First Corinthians 1--Introduction

INTRODUCTION:

1. Author of the book of First Corinthians

2. Date of the book of First Corinthians

3. Purpose of the book of First Corinthians

4. Background of the book of First Corinthians.

5. Unique Features of the book of First Corinthians

6. Outline of the book of First Corinthians

BODY:

1. Author of the Book of First Corinthians

1 Corinthians 1:1 NKJV

1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,

A. The first thing to point out is that Paul claims authorship of the book within the text a number of times.

1 Corinthians 1:1 NKJV

1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,

1 Corinthians 16:21 NKJV

21 The salutation with my own hand—Paul’s.

1 Corinthians 1:12–17 NKJV

12 Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name. 16 Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other. 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.

1 Corinthians 3:4–6 NKJV

4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal? 5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.

1 Corinthians 3:22 NKJV

22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours.

1. If we are going to believe that all Scripture is inspired by God then the fact that the text assigns authorship to Paul should be sufficient.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 NKJV

16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2. If First Corinthians is Scripture and belongs in the cannon then it is inspired because Peter records no scripture is of private interpretation or ever came by the will of man.

2 Peter 1:19–21 NKJV

19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

3. Peter acknowledges Paul’s writings as Scripture.

2 Peter 3:14–16 NKJV

14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, 16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.

B. External evidence of Pauline authorship.

1. Clement of Rome acknowledged Pauline authorship in 95 A.D. in his letter to the Corinthian church.

A. “the epistle of the blessed Apostle Paul”

2. Ignatius 110 A.D.

3. Polycarp 135 A.D.

A. Polycarp quotes 1 Corinthians 6:2 as by Paul, in his Epistle to the Philippians.

4. Irenaeus 140-203 A.D.

A. There are more than sixty citations from 1 Corinthians in the writings of Irenaeus

5. Clement of Alexandria 155-215 A.D.

A. Thare are more than one hundred thirty citations from 1 Corinthians from Clement of Alexandria

6. Tertullian 150-222 A.D.

A. There are more than four hundred citations from 1 Corinthians in the work of Tertullian.

7. First Corinthians stands at the head of Paul’s Epistles in Muratorian Canon.

2. Date of the book of First Corinthians.

A. Most scholars seem to agree that the book was written somewhere between the beginning of A.D. 55 and the end of A.D. 56

3. Background of the book of First Corinthians.

A. Paul had possibly written an earlier letter (now lost) to the Corinthians (1 Cor. 5:9), addressing the problem of fornication among church members. He had also possibly received a letter from them, asking his opinion on various issues (1 Cor. 7:1). That letter had been delivered by Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus (1 Cor. 16:17), who undoubtedly had told Paul of the deteriorating conditions at Corinth. Paul wrote this letter to answer the Corinthian’s questions and address problems in the church (1 Cor. 7:1) and to tell them if his plans ti visit them (1 Cor. 16:5-9). That visit probably took place when Paul was later in Greece (Acts 20:3), staying at the home of Gaius in Corinth (see 1 Cor. 1:14; Rom. 16:23).

4. Purpose of the book of First Corinthians

A. To address problems in the church (1 Cor. 1-6)

B. To answer their questions (1 Cor. 7:1-16:4).

C. To tell them of his plans to visit them (1 Cor. 16:5-9).

5. Outline of the book First Corinthians.

A. Introduction (1 Cor. 1:1-9)

B. Division (1 Cor. 1:10-4:16)

C. Immorality (1 Cor. 4:17-6:20)

D. Marriage (1 Cor. 7:1-40)

E. Christian Liberty (1 Cor. 8-11)

F. Spiritual Gifts (1 Cor. 12-14)

G. Bodily Resurrection (1 Cor. 15)

H. Concluding Miscellany ( 1 Cor. 16)