Introduction
Undoubtedly one of the more significant epistles of Paul, 1st Corinthians stands out from the rest in that it highlights all the foibles of the ecclesia, particularly of those steeped in carnality. Many churches of today can relate to the Corinthian congregation, as we live in an era of severely watered-down Christianity, that focuses more on things worldly, than those spiritual. Paul was handed letters from this ecclesia most likely by Stephanas, Fortunatus and Archaicus cf 16:17, which had a myriad of questions relating to various aspects of Christian living, of which desperately needed answering.
Although a terribly immature congregation fraught with much accepted sin and bad doctrine, we must thank the Holy Spirit for having included this epistle, as great revelation and spiritual mysteries were disclosed for our benefit by the apostle Paul. We shall discover that exhibition of spiritual gifts does not equate to spiritual maturity, as this wholly carnal congregation, bereft of spiritual maturity, far exceeded most of their other more spiritually mature counterparts in display of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Paul addressed several issues such as political division within the ecclesia; worldly wisdom versus real wisdom of Elohim; judging sin in their midst; problems of fornication in the ecclesia coupled with the reality of assured damnation of wilful sinners within the congregation; pros and cons of celibacy versus marriage; precepts surrounding foods offered to idols; and the scriptural hierarchy of mankind, in particular that of husband and wife in the ecclesia.
Further, he addressed protocols related to partaking in the Holy Communion; the distribution of spiritual gifts across the congregation, touching especially upon the varying degrees of importance and humility required of them; pros and cons of glossolalia versus prophesying; the mysteries surrounding the reality of resurrection of the saints and the damned; and lastly suggested measures related to collection of alms for the poor saints. The following commentary shall possibly be the most lengthy of the epistles, and I pray that the reader may patiently and prayerfully wade through it, in order to be enriched spiritually for the glory of the Kingdom of Elohim Amen.