Titus had reported back good news to Paul. There was sorrow about the sexual sin that had taken place and this had led to repentance which in turn leads to reconciliation. the church responded well to Paul’s intervention.

Paul makes refernce to a ‘painful visit’ he had made to Corinth which involved church discipline. He teaches that the purpose of discipline is to bring forgiveness and restoration.

In Corinth, Aphrodite - the goddess of fertility - was worshipped. Paul explained that to join with prostitutes would have a spiritual effect. As Christians, our bodies belong to the Lord.

Although often used in marriage services and to encourage Christian love, Paul is concerned about the motives for using the gifts of the Spirit. This love is self-sacrificing and serving others.

This is the earliest recorded account of the resurrection of Jesus, given by Peter to Paul and now given by Paul to the Corinthian church to give them hope. These are the historical facts.

Becoming a Christian involves a change in attitudes and life empowered by the Holy Spirit. It is necessary to put off the past life in order to put on the new life.

Paul is making some concluding comments and having finished his argument about legalism, he wants to be practical in terms of helping the Galatians become mature in their churches.

In seeking to build up the church, Paul addresses the vulnerability of the church to opposition. As Christians we should rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn. We should not seek to revenge opposition but be kind to those who persecute us.

Paul encourages his readers to believe that they have moved from a life in slavery to sin to living in God’s grace. He refers to baptism which clearly shows dying to the old life and rising up to new life. We need to count ourselves dead to sin.

Paul uses the imagery of slavery to show what was the old life but compares it to the freedom of the new life. We are obligated to please God in response to God’s generous love towards us. We choose to follow God.