7. First Corinthians

Printer-friendly version

7. FIRST CORINTHIANS

I. OUTLINE

1. Introduction. 1:1-9.

2. Problem of Factions. 1:10-4:21.

A. The Problem. 1:10-12.

B. Argument against. 1:13-3:23.

C. Conclusion. 4:1-21.

3. Moral Standards. 5:1-7:40.

A. Sex and Property Problems. 5:1-6:20.

B. Marriage and Celibacy. 7:1-40.

4. Christian Freedom. 8:1-11:1.

A. Food to Idols. 8:1-13.

B. Paul's Own Rights. 9:1-23.

C. Peril of the Strong. 9:24-10:22.

D. Conclusion. 10:23-11:1.

5. Christian Worship. 11:2-14:40.

A. Veiling Women. 11:2-16.

B. Lord's Supper. 11:17-34.

C. Spiritual Gifts. 12:1-14:40.

6. Resurrection of the Dead. 15:1-58.

A. Resurrection of Jesus. 15:1-19.

B. End of the Age. 15:20-34.

C. The Resurrection Body. 15:35-50.

D. Christian Confidence. 15:51-58.

7. Personal Matters. 16:1-24.

II. AUTHORSHIP

1. Paul wrote 1 Corinthians from Ephesus in A.D. 54.

2. Paul sent four letters to the church at Corinth.

3. The first letter written from Ephesus has been lost, but a fragment (2 Cor. 6:14-7:1) is thought to have been preserved.

4. The second letter is our 1 Corinthians.

5. Most of the third letter (referred to in 2 Cor. 2:4 and 7:8) is also lost. A fragment of it is believed to be 2 Cor. 10-13. It was written from Ephesus.

6. Paul's fourth letter is our 2 Corinthians 1-9 (except 6:14-7:1).

7. Paul spent eighteen months at Corinth. He wrote Romans and the two Thessa-Ionians.

III. OCCASION FOR THE LETTERS

1. Apollos, of Alexandria, did considerable work in Corinth, Priacilla and Aquila gave him advanced instruction.

2. Peter may have visited this church, since there was a three-way division. Some said they were of Apollos, some Cephas, others Paul.

3. Paul's letter deals with the following troubles:

• Party divisions.
• Marriage.
• Meat offered idols.
• Spiritual gifts.
• Incest.
• Legal disputes.
• Disorders at Lord's Supper.
• Denial of the resurrection.

4. Speaking with tongues made trouble at Corinth-as well as in other churches.

5. This is not a doctrinal letter-it deals with practical and daily living problems.

6. Paul advocated women's wearing veils in church.

7. A keynote in Paul's advice: "Let all things be done decently and in order."

8. Always remember: In these early years, Paul was expecting the second advent of Christ any day.

9. Paul was a bang-up evangelist and the leading theologian of his time, but he was not a profound philosopher.

IV. SELECTED TEXTS

1. Church factions. "It has been reported to me...that there is quarreling among you...Each one of you says, 'I belong to Paul,' or 'I belong to Apollos,' or 'I belong to Cephas.'" 1:11,12.

2. Dedicated teacher. "I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." 2:2.

3. Co-operation. "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth." 3:6.

4. We are temples. "You are God's temple and...God's Spirit dwells in you." 3:16.

5. Kingdom power. "For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power." 4:20.

6. Incest. "There is immorality among you...a man is living with his father's wife." 5:1.

7. Paul's marriage attitude. "To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is well for them to remain single as I do." 7:8.

8. Marriage a compromise. "But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry." 7:9.

9. Vocational stability. "In whatever state each was called, there let him remain with God." 7:24.

10. Avoid being a stumbling block. "If food is a cause of my brother's falling, I will never eat meat." 8:13.

11. Adaptation. "I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some." 9:22.

12. Self-control. "But I pommel my body and subdue it, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified." 9:27.

13. Over-self-confidence. "Let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall." 10:12.

14. Measured temptation. "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way to escape, that you may be able to endure it." 10:13.

15. Women and veils. "That is why a woman ought to have a veil on her head, because of the angels." 11:10.

16. The remembrance supper. "And when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, 'This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.'" 11:24.

17. Love is paramount. "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal." 13:1.

18. Love is supreme. "Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." 13:7.

19. Love the greatest. "So faith, hope, love abide, these three, but the greatest of these is love." 13:13.

20. Woman's silence. "The women should keep silence in the churches." 14:34. "For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church." 14:35.

21. Original sin. "For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive." 15:22.

22. Baptism for the dead. "Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf?" 15:29.

23. Morontia body. "It is sown a physical body; it is raised a spiritual body." 15:44.

24. Second advent. "We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet...The dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed." 15:51,52.

25. The courageous life. "Be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love." 16:13,14.