This week’s Lectio passage, 1 Corinthians 16:1–24, ends Paul’s letter. It may feel like a “whimper” to the “bang” of our last Lectio passage, 1 Corinthians 15:1–58. Recall how Paul concludes his teaching on the resurrection: “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57). Full reading and audio »
Though our passage does not begin with the familiar “Now concerning,” Paul is very concerned about Corinthian beliefs on the resurrection. Resurrection belief is at the heart of this week’s guided reading. Reports evidently had reached Paul that some Corinthians claimed there was no resurrection of the dead (15:12).Full reading and audio »
The Corinthians are back at it again — turning differences in the church into divisions and status symbols of importance. In the letter’s opening section, some claimed, “We are better because we belong to Apollos … or Paul … or Cephas.” (1:10–17). In 8:1–10:31, some claimed, “We are better because we know that idols are not real … that food doesn’t bring us close to God … that all things are lawful.” Full reading and audio »
Although this week’s Lectio passage does not open with “Now concerning,” Paul most likely is still responding to concerns raised by the Corinthians. In fact, two concerns are addressed by Paul in this passage, and both have to do with proper behavior in the context of worship. Full reading and audio »
In our longest passage to date, Paul addresses a key question facing the Corinthian believers: Should we eat food that has been sacrificed to idols? A burning question for the Corinthians in more ways than one! Full reading and audio »
This week’s Lectio passage marks a substantial shift in Paul’s letter. The first six chapters reflect Paul’s agenda for the Corinthian believers, set by the report from Chloe’s people. Full reading and audio »
In this week’s passage, Paul shifts his focus from factions that threatened the Corinthian church to three additional destructive behaviors within the Corinthian church. Full reading and audio »
In this week’s Lectio passage, Paul completes his lengthy opening response to the problem of factions within the Corinthian church. Full reading and audio »
This week’s Lectio passage focuses on two concepts near and dear to the Corinthian troublemakers: wisdom and maturity. Full reading and audio »
Everyone wants a healthy church. Surveys, resources, books, and websites abound on the topic, ready to dispense ideas, materials, and advice for creating and sustaining healthy churches. No one wants to see a church sick or dying. Well, it was not much different 2,000 years ago. Full reading and audio »
We should probably admit it right from the get-go. It seems a little odd to think we can find help for living today by reading a letter written to people living 2,000 years ago and half a world away. And yet this is exactly what we expect reading Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth … Full reading and audio »
CBTE is an arm of the SPU School of Theology whose purpose is to provide biblical and theological education for the SPU community, the church, and the world. More»
In this free six-part video series, Associate Professor of Old Testament Bo Lim, CBTE Lectio guide for Isaiah, discusses several major topics in this book that has been called the “Fifth Gospel.”
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