STUDY NOTES  
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INTRODUCTION

  • The Corinthians epistles are the best portrayal of Paul the man, the Christian, the apostle and the pastor.
  • The letter is very practical — plain, informal and earnest (unlike Romans, which is rhetorically elegant).
  • The letter brings enormous contributions to NT doctrine, especially in the areas of the church (nature, unity, diversity, characteristics, interdependence and discipline, however not much on church government), the role of spiritual gifts and the resurrection.
  • The church struggled with social, ethical, spiritual and doctrinal problems as the pagan influence of Corinth had a profound influence on the new Christians. Some of the immoral issues were: divisiveness, partiality, sexual immorality, litigation, idolatry, divorce and selfishness.
  • This was a difficult letter for Paul to write; yet his insight reveals the apostle’s patient love and self-control.

LOCATION AND PEOPLE

  • Greece was divided into two parts, separated by a four-mile-wide isthmus.
  • Corinth was located on the western side of the southern part of Greece; it was the most important city in Greece.
  • It was the capital of the Roman province Achaia and the fourth largest city in the Roman Empire.
  • In Paul’s day, the population was approximately 200,000 (most of whom were slaves).
  • Greek philosophy, great orators and athletic events intrigued the people.
  • The city had a reputation of blatant immorality, even among the pagan nations, so much that the verb "to corinthianize" meant to practice sexual immorality.
  • Corinth worshipped pagan gods. Much of their wealth and vice centered on the temple of Aphrodite and its 1000 temple prostitutes.
  • The town was known for commerce, culture and corruption.
  • Corinth revolted against Rome and was destroyed in 146 BC only to be rebuilt by Julius Caesar in 46 BC.
  • Paul planted this church on his second missionary journey (Ac. 18:1-18) and taught the Word of God there for 18 months in AD 51-52.

AUTHOR

  • It is almost universally accepted, even amongst the most radical critics, that Paul was the author of 1 Corinthians.
  • Paul wrote this letter from Ephesus between AD 54-55.

THEME AND PURPOSE

  • Some suggested themes are:
  • Practical sanctification in the local church.
  • Application of Christian principles on an individual and social level.
  • The purpose of Paul’s writing 1 Corinthians is to:
  • Correct contentions within the church in response to the report from Chloe’s people and to bring about unity in perspective and practice (1-4).
  • Address several questions (7:1, 25; 8:1; 12:1; 16:1,12) brought to him by the three-person delegation (16:17).
  • Reaffirm and confirm the doctrine of the resurrection (15).
  • Collect funds to aid the needy saints in Jerusalem (16).

SURVEY OF THE LETTER

  1. In Answer to Chloe’s Report of Divisions (1:1-4:21)
    1. (1:1-9) Introduction.
    2. (1:10-17) Report of Divisions.
    3. (1:18-4:21) Reasons for Divisions.
  2. In Answer to Reports of Fornication (5:1-6:20)
    1. (5:1-13) Discipline Needed for Incest.
    2. (6:1-11) Litigation Between Believers.
    3. (6:12-20) Warnings Against Sexual Immorality.
  3. In Answer to the Letter of Questions (7:1-16:24)
    1. (7:1-40) Counsel Concerning Marriage.
    2. (8:1-11:1) Counsel Concerning Things Sacrificed to Idols.
    3. (11:2-14:40) Counsel Concerning Public Worship.
    4. (15:1-58) Counsel Concerning the Resurrection.
    5. (16:1-4) Counsel Concerning the Collection for Jerusalem.
    6. (16:5-24) Conclusion.

Survey adapted from: Talk Thru the Bible


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