Why is 1 Corinthians becoming more relevant to our society today?
The letter is increasingly relevant because modern society is growing closer to ancient Corinth in its rampant immorality. The same sexual sins Paul addressed—joining to a harlot, becoming one flesh—are mirrored in our culture, making his warnings and teaching about God's design for marriage timely.
Les teaches that Corinth's immorality was rampant and did not stop there; it went to the very depth. He observes that the same thing is happening in our own country today. That is why this letter is now becoming more appropriate: even our society is getting closer and closer to that of Corinth. Paul's argument in verse 16 addresses being joined sexually to a harlot and becoming one body, quoting that the two shall be one flesh. Les points back to Genesis to show where Paul gets this. In Genesis 2, God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, took one of his ribs, and made the woman. Adam said she was bone of his bones and flesh of his flesh; she was called woman, ishah, because she was taken out of man, ish. Verse 24 says a man shall leave his father and mother, cleave to his wife, and they shall be one flesh. This explains why the letter's teaching about sexual union and marriage is so relevant to a society becoming like Corinth.