Metaphysical Bible Interpretation of I Corinthians Chapter 1
Metaphysically Interpreting I Corinthians 1:1-9
1:1Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, 1:2unto the church of God which is at Corinth, even them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, their Lord and ours:
1:3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1:4I thank my God always concerning you, for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus; 1:5that in everything ye were enriched in him, in all utterance and all knowledge; 1:6even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: 1:7so that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ; 1:8who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye be unreproveable in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1:9God is faithful, through whom ye were called into the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Sunday, June 11, 1939: I Cor. 1:1-2
What is the meaning of the statements Paul called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ" and "the church of God called to be Saints? The call in each case corresponds to the urge that man feels to give up his petty personal will by merging it in the will of God. The higher will is identified with the perfect-man idea, Jesus Christ.
What is the meaning of the name Sosthenes and what does it represent? Sosthenes (sound strength; secure in strength) represents the idea of Christ as the saving, redeeming principle in man and as the unfailing strength of man’s life. The name is fittingly associated with the word of Truth (Paul).
December 3, 1944: I Cor. 1:1-3
What “manifestation of the spirit” is given to each one who undertakes to live by it? Each one who enters into the spirit of the Christ teaching is enabled to live harmoniously and to express his gifts in a way that insures him dominion over his world, allowing his higher self full development.
What determines our influence over others? Our consciousness. As we keep our mind stayed on God, our influence for good is felt wherever we are.
Metaphysically Interpreting I Corinthians 1:10-17
1:10Now I beseech you, brethren, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 1:11For it hath been signified unto me concerning you, my brethren, by them that are of the household of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 1:12Now this I mean, that each one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos: and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 1:13Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized into the name of Paul? 1:14I thank God that I baptized none of you, save Crispus and Gaius; 1:15lest any man should say that ye were baptized into my name. 1:16And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. 1:17For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not in wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made void.
Sunday, June 11, 1939: I Cor. 1:10-11
In what respect does Paul’s call to the Corinthians to live in unity accord with the teaching of Jesus Christ? The call is identical with the teaching of Jesus, as shown in the prayer: “Holy Father, keep them in my name which thou hast given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.”
How does unity in Christ make itself manifest among men? The first manifestation of unity in Christ is in word ("that ye all speak the same thing"), the second in mind, and the third in judgment ("that ye be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment").
Why is contention discovered by "the household of Chloe”? The household of Chloe represents spiritual thoughts of life and love that are increasing, harmoniously. Such thoughts quickly divine cross-currents that arise from a contentious frame of mind.
What further reason have men to be one in Christ? That all are brothers who have accepted the word of Truth (Paul) and become its expressions. All who are children of one father are one in brotherhood.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1928: I Cor. 1:10-13
Where do we find the only true unity? The only true unity is unity in Spirit. Only as Christians really grow into the understanding and love of the Christ mind will all misunderstanding be put away.
What does the word "Chloe" signify? Chloe, meaning "tender shoot, tender growth, verdant herbage," signifies a springing into expression, or manifest growth, of the word of Truth that has been planted in the love center (Corinth) in individual consciousness.
Define the meaning of the "household of Chloe." The "household of Chloe" represents spiritual thoughts of life and love that are budding and growing naturally and harmoniously.
What is the result when cross currents are introduced into this spiritual state of consciousness? These thoughts are quick to sense the cross currents of a divided or contentious attitude of mind. They communicate the news of this inharmony to the word of Truth (Paul), so that by the activity of the word the cross currents may be eliminated and the love consciousness reestablished in the harmony of the Christ Spirit.
In individual consciousness what does Paul's ministry signify? Paul's ministry signifies the word of Truth in its work throughout the consciousness and the organism of man.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1933: I Cor. 1:10-18
In today’s lesson, what eternal truth does Paul call to the attention of the Christians in Corinth? In a very skillful way he brings home to the Christians of Corinth the truth that all men are equal in Christ.
To emphasize this point, what striking figure does Paul employ? He assumes for the moment that they are divided among themselves over the subject of their entrance into the faith, that some who had come in through his preaching felt superior to others who had been converted by Apollos, that still others who held to the views of Cephas looked down on the brethren who had come into Christianity through other avenues.
Why does Paul choose this method? Paul chooses this method of impressing on the Corinthians the necessity of their working together amicably without undue exaltation of certain of their number over the others.
What other truth does he, in effect, tell them? In effect he also tells them that knowledge puffs up, but that love builds up, and that his desire is to build them on a solid foundation by showing them the transforming power of spiritual understanding and love, and persuading them to rest on it.
In today’s lesson Paul says that “the word of the cross . . . is the power of God” to those who are saved. Metaphysically, what does this mean? Metaphysically, the word of the cross is the word of denial of the personal self, or the sense nature, which virtually everyone, in ignorance of this true self, has built up as the substructure of his life.
Metaphysically Interpreting I Corinthians 1:18-31
1:18For the word of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us who are saved it is the power of God. 1:19For it is written,
I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
And the discernment of the discerning will I bring to nought.1:20Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 1:21For seeing that in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom knew not God, it was God's good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save them that believe. 1:22Seeing that Jews ask for signs, and Greeks seek after wisdom: 1:23but we preach Christ crucified, unto Jews a stumblingblock, and unto Gentiles foolishness; 1:24but unto them that are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 1:25Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
1:26For behold your calling, brethren, that not many wise after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 1:27but God chose the foolish things of the world, that he might put to shame them that are wise; and God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong; 1:28and the base things of the world, and the things that are despised, did God choose, yea and the things that are not, that he might bring to nought the things that are: 1:29that no flesh should glory before God. 1:30But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who was made unto us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption: 1:31that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
July 12, 1936: I Cor. 1:21-25
Explain how the prophecy will be fulfilled: “They shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know Jehovah; for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them.” The prophecy of Jeremiah will be fulfilled when the worldly wisdom in which men take pride is transformed by the wisdom that is from above, and both are illumined by the light of Truth.
Since God is infinite wisdom and power, what meaning can attach to the expressions “the foolishness of God" and “the weakness of God”? These expressions serve to heighten the contrast between divine wisdom and worldly wisdom, divine power and personal power. The slightest degree of divine wisdom expressed by man is better than the highest degree of intellectual development he may make, and with power and might.
November 24, 1946: I Cor. 1:22-25
More than one effort has been made by the people of the world to realize oneness of interest, but thus far all have fallen short of success. Fear, suspicion, and greed are the principal deterrents to success. These will be overcome, with self-interest, as the various peoples learn to think of themselves as part of the one world that thinkers have already begun to envisage. The signs that the Jews demanded and the wisdom sought by the Greeks were both attempts to arrive at understanding of our essential unity. The findings of science are on an almost universal basis and the machinery of peace must be also if peace is to prevail on a world-wide scale. The "power of God and the wisdom of God" will have to be invoked, put to work along, to bring this supreme aim to realization. Spiritual ends are gained by spiritual means, and the peace of Christ will not be universally established until life is seen as eternal and all-pervading. The resurrection of Jesus is preached to speed this realization, and not until the realization is gained will the spiritual outlook prevail over the material.
– UNITY magazine.
Transcribed by Lloyd Kinder on 11-08-2013
