24 April 2015

EJ&T - 1 Corinthians: New rules for marriage, sex, diet, women, and speaking in tongues

In the Every Jot and Tittle project, I am listing all of the Bible's commandments from Genesis to Revelation, in accordance with Jesus's words in Matthew 5:18-19. I have no idea how many commandments I'll find, but Jewish tradition claims there are 613. See here for a list of those that I've found so far.

  1. If you think you are wise, become a fool so that you will be wise.

    2. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. 1 Corinthians 3:18

  2. Don't glory in men.

    3. Let no man glory in men. 1 Corinthians 3:21

  3. Don't judge anyone or anything until the Lord comes.

    4. Judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. 1 Corinthians 4:5

  4. Follow Paul.

    5. Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. 1 Corinthians 4:16

    Be ye followers of me. 1 Corinthians 11:1

    Be followers together of me. Philippians 3:17

  5. Purge out the old leaven and become a new lump.

    6. Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. 1 Corinthians 5:7

  6. Stay away from fornicators, the covetous, extortioners, and idolaters.

    7. I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators. Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. ... Put away from among yourselves that wicked person. 1 Corinthians 5:9-13

  7. Don't let unbelievers settle disputes between believers.

    8. Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? 1 Corinthians 6:1-7

  8. Glorify God in your body and spirit.

    9. Glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. 1 Corinthians 6:20

  9. If you're not married, don't get married.

    10. (Paul says this isn't really a commandment. It's just his advice.)
    I would that all men were even as I myself. 1 Corinthians 7:7

    I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. 1 Corinthians 7:8

    Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment ... it is good for a man so to be. 1 Corinthians 7:25-26

    Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife. 1 Corinthians 7:27

  10. If you can't control yourself, get married.

    11. (It's better to marry than to burn.)
    It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. 1 Corinthians 7:1-2

    I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn. 1 Corinthians 7:8-9

  11. If you marry, don't have sex.

    12. (There's no time for it. Jesus is coming.)
    The time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none. 1 Corinthians 7:29

  12. But to avoid fornication and Satan's temptation, have sex whenever your spouse requires it.

    13. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication ... Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. ... Defraud ye not one the other ... that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency. 1 Corinthians 7:2-5

  13. A married believer should stay with an unbelieiving spouse, unless the unbelieving spouse decides to leave.

    14. If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. ... But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace. 1 Corinthians 7:12-15

  14. If you are circumcised, don't become uncircumcised.

    15. Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. 1 Corinthians 7:18

  15. If you are uncircumcised, don't get circumcised.

    16. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised. 1 Corinthians 7:18

  16. If you are a slave, don't worry about it.

    17. Art thou called being a servant [slave]? care not for it. 1 Corinthians 7:21

  17. If you are set free, that's OK too.

    18. But if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. 1 Corinthians 7:21

  18. Don't be a slave to humans.

    19. Be not ye the servants [slaves] of men. 1 Corinthians 7:23

  19. Believers should pay preachers to preach to them.

    20. The Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. 1 Corinthians 9:14

  20. Don't lust after evil things.

    21. We should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 1 Corinthians 10:6

  21. Don't be idolaters.

    22. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. 1 Corinthians 10:7

    Flee from idolatry. 1 Corinthians 10:14

  22. Don't tempt Christ.

    23. If you tempt Christ, he'll send fiery serpents to bite and kill you. (Like he did in Numbers 21:6-9)
    Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. 1 Corinthians 10:9

  23. Don't murmur.

    24. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. 1 Corinthians 10:10

    Do all things without murmurings. Philippians 2:14

  24. Seek the wealth and welfare of other people, not yourself.

    25. Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth. 1 Corinthians 10:24

    Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Philippians 2:4

  25. Eat whatever is sold at the store.

    26. (Don't let your conscience bother you.)
    Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake. 1 Corinthians 10:25

  26. If you are invited to dinner at an unbeliever's house, eat whatever is set before you.

    27. (Don't let your conscience bother you.)
    If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.1 Corinthians 10:27

  27. Don't offend Jews, Gentiles, or the church.

    28. Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: 1 Corinthians 10:28

  28. If a woman refuses to cover her head while praying or prophesying, shave her head.

    29. Every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn. 1 Corinthians 11:5-6

    Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels. 1 Corinthians 11:9-10

  29. Men shouldn't cover their heads.

    30. (Because a man is the image and glory of God.)
    A man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.1 Corinthians 11:7

  30. Men should not have long hair.

    31. Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? 1 Corinthians 11:14

  31. Don't eat the bread and drink the cup of the Lord unworthily.

    32. (If you do, you are guilty of the body and blood of Jesus and will be damned to hell.)
    Whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. ... He that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.1 Corinthians 11:27-29

  32. Covet the best gifts.

    33. Covet earnestly the best gifts. 1 Corinthians 12:31

  33. Speak in tongues.

    34. I would that ye all spake with tongues. 1 Corinthians 14:5

  34. When you speak in an unknown tongue, pray that someone will interpret it.

    35. Let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret. 1 Corinthians 14:13

  35. Don't be children in understanding.

    36. Brethren, be not children in understanding. 1 Corinthians 14:20

  36. Be children in malice.

    37. Howbeit in malice be ye children. 1 Corinthians 14:20

  37. Be men in understanding.

    38. But in understanding be men. 1 Corinthians 14:20

  38. No more than two or three people should speak in tongues, with someone to interpret it.

    39. If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. 1 Corinthians 14:27

  39. Don't speak in tongues unless an interpreter is present.

    40. If there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.1 Corinthians 14:28

  40. At every church service, two or three prophets should speak and everyone else should judge what they say.

    41. Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. 1 Corinthians 14:29

  41. If something is revealed to you while you're sitting, wait for the other prophets have finished their prophecies.

    42. If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. 1 Corinthians 14:30-31

  42. Women are not allowed to speak in church.

    43. Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law ... for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.1 Corinthians 14:34-35

  43. If a woman wants to learn something, she should ask her husband at home.

    44. If they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home. 1 Corinthians 14:35

  44. If you think you are a prophet or spiritual, you must first acknowledge that everything that Paul says is a commandment from God.

    45. If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.1 Corinthians 14:37

  45. If any man is ignorant, let him be ignorant.

    46. If any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant. 1 Corinthians 14:38

  46. Covet to prophesy.

    47. Covet to prophesy. 1 Corinthians 14:39

  47. Don't forbid people to speak in tongues.

    48. Forbid not to speak with tongues. 1 Corinthians 14:39

  48. Do everything decently and in order.

    49. Let all things be done decently and in order. 1 Corinthians 14:40

  49. Follow righteousness.

    50. Follow after righteousness. Isaiah 51:1, 1 Timothy 6:11

    Awake to righteousness. 1 Corinthians 15:34

    Follow righteousness. 2 Timothy 2:22

  50. Be steadfast, unmoveable.

    51. Be ye stedfast, unmoveable. 1 Corinthians 15:58

  51. Work hard for the Lord.

    52. Be ... abounding in the work of the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:58

  52. Keep the faith.

    53. Stand fast in the faith. 1 Corinthians 16:13

    Follow after ... faith. 1 Timothy 6:11

    Follow ... faith. 2 Timothy 2:22

    Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them. 2 Timothy 3:14

  53. Be strong.

    54. Quit you like men, be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13

  54. Do everything with charity.

    55. Let all your things be done with charity. 1 Corinthians 16:14

    Above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. Colossians 3:14

    Follow ... charity. 2 Timothy 2:22

  55. Greet each other with a holy kiss.

    56. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss. 1 Corinthians 16:20

    Greet one another with an holy kiss. 2 Corinthians 13:12

    Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss. 1 Thessalonians 5:26

    Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. 1 Peter 5:14

  56. Curse whoever doesn't love Jesus.

    57. If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema. 1 Corinthians 16:22

2 comments:

Unknown said...

04: exactly how does one become uncircumcised?

Mon Apr 27, 05:28:00 AM 2015
Steve Wells said...

It's a difficult procedure, Tom, and I don't recommend it.

I suspect, though, that Paul didn't mean this literally. He meant that if you were circumcised and were following the laws of the Hebrew scriptures, you should continue to follow it (and stay circumcised). But if you were an uncircumcised gentile convert, you should stay uncircumcised and ignore the law.

Does anyone else have another idea of what Paul meant by becoming uncircumcised?

Mon Apr 27, 09:20:00 AM 2015

Post a Comment