In this fresh and gripping exposition, David Prior writes first of all as a pastor.
His conviction is that 1 Corinthians is uniquely a tract for our times. His aim is that churches will recognise the problems and tensions inherent in being God’s people in the increasingly urban world today, and not be ignorant of the true spirituality that is the work of the Holy Spirit. He wishes for each of them as a body to grow to express the total lordship of Christ.
For Paul, he points out, Corinth as a strategic test case: if the gospel of Christ could change lives there, it could do so anywhere. He saw in the Corinthian believers the rich resources for Christian ministry and mission that are present in every local church.
Cuprins
General preface ix
Author’s preface xi
Chief abbreviations xiii
Introduction 1
1. The perfect church (1:1-9) 9
2. Cliques at Corinth (1:10–17) 17
3. Wisdom – true and false (1:18 – 2:16) 28
4. Fools for Christ’s sake (3:1 – 4:21) 43
5. Flee fornication (5:1-13; 6:9-20) 57
6. Settled out of court (6:1-8) 92
7. Marriage and singleness – two gifts from God (7:1-40) 102
8. Freedom and sensitivity to others (8:1-13) 127
9. Freedom to restrict our freedom (9:1-27) 137
10. Freedom and its dangers (10:1 – 11:1) 152
11. The Christian community at worship (11:1-34) 164
12. Concerning spiritual gifts (12:1-31) 177
13. If I do not have love . . . (13:1-13) 209
14. Prophecy and tongues (14:1-40) 219
15. Resurrection – past, present and future (15:1-58) 240
16. An international church (16:1-24) 262
Study guide 269
Despre autor
David Prior has pastored churches in Surrey, Cape Town, Oxford and London. He is the author of a number of books, including The Message of Joel, Micah and Habakkuk in The Bible Speaks Today series. He was formerly Director of the Centre for Marketplace Theology, based in the City of London.