What kinds of things does Paul address in 1 Corinthians?
Paul addresses problems in the church that arose from a question-and-answer letter, including whether believers may eat meat offered to idols. He deals with these matters not as commendations but as corrections, handling them lovingly, in meekness, and with the strength and power of the Word of the Lord Jesus.
Les teaches that 1 Corinthians is Paul’s response to a question-and-answer letter from the Corinthians, who were beset with all kinds of problems. Paul deals with these problems lovingly and in the spirit of meekness, but also from the side of strength and the power of the Word of the Lord Jesus. Les emphasizes that the things dealt with in this letter are predominantly problems in the Church, not things Paul commended the Church for. As an example, Les discusses meat offered to idols: Paul said the dumb idol could not affect the meat, and he could eat it thinking nothing of it, but if eating would be a stumbling block to an unbeliever or a young believer, he would not eat it for that person’s sake.