The Church in a Pagan Society

By David Ewert

Subjects: I Corinthians, Biblical interpreation, New Testament, Mennonite Brethren, Mennonites

Description: This is a collection of studies written by Prof. David Ewert on the New Testament letter called I Corinthians. They were first published in the *Mennonite Brethren Herald*—beginning October 10, 1980, and ending January 14, 1983—and appear in this book with only minor corrections. In I Corinthians, the Apostle Paul responds to first-century challenges put to him and his missionary team by the Christian community in Corinth trying to live authentically within a pagan society, challenges like: dissension in the "body of Christ," immorality that degrades the human body, contentious legal disputes, strained and broken marital relations, and differences of opinion on what's acceptable in community life and worship. Intended for study groups, sermon preparation, and general Christian instruction, Prof. Ewert's commentary explores twentieth-century versions of these challenges, demonstrating how I Corinthians can still be instructive to the church in a pagan society.