conduct revealed such strange perverseness； and keeping his soul stayed upon
God； the apostle wrote to the church at Corinth one of the richest； most
instructive； most powerful of all his letters。
With remarkable clearness he proceeded to answer the various questions
brought forward by the church； and to lay down general principles； which； if
heeded； would lead them to a higher spiritual plane。 They were in peril； and
he could not bear the thought of failing at this critical time to reach
their hearts。 Faithfully he warned them of their dangers and reproved them
for their sins。 He pointed them again to Christ and sought to kindle anew
the fervor of their early devotion。
The apostle's great love for the Corinthian believers was revealed in his
tender greeting to the church。 He referred to their experience in turning
from idolatry to the worship and service of the true God。 He reminded them
of the gifts of the Holy Spirit which they had received； and showed that it
was their privilege to make continual advancement in the Christian life
until they should attain to the purity and holiness of Christ。 〃In
everything ye are enriched by Him；〃 he wrote； 〃in all utterance； and in all
knowledge； even as
302
the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you： so that ye come behind in no
gift； waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ： who shall also
confirm you unto the end； that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord
Jesus Christ。〃
Paul spoke plainly of the dissensions that had arisen in the Corinthian
church； and exhorted the members to cease from strife。 〃I beseech you；
brethren；〃 he wrote； 〃by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ； that ye all
speak the same thing； and that there be no divisions among you； but that ye
be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment。〃
The apostle felt at liberty to mention how and by whom he had been informed
of the divisions in the church。 〃It hath been declared unto me of you； my
brethren； by them which are of the house of Chloe； that there are
contentions among you。〃
Paul was an inspired apostle。 The truths he taught to others he had received
〃by revelation；〃 yet the Lord did not directly reveal to him at all times
just the condition of His people。 In this instance those who were interested
in the prosperity of the church at Corinth； and who had seen evils creeping
in； had presented the matter before the apostle； and from divine revelations
which he had formerly received he was prepared to judge of the character of
these developments。 Notwithstanding the fact that the Lord did not give him
a new revelation for that special time； those who were really seeking for
light accepted his message as
303
expressing the mind of Christ。 The Lord had shown him the difficulties and
dangers which would arise in the churches； and； as these evils developed；
the apostle recognized their significance。 He had been set for the defense
of the church。 He was to watch for souls as one who must render account to
God； and was it not consistent and right for him to take notice of the
reports concerning the anarchy and divisions among them？ Most assuredly； and
the reproof he sent them was as certainly written under the inspiration of
the Spirit of God as were any of his other epistles。
The apostle made no mention of the false teachers who were seeking to
destroy the fruit of his labor。 Because of the darkness and division in the
church； he wisely forbore to irritate them by such references； for fear of
turning some entirely from the truth。 He called attention to his own work
among them as that of 〃a wise master builder；〃 who had laid the foundation
upon which others had built。 But he did not thereby exalt himself； for he
declared； 〃We are laborers together with God。〃 He claimed no wisdom of his
own； but acknowledged that divine power alone had enabled him to present the
truth in a manner pleasing to God。 United with Christ； the greatest of all
teachers； Paul had been enabled to communicate lessons of divine wisdom；
which met the necessities of all classes； and which were to apply at all
times； in all places； and under all conditions。
Among the more serious of the evils that had developed among the Corinthian
believers； was that of a return to many of the debasing customs of
heathenism。 One former
304
convert had so far backslidden that his licentious course was a violation of
even the low standard of morality held by the Gentile world。 The apostle
pleaded with the church to put away from among them 〃that wicked person。〃
〃Know ye not；〃 he admonished them； 〃that a little leaven leaveneth the whole
lump？ Purge out therefore the old leaven； that ye may be a new lump； as ye
are unleavened。〃
Another grave evil that had arisen in the church was that of brethren going
to law against one another。 Abundant provision had been made for the
settlement of difficulties among believers。 Christ Himself had given plain
instruction as to how such matters were to be adjusted。 〃If thy brother
shall trespass against thee；〃 the Saviour had counseled； 〃go and tell him
his fault between thee and him alone： if he shall hear thee； thou hast
gained thy brother。 But if he will not hear thee； then take with thee one or
two more； that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be
established。 And if he shall neglect to hear them； tell it unto the church：
but if he neglect to hear the church； let him be unto thee as a heathen man
and a publican。 Verily I say unto you； Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth
shall be bound in heaven： and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be
loosed in heaven。〃 Matthew 18：15…18。
To the Corinthian believers who had lost sight of this plain counsel； Paul
wrote in no uncertain terms of admonition and rebuke。 〃Dare any of you；〃 he
asked； 〃having a matter against another； go to law before the unjust； and
not before the saints？ Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world？
and if the world shall be judged by you； are
305
ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters？ Know ye not that we shall judge
angels？ how much more things that pertain to this life？ If then ye have
judgments of things pertaining to this life； set them to judge who are least
esteemed in the church。 I speak to your shame。 Is it so； that there is not a
wise man among you？ no； not one that shall be able to judge between his
brethren？ But brother goeth to law with brother； and that before the
unbelievers。 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you； because ye go
to law one with another。 Why do ye not rather take wrong？ 。 。 。 Nay； ye do
wrong； and defraud； and that your brethren。 Know ye not that the unrighteous
shall not inherit the kingdom of God？〃
Satan is constantly seeking to introduce distrust； alienation； and malice
among God's people。 We shall often be tempted to feel that our rights are
invaded； even when there is no real cause for such feelings。 Those whose
love for self is stronger than their love for Christ and His cause will
place their own interests first and will resort to almost any expedient to
guard and maintain them。 Even many who appear to be conscientious Christians
are hindered by pride and self…esteem from going privately to those whom
they think in error； that they may talk with them in the spirit of Christ
and pray together for one another。 When they think themselves injured by
their brethren； some will even go to law instead of following the Saviour's
rule。
Christians should not appeal to civil tribunals to settle differences that
may arise among church members。 Such differences should be settled among
themselves； or by the
306
church； in harmony with Christ's instruction。 Even though injustice may have
been done； the follower of the meek and lowly Jesus will suffer himself 〃to
be defrauded〃 rather than open before the world the sins of his brethren in
the church。
Lawsuits between brethren are a reproach to the cause of truth。 Christians
who go to law with one another expose the church to the ridicule of her
enemies and cause the powers of darkness to triumph。 They are wounding
Christ afresh and putting Him to open shame。 By ignoring the authority of
the church； they show contempt for God； who gave to the church its
authority。
In this letter to the Corinthians Paul endeavored to show them Christ's
power to keep them from evil。 He knew that if they would comply with the
conditions laid down； they would be strong in the strength of the Mighty
One。 As a means of helping them to break away from the thralldom of sin and
to perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord； Paul urged upon them the claims
of Him to whom they had dedicated their lives at the time of their
conversion。 〃Ye are Christ's；〃 he declared。 〃Ye are not your own。 。 。 。 Ye
are bought with a price： therefore glorify God in your body； and in your
spirit； which are God's。〃
The apostle plainly outlined the result of turning from a life of purity and
holiness to the corrupt practices of heathenism。 〃Be not deceived；〃 he
wrote； 〃neither fornicators； nor idolaters； nor adulterers； 。 。 。 nor
thieves； nor covetous； nor drunkards； nor revilers； nor extortioners； shall
inherit the kingdom of God。〃 He begged them to control
307
the lower passions and appetites。 〃Know ye not；〃 he asked； 〃that your body
is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you； which ye have of God？〃
While Paul possessed high intellectual endowments； his life revealed the
power of a rarer wisdom； which gave him quickness of insight and sympathy of
heart； and brought him into close touch with others； enabling him to arouse
their better nature and inspire them to strive for a higher life。 His heart
was filled with an earnest love for the Corinthian believers。 He longed to
see them revealing an inward piety that would fortify them against
temptation。 He knew that at every step in the Christian pathway they would
be opposed by the synagogue of Satan and that they would have to engage in
confli