NOTES ON I CORINTHIANS

I Cor. 1:24 see John 1 and Proverbs 8

I Cor. 1:23 stumbling block = skandalon, and folly = moria, from which we get the respective words 

scandal and moron.

1 Cor. 1:25 or "foolish and weak things used by God"

I Cor. 2:4-6 a reference to the Trinity

1 Cor. 3:10-15 This reminds me of the story of the Three Little Pigs

1 Cor. 6:4 may be question, as in RSV, or a statement as in NIV (Therefore, if you have disputes about 

such matters, appoint as judges even men of little account in the church).

1 Cor. 7 Gary Friesen uses this chapter to discover the general principles on what a wise decision is.

I Cor. 7:2-5 Paul takes the rule cited in I Thessalonians 4:4-6 but elaborates and reinterprets it.

I Cor. 7:12-16  The question is phrased in such a way that a negative reply could be expected. 

However, it is best to take it in positive sense reverting back to v. 14.

1 Cor. 7:40 One's own happiness can be taken into account when making a non-moral decision. You 

don't have to entirely mistrust your own desires when trying discover the will of God for your life. 

(Friesen)

1 Cor. 8 Meat was very expensive in these times in Roman world. The most likely time to partake 

would be (a) at a meal in honor of a god (often a scene of debauchery according to ancient accounts) or 

(b) at an association or trade meeting hosted by a wealthy donor. The most likely location for such a 

gathering would be in the vicinity of a pagan temple (the equivalent of our modern restaurants. (Ben 

Witherington)

I Cor. 9:4-6 Remember that Peter was a fisherman and could not easily support himself away from 

home as could the artisan Paul.

1 Cor. 9:19-23 This is possibly a parallel to Galatians 4:12.

I Cor. 10:1-13 This is a commentary based on Exodus 32:6. "To play" has various nuances such as 

grumble, fornicate, and commit adultery.

I Cor. 10:4 The two rocks that provided water to the Jews in the wilderness were both named Meribah: 

Exodus 17:7 at Rephidim and Kadesh at Numbers 20:13. This could have given rise to the idea that 

they were the same rock. Pseudo-Philo's Biblical Antiquities (1st cent AD) thus talks about a moving 

well in the wilderness. Paul combines this with Psalm 105:41 (“He opened the rock, and water gushed 

out; it went through the desert like a river.”) in which “it” may refer to the rock rather than the water.

Also, Numbers 21:17-18 may be read as an itinerary of the rock rather than the people, and Psalm 

118:22 identifies the Messiah as a rock.

I Cor. 10:16 The root words for communion and eucharist are in this verse.

1 Cor. 11:2 The NAS translation implies that others should cut off her hair.

I Cor. 11:5-6  Wendy Alsup (CT, Sept 2017, pp 62-63) couples this passage with Deuteronomy 21:12 

(the only other Bible passage about shaving hair) and the Roman custom of shaving the heads of slaves 

and convicted adulteresses as well as the sacred prostitutes not using a covering for the head. 

She concludes that an uncovered head for a woman indicated that she was not under the protection of 

any man and therefore vulnerable to sexual abuse by others.

I Cor. 12-14 Our pastor proposed that tongue = gibberish, while tongues = actual languages or a 

spiritual gift. However, that doesn't fit in with 14:13,26-27.

I Cor. 12:3-4 the Trinity.

1 Cor. 12:4-6 The Spirit gives gifts, Christ gives ministries, God gives power.

1 Cor. 12:23 May refer to such as internal organs covered with skin, ears that are decorated, feet that 

are clothed, etc.

I Cor. 13:1-3 All statements are obviously hyperbole, including the presence of angelic languages.

I Cor. 13:4 In Greek, these are verbs, not a state of being. Love is an action.

I Cor. 14:4 Elsewhere in the Bible this is a negative statement.

I Cor. 14:20 is somewhat similar to “be wise as serpents, etc.” in Matthew 10:16.

I Cor. 14:11 Tower of Babel

I Cor. 14:27 This command assumes that the use of tongues can be controlled. This fits recent 

sociological studies on tongue speakers which show that there are trigger words and predictable times 

in a service where glossolalia occurs.

1 Cor. 13 Love is seen by its absence (v. 1-3), its presence (v. 4-7), and comparisons (v. 8-13).

1 Cor. 13:1 May refer to 1 Cor. 2:1 or to glossolalia.

1 Cor. 13:8 The Greek suggests tongues will stop by themselves whereas knowledge and prophecy 

will be stopped by something (replacing them).

I Cor. 14:20 See 1 Thessalonians 5:19-20. Also, "be wise as serpents, innocent as doves."

I Cor. 14:21 See Isaiah 28:11.

I Cor. 14:33b-36 Some feel it is an interpolation by a later author, but the passage does not read 

smoothly in its absence.

1 Cor. 14:34 "As the law says" But this is not taught anywhere in the OT. Perhaps it refers to 

rabbinical teachings or local regulations.

Kaiser treats v. 36 as a disclaimer to this probable rabbinical teaching in 34-35 ("you" is in masculine). 

He also mentions the possibility that these two verses are actually a quote from the Corinthians' own 

letter without the usual "now concerning" preface (as is true of 1 Corinthians 6:12 and 1 Corinthians 

10:23).

I Cor. 15:3-4 The verb tenses used by Paul distinguish between the permanent nature of the 

resurrection vs. the temporary nature of appearances and death.

Cor. 15:29 Whatever the specific meaning of these verses, it is certain that Christian groups made 

proper burial arrangements for their members similar to the burial societies in Roman world.

I Cor. 15:32 The theater in Ephesus was refitted in Roman times for combat between men and beasts, 

and so it could possibly be a literal statement.

1 Cor. 15:53 Based on this sort of language it has been suggested that baptism took place in the nude 

with white clothes being put on afterward.

I Cor. 16:2 Sunday was actually not associated with a Sabbath day of rest until the time of the English 

Pilgrims.