1 Corinthians' Central Theme: Paul centers this book around the Sacrifice of JESUS Christ. He then uses the Yearly Feast Cycle to expand this Theme. - JESUS' Sacrifice is The Focal Point - JESUS Fulfills All The Feasts HE Is Our Communion Service, HE enables Pentecost and HE establishes The Resurrection.
Getting The Leaven Out of GOD's House is Important - We are Puffed Up: Sin Must Be Removed
Judgment Begins at The House of GOD
Paul centers 1Corinthians on The Sacrifice of Christ. GOD is Intimately Involved with each Christian:
In Chapter 1, Paul shows how GOD is intimately involved with The Church and it's members. In Chapters 1 and 2, Paul reveals his Central Theme: The Sacrifice of Christ as The Father's Beloved and Only Begotten Son - HE is The One and Only acceptable payment for sin, and The Father's chosen Lamb. 1:18 -- The Central Theme of the Gospel is The Cross (Stauros - Stake or Post.) 1:23-24 Christ's Sacrifice on The Cross is a Stumbling-block to Jews, or foolishness to the Greeks. But to Christians it demonstrates The Power of GOD to save those who believe. 2:2 Paul declares Christ's Sacrifice to be the turning point which enables everything in The New Covenant (enabling a New Relationship between The Father and mankind.) Removing Sin from The House (Church) of GOD is dealt with from The Old Testament concept of Removing Leaven from each household before the Passover was to begin. Exodus 12:15,19,20, 34, 39, 13:3,7. Paul uses the Term 'Puffed Up' six times in 1Corinthians. See Diagram '1 Corinthians Passover'. Five of these show the need to remove sin from The Church. These five verses precede the Communion Service in Chapter 11. Each of these shows a type of sin often found among Christians. The sixth and final reference to 'Puffed Up' reveals that when we are in Communion with GOD, our Love is 'NOT Puffed Up.' In Chapter 16, Paul uses the Start of The Barley Harvest known as 'The Wave Offering' to direct us to have Charity in giving to the needy.
The term 'first day of the week' is a very poor translation and gives a wrong idea of Sunday Worship rather than Sabbath Worship. A more accurate translation should be 'first of the Sabbaths.' The Wave Sheath was certainly harvested and waved on Sunday, but that day was a work day and not a Sabbath. That day was the beginning of The Barley Harvest, and Paul confirms this in verse 16:8 where he mentions he will tarry until Pentecost, which was 49 days later. Israel was directed to pay offerings and tithes during their harvests. Deu 16:16, 2Chr 8:13.
So this final and 7th reference to The Feast of Unleavened Bread in 1Cor 16:2 confirms the idea of Charity as we see in 13:4.
The Communion Service is how Christians are to Observe The Passover
In 1Cor 5:6-8, Paul directly connects Passover, The Feast of Unleavened Bread, and Christian Life. Here we have a direct recommendation by Paul to Keep The Feast, and This Feast is The Communion Service as 10:16-22 clearly states. In 11:23 through the remainder of Chapter 11, Paul advises The Church to eat the Bread, and Drink The Cup but there may follow some serious problems against those who do not accept The Judgments and Chastening of The LORD.
