1st Letter to the Corinthians in a Nutshell
1st Letter to the Corinthians in a Nutshell
Embedded Files
The First Letter to the Corinthians is a pastoral letter written by the apostle Paul to the church in Corinth, a wealthy but morally troubled city in ancient Greece. Written around A.D. 55 while Paul was in Ephesus, the letter addresses a variety of issues that had arisen in the young Christian community. Paul’s goal is to correct misunderstandings, confront divisions, and call the church to live out the gospel in unity, love, and holiness.
Paul begins by addressing the problem of divisions in the church. Some believers were aligning themselves with different leaders—Paul, Apollos, Peter, or Christ—creating factions. Paul reminds them that the church belongs to Christ alone and that the cross, not human wisdom or status, is the foundation of their faith. True Christian leadership, Paul teaches, is marked by humility and service.
The letter then turns to issues of immorality and church discipline. Paul confronts sexual sin, lawsuits among believers, and confusion about marriage and singleness. He teaches that believers' bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and should be honored as such. Paul emphasizes that Christian freedom must be guided by love, especially when dealing with matters like food sacrificed to idols or cultural practices.
Chapters 11–14 deal with worship and the use of spiritual gifts. Paul gives instructions on the Lord’s Supper, proper conduct in gatherings, and the need for order and edification in the church. He emphasizes that all spiritual gifts must be exercised in love. The well-known "love chapter," 1 Corinthians 13, describes love as the greatest virtue and the true mark of spiritual maturity.
Paul concludes with a powerful teaching on the resurrection. He affirms that Christ’s resurrection is the cornerstone of the Christian faith and assures believers of their future bodily resurrection. This hope calls for steadfastness and dedication in the Lord’s work. 1 Corinthians is both a rebuke and an encouragement—a call for a divided and worldly church to return to the wisdom, power, and love of the crucified and risen Christ.
The Bible in a Nutshell Series
The Bible in a Nutshell Series
Greek Scriptures
Greek Scriptures
(New Testament Books)
Outline of 1st Corinthians
Outline of 1st Corinthians
I. Introduction and Thanksgiving, 1:1–9
A. Salutation and Greeting, 1:1–3
B. Thanksgiving for God's Grace, 1:4–9
II. Division and Unity in the Church, 1:10–4:21
A. Appeal for Unity, 1:10–17
B. The Wisdom of God vs. the Wisdom of the World, 1:18–2:16
1. The message of the cross, 1:18–25
2. God’s choice of the weak, 1:26–31
3. The Spirit reveals God’s wisdom, 2:1–16
C. Immaturity and Ministry Roles, 3:1–23
1. Carnality among believers, 3:1–9
2. The quality of each person’s work, 3:10–23
D. The Role of Apostles and Servants, 4:1–21
1. Faithfulness and judgment, 4:1–5
2. Paul’s example of humility, 4:6–13
3. Paul’s appeal as a spiritual father, 4:14–21
III. Addressing Moral and Ethical Problems, 5:1–6:20
A. Sexual Immorality in the Church, 5:1–13
1. Judgment within the church, 5:1–5
2. Purging evil from among believers, 5:6–13
B. Lawsuits Among Believers, 6:1–11
C. Warning Against Sexual Sin, 6:12–20
IV. Questions Concerning Marriage and Singleness, 7:1–40
A. Principles for Marriage, 7:1–16
B. Living According to One’s Calling, 7:17–24
C. Counsel for the Unmarried and Widows, 7:25–40
V. Questions Concerning Christian Liberty, 8:1–11:1
A. Food Offered to Idols, 8:1–13
B. Paul’s Rights as an Apostle, 9:1–27
1. Paul’s right to support, 9:1–14
2. Paul’s self-discipline and purpose, 9:15–27
C. Warnings from Israel’s History, 10:1–22
D. Conscience and Consideration in Eating, 10:23–11:1
VI. Instructions for Public Worship, 11:2–14:40
A. Head Coverings and Gender Roles, 11:2–16
B. The Lord’s Supper, 11:17–34
C. Spiritual Gifts and the Body of Christ, 12:1–31
D. The Way of Love, 13:1–13
E. Order in the Use of Spiritual Gifts, 14:1–40
VII. The Resurrection of the Dead, 15:1–58
A. The Gospel and the Resurrection, 15:1–11
B. The Necessity of the Resurrection, 15:12–34
C. The Nature of the Resurrected Body, 15:35–49
D. Victory Over Death, 15:50–58
VIII. Final Instructions and Greetings, 16:1–24
A. The Collection for the Saints, 16:1–4
B. Paul’s Travel Plans and Fellow Workers, 16:5–12
C. Final Exhortations and Greetings, 16:13–24
Hebrew Scriptures
Hebrew Scriptures
(Old Testament Books)
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