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World Christian Fellowship 60, High Worple, Rayners Lane, Harrow
Middlesex, HA2 9SZ, United Kingdom Tel: +44 208 429 9292
www.wcflondon.com [email protected]
Letter to Corinthians (2)
Historical background:
Port city
Commercial city
Morally bankrupt but very wealthy people in the city.
Temple and its prostitutes, marvellous temple of Aphrodite’s
filled with nearly 1000 prostitutes, who were thinking that they
were doing great service to god by giving their bodies to
worshippers.
Author: Apostle Paul
Year Written: 57- 58, AD, written from most probably the city
of Philippi.
Reason for this Letter:
After Apostle Paul sent his 2nd letter which is our 1 Corinthian
he travels to Corinth second time. (Paul mentions this visit as
painful one in 2 Cor 2:1) To his amazement he was encountered
by someone who was in sin and who got hold of few others and
created such hostility and questioned his authority as an
apostle.
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However, his efforts to resolve the conflicts proved
unsuccessful (2:1; 12:14; 13:1-2). Paul apparently suffered
insult and he lost face during that visit (7:12). Consequently,
that was a painful visit for Paul. He then returned to Ephesus.
Paul's next step, in dealing with the situation in Corinth, was to
send a "severe letter" from Ephesus by the hand of Titus and
another unnamed brother (2:3-4; 7:8-12; 12:18). He apparently
directed this letter, now lost, at the party opposed to him and
particularly its leader. Some commentators believe that 2
Corinthians 10—13 contains part or all of this letter, but the
evidence for this is not convincing.
Titus straightens the church and brings back the good news of
their repentance. (7:6-16) Most of the church had responded to
Paul's directives, and the church had disciplined the
troublemakers (2:5-11). Unfortunately, some in the
congregation still refused to acknowledge Paul's authority over
them (10:1— 13:10).
There were few others who has used the names of Peter and
showed that they had the letter of authority to preach the
gospel and questioned the authority of Paul.
1 Corinthians is all about the problems in the church.
2 Corinthians about the problems the church has with Apostle
Paul.
Paul has to prove his credibility as an apostle.
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Apostle Paul takes pain to explain the trouble he had gone
through for the sake of Gospel and how he went through all
these troubles with the grace of God. But he came through all
these troubles and trials which prove that he was called to be
an apostle. Triumphing through the troubles proves that he
qualifies to be an apostle.
Chapter 1:
Verse 8 says, "We despaired even of life."
Verse 9 says, "We had the sentence of death within
ourselves." And
Verse 10 says, "We were in a great peril of death."
Chapter 4: 8-11, 8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but
we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.
9 We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get
knocked down, but we are not destroyed. 10 Through suffering,
our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life
of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. 11 Yes, we live under
constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the
life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies.
Chapter 6:3-10,
We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our
ministry will not be discredited. 4 Rather, as servants of God we
commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in
troubles, hardships and distresses;5 in beatings,
imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and
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hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the
Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the
power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand
and in the left;8 through glory and dishonour, bad report and
good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet
regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and
yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet
making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing
everything.
Chapter 11:16-33,
16 Again I say, don’t think that I am a fool to talk like this. But
even if you do, listen to me, as you would to a foolish person,
while I also boast a little. 17 Such boasting is not from the Lord,
but I am acting like a fool.18 And since others boast about their
human achievements, I will, too.19 After all, you think you are so
wise, but you enjoy putting up with fools! 20 You put up with it
when someone enslaves you, takes everything you have, takes
advantage of you, takes control of everything, and slaps you in
the face. 21 I’m ashamed to say that we’ve been too “weak” to
do that!
But whatever they dare to boast about—I’m talking like a fool
again—I dare to boast about it, too. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am
I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of
Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound
like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked
harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times
without number, and faced death again and again. 24 Five
different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine
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lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned.
Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a
day adrift at sea. 26 I have travelled on many long journeys. I
have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced
danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the
Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on
the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be
believers but are not. 27 I have worked hard and long, enduring
many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have
often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without
enough clothing to keep me warm.
28 Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern
for all the churches. 29 Who is weak without my feeling that
weakness? Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger?
30 If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that
show how weak I am. 31 God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, who
is worthy of eternal praise, knows I am not lying. 32 When I was
in Damascus, the governor under King Aretas kept guards at the
city gates to catch me. 33 I had to be lowered in a basket
through a window in the city wall to escape from him.
So from the above its very clear Paul was saying that all these
troubles could not stop him or hinder his work of the gospel.
This proves clearly he was indeed an apostle called by Lord
Jesus Christ.
There was another issue with helping the poor in Jerusalem and
Judea. In the Jerusalem council it was known that God had
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worked among the Gentiles and they have also received the
Gospel through Apostle Paul.
Now the other churches are contributing towards helping the
famine affected believers in Jerusalem.
At the same time the churches in Macedonia has contributed
way beyond their ability (2 Cor 8) so there is compulsion on
Apostle Paul to prove the church he had established in Corinth
is also working fine under the grace of God.
Hence Apostle Paul writes to pacify them and at the same time
hear the call of God in contributing towards fellow brothers and
sister who were in need at Jerusalem.
The Corinthians’ participation in the Jerusalem offering
(Romans 15:26) suggests that Paul’s third visit to that church
was successful.
Brief outline of this letter:
This letter has been divided into 13 chapters has containing 257
verses.
Amazingly you will find many characteristics of God, Jesus and
Holy Spirit.
God the Father:
As a merciful comforter (1:3; 7:6)
The Creator (4:6)
Who raised Jesus from the dead (4:14; 13:4) and
Who will raise believers (1:9)
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Jesus Christ:
One who suffered (1:5)
Fulfilled all God’s promises (1:20)
Declared Lord (4:5)
Manifested God’s glory (4:6) and
Who in His incarnation became poor for believers (8:9)
Holy Spirit:
As God (3:17, 18) and
The guarantee of believers’ salvation (1:22; 5:5)
Satan is identified as the “god of this age” (4:4) a deceiver
(11:14), and the leader of human and angelic deceivers (11:15).
Erroneous teaching out of 2 Corinthians: Money
Many churches use the passage of chapter 8-9 for their benefit.
Tithe:
Judge: Mr. Jones you have been charged with multiple counts of
extortion. Your crime spree covers 20 years and thousands of victims.
You have defrauded people out of their money with fear and
manipulation, telling them they had to tithe 10% of their income to
your church and that God would bless them if they did. You also told
them that if they didn't tithe God would curse them. How do you
plead?
Mr. Jones: I plead not guilty your Honour, I have done nothing wrong.
I have only preached what the Bible says. In the Bible Abraham tithed
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to Melchizedek and God blessed him for his faithful giving. The Bible
even says he was rich in silver and gold.
Judge: Is it not true, Mr. Jones, that in Genesis chapter 13 verse 2 the
Bible says Abraham was rich with livestock, silver and gold?
Mr. Jones: Yes, you are exactly right, that's what I just told you.
Judge: Ok, we read about Abraham being a rich man in chapter 13
but it is not until Genesis chapter 14 that we read about Abraham's
tithe to Melchizedek. So Abraham was already a rich man before he
tithed to Melchizedek, wasn't he?
Mr. Jones: Yes, I suppose you are right.
Judge: So his riches were not the result of his tithe to Melchizedek?
Mr. Jones: No.
Judge: Mr. Jones, you also say God blessed him for his faithful giving.
How many times is it recorded that Abraham gave tithes to
Melchizedek?
Mr. Jones: Well, just once.
Judge: So the Bible never said that he gave week after week?
Mr. Jones: No it does not.
Judge: Where did Abraham get the things that he gave to
Melchizedek?
Mr. Jones: Well the Bible says it was from the plunders of war?
Judge: So you are telling me that he gave from the plunders of war?
Mr. Jones: Yes that's what the Bible says.
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Judge: So he basically took things that were not really his in the first
place and gave them as the tithe?
Mr. Jones: That is what the scripture seems to indicate.
Judge: Is it recorded that he ever took anything from his own
possessions and tithed them to Melchizedek or anyone else?
Mr. Jones: I guess not
Judge: You guess not, you are a Pastor and you are only guessing, is it
or is it not written that he ever gave any of his own possessions as a
tithe to anyone?
Mr. Jones: No it is not written anywhere that I have seen.
Judge: Is it recorded as to what exactly Abraham did give
Melchizedek?
Mr. Jones: I believe it says plunder?
Judge: So plunder could be any number of things?
Mr. Jones: Yes, I suppose
Judge: It could have been food, cattle, sheep, the people's
possessions or any number of things. It does not say it was all money
correct?
Mr. Jones: Yes you are correct; it does not say just money
Judge: As a matter of fact money is never mentioned in that account
at all is that correct Mr. Jones?
Mr. Jones: Yes your Honour, money is never mentioned just goods
and food and people.
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Judge: So there is no way you can say with any certainty that
Abraham in fact gave Melchizedek any money at all?
Mr. Jones: That is right.
Judge: I only have one last question for you Mr. Jones, did God
command Abraham to give this plunder tithe to Melchizedek?
Mr. Jones: No, it appears that he did this voluntarily.
Judge: So are you trying to tell me that because of this voluntary, one
time gift by Abraham, that may not have even consisted of money, all
Christians everywhere are obligated to bring 10% of their weekly pay
check to a local church?
Considering all the evidence I would say you are beyond any shadow
of a doubt guilty of deliberately trying to make the scriptures says
things they have not said for financial gain.
Mr. Jones: Ok your Honour, I can see how foolish I was to try and use
the story of Melchizedeck to try and get the people to tithe money.
But there are many other verses that will support my belief on
tithing. Jacob said he would give God 10% of everything. I think we
should follow his example.
Judge: Let's see what Jacob said. Please read the verse you are talking
about for me Mr. Jones.
Mr. Jones: In Genesis chapter 28 starting at verse 20 it says. Jacob
vowed a vow, saying, "If God will be with me, and will keep me in this
way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and clothing to put on, so
that I come again to my father's house in peace, and Yahweh will be
my God, then this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, will be God's
house. Of all that you will give me I will surely give the tenth to you."
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Judge: You said we should follow Jacobs's example, is that right Mr.
Jones?
Mr. Jones: Yes that is right, he vowed to give a tenth and we should
too.
Judge: Let me point out one thing for you Mr. Jones, Jacob said he
would Give God a tenth, ONLY if He blessed him first. So as you said
previously, we should follow Jacob's example and tell God that we
will only give him a tenth if he blesses us first. Is that right?
Mr. Jones: That is not what I meant.
Judge: What did you mean then?
Mr. Jones: That we should give God a tenth also.
Judge: There you go again, trying to make the scripture say what you
want it to say for your benefit. I would also like you to tell me the
scriptures that say that Jacob kept his vow with God. I would also like
to know where he gave the tenth to because there was no temple or
Levites to give it to at that time.
Mr. Jones: I cannot think of any scriptures that say where or if he
ever tithed after his vow.
Judge: It seems fairly obvious to me that Jacob made a voluntary and
conditional vow to God. This in no way can be used as a reason to
demand others to bring their income to you or any other place.
Mr. Jones: I do have a few more scriptures that I believe will show
that we are supposed to tithe.
Judge: You have not said anything yet to convince me one little bit
that people are obligated to tithe money to the local churches and
that you were justified in what you were doing. You have taken
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scripture and misapplied it to your beliefs and for your gain. But in
order to be fair to you I will allow you to present more evidence.
Mr. Jones: In the book of Malachi chapter 3 starting at verse 8 it says,
will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed me. But ye say, In what
have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a
curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the
tithes into the store-house, that there may be food in my house, and
prove me now with this, said the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you
the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall
not be room enough to receive it. So you see your Honour, we are
commanded to bring the tithes into the storehouse or God will curse
us.
Judge: Answer me this Mr. Jones, were you aware that God never
required anyone to tithe money?
Mr. Jones: No I didn't know that.
Judge: The tithe spoken of here was always edible products never
money.
Mr. Jones: well your Honour that is because they didn't have money
at the time so God had them tithes food instead.
Judge: Not true, money is first mentioned in Genesis and Malachi was
written hundreds of years later. God had them bring food in so that
the Levites, the fatherless and widows may eat and be satisfied. The
tithe was used mainly to take care of people. Also notice it says in the
verse you quoted, that there may be food in my house. The food was
the tithe. How do you completely overlook the word food in those
verses?
Mr. Jones: I don't know
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Judge: I also want you to know that these verses speak to people
under the Old Testament law. As you may or may not know Jesus
fulfilled the law, it is no longer binding. Tithing was part of that law
that has been abolished.
Once again you have tried to completely take a scripture out of
context and apply it to others for your benefit. Can you give me a
single scripture where God changed the tithe from food to money?
Mr. Jones: I do not know of any.
Judge: So if God never changed it from food to money who did?
Mr. Jones: Man must have.
Judge: So far all you have done Mr. Jones is take Old Testament
scriptures out of context and try to apply it to believers under the
New Covenant. Is this all the proof you have?
Mr. Jones: I do have a New Testament scripture that will show that
Jesus told us to tithe.
Judge: Ok let me hear it.
Mr. Jones: Jesus said in Matthew 23:23 "Woe to you, scribes and
Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin, and have
left undone the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and
faith. But you ought to have done these, and not to have left the
other undone. See Jesus said we should be tithing.
Judge: Let me ask you a question, who was Jesus talking to?
Mr. Jones: The scripture says the scribes and Pharisees.
Judge: Are you a scribe or Pharisee?
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Mr. Jones: Of course not.
Judge: Jesus also said in that passage, you have left undone the
weightier matters of the law. Are we under the law Mr. Jones?
Mr. Jones: No.
Judge: Why not?
Mr. Jones: Because Jesus fulfilled it.
Judge: When did Jesus fulfil the law?
Mr. Jones: When He was crucified.
Judge: So the law was still in effect until Jesus death?
Mr. Jones: That is correct.
Judge: I think you know where I am going with this don't you?
Mr. Jones: Yes your Honour. Since Jesus had not yet been crucified
and the law was still binding the Pharisees were required to tithe
because it was part of the law. Once the law ended, tithing ended
also.
Judge: I want you to take a look at that verse again. Also tell me, what
were they tithing?
Mr. Jones: The scripture says it was mint, dill and cumin.
Judge: Is money mentioned?
Mr. Jones: No it was not.
Judge: Once again it was edible products that they were tithing, not
money. Do you have anything else you would like to say?
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Mr. Jones: If people only tithed edible products like the scripture
says, then how would the church survive? We have our mortgage
payment, utility bills, my salary and a host of other things that we
have to pay each week. We depend on the money from the people.
Judge: The need does not justify the means. In other words, just
because you have all these debts does not give you the right to twist
and manipulate scripture and cause people to give under fear of
being cursed by God to meet your needs. In closing, let me recap a
few things for you Mr. Jones. The tithe was never money; the tithe
was an Old Testament law, which is no longer binding. When it was
binding the tithe was used to take care of people, not buildings. We
are under a new covenant now. Paul instructs the Corinthian
believers how they are to give. He says in second Corinthians chapter
9 verse 7, Let each man give according as he has determined in his
heart; not grudgingly, or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful
giver. So each believer is supposed to give as he or she has
determined in his or her heart. If you are trying to make people give
under the threat of being cursed or any other reason you are wrong.
Someone cannot give cheerfully if they are being forced to give. If
your church can not survive on freewill offerings maybe God is not
part of your church at all.
Mr. Jones: I never realized all these things, I have always been taught
that we had to tithe money to the local church and that is what I have
always taught. I can see now that I was completely wrong. I did not
study the scripture for myself, I only took man’s word for it. Yes I am
guilty. I will not teach this error anymore.
Judge: Mr. Jones, I can see that you have done this in ignorance and
are repentant; this court will not hold you accountable. It is your
responsibility to know the truth. I would advise you and everyone
else in this courtroom to really start studying the Bible and seeking
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God on the subject of tithing and your eyes will be open. Do not just
take man’s word any longer. Start seeking God as to how and where
He would have you give. Court adjourned.
Finally,
Apostle Paul never asked money for himself or for his ministry,
please read the scripture carefully. He had accepted money and
gifts from Macedonian church when they offered to him. He
role modelled what the Lord Jesus Christ did while He was on
the earth.
1 Corinthians 9:15-18,
2 Corinthians 11:9
1 Thessalonians 2:9 &11
2 Thessalonians 3:7-9
Acts 20:34-35
So if you have any need you should let your Heavenly Father
know about it.