1 Corinthinians - Living In The World But Not Of The World

Introduction to 1 Corinthians

Main Theme

First Corinthians is all about living like followers of Christ. A couple of years after Paul established a group of believers in Corinth, he received word that they were losing their way. In 1 Corinthians, Paul gives them practical advice on how to live as Christians in the midst of a culture that pressures them to compromise.

Background

Paul founded the church in Corinth around ad 51 (Acts 18:1–11). As he moved on with his missionary activity, he spent three years in Ephesus (Acts 20:31). While he was there (1 Cor 16:8), he heard that things were not going well in Corinth—believers were quarrelling (1:11; 5:1). Paul wrote at least one letter to try to straighten things out (5:9), but it did not solve the problem—so he wrote what we call 1 Corinthians and sent it with his associate Timothy (4:17). The letter probably was written toward the end of Paul’s stay in Ephesus, around ad 54–55.

Corinth was in Greece, but during Paul’s time the city was part of the Roman Empire. It was a major commercial center, had a bustling port, and as the third largest city in the Roman Empire, was a cosmopolitan city; it also was known for its sexual permissiveness. Many of the problems Paul addresses come from the Corinthian Christians’ tendency to reflect the values of their city rather than those of the body of Christ (6:15).

The Big Picture

Paul’s solution to the problems in Corinth is to look towards the cross. Likewise, solutions to every problem we face today is to look towards the cross. Jesus is our model for Christian living and, rather than thinking WWJD (What Would Jesus Do) we should find out WDJD (What Did Jesus Do). In the Bible are answers to every one of our life’s difficult questions.

Outline

Paul Addresses Church Problems (1:1–6:20)

1. The Christian’s Calling

(1 Cor. 1)

2. The Christian Message

(1 Cor. 2)

3. The Local Church

(1 Cor. 3)

4. The Christian Ministry

(1 Cor. 4)

5. Church Discipline

()

Paul Answers Church Questions (7:1–16:24)

6. Christian Marriage

(1 Cor. 7)

7. Christian Liberty

(1 Cor. 8; 10)

8. Personal Priorities

(1 Cor. 9)

9. Church Order

(1 Cor. 11)

10. The Church Body

(1 Cor. 12–13)

11. Using Spiritual Gifts

(1 Cor. 14)

12. The Resurrection

(1 Cor. 15)

13. Christian Stewardship

(1 Cor. 16)

Read & Study

Having read the book, how would you describe the church in Corinth? In what ways are they healthy? What “deadly ailments” do they suffer from?

ways are they healthy? What “deadly ailments” do they suffer from?