The Gospel of Peae: Making it Real - Lesson 06

Lesson 6                            

“That One Bread”                

1 Corinthians 10:14-33

The WORD: What does the Bible say?

ID: Inductive Questions (Asking the text, “Who, what, where, when, why, & how?”) 

CR: Cross References (Comparing Scripture to Scripture, understanding the vague by the clear.) 

WS: Word Study (Understanding grammatical and theological definitions and usages in other passages.)

1.      Context: Read 9:24-11:2, 17-34 to get a sense of the context.  Remember that the focus of our study will not be the issue of meat sacrificed to idols, but on our relationships with others.

2.      WS:  (15-17) The “cup of blessing” and “bread” are the communion, sharing, or participation (koinōnia) with the blood and body of Christ.  What does that mean?

3.      CR: (17) What is another important element of partaking in communion (the Lord’s Supper)? (1 Corinthians 11:18; 12:12, 27) (Also compare with the O.T. custom in Leviticus 7:11-21)

4.      ID:  (14-22) What was the reason(s) for not eating food offered to idols given in verses 14-22?  (Compare with Acts 15:28-29)

5.      ID:  (24) What was a primary motivation or consideration in Paul’s deciding how to handle this controversial issue with others? (Philippians 2.1-5) 

6.      ID: (25-28) If “the earth is the Lord’s” (10:25-26; Psalm 24:1), what was the thinking behind a decision to not eat meat at someone’s house?

7.      CR: (29) Why should my liberty be restrained by someone else’s conscience? (Romans 14:15-17; 1 Corinthians 8:8-13; 1 Thessalonians 1:6-8)

8.      ID: (24, 31-33) What are some principles that should guide the exercise of our freedom in Christ?

The WALK: What should I do?

1.      It is somewhat surprising that Paul, an Apostle, would defer to someone who was wrong about an issue.  Why wouldn’t he just correct them?

2.      What are some of our “meat sacrificed to idols” issues today? 

3.      What are some reasons people do not respect the personal convictions of people they disagree with?

4.      How do you make sure your motives toward another are not clouded by your own convictions about an issue?

 

WEB LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDY (PART 2)

I usually have a five step approach to commentaries and study tools. First, I become familiar with the passage.  Second, I use linguistic/language tools to clarify the meaning of the words.  Third, I also check cross references and cultural resources to better understand the meaning of the text.

Fourth, I will refer to a variety of commentaries to get the insights of knowledgeable men on the passage.  I have my favorites, but I try to check commentators from more that one theological perspective.  It both allows me to see original arguments for the other side of an issue and, most importantly, gives me a look at the passage from a different perspective.  I work from more objective to ones that comment on more subjective aspects of the text.  “Healthy skepticism” is the watch word when referring to commentaries.

Finally, I will refer to commentators with a more devotional and application bent.  They are usually not as helpful for dissecting the meaning of the text, but help me think about how the passage applies to everyday living.  Sermons by an accomplished preacher are also helpful with applications, and they can give helpful ideas for presenting the passage if you are going to teach.

Doctrinal
I recommend Dr. Constable's Expository (Bible Study) Notes
Bible.org has a lot of articles and commentaries most are scholarly, but not overly academic.
Barne's Notes on the New Testament is old, but fairly thorough and conservative.
David Guzik's Enduring Word Commentaries on the Bible are charismatic, but still very good.
The Bible Centre has dispensational general commentaries, etc...
The Christian Classic Ethereal Library has many old and ancient resources.
Classic Bible Commentaries: Calvin, Darby, Geneva, Gill, Jamieson-Faussett-Brown, Matthew Henry, Wesley
David Cox's Online Religious Library has links to a lot of different resources.
Easy English Bible features 2,800 word vocabulary translations and commentaries that have all the cookies on the lowest shelf.

Devotional/Homiletical
Paul Apple lesson notes have good insights.
Matthew Henry is not dispensational, but has tons of good applications.
Charles Spurgeon is helpful for developing a homiletic strategy for your text.
One Place has a wealth of popular teachers and preachers and teachers (living and dead) from a variety of backgrounds.
Skeptic’s Annotated Bible helps to anticipate criticisms of the Bible text.

The web is full of outright heresy and questionable materials, but it also has a ton of very excellent resources.  Don’t be afraid, be discerning.  Web sites also tend to come and go, so I hope all of these links still work.