I Corinthians 16:13-24

Depending on your translation, verse 22b will say either “Maranatha” or “O Lord, come” or “Our Lord, come.” I had noted two days ago that many commentators felt that Paul was expecting Jesus’ imminent return. Now he closes with this greeting. My Study Bible noted Paul’s expectation in its comment on this verse.

I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence, for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. (vv. 17-18a) It’s not really a comment on this verse, but something of a reality for the present moment. Paul was “refreshed” to have these three visitors. During our current pandemic, I suspect that there are many from our congregation who might also be “refreshed” by a phone call from someone in the church. Our Vestry and Staff are already making these calls, ideally to everyone in our congregation, but it would probably also be a blessing to anyone to also get a note from someone else. And, visits are not prohibited! Make a phone call – invite someone over or invite yourself over to their place; take some cookies; keep your distance; enjoy your time together! Just a thought…!

Slava Bohu!

I Corinthians 16:1-12

…so that you may help me on my journey, wherever I go… (v. 6b) and Help him on his way in peace… (v. 11b) These statements seem unusual for Paul to write. Typically he is telling his listeners that he is self-sufficient, that he is not a burden to the church, that he works alongside them. But now he is asking for their support for himself and for Timothy. Maybe it was earlier in his ministry that he was being more self-sufficient and he has found out over time that he is more useful to the Lord when he is preaching than when he is tent-making. Just wondering…

Years ago I was Assistant Treasurer for the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington when Bishop Sauls appointed me to a group that he called the Mission Funding Task Force. Our objective was to evaluate how the local congregations should fund the Diocese. We gathered data and worked through our findings and wrote it up. I don’t need to go into details about our work or our findings, but there was one thing that I learned during my time on that Task Force. There were two Episcopal priests on that committee and three or four other lay Episcopalians. As we looked for guidance from “outside”, essentially where to begin before we started looking at the data, different people (especially one of the priests) did their research and reported back. As I listened, no one talked about the “collection for the saints” (v. 1 in today’s reading). Paul talks about it in his Thessalonian letters and his Corinthian letters and Luke writes about it in Acts. When I brought up this “collection” as a model for the parishes supporting the Diocese, no one knew what I was talking about, not even the priests! I daresay that the priests that we have known in the Anglican Church would have been right there with me, quickly accessing chapter and verse for inclusion in our report. Bottom line: where our Anglican clergy are trained is important – Asbury, Pittsburgh, Nashotah House – when our Anglican priests are trained they come away Bible-literate. And as my wife is prone to say, “And that’s a good thing!”

Slava Bohu!

I Corinthians 15:50-58

Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep… (v. 51a) Many commentators have written that Paul was expecting Jesus’ return to come in the near future, but clearly that didn’t happen. But I agree with the commentators. I think this verse is one of the strongest that he makes in support of that expectation.

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. (v. 56) It’s not immediately clear what Paul is saying in this verse. It helps to reverse the two statements connected by the conjunction “and”. It also helps to “invert” each statement. Paul has done this very thing for us when he wrote to the Romans. Here are two verses that re-state verse 56 above. For by works of the Law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the Law comes knowledge of sin. (Romans 3:20) And For the wages of sin is death… (Romans 6:23a) I think these two verses together clarify verse 56.

A good closing thought: Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (v. 58)

Slava Bohu!

I Corinthians 15:35-49

What a delightful passage to read! Paul makes so many comparisons, mostly one-to-one but also men-beasts-birds-fish and sun-moon-stars. But what I really love are his pairings: perishable-imperishable; dishonor-honor; weakness-power; natural-spiritual; soul-spirit; earthly-heavenly. Very well written, St. Paul!!

You fool! (v. 36a) Paul is pretty hard on the Corinthians. I thought they had a reasonable question – what will we be like when we are raised from the dead? I am reminded of Paul’s earlier chastisement of the Galatians: O foolish Galatians…! (Galatians 3:1) But to the current point… I wonder how we will know people that we have known in our lifetime. For example, there are thousands of people that I have met in my lifetime, some of whom I haven’t seen for 30, 40, 50, 60 years. I wouldn’t even recognize them today. But if I see them in Heaven, I believe that I would know them – from when I knew them, back whenever! That is, even though my Army buddies had changed over the 50 years since I knew them when they were young, I believe that I would still see them as they were back then and they would see me as I was back then. At any rate, that’s what I think! Blessings, y’all!

Slava Bohu!

I Corinthians 15:20-34

I will venture where I don’t belong, theology over my head! …what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf? (v. 29) “…baptized on behalf of the dead…” What’s this all about? My Study Bible says that the jury is still out among Bible scholars, that we’ll never know in our lifetime. I am not a scholar of world religions, but I understand that the Mormons regularly have themselves baptized on behalf of the dead. I presume they draw their theology and practice from this verse. Evidently Joseph Smith in 1840 read from I Corinthians 15 at a funeral service, focusing on verse 29 (https://mormonbeliefs.org/temples-and-prophets/mormon_temples/mormon-baptism-for-the-dead/). Also, in my Roman Catholic background we prayed regularly for the souls in Purgatory – a place between Earth and Heaven where souls are suffering while they are being more completely cleansed from their sins before their entrance into Heaven. The following citation offers Biblical support for this practice: https://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/purgatory-in-the-bible/. So, what of verse 29? Here, as I have often in the past, I claim “blessed ignorance”.

So, another confusing verse… When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all. (v. 28) This verse says that the Son, Jesus, will be subjected to the Father. But doesn’t that go against our Trinitarian thinking? Are not the three persons of the Trinity co-equal and co-eternal? One online source explains it this way: “The second person of the Trinity (Jesus) is equal in nature to the Father but takes a different role by taking on human flesh, and subjects himself to the headship of the Father. The Father and the Son can be co-equal, while at the same time the Son submits to the headship of the Father; similar to the headship of the husband over the wife.” (https://biblicalworldviewacademy.org/loving-the-trinity-part-11/) Again, confusing, but we retain our belief in the three Persons of the Trinity being co-equal.

Blessings in spite of our lack of understanding! Some day we will be more fully informed!

Slava Bohu!

I Corinthians 15:1-19

And if Christ has not been raised, … we are of all people most to be pitied. (vv. 17a, 19b) For many years I was quoting this “verse”, except that it was not one verse, but the combination of two partial verses. So much for my Bible memory skills…!! But the reality of what I had been quoting (and still do) is absolutely relevant. If Jesus was not raised from the dead and we have been placing all our hope on this truth, then we are stupid. Stupid! Actually, no! Pitied by others, maybe. But stupid? NO! We are absolutely blessed in our belief that Jesus physically rose from the dead. We have joy, we have confidence, we have peace. We are not to be pitied. Others may think what they want, but we are COMPLETE in Christ and in the workings of His Holy Spirit in our lives. Live with that confidence, folks, and be blessed! GLORY!!

Slava Bohu!

I Corinthians 14:26-40

A couple of comments today… First, I was struck by a small phrase in the following verses: …let each of them keep silent in church (v. 28) and For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church. (v. 36) The two-word phrase, “in church…” Has Paul ever used that phrase thus far in any of our readings? “In church…” This is a new concept. Today’s reading begins with “When you come together…” or “When you assemble…” (v. 26), but he has not used the phrase “in church”. Previously I believe that Paul has spoken of “the church” or “the churches” and we see that today in verses 33 and 34. There Paul is referring to the larger body of believers, not to a particular assembly. But in verses 28 and 36, “in church” is when they are gathered together for worship. Interesting…

I noted a couple of days ago that the following verse was the summary verse for all of chapter 14: So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church. (v. 12) Today we have a similar verse for today’s reading as to behavior “in church”: But all things should be done decently and in order. (v. 40) This verse jumped out at me today because of the decency and order that Carol and I did NOT see on our last visit to Czechia. In fact we saw absolute rebellion – shouting and quarrelling, mostly by one man directed to another, just as a church service was beginning. We were shocked – we have known this man for many years and have had four of his children in our English Camps. But there was a major controversy in this church and the man sought to air it out as the service began. I believe it was out of respect for Carol and me being there that the man settled down and the service went on unhindered. But he clearly showed us that …all things should be done decently and in order!

Finally, some of our best friends in Carol and my early years together came from Plymouth Brethren backgrounds. These denominations are, in some sense, almost leaderless. The people come together on Sunday mornings with no agenda, no script, no designated leader. They speak or sing or read whatever comes to their mind. In so doing, they very much reflect Paul’s description of “church” at the beginning of today’s reading: When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. (v. 26) Except, however, I doubt that these gatherings exhibit “tongues” at all! I don’t think we Anglicans could live in that world. We need structure!! ?

Slava Bohu!

I Corinthians 14:13-25

Given our church’s Anglican, liturgical, non-Charismatic orientation, I find it difficult to comment about Paul’s discussions on tongues and prophecy. They are not much a part of our character, even though they are gifts intended for the whole church.

Our former church back in Northern Virginia (then Episcopal, now Anglican), however, was more Charismatic. It would typically be after Communion that tongues or prophecy would appear. If tongues, it might be spoken or sung. If spoken, the Rector would typically ask for an interpretation, which may or may not be offered. As for singing in tongues, often if someone began singing in tongues other voices would join. Then if you had 5 or 10 or more singing in tongues, it was heavenly!! No requests for interpretation there – this singing was recognized as pure worship. Prophecy was less common and often might follow a chorus of people singing in tongues. When prophecy occurred, it would just be one person speaking a “word”, often beginning with “Thus saith the Lord…”. After the person finished, the Rector may or may not respond. Frankly, prophecy was typically more strange to me than tongues, just the opposite of what Paul is saying in verse 22.

So those are some of my recollections; Carol may remember differently.

Slava Bohu!

I Corinthians 14:1-12

So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church. (v. 12) My Study Bible noted that this exhortation is the summary verse for all of chapter 14. Frankly, it’s a lesson for all Christians for all time! Every one of us should have some part in building up the body – by volunteering when needs arise, by serving on ministry teams, by simply calling one another just to stay in touch during these trying times.

Some of you may not know much about speaking in tongues, but it was a phenomenon that had a big impact in my early Christian walk. Years ago I was best man at a wedding back in my hometown. I was at the bride’s house one day when her younger brother, for whatever reason, said that I should read the book, They Speak with Other Tongues, by John Sherrill, the editor of Guideposts magazine. I was really taken by what I read – modern day miracles that began in the early 1900s in Kansas. Today speaking in tongues has grown into large Pentecostal denominations spanning the globe. We don’t see it much at St. Andrew’s, but I assure you it’s there, probably in multiple dozens of people who mostly keep it to themselves. (Maybe afraid to scare people if they let it out…!!) But, as Paul says, instead strive to excel in building up the church.

Slava Bohu!

I Corinthians 13:1-13

Chapter 13, I daresay, one of the best-known chapters in the Bible, second only to Psalm 23. It is probably quoted, in whole or in part, in more Christian weddings than any other Scripture. What could we possibly add to what Paul has already written??!!

But…, there is one item that I noticed today so I will make a comment. Tongues, prophecy, and knowledge appear in verses 1-2, reflected against not having love. Then the same three gifts appear again in verse 8, but this time with a recognition that they will all pass away. But what’s strange here is that faith is included in verse 2 (against not having love), but it does not appear in verse 8 (as passing away). That is, faith will not pass away! Faith endures!! Apparently if you have the gift of faith, yours is a gift that outlasts all the others. And I must say very humbly, when Carol and I were taking our St. Andrew’s “beginners” class back in 2008, as I told my “story” a few weeks into the course, Mike Stevens told me that I had the gift of faith. I was startled to have him tell me that and I’ve never forgotten it. He has blessed me for all time!! GLORY!!

Slava Bohu!