BML 103: Corinthians

Subtitle: Pastoral Jurisprudence for a Church in Crisis

Course Description

Welcome to BML 103! This course is an intensive study of Paul’s letters to the church in Corinth, a vibrant, wealthy, and notoriously troubled city. In 1 & 2 Corinthians, we get an unfiltered look at the complex realities of early church life. The Corinthian believers were struggling with everything from deep divisions and spiritual pride to gross immorality and theological confusion.

This course approaches the Corinthian correspondence not as a list of disconnected problems, but as a series of masterful legal and theological arguments from a “Pharisee of Pharisees.” We will analyze Paul’s pastoral jurisprudence—his method of applying timeless gospel truths to the messy, real-world problems that churches face. We will trace his legal reasoning from indictment to sentencing and precedent-setting, exploring how he navigates the clash between Jewish Halakhah, Roman law, and the new “law of Christ.” Get ready to extract powerful principles for contemporary church life, leadership, and personal holiness.

Course Structure

This course is composed of five chapters, each building upon the last to provide a comprehensive understanding of 1 & 2 Corinthians. Each chapter includes a detailed summary, five in-depth lessons, a chapter test, and an optional “Deep Dive” for further study. The course culminates in a final course test.

• Course: Syllabus + Interactive Syllabus + 5 Chapters + Course Test
• Chapter: Summary + 5 Lessons + Chapter Test + Deep Dive

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Analyze the Context: Describe the historical, cultural, and legal background of 1st-century Corinth, including the tensions between Jewish and Roman law.
• Trace Legal Arguments: Follow Paul’s continuous legal and theological reasoning, particularly through the unified “Corinthian Case” of 1 Corinthians 5-10.
• Define Key Legal Terms: Define and apply key legal and theological concepts such as porneia, arayot, cherem, marit ayin, and ennomos Christou.
• Grasp Foundational Doctrines: Articulate the foundational doctrines taught in Corinthians, such as the resurrection, the proper use of spiritual gifts, and the Jewish roots of the Lord’s Supper.
• Apply Pastoral Jurisprudence: Extract and apply Paul’s pastoral strategies and legal principles to contemporary ministry challenges.
• Understand Tiered Obligation: Explain the Hebraic concept of tiered legal obligation and how Paul navigates it in his ministry to Jews and Gentiles.

Course Outline

Chapter 1: The Indictment – A Foundational Legal Case (1 Corinthians 1-5)

• Lesson 1: Factions, Wisdom, and the Foundation of the Community (1 Corinthians 1-3)
• Lesson 2: The Nature of True Apostleship and Judgment (1 Corinthians 4)
• Lesson 3: The Indictment: Defining Porneia and Arayot (1 Corinthians 5:1-2)
• Lesson 4: The Sentence: Cherem and Handing Over to Satan (1 Corinthians 5:3-8)
• Lesson 5: Purging the Leaven: The Principle of Community Purity (1 Corinthians 5:9-13)

Chapter 2: The Fallout – Jurisdictional and Contractual Chaos (1 Corinthians 6-7)

• Lesson 1: Jurisdictional Crisis: Beit Din vs. Roman Courts (1 Corinthians 6:1-8)
• Lesson 2: The Vice List as Legal Specification (1 Corinthians 6:9-20)
• Lesson 3: Pauline Takanot: A New Charter for Marriage (1 Corinthians 7:1-16)
• Lesson 4: The Principle of Remaining in One’s Calling (1 Corinthians 7:17-24)
• Lesson 5: Counsel for the Unmarried and Widows (1 Corinthians 7:25-40)

Chapter 3: The Law of Liberty – Idol Meat and Community Architecture (1 Corinthians 8-10)

• Lesson 1: Gnosis vs. Agape: The “Strong” and the “Weak” (1 Corinthians 8)
• Lesson 2: The Shema and the Architecture of Community (Oikodomē) (1 Corinthians 8:4-6)
• Lesson 3: A Tiered System of Law: Paul’s Defense of his Apostleship (1 Corinthians 9)
• Lesson 4: Warnings from Israel’s History and the Problem of Marit Ayin (1 Corinthians 10:1-22)
• Lesson 5: The Supreme Law: Doing All for the Glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:23-33)

Chapter 4: Order in Worship and the Supremacy of Love (1 Corinthians 11-14)

• Lesson 1: Headship and the Jewish Roots of the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11)
• Lesson 2: Spiritual Gifts and the Unity of the Body (1 Corinthians 12)
• Lesson 3: The Supremacy of Love (1 Corinthians 13)
• Lesson 4: Prophecy, Tongues, and Intelligibility in Worship (1 Corinthians 14:1-25)
• Lesson 5: Orderly Worship and Final Instructions (1 Corinthians 14:26-40)

Chapter 5: Resurrection, Reconciliation, and Apostolic Defense (1 Corinthians 15 – 2 Corinthians 13)

• Lesson 1: The Certainty and Significance of the Resurrection (1 Corinthians 15)
• Lesson 2: The Character of a New Covenant Ministry (2 Corinthians 1-4)
• Lesson 3: The Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5-7)
• Lesson 4: The Grace of Generous Giving (2 Corinthians 8-9)
• Lesson 5: The Fool’s Speech and Strength in Weakness (2 Corinthians 10-13)

Assessments & Grading

• Chapter Quizzes: Short quizzes will follow each lesson to assess comprehension.
• Chapter Tests: A test at the end of each of the five chapters will review the material covered.
• Final Course Test: A comprehensive final exam will cover the key ideas from all five chapters.
• Passing Requirement: To successfully complete this course, you must achieve a score of 80% or higher on each of the five Chapter Tests and the Final Course Test.