Problem: Why does Paul quote Isaiah 28:11 in this passage? Did he rip this passage from its original context?
24
Oct
2021
23
Oct
2021
1 Cor 13:13 – Why does Paul place love above faith and hope?
Problem: The Bible places a high value on both faith and hope. The author of Hebrews explains that it is impossible to please God without faith (Heb. 11:6). Paul writes, “Whatever is not from faith is sin” (Rom. 14:23). However, Paul states that love is greater than faith and hope. Why does he say this?
22
Oct
2021
1 Cor 13:8-13 – Are prophecy and tongues temporary?
Problem: Cessationist Richard Gaffin writes, “A basic point of 1 Corinthians 13:8–13 is the temporary, that is, less than eschatological significance of prophetic gifts like prophecy and tongues.”[1] Does this passage teach that the charismatic gifts are limited to the first century church?
21
Oct
2021
1 Cor. 13:7 – Should Christians believe all things?
Problem: Does this passage teach that Christians should be gullible?
20
Oct
2021
1 Cor 12:31 – If coveting is wrong, why does Paul encourage coveting the best gifts?
Problem: One of the Ten Commandments says, “You shall not covet” (Ex. 20:17). Yet Paul encourages the Christian church at Corinth to “covet earnestly the best gifts” (1 Cor. 12:31, kjv).
19
Oct
2021
1 Cor. 12:28 – Are the spiritual gifts equal or not?
Problem: Paul argues that the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you” (1 Cor. 12:21). Earlier, he argues that “the body is not one member, but many” (1 Cor. 12:14). However, in this passage, Paul places the gifts in some sort of prioritized order (e.g. first, second, third, etc.). Are the spiritual gifts equal or not?
18
Oct
2021
1 Cor 12:3 – Is it impossible for a false teacher to say the phrase “Jesus is Lord”?
Problem: Paul writes, “No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor. 12:3). However, false teachers will often claim to speak for God, using the phrase “Jesus is Lord.” For instance, consider the documentary Marjoe. In this film, a non-Christian swindler steals thousands of dollars from Christian people, claiming to speak for God. In addition to modern examples, even within the NT, we see non-Christians speaking God’s truth (Acts 16:16-17; c.f. Mt. 7:21; Jas. 2:19). How does this all square with this passage?
17
Oct
2021
1 Cor 11:29 – Is Paul referring to transubstantiation in this passage? Or something else?
Problem: Paul writes, “He who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly” (1 Cor. 11:29). Roman Catholic theologians hold that Paul is referring to transubstantiation—where the bread and wine of the Lord’s Supper become the literal body and blood of Jesus. After all, Paul calls these elements “the body” in this passage. Is this the case?
16
Oct
2021
1 Cor. 11:27 – Taking the Lord’s Supper in an unworthy manner?
Problem: Paul writes, “Whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord” (1 Cor. 11:27). Later, he writes, “For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep” (1 Cor. 11:30). Of course, “sleep” was a common euphemism for “death” in first century culture (Jn. 11:11-13). This being said: Will God kill people, if they take the Lord’s Supper when they are “guilty” of sin or if they are “unworthy”?
15
Oct
2021
1 Cor 11:14 – Is it wrong for a man to wear a baseball cap while praying?
Problem: Paul writes, “Every man who has something on his head while praying or prophesying disgraces his head.” What does this mean? Should men remove their hats when they are in fellowship or while praying?
14
Oct
2021
1 Cor 11:14 – How can nature teach that long hair is wrong for a man when length of hair is culturally relative?
Problem: Paul asked, “Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him?” But, the length of a man’s hair is relative to the culture and time in which he lives. It is not something that is known by nature.
13
Oct
2021
1 Cor. 11:10 – What does it mean that a woman has “authority” (exousia) on her head?
Problem: Paul writes, “Therefore the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head” (1 Cor. 11:10). Does this mean that women should be under a man’s authority? Or something else?
12
Oct
2021
1 Cor 11:7-9 – Are women made in God’s image or man’s?
Problem: Paul writes that men are the “image and glory of God,” but women are the “glory of man.” What does he mean by this?
11
Oct
2021
1 Cor 11:5-6 – Is it wrong for a woman to have her head uncovered while praying?
Problem: Paul writes, “Every woman who has her head uncovered while praying or prophesying disgraces her head, for she is one and the same as the woman whose head is shaved.” Why would this be offensive to God?
10
Oct
2021
1 Cor 11:5 – Should women wear veils when they pray?
Problem: Paul insisted here that “every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head” (v. 5). Does this mean that women should wear veils in church today, or is this purely cultural? And if it is cultural, then how do we know what is cultural and what is not?