QT 28/06/2024 Fri. 1Cor 1. 哥林多前书1章
QT 28/06/2024 Fri. 1Cor 1.
READ http://www.esvbible.org/1cor1
LISTEN
https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/esv/1cor.1
In the Corinth of Paul's time, people "advance in society" by gathering & displaying wealth, by using money to "buy friends" and business/political "connections" and by self-promotion. Some grabbed power and stroked one's own ego with impressive displays of speech and Corinthian "wisdom".
Others "progressed" by employing ridicule, by participating rigorously at all community/religious events of the numerous gods worshipped at Corinth (especially the cult of the Roman Emperor) in order to gain imperial, business and relational favours. Sexual promiscuity was prevalent too.
As "new creations" in Christ (2Cor 5:17), believers seemed "out of sync" with society. Becoming and remaining as Christians in faith and practice was extremely challenging in this kind of environment.
But first things first--The need for unity within the church in Rome was also the need for the church in Corinth.
"I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment." (1Cor 1:10)
The public testimony of Christians was compromised when the Corinthian believers were divided over who they actually followed--"Paul", "Apollos", "Cephas" or "Christ" (1Cor 1:12-14). Paul also warned them that their own perceived "wisdom" was actually foolishness (1Cor 1:18-29). Instead, they should choose true wisdom, which was righteousness, sanctification and redemption in Christ Jesus (1Cor 1:30).
REFLECTION: Are you united with your brothers and sisters at church "in the same mind and the same judgment" (1Cor 1:10), based on divine wisdom--Jesus Christ and what He stood for?
星期五 2024年6月28日 今日读经：哥林多前书1章
http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/1Co/1/
听音频哥林多前书1章
https://www.bible.com/bible/41/1cor.1.cnvs
在保罗时代的哥林多，人们以聚会和展示财富、用钱“买朋友”和生意/政治“关系”和自我推销的方式“迈进社会”。有些抓住了权势后就通过了不起的口才和哥林多的“智慧”来表现自我。
其他人以嘲弄取得“进展”、积极参与各种在哥林多社区/宗教的酬神(尤其是罗马帝皇的邪教)活动，以获取帝皇、商业和关系上的好处。不道德的性行为也很猖獗。
就因在基督里是“新造的人”(林后5:17)，信徒似乎与社会“脱节”。成为基督徒和持守自己的信仰在这样的环境下是非常具挑战性的。
不过重要的事先处理--罗马教会的内部需要同心，这也是哥林多教会的需要。
“弟兄们，我凭着我们主耶稣基督的名，劝你们大家要同心，在你们中间不要分党，只要在同一的心思、同一的意念上团结起来。”(林前1:10)
基督徒的公开见证因为哥林多的信徒为了自己跟随的人争论而妥协---他们跟随的包括“保罗”、“亚波罗”、“矶法”和“基督”(林前1:12-14)。保罗也警告他们，他们的“智慧”是愚笨的(林前1:18-29)。相反的，他们应当选择真智慧，就是公义、圣洁和在耶稣基督里的救赎(林前1:30)。
反思：你和教会的弟兄姐妹是否在“心思和意念”上团结同心(林前1:10),凭着真智慧--耶稣基督和祂所传递的一切？
