Sabbath Afternoon

Read for This Week's Study: 1 Cor. 1:17-31, Col. 1:20, 1 Pet. 2:24, Acts 13:16-47, 1 Cor. 2:1-5

Memory Text: "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" (1 Corinthians 1:18, NIV).

Cicero, a pagan Roman writer and orator, had told the Roman people to not even think about the cross, so abhorrent was it as a means of death. Although Cicero died about a half century before Jesus was born, his statement illustrates the contempt with which the Romans had held the cross.

In contrast, Paul would write: "The message of the cross . . . is the power of God" (1 Cor. 1:18, NIV). For Paul, the Cross is the instrument of reconciliation between God and man (Eph. 2:16, Col. 1:20), the supreme symbol of Jesus' humility (Phil. 2:8), and the place where our immense debt was paid (Col. 2:14).

The Cross is Paul's answer to the problems in Corinth. You don't have to go very far in 1 Corinthians to realize that he is very concerned about one major issue: divisions in the church. Paul is so perplexed that right after the greetings (1 Cor. 1:1-3) and the thanksgiving section (1 Cor. 1:4-9), this is the first topic he addresses (1 Cor. 1:10-17). This week, we will turn to the powerful message of the Cross as the answer to this problem and to other issues in Corinth.

* Study this week's lesson to prepare for Sabbath, July 11.

Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, "Corinth," pp. 243-254, in The Acts of the Apostles.

"In preaching the gospel in Corinth, the apostle followed a course different from that which had marked his labors at Athens. ... He determined to avoid elaborate arguments and discussions, and 'not to know anything' among the Corinthians 'save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.'"--Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, p. 244.

"Paul had a measure of success," but he "doubted the wisdom of building up a church from the material he found there. He considered Corinth a very questionable field of labor, and determined to leave it. ...

"As he was contemplating leaving the city for a more promising field, ... the Lord appeared to him in a vision of the night, and said, 'Be not afraid, but speak, ... for I have much people in this city.' Paul understood this to be a command to remain in Corinth, and a guarantee that the Lord would give increase to the seed sown. ... A large church was enrolled under the banner of Jesus Christ."--Ellen G. White, Sketches From the Life of Paul, pp. 106, 107.

"It is recorded that Paul labored a year and six months in Corinth. His efforts, however, were not exclusively confined to that city. ... He made Corinth his headquarters. ... Several churches were thus raised up. ... The absence of Paul from the churches of his care was partially supplied by communications weighty and powerful, which were received generally as the word of God. ... These epistles were read in the churches."--Ellen G. White, Sketches From the Life of Paul, p. 109.

Discussion Questions:Paul was convinced that he was an apostle of Jesus, and that this calling was from God. Why is it so important to know who we are and what our call is?

1. For a moment, Paul felt like giving up his missionary work in Corinth and leaving the city. What caused him to change his mind? How can this help us when we feel like giving up a missionary project? Might there be, though, a time we should?
2. The church members in Corinth were significantly influenced by the surrounding culture. This is also a stark reality among us today. How can we be in the world (John 17:11, 15) and not be influenced by what "is in the world--the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life" (1 John 2:16, ESV)? What are other ways that our church is being influenced negatively by the surrounding culture?

Paul's Letters to the Corinthians 💌

Read 1 Corinthians 1:11-13; 1 Corinthians 4:14; 1 Corinthians 5:11; 1 Corinthians 7:1; and 1 Corinthians 14:37, 40. Also read 2 Corinthians 1:12, 2 Corinthians 2:9, 2 Corinthians 11:3, and 2 Corinthians 13:10. How do these passages help us understand why Paul wrote letters to the Corinthians?

Paul was in Ephesus when he wrote 1 Corinthians (1 Cor. 16:5-9). The family of Chloe went to him with the report that things were not going too well back in Corinth (1 Cor. 1:11). In 1 Corinthians 1-6, Paul addresses the issues brought by Chloe's household. The problems include factionalism, sexual immorality, lawsuits, and prostitution. Paul also received a letter with specific questions (1 Cor. 7:1). His response fills the space from chapter 7 onward. The questions were related to marriage, divorce, celibacy, food sacrificed to idols, conduct in worship, the use of spiritual gifts, and incorrect understanding of the resurrection. The church of Corinth was very problematic and immature. Perhaps your local church has many problems. Yet the church at Corinth was probably worse.

Paul's first letter to the Corinthians is very relevant to our time, as well. After all, don't we, to some degree, face some of the same issues in many of our churches today? This letter has much to say to us. It is "one of the richest, most instructive, most powerful of all his letters."--Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, p. 301.

Paul may have written three or four letters to the Corinthians (compare with 2 Cor. 10:9). He wrote an initial letter before 1 Corinthians (1 Cor. 5:9), but it is lost. Before 2 Corinthians, he wrote a letter referred to by scholars as the "severe letter" (2 Cor. 2:3-4, 9; 2 Cor. 7:8), but it is lost, too. Some think that he is referring to 1 Corinthians, or that this letter is partly preserved in 2 Corinthians.

From 2 Corinthians, we realize that the members of Corinth were influenced by the surrounding culture. They valued such things as competition, power, and wealth, all things that can challenge our church today, as well. Conversely, Paul sought to create a Christ-focused culture, a way of seeing the world through the lens of the gospel. How crucial that we, too, see our present world through the lens of the gospel as well.

Read 2 Corinthians 2:4 again. What does this verse that tell you us about how much Paul cared for these people? How much love is in your heart for others? In contrast, how cold might our hearts be toward others?

"Many in This City"🏙️

Read Acts 18:4-8. What were the results of Paul's preaching?

The work of Paul among the Jews at Corinth was not as fruitful as he wanted it to be. He had to face some hostility and hatred. The Bible says that "they opposed him and blasphemed" (Acts 18:6, NKJV). When the object of the Greek verb blasphēmeō ("to blaspheme") is a human being, it means "to revile" or "to defame." In other words, they intended to stain Paul's reputation and to prevent him from succeeding in his missionary endeavors.

Fortunately, the work of Paul in the Corinthian synagogue was not in vain. After all, God was in charge of His mission. He promised, "[My word] shall not return to me empty" (Isa. 55:11, ESV). Some Jews did not expect that Crispus, the synagogue's ruler, and his entire household would accept Jesus as the Messiah and get baptized (Acts 18:8). In addition, "many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized" (Acts 18:8, NKJV), very likely also because of the influence of Crispus.

Read Acts 18:9-10. What can we infer about Paul's feelings in the face of his challenges in Corinth? How did God encourage his servant?

Right after Paul left the synagogue, he had an experience that brought him encouragement. Christ Himself appeared to him by night in a vision, with words that recall Isaiah 41:10: "Fear not, for I am with you" (NKJV). Indeed, Paul admits he was in Corinth "in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling" (1 Cor. 2:3, NKJV). He had to depart from Berea to Athens because of staunch opposition. He seems to have thought he would have to leave Corinth for the same reason: great opposition. But that would not happen this time. Jesus said to him: " 'I have many people in this city' " (Acts 18:10, NKJV). And Paul was His instrument to take the news of salvation to them.

Read Isaiah 41:10. What wonderful promises does God give you are given to us in this verse short passage? What hope do they give you right now in your life? How should they affect your daily life?

The City of Corinth🌆

Read Acts 18:1-3, 1 Corinthians 5:9-11, and 1 Corinthians 8:4. What can we infer about Corinth's economy, morality, and religious life?

Corinth was an important center of the ancient world, renowned for its prosperous commerce. The city was destroyed by Rome in 146 B.C. and rebuilt by Julius Caesar as a Roman colony in 44 B.C. It is this Roman Corinth that appears in the New Testament. In the time of Paul, Corinth was one of Athens' rivals and had even surpassed it in various aspects. Corinth had two important harbors that made the exchange of merchandise and the development of its commerce easy.

Indeed, Paul chose Corinth because of its importance and advantaged geographic location. "An opportunity was thus presented for the spread of the gospel. Once established at Corinth, it would be readily communicated to all parts of the world."--Ellen G. White, Sketches From the Life of Paul, p. 99.

In addition, the flourishing commerce of Corinth would make it easier for Paul to support himself by producing and selling tents while proclaiming the gospel in that city (Acts 18:2-3). Obviously, missionary work in a large and wealthy city is not free of challenges. Corinth was marked by a blatant religious pluralism (1 Cor. 8:5), evident by its numerous shrines built in homage to such deities as Apollo, Athena, and Aphrodite, among others, and even the worship of such Egyptian gods as Serapis and Isis.

In addition to this religious confusion, Corinth was also known for its sexual licentiousness. Strabo, a Greek geographer and historian, mentions that there were 1,000 sacred prostitutes devoted to the worship of Aphrodite in her temple at Corinth. Although many scholars view this with suspicion and connect this claim to Athenian propaganda against Corinth, ritual prostitution was common in the ancient world. Sexual immorality was a problem in Corinth, as elsewhere. Idolatry and immorality were part of daily life, and this sad reality explains much of the content of 1 and 2 Corinthians.

In his missionary activity in Corinth, Paul faced the challenge of an idolatrous and licentious society. What challenges in today's culture can make it hard to preach the gospel? How can we overcome them? How much difference, if any, is there between Corinth and our cities today?

From Athens to Corinth

Read Acts 17:16-34. Where was Paul before going to Corinth, and what did he do there?

Acts 17:16-34 describes Paul's preaching to the Athenians before his going to Corinth. Apparently, he did not plan to visit Athens at that moment, but went there with the help of some Friends because of the opposition that he faced at Berea (Acts 17:13-15).

Those who went with Paul to Athens returned to Berea with a command for Timothy and Silas to join him as soon as possible (Acts 17:15). Acts 17:16-34 is about what Paul does while waiting for them. He speaks about Jesus in the synagogue, the marketplace, and the Areopagus. He really couldn't stop talking about Jesus and took advantage of every opportunity to do it.

Read Acts 18:1-11. What does Paul do when he arrives at Corinth and during his whole stay in that city?

Paul went to Corinth during his second missionary journey. Luke informs us that Paul stayed there a year and a half.

As usual, Paul begins his missionary activity at the synagogue (Acts 18:4-6). Acts 17:1-2 mentions that this was his custom. He followed the "to-the-Jew-first" strategy (Rom. 1:16, Acts 13:46), just as Jesus had commanded His apostles (see Acts 1:8).

When finally Silas and Timothy joined him in Corinth, he "was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus" (Acts 18:5, ESV). During his stay in Corinth, he was busy "teaching the word of God" (Acts 18:11, NKJV). It was in this context, too, that he expressed those famous words that he was "determined not to know anything among" the Corinthians "except Jesus Christ and Him crucified" (1 Cor. 2:2, NKJV).

What can we learn from Paul's missionary activity in Athens and Corinth? What makes sharing the gospel so challenging in our cities and communities today? How can we share the gospel with success in these difficult places? What strategies can we learn from Paul's missionary activity about how to best do that? about using every opportunity to preach the gospel? Think about your opportunities for sharing Jesus with others and how to use them.

Paul, a God-called Apostle of Jesus

Paul begins his letter to the Corinthians by identifying himself as an apostle of Jesus, called "through the will of God" (1 Cor. 1:1; compare with 2 Cor. 1:1). His conviction regarding who he is in relation to Jesus is so firm that, with a few exceptions, this is the way he opens all his letters.

Read 1 Corinthians 1:1 and Romans 1:1. What two elements of Paul's ministry are emphasized in these passages? (See also Gal. 1:1.)

Paul speaks of his calling and apostleship as fulfilling God's will. He is convinced that his calling is not from men, but from God (Gal. 1:1). Like Jeremiah, Paul was called by God from his mother's womb like Jeremiah (Jer. 1:5) as an act of God's grace (Gal. 1:15), and it happened so that He would proclaim the gospel of Christ among the Gentiles.

In 1 Corinthians 15:8, Paul includes himself among those to whom Christ appeared after the resurrection 1 Cor. 15:5-7). A few verses later, he implies that his calling to be an apostle resulted from that encounter with Jesus (1 Cor. 15:9-11).

The title "apostle of Jesus" encompasses a series of concepts. Primarily, it conveys the idea of one whom Jesus sends. Nevertheless, Paul also uses this phrase to identify himself as a servant of Christ (Rom. 1:1, Titus 1:1, Gal. 1:10), as well as a preacher and a teacher (1 Tim. 2:7, 2 Tim. 1:11). Whether he preaches or teaches, Christ is always in evidence. In short, Paul is an apostle of Jesus.

Jesus is not only the center of Paul's apostleship. He is the center of Paul's life. Paul's thoughts and feelings were filled with the presence of Jesus. Evidence of this fact is that he refers to Jesus repeatedly in the opening and the thanksgiving section of 1 Corinthians (nine times in nine verses). Paul loved Jesus so much that he couldn't stop thinking and talking about Him. He wanted to share Jesus with those under his care so that their lives would be Christ-centered, too. While he was called to be an apostle, they were called to be faithful followers of Jesus in whatever capacity to which the Lord called them.

Paul was called to be an apostle. What is your calling, and how do you know that it is your calling? If you don't think you have one, why not go right now to God and ask Him to show you the work He chose you to do?

Sabbath AfternoonRead for This Week’s Study: 1 Cor. 1:1, Gal. 1:1, Acts17:16–34, 1 Cor. 5:9–11, Acts 18:4–10, 2 Cor. 2:4.Memory Text: “One night the Lord said to Paul in a vision, ‘Donot be afraid, but speak and do not be silent; for I am with you,and no one will lay a hand on you to harm you, for there are manyin this city who are my people’ ” (Acts 18:9, 10, NRSV).

The great English missionary William Carey used to say that hecobbled shoes to pay his expenses, but his real business waswinning souls.Likewise, Paul worked as a tentmaker for a living (Acts 18:1–3), buthis real business was, of course, winning people to Christ.This week, we will get a glimpse of Paul’s ministry to the church inthe city of Corinth. The church, as we will see, was full of problems,many that were not unlike what our churches face today, almost twothousand years later. Indeed, anyone who has been in Christianity forany length of time, or who has been involved in church work, could askthe question: Have you ever found a Christian group that doesn’t haveany problems? The answer is, of course, obvious.Paul faces challenges in Corinth but does so with the message ofthe Cross (1 Cor. 2:2). Faithfulness to this message is also the way toface the challenges that we have today. As we will see this week andthroughout this quarter, the message of 1 and 2 Corinthians applies toour lives, as well.* Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, July 4.

The Essence of Christian Life and Witness - an introduction

Writing letters is an age-old activity that has not become obsolete. We’ve merely changed the way that letters are written.

Yes, social media superseded paper. However, in their essence,

emails and other forms of electronic letters exert basically the same function: they

connect people by exchanging information, feelings, and thoughts.

Why do people write letters? A possible answer is that they have something to

say. So it was with the apostle Paul. Although he had so much to say, he did not

always have the chance to be face-to-face with those whom he wanted to talk.

So, he wrote letters instead—such as to the Corinthians, which contain some of

Scripture’s most profound truths. Among them are: “I decided to know nothing

among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2, ESV), and “For you

know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake

he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich” (2 Cor. 8:9, ESV).

And what about the stunning hymn to love in 1 Corinthians 13?

On the other hand, whoever reads Paul’s letters to the Corinthians will inevitably get perplexed, not only because of some substantial problems within the

church—such as sexual immorality—but also because of the nitpicking that results

from cheap factionalism among the members. If you think your church has challenging issues, get ready to see the avalanche of quarrelings Paul had to deal with

in Corinth. Perhaps your local church’s problems are not as significant as you imagine! Very likely, you will see that things in Corinth had been much worse.

As disturbing as the problems in Corinth had been, the letters to the Corinthians

capture our attention, not because of the problems but because of the remarkable

way Paul faces them. By exhorting the church members to evaluate themselves,

their behavior, and the surrounding culture in the light of the gospel of Jesus

Christ, he exalts the message of the Cross. To use the

words of Paul himself elsewhere, any standard lower

than the gospel message is to be seen as “anathema”

(Gal. 1:8, 9, ASV).

In Paul’s time, Corinth was famous for its wealth

and strong commerce, all thanks to its port, architecture, shipbuilding, and ceramics. The city was an

important financial center. Nevertheless, it was also

known for its sexual immorality, religious cacophony, and shrines dedicated to various gods. Indeed,

daily life in Corinth was marked by flagrant idolatry. This historical-cultural

background helps us understand Paul’s main concerns regarding the Christians in

that city and, consequently, his exhortations to them.

This quarter, we will survey Paul’s letters to the Corinthians. In these two

remarkable New Testament books, the apostle presents the gospel message as the

essence of Christian life and witness, the lens through which everything else is

to be judged. No matter the challenges each of us individually or the church in

general faces in our journey to heaven—the answer to the most puzzling issues

in our work for Christ is the same as for the Corinthians: “Jesus Christ and Him

crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2, NKJV).

Jesus is coming soon. This is a time for more unity in Christ, for an openness to

the Holy Spirit as never before, for diligent use of the spiritual gifts, and for a more

profound experience with our resurrected Lord. It is time for a genuine Christian

ministry, engagement in stewardship and mission, spiritual warfare against false

teachings, and growth in grace, love, and fellowship. This is a time to hold fast

and be faithful to the message of the Cross, and Paul’s letters to the Corinthians

teach us to do just that.

Adenilton Tavares de Aguiar, PhD, is a professor of Biblical interpretation

at the Theological Seminary at the Adventist University Center of São Paulo in Brazil.

Listen to Ellen G. White’s vision of heaven found in Early Writings, pp. 14-20. What is most striking to you in this description?

As God has shown me the travels of the Advent [14] people to the Holy City and the rich reward to be given those who wait the return of their Lord from the wedding, it may be my duty to give you a short sketch of what God has revealed to me. The dear saints have many trials to pass through. But our light afflictions, which are but for a moment, will work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory—while we look not at the things which are seen, for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. I have tried to bring back a good report and a few grapes from the heavenly Canaan, for which many would stone me, as the congregation bade stone Caleb and Joshua for their report. (Numbers 14:10.) But I declare to you, my brethren and sisters in the Lord, it is a goodly land, and we are well able to go up and possess it.

While I was praying at the family altar, the Holy Ghost fell upon me, and I seemed to be rising higher and higher, far above the dark world. I turned to look for the Advent people in the world, but could not find them, when a voice said to me, "Look again, and look a little higher." At this I raised my eyes, and saw a straight and narrow path, cast up high above the world. On this path the Advent people were traveling to the city, which was at the farther end of the path. They had a bright light set up behind them at the beginning of the path, which an angel told me was the midnight cry. This light shone all along the path and gave light for their feet so that they might not stumble. If they kept their eyes fixed on Jesus, who was just before them, leading them to the city, they were safe. But soon some grew weary, and said the city was a great way off, and they expected to have entered it before. Then Jesus would encourage [15] them by raising His glorious right arm, and from His arm came a light which waved over the Advent band, and they shouted, "Alleluia!" Others rashly denied the light behind them and said that it was not God that had led them out so far. The light behind them went out, leaving their feet in perfect darkness, and they stumbled and lost sight of the mark and of Jesus, and fell off the path down into the dark and wicked world below. Soon we [See Appendix.] heard the voice of God like many waters, which gave us the day and hour of Jesus' coming. The living saints, 144,000 in number, knew and understood the voice, while the wicked thought it was thunder and an earthquake. When God spoke the time, He poured upon us the Holy Ghost, and our faces began to light up and shine with the glory of God, as Moses' did when he came down from Mount Sinai.

The 144,000 were all sealed and perfectly united. On their foreheads was written, God, New Jerusalem, and a glorious star containing Jesus' new name. At our happy, holy state the wicked were enraged, and would rush violently up to lay hands on us to thrust us into prison, when we would stretch forth the hand in the name of the Lord, and they would fall helpless to the ground. Then it was that the synagogue of Satan knew that God had loved us who could wash one another's feet and salute the brethren with a holy kiss, and they worshiped at our feet.

Continue reading from this link: https://www.ellenwhite.info/books/ellen-g-white-book-early-writings-ew-02.htm