The Strand Study Bible

Written From Ephesus During Paul’s T hird Missionary Journey

I CORINTHIANS

1888

that need. 1 David Roper in Every Day is a New Shade of Blue notes: Sex is not the solution, no matter what we’re told.

In the 1960s, the social comments of Mr. Natural, Robert Crum’s combination guru and dirty old man, enlivened the pages of campus newspapers. In one segment Mr. Natural and his student sidekick watch a mini-skirted woman walk by. “Is sex the answer, Mr. Natural?” asks the young man. “No, my boy,” Mr. Natural replies, “Sex is the question.” Indeed it is. Despite the information glut and all the propaganda in its favor, sex remains a great mystery. Our relentless pursuit of happiness through “good sex” verifies the Rolling Stones’ old maxim: “I can’t get no satisfaction.” What sensual enjoyment remains is little more than a momentary refuge from misery. It’s ironic: the act which, more than any other, ought to assuage loneliness only intensifies it. Where is this great sex that is everywhere advertised but nowhere delivered? Where is the romance and intimacy for which we long? Tina Turner belts out her poignant creed: “What’s love got to do with it?” Eventually we too learn to get along without the complications of love. 2

THE ADAGE IS TRUE: A life focused on self is certain to bring on the emptiness of aloneness 6:1 Paul said, “Are you kidding me” ( Dare any of you ). How ridiculous that the just should go to the unjust for justice. 6:4 The poorest excuse for a Christian ( the least esteemed in the church ) ought to be able to resolve a conflict with another Christian in private, and not before unsaved men (the courts). There is one possible exception (Mt 18:15-17). 6:7 Interestingly enough, Paul was admonishing the Christians who were being wronged by other Christians ( Why do ye not rather take wrong ). Paul charges them with trying to recompense evil for evil (Rom 12:17, I Pet 3:8-9 and Prov 17:13). NOTE - Even if we are right, we are still wrong to claim our rights (Mt 5:39,44). 6:9 a There are some post-Jewish MESSIANIC movements ( Gal 3:1-3 ) that have tried to use this Scripture ( the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God ) to prove that “works” are essential to keeping one’s salvation. They are not. The “ unrighteous ” here are the unsaved, not the saved. In no way is Paul advocating here the loss of salvation if a believer commits one of these sins. A Christian cannot lose his salvation ( I Cor 3:15 b & 5:5 b and Jn 10:28-29 ). What Paul is saying here is that there were some believers within the assembly at Corinth who appeared to take advantage of their liberty in Jesus and professed Christianity as a system of belief, but not as a rule of life. Paul rebuked these kinds of believers and reminded them that if they were going to Heaven, then they ought to act like it. In other words, those who are going to Heaven ought not to practice the sins of those who are not ( Eph 5:5 and Gal 5:21 ). NOTE - There are seven verses that certain believers like to use to question the doctrine of eternal security (once saved –always saved) - I Cor 6:9 a & 15:2 b , Gal 5:21 , Phil 2:12 , Heb 6:4-6 & 10:26-31 and II Pet 2:20-22 . 6:9 b This word ( effeminate ) is the Greek word PDODNοL ( malakoi ). Joe Dallas in The Gay Gospel notes:

Malakos is translated by Strong’s concordance as ‘soft, fine clothing’ and, figuratively, as ‘catamite’ (a male religious prostitute, probably effeminate in nature and clothed as a woman). The Arndt-Gingrich Greek Lexicon says malakos refers to “men and boys who allow themselves to be misused homosexually,” applying the term to either effeminate male prostitutes or to youths who provided sexual favors to older men. In both passages, then, Paul seems to be condemning both male homosexuality between consenting adult men and also homosexual prostitution–whether practiced between a man and an effeminate “call boy” dressed as a woman, or between older men and younger boys. 3

Others take this word “ effeminate ” to mean people who touch themselves delicately (softly; the act of self-gratification). If the latter interpretation were the meaning, then this would be the first time that masturbation is referred to in the Bible. Some have even argued that the sin of Onan (Gen 38:8-9) was a form of self -gratification because he “ spilled it (his seed) on the ground .” However, Onan’s sin involved disobedience to God by refusing to impregnate the wife of his deceased brother (Er), not self -gratification. Dr. Gary Collins in Christian Counseling notes:

Masturbation is very common and of no harm physically. Masturbation is never mentioned in the Bible. This does not make it right, and theologians know that arguments from silence are weak. Nevertheless, when we consider the large range of sexual behavior that is discussed in Scripture–homosexuality, bestiality, adultery, prostitution, rape, transsexuality, incest–it is difficult to think that masturbation is left out by accident. Clearly masturbation does not seem to be one of God’s great concerns; his Word says more about the mistreatment of animals. We must be careful not to harshly condemn something that the Bible does not condemn. 4

NOTE – Is it not true that when a man makes love to a woman that nine times out of ten he does so for his own self- gratification? If that be the case (and it usually is), then there is little difference between that kind of self-gratification and masturbation ( II Sam 12:8 ). 6:9 c Although God loves sinners (Jn 3:16), He hates sin. According to God, alternative lifestyles ( abusers of themselves with mankind ) is sin and clearly forbidden in both the Old and New Testaments ( Gen 13: 12- 13 & 18:20 & 19:24-25, Lev 18:22 & 20:13, Deut 23:17-18, Jud 19:22-23, I Ki 14:24 & 15:11-12, Mt 11:23-24, Rom 1:24-32 and Jude 7- 8 ).

1 Stowell, Joseph M. Radical Reliance , Grand Rapids, MI, Discovery House Pub, 1998, 2006.Print. 2 Roper, David. Every Day is a New Shade of Blue , Grand Rapids, MI, Discovery House Pub, 1994, 2012. Print. 3 Dallas, Joe. The Gay Gospel ?, Eugene, OR, Harvest House Pub. 1996. 2007. Print. 4 Collins, Gary R. Christian Counseling , Dallas, TX, Word Publishing. 1988. Print.