LESSON NINE
PAUL'S FIRST CORINTHIAN LETTER
(Continued)

A. THE CHRISTIAN AND LOVE: (I Corinthians 13).
•	There are two Greek words translated "love" in the New Testament. 
o	"Agape," the highest type of love. It is a sacrificial love. 
o	The other word is "phileo." This lesser type of love is one given in a mutual relationship, where one loves the lovable.
•	Nowhere in literature can there be found more highly exalted ethics than Paul sets forth in the love chapter. 
•	He shows the emptiness and worthlessness of profession without love. 
•	This love is not a natural acquisition, but is shed abroad in one's heart by the Holy Ghost (Romans 5:5).

1. THE VALUES OF LOVE: (verses 1-3).
Love is vital. Without love, all other attributes are worthless.

2. CHARACTERISTICS OF LOVE: (verses 4-8a).
There is a long list of the virtues and characteristics of love. We shall attempt to name them as they are given in this chapter:

1. longsuffering and kind;
2. doesn't envy;
3. doesn't become rash;
4. is not conceited;
5. is polite and courteous;
6. is unselfish;
7. is not provoked;
	
8. doesn't keep a ledger of wrongs suffered;
9. doesn't rejoice in unrighteousness;
10. doesn't rejoice in gossip;
11. overlooks all faults;
12. doesn't contain suspicion;
13. optimistic;
14. remains strong through all circumstances.

3. ENDURANCE OF LOVE: (verses 8b-13).
•	The other gifts will fail for they will end when the church is perfected. 
•	These have been given for the edification of the church and when the church is raptured they will have finished the purpose for which they had been given. 
•	Love is that which will endure into eternity, and is therefore, the greatest.

B. THE RESURRECTION: (I Corinthians 15).

1. THE CERTAINTY OF THE RESURRECTION: (verses 1-34).
•	The question of the resurrection had been raised at Corinth. 
•	Paul dealt with these errors by insisting on the bodily resurrection of Jesus as a fundamental fact on which the whole gospel rests. 
•	Paul argued strongly that except for the hope of the resurrection there is no reason for the existence of Christianity.
•	We have, in this chapter, three reasons given for the fact of the resurrection: 
1.	We are saved by the gospel (I Corinthians 15:1-2). The experiences of the Corinthians were proof to them of the resurrection. 
2.	The Scripture bore witness to the reality of the resurrection. 
3.	There were eyewitnesses of his resurrected body. 
•	If there be no resurrection of the dead then Jesus did not rise. If Jesus did not rise, then the faith of the Corinthians was in vain and they were still in their sins. 
•	We must note that Christ is the Firstfruits. Even when the graves were opened at his death there was no resurrection of Old Testament saints until after His resurrection (Matthew 27:52-53).

2. THE MANNER AND NATURE OF THE RESURRECTION: (verses 35-50).
•	Paul anticipated some questions concerning the nature of the resurrection and answered those questions. 
•	We shall be changed from mortal to immortal. All shall not die, but all shall be changed.
•	Our hope is not merely immortality of the spirit, but actual resurrection of the body (Romans 8:23, I Thessalonians 5:23, II Corinthians 5:4). It will not be the same corrupt earthly body but a spiritual body partaking of the nature of God's own heavenly glory.

3. THE FINAL TRIUMPH: (verses 51-58).
•	The apostle revealed a mystery of those who have died in the Lord. He describes them as being asleep in Jesus. To be absent from the body is to present with the Lord. They are waiting to be clothed upon with a new body. A redeemed spirit without a body, waiting for that moment, the day of resurrection. 
•	Suddenly, in the twinkling of an eye, the trumpet shall sound. The dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall not be changed. 
•	The fate of your soul will also be the fate of your body; the two cannot be separated, eternally. 
•	Death cannot touch the soul or the spirit of a Christian. It touches the body for a short time until the resurrection takes place.

C. POSTCRIPT: (I Corinthians 16).

1. THE MATTER OF COLLECTION:
•	Paul gave the church instruction concerning receiving offerings to help the church at Jerusalem. 
•	He was receiving offerings from the Gentile churches for the assistance of the mother church. Paul advised the Corinthians to collect the money on the first day of the week and to choose one to deliver it to Jerusalem. 

2. FINAL EXHORTATIONS:
•	In the chapter we have Paul giving the Corinthians many final exhortations. He exhorts them: watch, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, and be strong. Let all things be done with love.
•	Paul told them concerning his plans to visit Corinth. He said that he would pass through Macedonia and possibly spend the winter with them. 
•	This verse 22 contains a very serious message and tells us what the option is if we love not Jesus. It is to be cursed with a very serious judgment for the Lord cometh.

LESSON NINE
SELF HELP TEST

A.	Define clearly the difference between "agape" and "phileo" love.

B.	List ten virtues of love:
1.	6.	
2.	7.	
3.	8.	
4.	9.	
5.	10.

C. Give the order of the resurrection:
1.	 
2.	 
3.	 

D. List the witnesses of the resurrection of Jesus.
E. Explain I Corinthians 15:24.

F. Explain: Anathema Maranatha.