In Jesus’ parable of the sower, alongside the seeds that fell on fertile ground and grew strong,
were seeds that fell among the thorns. These represent people who had accepted Christ,
but whose growth in Him was strangled by the cares and selfish desires of the world.
This parable helps us understand the church in Corinth.
Many in this church were never able to move beyond the cares of their culture. Instead of bending
their cultural values to fit their faith, they bent their faith to fit their cultural values.
In the first video, we explored the culture of Corinth in the first century.
We observed their obsession with social status, and their preoccupation with elevating themselves
in the eyes of others. We also encountered those masters of rhetoric, the Sophists
who used their prestige and influence to attract a faithful following of loyal disciples.
Although Paul’s relationship with the Corinthian church flourished while he was there, everything
changed after he left. As we are about to see, Paul wrote them not only the two letters that
we have in our Bibles today, but a total of four letters, two of which have been lost to history.
A short while after Paul left, he received disturbing news of sexual immorality arising
in the church. Hoping that he could quickly address the situation, Paul wrote a letter and
sent it with his faithful companion, Timothy, (which he mentions in 1 Corinthians 4 & 5).
Sadly, this first letter no longer exists, but it marked the beginning of a detailed correspondence.
Unfortunately, the situation continued to deteriorate in Corinth.
The cares of the world began choking the faith of some in the church, as they grew
concerned of how others might perceive their social status. They sought after teachers who
they determined might elevate their social standing within the church. Since Paul left,
a Christian leader named Apollos had come to town and continued to disciple and teach this church.
However, unlike Paul, Apollos was an eloquent speaker, and trained in the art of Greek rhetoric.
As a result, some saw Apollos as superior to Paul. Still others pledged their loyalty to Peter,
also known as Cephas. Being one of the original 12 disciples, and one of Jesus’ closest companions,
they thought that following him was their ticket to status within the church.
There were others who thought that the best way to demonstrate their nobility
was to tear others down by dragging them to court.
The Corinthian church was being torn apart by self-centered Christians whose only concern was
their own personal rights, instead of looking to the rights and interests of one another.
Nevertheless, some in the church still had hearts that were fertile ground.
They grew weary of the arrogance and factionalism, and wanted to see this church get back to
righteous living in holiness and obedience to Christ. Together they wrote a letter to Paul,
asking him all kinds of questions about how they should think and conduct themselves
in the areas of marriage, meat sacrificed to idols, orderly worship, and resurrection.
A prominent Corinthian Christian woman named Chloe arranged for a group of people
to deliver this letter to Paul, who was now in Ephesus, seeking his guidance in these matters.
Paul’s response to these concerns was the second letter he wrote to Corinth,
but the first that survives, and which we call 1 Corinthians.
In it, Paul emphasizes that the only way to greatness is through a Christ-like,
sacrificial love, that seeks the best interests of others before their own.
Unfortunately, this letter also did not entirely have the intended effect.
Some members of the Corinthian church were still being choked out by the cares of the world.
Paul decided that if he were going to get their attention and address the situation,
he needed to do something much more drastic. He took an impromptu trip to over to Corinth, to
address the situation in person. Sadly, this visit did not go as hoped, as one of the Corinthian
Christians mounted a personal attack against Paul. Paul returned to Ephesus in frustration.
In response to this ‘painful visit’, he wrote them another letter and sent it with his trusted
partner, Titus. (Paul refers to both this visit and this letter in 2 Corinthians 2.) In this
third letter, which sadly has also been lost, Paul called them to unity and accountability.
There is no place for this type of toxic, self-serving behavior in the body of Christ.
Paul waited anxiously to hear news of the church’s response from Titus.
When they finally reunited again in Macedonia, Titus brought good news. The Corinthian church
took Paul’s letter to heart, and held the individual to account for his actions. Even
better, the individual repented and the process of forgiveness and reconciliation could begin.
However, Titus also brought word of a new and growing concern. A group of self-seeking
Jewish teachers from an outside congregation was attempting to infiltrate this church.
They were raising questions about the legitimacy of Paul’s apostleship,
while boasting of their own superiority. These self-proclaimed ‘super apostles’
insisted that they were the true apostles. They proclaimed a version of the gospel
that was contrary to the one preached by Paul and the other apostles of Christ.
The memory of how quickly the Corinthian Christians could be deceived, and even
turn against him, was fresh in Paul’s mind. He responded by writing his fourth letter to Corinth,
known to us as 2 Corinthians. In this letter, Paul reminded them that in Christ, status, influence,
and maturity are not attainable through arrogance, factionalism, and self-promotion.
Instead of building up ourselves, we build up others. Instead of looking for opportunities
to take, we will grow in grace as we find opportunities to give. As a practical application
of this truth, Paul encouraged these relatively prosperous Christians to offer financial support
to the Christian church back in Jerusalem, who had fallen on hard times.
When we follow Jesus, it is our responsibility to cultivate the fertile ground in our hearts.
Weeds and thorns will spring up seeking to choke us out with the cares of the world.
But when like a good gardener, we continually identify and remove these weeds from our lives,
then we will know the Corinthians Effect.