Well, we don’t need to speculate because Paul tells us right here in 1 Corinthians 15 what he shared with the Corinthians as being “of first importance”: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. Paul’s first and most important priority was not to organize or to criticize, to politicize or philosophize. Rather, he came to make an announcement, to proclaim good news, to tell what Jesus had done, focused specifically on His death and resurrection.

 
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, . . . Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed. – 1 Cor. 15:3-4, 11

Imagine you’re on a tour of a fine historic home. As you’re on the tour the tour guide is pointing out the architectural details, telling stories about the history of the home, showing you some of the antique furnishings. You’re having a nice tour, but then you start to smell smoke. Before long, you start to realize that the fine historic home you’re touring is on fire and that the fire is rising up in the house to where you and your tour group are on the second floor. No one else seems to notice what’s happening. Not wanting to panic the group, you go quietly to the tour group leader and you whisper to her that the house is on fire and you ask her about the best escape route.

Now, what would you expect your tour group leader to do? You would hope that she would quickly and calmly lead the tour group to the closest exit and out a safe escape route. You would be absolutely flabbergasted and horrified if she were to continue talking about the antique four-poster bed and the beautiful embroidery on the bedspread. In that kind of situation, we have no doubt what information is “of first importance.” We know what we need to hear and what we need to do.

What about when it comes to God or what some people like to call “religious issues”? Do you ever wonder what’s the most important thing for you to know or to tell others about Christianity, what is “of first importance”?

When the Apostle Paul came to Corinth in the year 51AD, he was on his Second Missionary Journey. He entered a city that was much like our contemporary American culture. Corinth was a fairly wealthy and cosmopolitan city. The people of Corinth were religiously diverse, worshiping many different gods. The Roman government also allowed the Jews to practice their religion freely.

The city was also legendary for two things: political corruption and sexual immorality. Corinthians also loved their sports and Corinth was the home of the Isthmian Games, the second-biggest sporting event in the Greco-Roman world after the Olympics. They were held every two years and Paul was there for the games that were held in the spring of 51AD. So, fairly wealthy, cosmopolitan, religiously diverse, politically corrupt, sexually immoral and obsessed with sports? Yup, that all sounds pretty familiar to me!

So as he entered this culture to proclaim Christ and plant churches, what did Paul consider to be “of first importance”? Perhaps he decided to launch a campaign against the political corruption in the city? We know that much of the meat in the marketplace had been sacrificed to idols, so perhaps he organized a boycott against the idol-worshipping meat-sellers in the market? Well, maybe not. Maybe he debated the latest religious and philosophical ideas with the leading men of the city. After all, Paul was highly educated and trained in philosophy and theology.

Well, we don’t need to speculate because Paul tells us right here in 1 Corinthians 15 what he shared with the Corinthians as being “of first importance”: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. Paul’s first and most important priority was not to organize or to criticize, to politicize or philosophize. Rather, he came to make an announcement, to proclaim good news, to tell what Jesus had done, focused specifically on His death and resurrection.

Earlier, in 1 Corinthians 2, Paul recalled to the minds of the Corinthians how he came and what his message was: “When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.”

Of all the things Paul could talk about and do, why was it that he came first and foremost preaching Christ and him crucified, proclaiming “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures”?

Well, it’s very simple: No matter what your background, your income level, your education level, your profession, your political position, your philosophical perspective, your race, religion, color, creed- no matter who you are, where you’ve come from, or where you think you’re going – THIS is the message you need to hear.

Jason A. Van Bemmel is a Teaching Elder in the Presbyterian Church in America and is Pastor of Faith PCA in Cheraw, S.C. This article appeared on his blog Ponderings of a Pilgrim Pastor and is used with permission.