A new examination of a classic Christian text begins with the Greek text of the Corinthians and outlines the most important theological, ethical, and socio-historical issues surrounding this seminal book.

The models of church government discussed are the Plural Elder-led Congregational model, the Single Elder-led Congregational model, the Democratic Congregational model, the Episcopal model, and the Presbyterian model.

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ... This verse-by-verse commentary takes us from the early church in Acts through Paul’s letters, helping us understand more deeply our salvation, God’s call to relationship, and why grace is the cornerstone of our life in Christ. In the book of Acts, Luke portrays the tensions, persecutions, and hopes of the early church. This detailed commentary digs deep into the zeal and joy of Christ’s earliest followers and what these men and women teach us about community in Christ. Once an enemy of Christianity, Paul became a follower of Christ who helped the early church grow in obedience and love. His letters include some of the most beloved words of Scripture, as well as profound challenges to be more like Christ in our words and actions. Be inspired as you learn more about how the early church spread from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth.

Why did Paul frequently employ a diverse range of metaphors in his letters to the Corinthians? Was the choice of these metaphors a random act or a carefully crafted rhetorical strategy? Did the use of metaphors shape the worldview and behavior of the Christ-followers? In this innovative work, Kar Yong Lim draws upon Conceptual Metaphor Theory and Social Identity Theory to answer these questions. Lim illustrates that Paul employs a cluster of metaphors--namely, sibling, familial, temple, and body metaphors--as cognitive tools that are central to how humans process information, construct reality, and shape group identity. Carefully chosen, these metaphors not only add colors to Paul's rhetorical strategy but also serve as a powerful tool of communication in shaping the thinking, governing the behavior, and constructing the social identity of the Corinthian Christ-followers.

The NIV Application Commentary helps you communicate and apply biblical text effectively in today's context. To bring the ancient messages of the Bible into today's world, each passage is treated in three sections: Original Meaning. Concise exegesis to help readers understand the original meaning of the biblical text in its historical, literary, and cultural context. Bridging Contexts. A bridge between the world of the Bible and the world of today, built by discerning what is timeless in the timely pages of the Bible. Contemporary Significance. This section identifies comparable situations to those faced in the Bible and explores relevant application of the biblical messages. The author alerts the readers of problems they may encounter when seeking to apply the passage and helps them think through the issues involved. This unique, award-winning commentary is the ideal resource for today's preachers, teachers, and serious students of the Bible, giving them the tools, ideas, and insights they need to communicate God's Word with the same powerful impact it had when it was first written.

This book explores the Christian religious experience of the pneuma given in 1 Corinthians 12 and 14. The experience Paul mentions in these texts, as well as the mention of "spirits" in three different places, suggest that Paul was actually writing about communicating with the spirit world.

This book advances the interpretation of 1 Corinthians by exploring the ways the apostle Paul quoted or “echoed” Jewish scriptures more indirectly in his letter. Identification of allusions are brought to the fore, as are questions of the texture of Paul’s theology and his understanding of scripture. Important topics in 1 Corinthians addressed here include Paul’s use of the Law, monotheism, Christology, wisdom and mystery language, punishment of the incestuous man, baptism for the dead, eschatology, and resurrection.

This volume reviews and critiques the over forty different interpretations of 1 Cor 15: 29, then examines the verse anew in terms of its literary, historical, and theological contexts within the writings of Paul.