My initial impression of the Corinthian church was one endowed with abundant spiritual gifts, yet entangled in numerous challenges. Paul spent a year and a half establishing the church, only to face various problems within a short period of time. These issues included factional disputes, moral indiscretions, legal entanglements, and marital complexities, among others. The root cause of these problems, despite their faith in the Lord, stemmed from the lingering influence of sin and societal customs, leading the church to adopt worldly approaches in pursuit of their desired lifestyles, which inevitably led to unavoidable problems. Paul chose not to offer simplistic solutions, but instead used them as teaching opportunities to guide the congregation in understanding God’s will and living lives pleasing in Him.

Today, we live in a rapidly changing society where many issues cannot be answered with a simple “right or wrong,” such as politics, religion, social justice, gender identity, etc. These issues are complex, and individuals hold different perspectives. As Christians, our guiding principle remains the adherence to the teachings of Scripture. The problems witnessed in the Corinthian church two thousand years ago persist today, sometimes with heightened intensity. Therefore, it is crucial for us to earnestly study the Corinthian letters and face our daily lives with the truth of the Bible.

Our brothers and sisters in the church are from diverse countries, social backgrounds, and age groups. It is imperative to adopt a unified perspective to conduct ourselves according to biblical truth. Despite the many negative examples evident in the Corinthian church, careful study and reflection can bring positive results to our faith. As Paul said, “But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11). May we hope to gain more insights from the Corinthian letters in the new year and walk on the path that aligns with the heart of our Lord.
(Translation by Chet/Mabel Siew)