1 Corinthians background

1 Corinthians

Author: Paul
[See Eusebius in Ecclesiastical History;" Book 3, Chapter 25, Verse 2.]

Date: 56 A.D. (1)

Language: Greek

Place: Ephesus (J.B. Phillips)

Purpose: To inform the Corinthian church of their errors, and to give them Christian guidance. (J.B. Phillips)

What kind of book?: Letter re: a specific occasion

Reflection: In the concise write-up regarding the theme of the epistle, J.B. Phillip's discusses the 'incredible sexual promiscuity' taking place in Corinth. An issue that many do not like to talk about, yet which I think needs to be confronted, is the vast sexual promiscuity in our culture today. Being someone who has been single and celibate for years (and years) {and years} [and years], (O.K. I have never had had sex. Call me a loser, but I am waiting to make love), I am probably even more sensitive to it. There is much disregard for the standard held by Jesus that sex should be only enjoyed in marriage, which include his teaching not to commit adultery. The word adultery is even one that you do not hear much any more. Encouraged by the 'casual sex' carried out in movies and talked about on TV, sex outside of marriage is common.  I think a key reason for the huge shift in sexual norms just in the past 30 years is the easy access in this day and age to birth control. Even teenagers can go to some stores and buy condoms at the self checkout lanes without anyone even knowing, besides God. Yet it is God who does not want anyone engaging in sex outside of marriage, because God intended for sex to be an expression of true love, and nothing less. Now Christians are called by God to love everyone. Sex is for a special romantic love relationship, and it is for expressing love as much as receiving physical pleasure and having kids. As someone who has waited a long time to be married and make love, enabled only by Jesus to wait so long I assure you, I am willing to say that the cultural acceptance of sex outside of marriage is wrong, and the blessing of making love in the commitment of marriage, God's plan, is good. I cannot wait to get there! :)

Hunter Irvine
(1) J.B. Phillips, Letters To Young Churches (New York: The Macmillian Company, 1947).