Doug
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I have concluded that 1 Corinthians is addressed to both the Jewish and Gentile believers. The distinction between Jew and Gentile was upheld in the early stages of Christandom. This distinction was gradually replaced by the doctrine of the unity found in the Body of Christ.
And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
2Peter 3:15-16
Here above in 2 Peter is confirmation that Paul was addressing the little flock of Jews to some degree in all his epistles. Peter wrote his letters to the scattered tribes of Israel; so it is evident that at times Paul was addressing the Jewish believer. In all of Paul's epistles he was addressing the grace believers and the little flock(Jewish believers: the remnant) to instruct them that they are one body and foster unity and fellowship.
In Ephesians 3:6 the two groups are of the SAME BODY;
3:6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
Other scripture along these lines;
And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: Ephesians 2:16
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corin 5:17
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. Gal 6:15
Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. Colossians 3:11
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: Ephesians 4:13
10:17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. 1 Corinthians 10:17
It is my opinion that Paul is writing to the Church of God, which at that time, was comprised primarily of Jewish believers who believed on the name of Jesus and anticipated the restoration of the kingdom of Israel. The Church of God also was comprised of Gentile proselytes who trusted in Christ. Finally, it was comprised of Gentiles who believed Paul's gospel and trusted in the substitutionary death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for eternal life.
In the passage below it can be substantiated that Paul was addressing two groups consisting of, I believe, Jewish and Gentile believers. Note his use of the phrase their's and our's. It would follow then that the church of God would consist of this mix of believers.
1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their's and our's: 1 Corinthians 1:2
In the verse below it can be affirmed that the church of God, at that time, could not be the Body of Christ, since Paul had not yet been converted.
15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 1 Corinthians 15:9
In the verses below it can be seen that Paul could well be talking to Jews. The passover and the feast are Jewish references.
5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 1 Corinthians 5:7-8
I am of the opion that the verses below are addressing the Jews. Paul is stating that the unrighteous will not inherit the physical,earthly, kingdom promised to Israel.
6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Below, all our fathers is referring to historical Israel.
10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 1 Corinthians 10:1
Below, this verse is differentiating between Jew and Gentile. It would appear Paul is talking to the Jews.
10:20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. 1 Corinthians 10:20
In conclusion 1 Corinthians was written to ammend the divisions that were occuring in the church of God brought about by the contrasts between the believers. Paul's aim was to unify the believers, to be of one mind. It may be helpful to consider that some difficult passages may be better understood if we consider to whom the passage applies.
And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
2Peter 3:15-16
Here above in 2 Peter is confirmation that Paul was addressing the little flock of Jews to some degree in all his epistles. Peter wrote his letters to the scattered tribes of Israel; so it is evident that at times Paul was addressing the Jewish believer. In all of Paul's epistles he was addressing the grace believers and the little flock(Jewish believers: the remnant) to instruct them that they are one body and foster unity and fellowship.
In Ephesians 3:6 the two groups are of the SAME BODY;
3:6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
Other scripture along these lines;
And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: Ephesians 2:16
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corin 5:17
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. Gal 6:15
Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. Colossians 3:11
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: Ephesians 4:13
10:17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. 1 Corinthians 10:17
It is my opinion that Paul is writing to the Church of God, which at that time, was comprised primarily of Jewish believers who believed on the name of Jesus and anticipated the restoration of the kingdom of Israel. The Church of God also was comprised of Gentile proselytes who trusted in Christ. Finally, it was comprised of Gentiles who believed Paul's gospel and trusted in the substitutionary death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for eternal life.
In the passage below it can be substantiated that Paul was addressing two groups consisting of, I believe, Jewish and Gentile believers. Note his use of the phrase their's and our's. It would follow then that the church of God would consist of this mix of believers.
1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their's and our's: 1 Corinthians 1:2
In the verse below it can be affirmed that the church of God, at that time, could not be the Body of Christ, since Paul had not yet been converted.
15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 1 Corinthians 15:9
In the verses below it can be seen that Paul could well be talking to Jews. The passover and the feast are Jewish references.
5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 1 Corinthians 5:7-8
I am of the opion that the verses below are addressing the Jews. Paul is stating that the unrighteous will not inherit the physical,earthly, kingdom promised to Israel.
6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Below, all our fathers is referring to historical Israel.
10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 1 Corinthians 10:1
Below, this verse is differentiating between Jew and Gentile. It would appear Paul is talking to the Jews.
10:20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. 1 Corinthians 10:20
In conclusion 1 Corinthians was written to ammend the divisions that were occuring in the church of God brought about by the contrasts between the believers. Paul's aim was to unify the believers, to be of one mind. It may be helpful to consider that some difficult passages may be better understood if we consider to whom the passage applies.
