After Pentecost

(Unity in Diversity)

I Corinthians 1:1-17

Last week was Pentecost Sunday- the birth of the church. We studied the symbols of the Holy Spirit: oil, deposit, seal, and garment. These four biblical symbols represent one important point: the Spirit of God empowers the church so that the community of the believers can continue God’s mission for His glory.

In this coming month, I would like to continue a series of messages from Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians. Apostle Paul writes this letter to help the First Century newly developed church focus on Christ.

Let us examine the background of the city and people.

Corinth is an ancient city. It was destroyed by the Roman military in 146 BC. Julius Caesar rebuilt it as a Roman colony in 44 BC for military reasons. Corinth has a wonderful location on the Mediterranean Sea. Therefore, the city became a center of the navy, as well as commerce; it also had numerous temples, and unfortunately immoral life. Greek ideas of individualism, equality and freedom were popular themes in speeches given at the sport arenas where Paul visited many times. Because of diverse backgrounds, one could find all kinds of houses of worship. There were Jewish synagogues as well as Hellenistic shrines and Roman temples.

Paul was moved by God to plant a church in this city. In Acts 17- 18 we read about Paul’s second journey, when he was led to come to Corinth from Athens. There he met a young Jewish couple, Priscilla and Aquila. They were committed Christians from Italy. They opened their home to Paul who stayed with them for a year and half. They were trained by Paul and ministered to Paul by being hospitable to him. Later we will find how God used this couple in the ministry. In Corinth, Paul preached to the Jews and the Gentiles. Apparently, the people who became Christians were common ordinary people.

“….Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth” (26). However, it is possible to say that the fact that Paul asked everyone in the church to give generously toward his collection for the needy in Jerusalem (16:1–2) suggests that not many were from the poorest classes either.

I think it is very relevant for us today to study this ancient church and learn from them. Many theologians see similarities between this city and some metropolitan cities of today’s world.

What was the first problem Paul addressed in this early church?

1- Unity

Let me explain by giving this example. A man was lost on an island. After some years, they found him all alone on the far away island. He had built a home and two churches. People were astonished why he had built two churches. He said, “In this church, I worship; and the other I never enter!”

Somewhere in their spiritual experience, the Corinthians, who were growing in their Christian life, had become arrogant thinking they were better than others. They had all kinds of spiritual gifts (chapter 12-14). They were growing in number. However, they had a serious problem of division, lack of unity.

Although the root of the word “division” is dis- "apart" + -videre "to separate," an interesting way is to look at it as “di” which means two and “vision.” Paul is concerned about having DOUBLE VISION. I don’t know about you, but if I had double vision, I will go immediately to see an ophthalmologist. How can one go forward with double vision? Paul encourages the Corinthians to have a unified vision, a unified point of view.

David said in Psalms 133:1-2, “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, a running down on Aaron's beard, down upon the collar of his robes.”

I love this verse. In unity, there is blessing from God. King David says when we are united, it is like the “precious oil poured on the head.” That is the symbolism of God’s Spirit anointing us. Please remember that in Acts 2 when the Holy Spirit came like burning fire on the disciples, they were gathered together, united in prayer. Holy Spirit comes on a united church in prayer. I am stressing on this point over and over, because I see it as a necessary condition and not an option. Paul adds, “And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” (Col. 3:14)

We will continue in English.