith. The tone is defensive and seems like rationalization, which strongly suggests that Paul desperately wanted to be married, but never was. So while Paul tried to be a teacher in his letters, sometimes he betrayed is own emotions on issues that hit too close to home.
Elsewhere in this letter (and sometimes in other letters), Paul also shows that he is quite touchy about the subject of women. Frequently, he harshly comments on the proper place for women and prefers them to stay silent in worship and church affairs. (This is odd, given that elsewhere he praises women who are leaders in other congregations, like Rome.) And Paul is particularly tough on marriage; in this letter, Paul suggests that abstaining from marriage is the highest form of Christian faith. The tone is defensive and seems like rationalization, which strongly suggests that Paul desperately wanted to be married, but never was. So while Paul tried to be a teacher in his letters, sometimes he betrayed is own emotions on issues that hit too close to home.
[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]
If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read 1 Corinthians 5-7 today.
