1 Corinthians 11:2-16 focuses on head-covering, not on women speaking in the public assembly. Speaking is addressed in chapter 14 within a different context than is seen in today’s church gatherings, but chapter 11 does not address it. One problem in interpreting these texts for our application is that chapter 14 is in the context…
Following First Corinthians 11:2-16, Paul writes to the saints in Corinth about their abuse of the Lord’s Supper in which the context is clearly when the called-out gather in one place to eat the Lord’s Supper (11:17-34). Notice the following references to their “coming together.” 11:17 “… you are regularly coming together ….” 11:18 “……
Some interpreters have proposed a view of this sealing that doesn’t fit the context of Scripture. They proclaim that the sealing is the security of today’s believers that can never be altered, once they are saved. It would be similar to getting a tattoo, today. In this way, they claim that the transaction is finished…
In all the ways the word “seal” is used, at least two common elements are shared. First, the significance of the seal is only as good as the one who sealed it. In each case cited, the highest power in the land placed a seal on something to prove the presence of their hand and…
To summarize Ephesians 1: 3-11, Paul discusses how God chose Israel, predestinated them to adoption, redemption, and became the vessels through whom salvation came into the world. The personal pronouns in verses 3-11 are significant because it distinguishes the “we” from the “you” as participants. The Gentiles were being added to the promise of the…
We have already emphasized the irrevocable nature of God’s plan and promises that elicit thoughts of hope and assurance. His promises are as good as done. On the one hand, Peter, speaking by the Holy Spirit, told those Jews on Pentecost to “repent, and be baptized for the remission of sins and you will receive…
The blessings are listed early in this chapter. He has “chosen us before the foundation of the world,” “predestinated us to be to the praise of His glory,” (verse 7), given us redemption through His blood, forgiven our sins according to the riches of His grace (verse 8), and offered an inheritance. After each blessing…
The longest single sentence in our English translations is Ephesians 1:3-15. It is significant to recognize the focus on the personal pronouns in this section. We read “us” through verse 11 that describes the Jewish Christian, i.e., those who “first trusted in Christ” (Eph. 1:12). When the text reads, “He predestinated ‘us’, he’s not referring…
The scripture often quoted to justify a congregational treasury is 1 Corinthians 16:2, “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.” The text clearly identifies “laying by him in store.” The pronoun “him”…
The first passage is 1 Corinthians 1:4-8. The passage tells us that the saints in Corinth possessed the miraculous gifts of the Spirit. Next, we have a statement that declares the purpose of those spiritual gifts. They had confirmed them and would continue to confirm them “to the end.” This would be the day of…