Paul [addressed] the Corinthians as “those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints” (1 Cor. 1:2). The congregation in Corinth was anything but a “holy” people in terms of life and conduct; false teaching, schisms, and immorality marred the church. Still, it was a congregation of saints, of the sanctified, because in spite of the sinful conduct of many of its members and the worldly character of the church itself, it was still the church of God in Corinth.

George Eldon Ladd (1911–1982), Professor für Neues Testament und Theologe

Related Bible passage: 1COR.1.2

Topics: Church & Congregation, Grace & Redemption

Occasions: For Reflection

George Eldon Ladd

George Eldon Ladd (1911–1982) war ein US-amerikanischer baptistischer Theologe und lehrte von 1950 bis 1980 als Professor für Neues Testament am Fuller Theological Seminary in Kalifornien. Er prägte im evangelikalen Raum das Konzept der inaugurierten Eschatologie, die das Reich Gottes als „schon jetzt, aber noch nicht vollendet“ versteht, und grenzte sich dabei scharf vom Dispensationalismus ab. Für Bibelleser bietet seine heilsgeschichtliche Theologie bis heute ein weit verbreitetes exegetisches Referenzmodell zum Verständnis neutestamentlicher Reich-Gottes-Texte.

All quotes by George Eldon Ladd (12)

More on this topic

The church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints.

Tim Keller

The Church is not a cultural club, but the family of Jesus.

Pope Francis

The Bible in the pulpit must never supersede the Bible at home.

John Charles Ryle

In essential unity; in nonessentials liberty; in all this charity.

Rupertus Meldenius

The Church is not a gallery for the exhibition of eminent Christians, but a school for the education of imperfect ones.

Henry Ward Beecher

I rejected the church for a time because I found so little grace there. I returned because I found grace nowhere else.

Philip Yancey

There is no perfect church. And besides, dear friend, if you ever found a perfect church, it would refuse to take you in. For as soon as it had taken you in, it would cease to be perfect. So your search is entirely useless.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

In a congregation, every person must be able to be as their heart truly is.

Nicolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf

All quotes · lumen.bible

lumen.bible