Introduction to 1 Corinthians

Written by the apostle Paul from Ephesus around 54-56 AD during his 3rd missionary journey.
The theme is to pursue unity and morality. The phrase, "to Corinthianize" means to live a life of immorality, such was the reputation of the city of Corinth which stood the pagan temple of Aphrodite (goddess of love).  It was full of temple prostitutes (1000).


Outline of the book:
I)   Rebukes for division and disorders (ch 1-6)  "Now I exhort you, brothers ..."  (1:10a)

1. Divisions

• Intro (1:1-19)
• Divisions exposed (1:10-17)
• Divisions explained (1:18-4:5)
• Divisions applied (4:6-21)

      2. Disorders

• Moral (5:1-13)
• Legal (6:1-11)
• Fleshly (6:12-20)

II)  Replies to difficult questions (ch 7-16)

• What abt marriage? (ch 7)
• What abt Christian liberty? (ch 8-10)
• What abt Church conduct? (ch 11)
• What abt spiritual gifts? (ch 12-14)
• What abt the resurrection? (ch 15)
• What abt the collection for the poor? (ch 16)

Paul took pains to unite the different parties to the cause of Christ, so should we whenever we see factions forming.  The temptations that Satan uses to cause people to fall are still the same: Money, Sex and Power.  I remember reading a book by the same title by Richard Foster when I was much younger.  Those questions asked by the Corinthians are good questions which we in our day and age should be asking but possibly in a different angle such as "Does God accept gay marriages?" or "Can I go to a movie house?".   It is only in asking that we do get the answers - that's what I usually tell my students to do.  Somehow, we wish the Corinthians could have asked more and we would have the inspired word of God to inform us.  Nevertheless, whatever has been preserved for us (in fact two other letters written to Corinth that were lost) is sufficient to enable us to live a God-directed life. The point is - keep asking and learn and grow! That's the whole crux of 1 Corinthians as well - Grow Up, Don't be immature!