1 Corinthians Week 23

Day 1 

READ 

1 Corinthians 10:28-30 

²⁸ (But suppose someone tells you, “This meat was offered to an idol.” Don’t eat it, out of consideration for the conscience of the one who told you. ²⁹ It might not be a matter of conscience for you, but it is for the other person.) For why should my freedom be limited by what someone else thinks? ³⁰ If I can thank God for the food and enjoy it, why should I be condemned for eating it? 

Paul revealed that a Christian may have liberty and his conscience is not bothered by doing something. But if another person raises an issue, then the believer should take that into consideration. He then treated the problem of selfish Christians even today who do not care what others think.  

REFLECT 

Are you concerned about what others think? The topic is not about those who have been believers for a long time but are untaught, but about new believers who have not been properly taught.  

RESPOND 

The problem faced in Paul’s day was circumcision. See what he said in Galatians 5:1-3 about this. Today it can be other things that New Testament believers are thinking they need to live by Old Testament regulations. The moral law always applies, but not the Levitical regulations.  

Day 2 

READ 

1 Corinthians 10:31-33 

³¹So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. ³²Don’t give offense to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God. ³³I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved. 

This is the test for the Christ-follower. Can the act under consideration be done for the “glory of God”? Paul was concerned about not offending anyone in three different groups: Jews, Gentiles (unsaved ones) and the church of God (believers in Jesus). There are some today who think that the Church replaced Israel so for them there would be only two groups. That is not what the apostle Paul taught. Notice also the reason why Paul acted as he did. 

REFLECT 

Do you try to live for the best of others as Paul did? Paul’s reason was so they might be saved. Is that also your reason? 

RESPOND 

Visit with a friend about unsaved friends you both have. Talk and pray about how you can build a better relationship with them. They need to see your life and give you an opportunity to talk about Jesus. Have you asked to share a meal with them? 

Day 3 

READ 

1 Corinthians 11:1-3 

¹ And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ. ² I am so glad that you always keep me in your thoughts, and that you are following the teachings I passed on to you. ³ But there is one thing I want you to know: The head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. 

It must be remembered that chapter and verse divisions were not in the original manuscripts. They were added later; chapters around A.D. 1227 and verses around 1555. This is a case where 1 Corinthians 11:1 is thought better to have been at the end of chapter 10. Then 1 Corinthians 11:2 proceeds with a new topic.  

REFLECT 

Even though translators and others have inserted helpful notes into the text to make it easier for reference, the text itself is what has been inspired by God. You need not have any doubts about that. 

RESPOND 

This would be a good time with a friend to examine two passages of Scripture that are main ones about the inspiration of the Scripture. See 2 Timothy 3:16-17 and 2 Peter 1:20-21. Do you see how these chapter and verse divisions make it easier to find something? 

Day 4 

READ 

1 Corinthians 11:4-5 

⁴ A man dishonors his head if he covers his head while praying or prophesying. ⁵ But a woman dishonors her head if she prays or prophesies without a covering on her head, for this is the same as shaving her head. 

In 1 Corinthians 11:3 Paul said the head of the man is Christ and the head of the woman is the man. This meaning carries over to verses 4-5. If a man covers his head while praying or prophesying he dishonors Christ. If a woman does not cover her head while she prays or prophesies she dishonors the man. It is generally agreed that these instructions have to do with a married couple.  

REFLECT 

Have you thought of these verses in this way before? This seems to be what they are saying in this context. 

RESPOND 

Talk with a friend about how to handle Bible verses whose meaning are debated by others. This problem carries over to the next verse that has been strongly debated.  

Day 5 

READ 

1 Corinthians 11:6 

⁶ Yes, if she refuses to wear a head covering, she should cut off all her hair! But since it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut or her head shaved, she should wear a covering. 

Some believe the reference to having a shaved head had to do with what the prostitutes were like in the pagan temple in Corinth. Others take the instructions here to apply always. Some church groups teach women should wear hats; other church groups do not. There is no definition about what the hats should look like or how much they should cover. 

REFLECT 

Are you able to live at peace with believers who differ on this issue? 

RESPOND 

The apostle Paul wrote much about exercising love toward others. This is one of those matters where Christ-followers have been strongly divided. Sometimes believers express more love to unbelievers than they do to fellow believers with whom they disagree. Ephesians 4:32 can also apply here.