Sins of Grandfathers
Paul, on his second missionary journey, had established a church at Corinth and preached there for eighteen months. No preacher can live in a community and work with the local church without developing close and lasting relationships. Paul had a genuine caring love for the Corinthians and he was as much a part of their lives as their families.
How many letters Paul wrote to the Corinthian church is not known; however, two were included in the New Testament and reference is made to a third. (I Corinthians 5:9)
The Christians in Corinth thought that by being made “free” they could rule as kings with the authority to do whatever pleasured them and with selfish attitudes they argued. (4:8) Each person believed that he or
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The laws of God have changed under the various dispensations but the principals by which God deals with humanity have never varied. Anyway, a reminder to the Corinthians of how God had dealt with their fathers and grandfathers was an incentive for them to behave themselves.
Although, it had been over a thousand years before, the Christian Jews in Corinth knew well their history and Paul reminded them that the things that happened were examples to them. (I Corinthians 10:11)
First, their ancestors became discouraged and wanted to turn back, so, all of the adult males except two [Joshua and Caleb], were denied entrance into the promised land. Second, they lusted after carnal things. Third, the sin of idolatry became a real problem while Moses was on the mountain. Fourth, they were guilty of fornication. Fifth, there was murmuring and grumbling.
Paul could see these same sins in the church at Corinth and he mentioned them in order to teach needed lessons. The Israelites, by the way they lived, brought upon themselves the wrath of God, and Paul told the Corinthian Christians that the same thing could happen to