That's a Wrap! Last Episode of Season Three Posted! "Be Watchful! Stand Firm!” (1 Corinthians 16:1-24)

Episode Synopsis:

Episode 29 of Season Three of the Blessed Hope Podcast brings our deep dive into 1 Corinthians to its conclusion. As we come to the end of our study of this remarkable letter and take a moment to look back at the ground we have covered, it quickly becomes apparent how truly important this letter is for those of us living in the 21st century in the midst of an increasingly pagan and hostile culture. There is, perhaps, no letter in the New Testament which speaks as directly to the pressing issues we face as Christians as does 1 Corinthians.

Paul’s final words to the Corinthians are both poignant and straightforward. The Corinthians are people Paul knows well, yet who are struggling with the challenges of a new church in the midst of a city like Corinth–a thriving multi-national seaport, thereby ensuring that the temptations of the flesh are ever present. So too, Corinth was a thriving center of pagan religions and practices ensuring an inevitable collision between Christianity and pagan religion and philosophy. Corinth was a difficult place for a church to flourish, but of great strategic significance to Paul’s Gentile mission.

Paul concludes this letter by making it clear that he has not abandoned them, that he is sending help, he explains the situation regarding Timothy and Apollos, and he describes his plans to return when the Lord wills. The apostle details the offering he hopes to send from Corinth back to the Jerusalem church in order to provide relief during a severe famine. He extends a series of commands regarding the things which the Corinthians are to do in the meantime, before concluding with the apostolic benediction–Maranatha, Lord come! This is indeed a truly remarkable letter and should be studied carefully in churches today.

Show Notes:

This is the concluding episode (twenty-nine) of Season Three, our deep dive into 1 Corinthians. My plan, Lord willing, is to complete a writing project, then begin the research and writing for Season Four, when we take up 2 Corinthians. This is an overlooked but very profound letter. Much has happened since Paul sent his first Corinthian letter. The rift between Paul and the Corinthians has become much more serious, but the story ends well. I’d like to have several episodes ready to go before season four gets under way. So, I am aiming for mid-summer.

I recorded this episode on a beautiful Southern California day—light breeze, not a cloud in the sky, with the temp in the low 70’s. Every civilian pilot in Orange County thought this was the perfect day to fly over my house, taking off and landing every few minutes at the local municipal airport. This made recording exceedingly difficult and editing even worse. Good thing this was a short episode.

Recommended Links:

Daniel Wallace on Aquila and Priscilla in 1 Corinthians 16

Dudreck: Who Was Apollos?

R. C. Sproul on Tithing

Series Bibliography:

New! Pauline Studies and Resources

Kim Riddlebarger, First Corinthians --Lectio Continua (RHB, 2024).

F. F. Bruce, Paul: The Apostle of the Heart Set Free. A bit dated but still remains the best biographical study of Paul

Douglas J. Moo, A Theology of Paul and His Letters (2021). A helpful big picture survey of Paul’s theology and epistles.

Thomas R. Schreiner, 1 Corinthians : An Introduction and Commentary, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (2018). A good and modern commentary on 1 Corinthians. If you buy one commentary, this ought to be it.

Charles Hodge, I & II Corinthians, reprint ed (Banner, or the volume on 1 Corinthians published by Crossway. This has long been the Reformed standard commentary on 1 Corinthians. Theologically solid, but badly dated.

Gordon Fee, The First Epistle to the Corinthians, NICNT (1987). Good material, especially on background and context, but charismatic in its orientation.

Roy E. Ciampa and Brian S. Rosner, The First Letter to the Corinthians, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, (2010). A good academic commentary, although there are several solid ones from which to choose.

Music:

(Shutterstock): Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op 92m, second movement, Allegretto (A minor)