The language of Paul’s severe warning (6:14-7:1) focuses on the preservation of the community and its “holiness.” What do you make of the concern expressed by this passage? Does the effort to achieve reconciliation in fact threaten core values, either in personal or more general social relations?
Is the language of paradox useful for a 21st century audience? If so, how would you frame the paradox of the gospel? How might this have been read by its original audience?
Applying the Text:
If you have suffered a breach or falling out with friends or neighbors, what strategies have you used to try to repair the relationship? How do they compare with Paul’s outreach to the Corinthians in these chapters?
Paul describes a ‘godly grief’ that leads to repentance and reconciliation. In modern language, we often remind those who are grieving that their grief reflects a deep love for someone or something. How have you experienced this kind of ‘godly grief’ in your own life? How has this grief led to action or a greater understanding of your feelings of love?