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  You are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.   1 Corinthians 9:1-3: "Am I not a free man? Am I not an apostle? Have you not seen Jesus our Lord? Is it not you who have done my work in the Lord? Though I may not be an apostle to others, to you I am an apostle. You are the seal (sphrachies) of my apostleship in the Lord. This is my defense (apologia) against those who criticize me."   At that time, Christians did not regard Paul as an apostle. However, Paul speaks by citing several points. He asserts that an apostle is one sent by Jesus. Paul met Jesus in Damascus. Furthermore, he asks whether he did not cause the members of the Corinthian church to receive the Holy Spirit. These could serve as criteria for being recognized as an apostle at that time.   "Sphrachies" ( σφραγ ίς ) means to stamp a seal. This implies that the Corinthian church was the one with the largest number of members who received the baptism of the Holy Spirit after Paul preached t...

  Concerning Food Offered to Idols   1 Corinthians 8:1-2: "Concerning food offered to idols, we know that we all have knowledge (gnosin). But knowledge (gnosis) puffs up, while love (agape) builds up (oikodomei). For if anyone thinks he knows (egnokenai), he does not know (egno) what he ought to know (gnonai)."   Although *gnosin* ( γν ῶ σιν ) is translated as knowledge, true knowledge is knowledge gained through a relationship with God. However, the knowledge found in the tree of the knowledge of good and evil incites spiritual pride. Spiritual pride is the pride of wanting to become like God oneself. It is knowledge based on one's own judgment and actions.   This means that we must think carefully about food offered to idols. The fundamental purpose of a sacrifice is to receive forgiveness for sins, but food offered to idols is for the purpose of seeking blessings; therefore, it is not a sacrifice offered to God, but merely a sacrifice for oneself. The ...

It is only to keep the commandments of God. 1 Corinthians 7:18-19: "Is there anyone who was called while circumcised? Do not become uncircumcised. Is there anyone who was called while uncircumcised? Do not be circumcised. Being circumcised is nothing, and being uncircumcised is nothing. But to keep (teresis) the commandments (en-toron theou) of God." Circumcision is a ritual that inflicts a physical wound. The meaning of this circumcision is that one has died physically. Legalists attach importance only to the act itself, but those who realize the meaning of the Gospel consider the circumcision of the heart. Whether it is circumcision or baptism, the form is not important; what matters is whether one has died physically with Jesus Christ. Therefore, it means that acts of arguing over whether one has been circumcised or not are meaningless. If someone who was previously circumcised becomes a Christian, they should not strive to erase the traces of circumcision, but rather refl...

Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit? 1 Corinthians 6:18-20: “Flee from sexual immorality. Every sin a man commits is outside the body, but the one who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price (times). Therefore glorify God with your body.” The Greek word *porneian* (πορνείαν), translated as sexual immorality, signifies idolatry. This is because the sacrifices performed by Gentiles at that time included not only idolatry but also immoral acts. It is said that sins committed by humans, excluding idolatry, are matters that occur outside the body. However, Paul states that idolatry is committing a sin against the body, which is the temple. This does not mean that saints do such things, but rather that there are those within the church who consider themselves saints and commit such acts. Therefore...

Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? 1 Corinthians 6:1-4: "Which of you, when he has a dispute with another, will bring it before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is to be judged by you, are you not worthy to judge even the smallest matters? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more, then, matters of the world (biotica)? Why then do you appoint those who are despised in the church when there is a matter of the world (biotica)?" "Others" refers to unrighteous people within the church. The message is that when there is a dispute with the unrighteous, do not take it to court by filing an accusation, but resolve it before the saints. Biotica (βιωτικὰ) refers to worldly matters that are currently occurring. The meaning is that if the saints become perfect and will even judge angels, why would the saints not be able to resolve matters that are currently happening?...

I wrote to you, "Do not associate with sexually immoral people." 1 Corinthians 5:9-11: "I wrote to you, 'Do not associate with sexually immoral people.' This does not mean that you should not associate at all with the sexually immoral, greedy, swindlers, or idolaters of this world. If you were to do so, you would have to go out of the world. But I have written to you now that if anyone who calls himself a brother is sexually immoral, greedy, an idolater, abusive, drunkard, or swindler, do not associate with him, nor eat with him." This means that if there is anyone in the church who acts with such greed, you should not associate with him. Those who practice greed within the church are the ones who disrupt the order of the church community. Those who claim to believe in the gospel of the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ, yet are steeped in legalism, humanism (prosperity theology), and Gnosticism, are the ones committing spiritual adultery. Legalism is a...