Paul's Definition Of Sin In 1 Corinthians

The Bible defines what a sin is through the Ten Commandments and other commandments, yet there are still some things that the Bible is unclear about regarding sin. The Corinthians thought that they knew the right from wrong, but they were mistaken. In 1 Corinthians, Paul addresses some of the issues the hedonistic and ascetic Corinthians were struggling with. The hedonists believed that to be spiritual they shouldn’t deny themselves anything while the ascetics believed that to be spiritual they should deny themselves all earthly pleasures. Paul corrects them by defining sin throughout 1 Corinthians. According to 1 Corinthians, sin is causing another believer to sin. It explains in more depth that sin is not glorifying God through one’s actions, something that causes one’s neighbor to stumble, or something that hinders the Gospel from being spread. All of one’s actions should glorify God. When a believer’s actions do glorify God, it gives others an example to follow …show more content…
1 Corinthians 9:12b says, “Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ” (ESV). Paul knew that if he asked for payment for his stay in Corinth it would hinder the Hedonists’ relationship with Christ. The Hedonists were used to paying temple prostitutes as an act of worship and for the Hedonists to pay Paul, they would see paying temple prostitutes as morally okay and would continue that sin. Paul leads an example and takes up tent-making so that he can pay for his stay with the Corinthians without defiling their conscience. He was able to spread the Gospel to them and they received it without any hindrances. In today’s world, this is like spreading the Gospel to a remote village or a poor country and avoiding anything to hinder their relationship with God. They should avoid anything that might hinder them so that God’s message is clear to