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 PrintableVersion Let's study 1 CorinthiansChurch health checkLET’S STUDY 1 CORINTHIANS 1 Corinthians can seem a daunting letter to understand. It is quite long and touches on many sensitive and controversial issues, such as church divisions, marriage and singleness, and spiritual gifts, to name a few. This excellent commentary by a seasoned Bible teacher would help any reader to get to grips with the message and relevance of the letter. It is not a technical commentary exploring all the issues and interpretations in detail (which occasionally leaves one wishing for more), but is very much geared for the ordinary individual Christian or group Bible study. It is designed to be user-friendly, with a complete outline of 1 Corinthians at the end, and questions prepared for group discussion. Based on the ESV text, it is written in a lucid style and helpfully divides the letter up into manageable chunks, each chapter generally only being five or six pages long. Yet the book displays a rich understanding of the first-century context and sees each passage in the light of the overall argument. David Jackman keeps bringing us back to the central thrust: ‘True spirituality is cross-shaped and its focus is self-sacrificing love that builds up others’ (p. 201). There are asides and illustrations and helpful application to us today. While coming from a clearly conservative evangelical rather than a charismatic position, the style of writing is not aggressive, and the author evenhandedly challenges churches of all sorts, analysing, for example (pp. 58-59), the dangers of church as ‘an entertainment centre’, ‘a university lecture room’ or as a ‘health farm’. It is not a commentary with which to beat others over the head, but in the light of which to examine our hearts and churches. May God use this book to the blessing of many. Rupert Bentley-Taylor, © Evangelicals Now - April 2005 |
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