Unlikely Leaders

Paul Challenges Lawsuits and Sexual Looseness

This chapter is based on First Corinthians.

For a year and a half Paul had worked among the believers in Corinth, pointing them to a crucified and risen Savior and urging them to rely completely on the transforming power of His grace. Before accepting them into church fellowship he had carefully taught them about the duties of the Christian believers, and he had tried to help them be faithful to their baptismal vows. ULe 111.1

Paul had a clear sense of the conflict every Christian has to wage with the agencies of evil, and he had worked untiringly to strengthen those who were young in the faith. He had pleaded with them to make an entire surrender to God, for he knew that when the heart fails to make an entire surrender, sin is not forsaken, and temptations confuse the conscience. Every weak, doubting, struggling person who yields fully to the Lord comes into direct touch with heavenly powers that enable him to overcome. Angels help such Christians in every time of need. ULe 111.2

The members of the church at Corinth were surrounded by idolatry and impurity. While Paul was with them, these influences had little power over them. Paul’s prayers, earnest words of instruction, and godly life helped them to deny self, for Christ’s sake, rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin. ULe 111.3

After Paul left, however, little by little many became careless and allowed natural tastes and desires to control them. Many who had put away evil habits when they were converted returned to the degrading sins of heathenism. Paul had written briefly, urging them “not to keep company” with members who persisted in immorality, but many argued over his words and excused themselves for ignoring his instruction. ULe 111.4

The church sent a letter to Paul, asking for counsel on various matters, but saying nothing of the terrible sins existing among them. The Holy Spirit, however, impressed the apostle that the church had hidden its true condition. ULe 111.5

About this time members of the household of Chloe, a Christian family in Corinth, came to Ephesus. They told Paul that the strife that had arisen at the time of Apollos’s visit had greatly increased. False teachers were leading the members to reject Paul’s instructions. Pride, idolatry, and sexual sins were steadily increasing. ULe 111.6

Paul saw that his worst fears had more than come true. But he did not allow himself to think that his work had been a failure. With “anguish of heart” and with “many tears” (2 Corinthians 2:4) he went to God for counsel. He would gladly have visited Corinth immediately, but he knew that in their present condition the believers would not be helped by his efforts, so he sent Titus to prepare the way for him to visit later on. Then the apostle wrote to the church at Corinth one of the richest, most instructive, most powerful of all his letters. ULe 112.1

With remarkable clearness he answered questions and laid down general principles which, if they followed them, would lead the believers to a higher spiritual level. Faithfully he warned them of their dangers and rebuked them for their sins. He reminded them of the gifts of the Holy Spirit that they had received and showed them that it was their privilege to advance in the Christian life until they reached the purity and holiness of Christ. (See 1 Cor. 1:4-8.) ULe 112.2

Paul spoke plainly of the strife in the Corinthian church. “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters,” he wrote, “that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose. For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there are quarrels among you” (NRSV). ULe 112.3