Tonya Betz Ministries - Marriage Supper - Teachings

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Whose report did Paul believe? Can we believe someone's report? What are we to do if the reports of sin are true?

We will examine the Biblical guidelines for dealing with the sins of sexual immorality, idolatry, false teaching, and fraud.

The Corinthian Reports

In 1 Corinthians 1:11, Paul says that those of Chloe's household told him that there were "contentions" among the Corinthians. It is interesting to note that Paul believed the word of a woman and this woman was, presumably, the head of the household.

It is important to note that although women are not permitted to usurp the delegated authority of men to teach in the general assemblies, they are allowed to contribute greatly to the building up of the Body. The reports of mature Christian women are to be taken into consideration. In the Corinthian case, we see that Paul took the word of Chloe (and those of her household) and wrote a letter (or a portion of a letter) based upon that report. No doubt, Paul relied upon the Holy Spirit for confirmation. Or, he had already been warned by the Holy Spirit and Chloe's declaration was the confirmation. Either way, we must assume that the words of Chloe's household resonated in Paul's spirit. He believed the report and he acted on it.

In 1 Corinthians 11:18, he says he believes the report about divisions among them (these divisions being between rich and poor as opposed to the divisions in chapter 1 concerning teachers). We do not know if this report also came from Chloe, but Paul clearly accepts this report about the divisions.

We do not know how Chloe's house proceeded in the matter of contentions. It is not stated whether they went to the elders at the Corinthian church. It may be that they sought conclusion to this matter with the elders first but received no satisfaction, thereby taking the matter to Paul. On the other hand, it seems that there was very little in the way of true eldership in Corinth at that time, so Chloe's house may well have taken the matter straight to Paul. In either case, we know that the matter came to Paul and he did something about it. As a true elder, he sought to help the people at the Corinthian church by rebuking those who were contrary to Christ.

It may be assumed by the reader that Chloe's house may have tried to follow the procedure as outlined in Matthew 18:15, but 1 Corinthians was written some 5 to 10 years prior to the writing of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Therefore, any knowledge of such a procedure Chloe may have had could not have come from the written word that we have today. It is unclear whether Paul had taught the Matthew 18 procedure in Corinth or in Ephesus, the city in which 1 Corinthians was written. If he had taught such a procedure verbally, we certainly do not see it written in any of his letters.

In 1 Corinthians 5, we again see a "report," this time concerning sexual immorality, not divisions. We do not know who made the report to Paul. It may have been Chloe's household, or it may have been someone else. In any case, Paul once again relies on someone's report and, no doubt, the report was confirmed in his spirit. Indeed, in verses 3 and 4, he tells us that he has already dealt with this problem in his spirit and wishes the Corinthians to do the same as well as take physical action.

If we look at Paul's epistles from his first imprisonment (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon), we have to wonder how he knew what to write if he was not in those cities, at those churches. We know that Paul had visitors who gave him information, but we also know that the Holy Spirit directed Paul's writings.

How are we, as Christians, to respond to facts presented? Can we believe the reports of all people? Can we believe the reports of some people? Can we rely solely on reports? Clearly, when facts are substantiated, and the Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit concerning the situations, we must act. But how shall we proceed? Paul and John give us clear instructions...


	Sin in the Church by Carol Berubee http://www.tonyabetz.org/MSM/Product/sininthechurch1.htm Page 1 2 Whose report did Paul believe? Can we believe someone's report? What are we to do if the reports of sin are true? We will examine the Biblical guidelines for dealing with the sins of sexual immorality, idolatry, false teaching, and fraud. The Corinthian Reports In 1 Corinthians 1:11, Paul says that those of Chloe's household told him that there were "contentions" among the Corinthians. It is interesting to note that Paul believed the word of a woman and this woman was, presumably, the head of the household. It is important to note that although women are not permitted to usurp the delegated authority of men to teach in the general assemblies, they are allowed to contribute greatly to the building up of the Body. The reports of mature Christian women are to be taken into consideration. In the Corinthian case, we see that Paul took the word of Chloe (and those of her household) and wrote a letter (or a portion of a letter) based upon that report. No doubt, Paul relied upon the Holy Spirit for confirmation. Or, he had already been warned by the Holy Spirit and Chloe's declaration was the confirmation. Either way, we must assume that the words of Chloe's household resonated in Paul's spirit. He believed the report and he acted on it. In 1 Corinthians 11:18, he says he believes the report about divisions among them (these divisions being between rich and poor as opposed to the divisions in chapter 1 concerning teachers). We do not know if this report also came from Chloe, but Paul clearly accepts this report about the divisions. We do not know how Chloe's house proceeded in the matter of contentions. It is not stated whether they went to the elders at the Corinthian church. It may be that they sought conclusion to this matter with the elders first but received no satisfaction, thereby taking the matter to Paul. On the other hand, it seems that there was very little in the way of true eldership in Corinth at that time, so Chloe's house may well have taken the matter straight to Paul. In either case, we know that the matter came to Paul and he did something about it. As a true elder, he sought to help the people at the Corinthian church by rebuking those who were contrary to Christ. It may be assumed by the reader that Chloe's house may have tried to follow the procedure as outlined in Matthew 18:15, but 1 Corinthians was written some 5 to 10 years prior to the writing of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Therefore, any knowledge of such a procedure Chloe may have had could not have come from the written word that we have today. It is unclear whether Paul had taught the Matthew 18 procedure in Corinth or in Ephesus, the city in which 1 Corinthians was written. If he had taught such a procedure verbally, we certainly do not see it written in any of his letters. In 1 Corinthians 5, we again see a "report," this time concerning sexual immorality, not divisions. We do not know who made the report to Paul. It may have been Chloe's household, or it may have been someone else. In any case, Paul once again relies on someone's report and, no doubt, the report was confirmed in his spirit. Indeed, in verses 3 and 4, he tells us that he has already dealt with this problem in his spirit and wishes the Corinthians to do the same as well as take physical action. If we look at Paul's epistles from his first imprisonment (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon), we have to wonder how he knew what to write if he was not in those cities, at those churches. We know that Paul had visitors who gave him information, but we also know that the Holy Spirit directed Paul's writings. How are we, as Christians, to respond to facts presented? Can we believe the reports of all people? Can we believe the reports of some people? Can we rely solely on reports? Clearly, when facts are substantiated, and the Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit concerning the situations, we must act. But how shall we proceed? Paul and John give us clear instructions... Page 1 2
© 2002-2008 Tonya Betz Ministries

© 2002-2008 Tonya Betz Ministries