Lesson 1 : Epistles

Beginning Discussion

1. Please do introductions with new participants in the group.
2. Share questions you have about the text.
3. Share observations and summary conclusions about the text.

Opening Prayer

Psalm 119:14–18 I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches. ¹⁵ I will meditate on Your precepts And regard Your ways. ¹⁶ I shall delight in Your statutes; I shall not forget Your word. ¹⁷ Deal bountifully with Your servant, That I may live and keep Your word. ¹⁸ Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law.

Hermeneutics & Exegesis

Hermeneutics refers to the theory and principles of interpretation — the rules, methods, and philosophy behind understanding Scripture.

Exegesis is the practice of interpreting a specific passage using hermeneutical principles. It involves analyzing the text carefully, drawing out its meaning based on context, grammar, and historical background.

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Hermeneutics Rule

Every believer is expected to the best of their ability to read, meditate and hang on every word of God, seeking to accurately understand God’s word to the best of their ability.

I’m not getting much out of it.

This is for the “scholars.”

Hermeneutics Rule

Remove as many preconceptions and interpretive lenses as possible.

Hermeneutics Rule

Seek to discover the author’s intended meaning of the text.

There is one meaning to a text, that is controlled by the Author, not the reader.

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“What that means to me is..”

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Digging for more profound meaning

Word associations

Hermeneutic Rule

Seek to discover the author’s intended meaning by observing the Genre of the text.

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Genres

Hermeneutic Rule

Seek to discover the author’s intended meaning by observing the flow of thought of the text.

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Flow of Thought

Flow of Thought

1 Cor 13:8-13

Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part; ¹⁰ but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. ¹¹ When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. ¹² For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. ¹³ But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Hermeneutic Rules

1. Remove preconceptions
2. Author’s Intent by Genre
3. Author’s Intent by Flow of Thought

1 Cor 13:8-13

Mark’s Personal Story

1. A definitive verse on the end of sign spiritual gifts.
2. Dr. Robert Thomas

Dr. Robert L. Thomas

Greek term τὸ τέλειον (to teleion), commonly translated as "the perfect," and argues that it signifies "complete" rather than "perfect." He contends that the context of 1 Corinthians 13 supports this interpretation, suggesting that the passage refers to the completion of the New Testament canon. Thomas elaborates on why the substantive cannot mean "the perfect," why it must mean "complete" or "mature," and why the context requires such an understanding.

etsjets.org "Tongues... Will Cease," published in the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society in 1974.

MacArthur Study Bible

“The “perfect” is not the completion of Scripture, since there is still the operation of those two gifts and will be in the future kingdom (cf. Joel 2:28; Ac 2:17; Rev 11:3). The Scriptures do not allow us to see “face to face” or have perfect knowledge as God does (v. 12). The “perfect” is not the rapture of the church or the second coming of Christ, since the kingdom to follow these events will have an abundance of preachers and teachers (cf. Is 29:18; 32:3, 4; Joel 2:28; Rev 11:3). The perfect must be the eternal state, when we in glory see God face to face (Rev 22:4) and have full knowledge in the eternal new heavens and new earth. Just as a child grows to full understanding, believers will come to perfect knowledge and no such gifts will be necessary.”

Perfect = “Telion” = ????

• Completion of NT Canon
• A Believer’s/ the Church’s Maturity
• Rapture of Believers
• Second Coming of Christ
• Eternal State & Believer’s Glorification

Do not come to conclusions by consensus or appeal to authority

Hermeneutic Rules

Hermeneutic Rules

1. Remove preconceptions
2. Author’s Intent by Genre
3. Author’s Intent by Flow of Thought

1 Cor 13:8-13 Genre

Letters typically have

1. Situational Context
2. Author’s purpose for the letter
3. Theology & Application
4. Tone / Structure of Argument, Instruction, Key Themes.

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1 Corinthians 1:10–11 Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you.

The purpose was to correct a church plagued with immorality and disunity. Paul’s purpose was to write a corrective letter addressing disorder in their private and corporate lives.

Larger Context

Hermeneutic Rules

1. Remove preconceptions
2. Author’s Intent by Genre
3. Author’s Intent by Flow of Thought

1 Corinthians 12:1–7 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware. ² You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the mute idols, however you were led. ³ Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. ⁴ Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. ⁵ And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. ⁶ There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. ⁷ But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

V8-11 More specifics on the principle that the HS gives gifts for the common good.

V12-27 The body analogy. One body, different members.

ERRORS : “I don’t need you. No one needs me. Everyone should do what I do.”

1 Corinthians 12:27–31

Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it. ²⁸ And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. ²⁹ All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? ³⁰ All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? ³¹ But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I show you a still more excellent way.

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PAUSE reading chps 12-14

What is the flow of thought?

1. There should be unity of faith and appreciation of different giftings given by the spirit.

Chapter 13

1. The excellence of Godly LOVE.
2. OUR PARAGRAPH : V8-13

= LOVE NEVER FAILS.

Larger Context

1 Cor 13:8-13

Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away.

Chapter 13:8-13

What is the flow of thought of the paragraph?

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Compare & Contrast

LASTING / FULL

Love

TEMPORARY / PARTIAL

V8 But if Prophecy, will be done away.

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V8 If tongues, they will cease.

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V8 if knowledge, will be done away.

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1 Cor 13:8-13 interpretations

1. The gifts are inferior to LOVE
2. The gifts are temporary and will go away, but not love.

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WHEN? WHY?

1 Cor 13:8-13

9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part; 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.

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1 Cor 13:8-13

9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part; 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.

1. The perfect makes the partial unnecessary.

Analogy to explain the contrast

11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.

12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.

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Analogy to explain the contrast

The problem with the gifts is not because it threatens scripture, the problem with the gifts is me.

1. I’m a child, I speak, think, reason like a child.
2. I see in mirror dimly.

Analogy to explain the contrast

11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.

12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.

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What is the perfect

The PERFECT is related to me becoming a man, knowing fully & seeing face to face.

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I’m not convinced ”the Perfect” is the completion of the New Testament Canon by logic of context.

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If I LOVE, HOPE, & TRUST God, I am exercising the lasting and greater gifts.

What is the perfect?

1 John 3:2 (NASB95) Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.

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ML’s take – our glorification. A rich man should never boast for his life here is temporary, a Gifted man should never boast for the same reason.

Discussion Questions

1. Share reflection/ anything learned from interpretation rules covered today? Any confessions or examples?
2. Considering context of 1 Cor, How does personal ambition ruin service in the church? What are the results of misusing gifts?
3. Love is a must-have but so is biblical accuracy. How do you balance the two?