1 Corinthians
he addressed a series of letters to the
Corinth
History- Corinth derives from Ancient Corinth, a
city-state of antiquity .
Facts- One of the largest and most powerful
cities in ancient Greece.
Geography- Corinth is surrounded by the
coastal Townlets of Lechaio, Isthmia, Kechries,
and the inland townlets of Examilia .
Location- An ancient city and a former
municipality in Corinthia, Peloponnese, which is
located in South-Central Greece.
History of Corinthians
 When Paul first visited the city he
stayed for eighteen (18) months on 51
or 52 AD
 Paul goes to Ephesus (1Cor 16:8)
 Wrote his first letter (lost epistle) (1 Cor
1:11, 5:1)
 This immorality had begun to infect the
Corinthian church. Paul was deeply
concerned for the spiritual health of the
Corinthian church, which had been
deprived of his guidance for several
years. As a result, Paul corresponded at
greater length with the Corinthian
church than with any of the other
communities that he established. The
New Testament preserves two of these
letters, 1 and 2 Corinthians, and makes
reference to at least one other lost
letter (1 Cor. 5:9)
 1 Corinthians was written by the
important early Christian missionary
 Paul of Tarsus. In late 56 or early 57
a.d., Paul was in the city of Ephesus in
Asia Minor.
 Writing with his collaborator Sosthenes,
Greek city of Corinth, which he had
visited between 50 and 52 a.d. , and
where he had converted both Jews and
Gentiles to the Christian faith.
 Corinth developed a reputation,
widespread throughout the ancient
world, for sexual license. Paul’s letters
to the Christians at Corinth address his
concern over a pressing issue: the
rampant immorality associated with the
paganism of Corinth.
What’s the importance of 1 Corinthians?
 1 Corinthians emphasizes the
importance of Christ’s death on the
cross.
 Explains the nature of true love.
 1 Corinthians helps us to understand
how the Holy Spirit works among
Christians.
 1 Corinthians shows us God’s attitude
towards groups of Christians who
oppose each other.
 1 Corinthians contains some important
instructions about church meetings.
 1 Corinthians encourages Christians to
become more mature in their
relationship with God.
Paul’s letter to the Corinthians
  After Paul left Corinth, he traveled to
Ephesus. He left the Corinthian
congregation in the control of local
leaders, as his custom was (see Acts
14:23). During the ensuing years,
problems began to develop and
questions arose in the congregation at
Corinth, the leaders and members
would write to Paul for his advice
about these issues.
 It appears several of these questions
are recorded in 1 Corinthians, such as:
 1 Corinthians 7:1: “Now concerning the
things of which you wrote to me: It is
good for a man not to touch a woman.”
 1 Corinthians 8:1: “Now concerning
things offered to idols: We know that
we all have knowledge. Knowledge
puffs up, but love edifies.”
 1 Corinthians 12:1: “Now concerning
spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want
you to be ignorant.”
 1 Corinthians 16:1: “Now concerning
the collection for the saints. …”
 All of these questions and other issues
were addressed by Paul in this letter.
What a marvelous insight we are given
on how to handle difficult questions
and issues that may arise within a
congregation, as well as important
information about how to think and act
in a godly way.
The principal divisions of the First Letter to the
Corinthians are the following:
Address (1:1–9)
 Disorders in the Corinthian Community
(1:10–6:20)
 Divisions in the Church (1:10–4:21)
 Moral Disorders (5:1–6:20)
The Resurrection (15:1–58)
 The Resurrection of Christ (15:1–11)
 The Resurrection of the Dead (15:12–
34)
 The Manner of the Resurrection (15:35–
58)
Answers to the Corinthians’ Questions (7:1–
11:1)
 Marriage and Virginity (7:1–40)
 Offerings to Idols (8:1–11:1)
Problems in Liturgical Assemblies (11:2–14:40)
 Women’s Headdresses (11:3–16)
 The Lord’s Supper (11:17–34)
 Spiritual Gifts (12:1–14:40)
Conclusion (16:1–24)
STRUCTURE
 SALUTATION
 THANKSGIVING
 DIVISIONS IN CORINTH
 IMMORALITY IN CORINTH
 DIFFICULTIES IN CORINTH
 DOCTRINE OF RESURRECTION
 CLOSING
The Global Message of 1 Corinthians
 In the world, but not of the world.
 Global Unity
 Love
Corinthians 2
Date
The available evidence indicates that the year
AD. 55 is a reasonable estimate for the writing
of this letter. From 1Co 16:5–8 it may be
concluded that 1 Corinthians was written from
Ephesus before Pentecost (in the late spring)  He was deeply concerned about how
and that 2 Corinthians may have been written the Corinthians might react to it. So
later that same year before the onset of winter after the riot caused by Demetrius and
2 Corinthians 2:13; 7:5 indicate that it was his fellow silversmiths (see Ac 19:23–
probably written from Macedonia (see chart, p. 41), he left Ephesus and set out for
2261). Macedonia by way of Troas. He
expected to meet Titus in Troas to get
Occasion
news of the effect of his severe letter
 It seems that Paul wrote as many as on the Corinthian church, but Titus was
four letters to the church at Corinth: not there (see 2Co 2:12–13).
o the letter referred to in 1 Co  Still deeply concerned and despite the
5:9; fact that the Lord had opened up an
o 1 Corinthians; opportunity to preach the gospel at
o the “severe” letter (see 2Co Troas, Paul said good-by to the
believers there and moved on to
2:3–4; see also below);
Macedonia, where he met Titus.
o 2 Corinthians.
 To his relief, the news from the
 After writing 1 Corinthians Paul
Corinthian church was basically good.
continued his ministry at Ephesus until
The severe letter had brought its
he heard that his letter had not
intended results (7:5–16).
completely accomplished its purpose.
 The encouraging report of Titus of the
 A group of men had come to Corinth
improved situation at Corinth is the
who presented themselves as apostles.
immediate occasion of the writing of 2
They were false teachers who were
Corinthians.
challenging, among other things, Paul’s
 How, then, does one explain the harsh
personal integrity and his authority as
tone of chapters. 10–13, which is so
an apostle (see 11:4; 12:11).
different from the rest of the letter?
 In the face of this serious situation, Paul
Some think that when Paul had just
decided to make a quick trip to Corinth
completed writing the first nine
(12:4; 13:1–2) to see whether he could
chapters, a report came to him that a
remedy the situation.
strong and vocal minority was still
 The visit turned out to be painful and
causing trouble at Corinth.
did not accomplish its purpose. So
 So before sending off the letter he
when Paul returned to Ephesus, he
added the last four chapters to address
wrote the Corinthians a severe letter
this troublemaking group.
“out of great distress and anguish of
heart and with many tears” (2:4),
probably sending it by Titus (12:8).
 Some identify this letter with 2 Co 10–
13. Others think it has been after
writing the severe letter, Paul had
second thoughts.
  Others hold that chapters. 10–13 were
written some time after Paul had sent
the first nine chapters and that they
constitute a separate letter There is,
however, no manuscript evidence that
warrants splitting 2 Corinthians into two
parts.
Purposes
 Because of the occasion that prompted
this letter, Paul had a number of
purposes in mind:
o To express the comfort and joy
Paul felt because the
Corinthians had responded
favorably to his painful letter
(1:3–4; 7:8–9,12–13).
o To let them know about the
trouble he went through in the
province of Asia (1:8–11).
o To explain why he had changed
his travel plans (1:12—2:4).
o To ask them to forgive the
offending party (2:5–11).
o To warn them not to be “yoked
together with unbelievers”
(6:14—7:1).
 To explain to them the true
nature (its joys, sufferings and
rewards) and high calling of
Christian ministry. This is the
so-called great digression, but it
turns out to be in some ways
the most important
section of the letter (2:14—7:4;
see note on 2:14).
 To teach the Corinthians about
the grace of giving and to make
sure that they complete the
collection for the poor
Christians at Jerusalem
(chapters. 8–9).
 To deal with the minority
opposition in the church
(chapters. 10–13).
 To prepare the Corinthians for
his upcoming visit (12:14; 13:1–
3,10).
Structure
 The structure of the letter relates
primarily to Paul’s impending third visit
to Corinth. The letter falls naturally into
three sections:
o Paul explains the reason for the
changes in his itinerary
(chapters. 1–7).
o Paul encourages the
Corinthians to complete their
collection in preparation for his
arrival (chapters. 8–9).
o Paul stresses the certainty of his
coming, his authenticity as an
apostle and his readiness to
exercise discipline if necessary
(chapters. 10–13).
Unity
 Some have questioned the unity of this
letter (see above), but it forms a
coherent whole, as the structure above
shows. Tradition has been unanimous in
affirming its unity (the early church
fathers, e.g., knew the letter only in its
present form). Furthermore, none of
the early Greek manuscripts breaks up
the book
Outline
 Paul’s Explanation of His Conduct and
Apostolic Ministry (chapters. 1–7)
 Greetings (1:1–2)
 Thanksgiving for Divine Comfort in
Affliction (1:3–11)
 The Integrity of Paul’s Motives and
Conduct (1:12—2:4)
 Forgiving the Offending Party at Corinth
(2:5–11)
 God’s Direction in Ministry (2:12–17)
 The Corinthian Believers—a Letter from
Christ (3:1–11)
 Seeing the Glory of God with Unveiled
Faces (3:12—4:6)
 Treasure in Clay Jars (4:7–16a)
 The Prospect of Death and What It
Means for the Christian (4:16b—5:10)
 The Ministry of Reconciliation (5:11—
6:10)
 A Spiritual Father’s Appeal to His
Children (6:11—7:4)
 The Meeting with Titus (7:5–16)
 Hortatory: The Collection for the
Christians at Jerusalem (chapters. 8–9)
o Generosity Encouraged (8:1–
15)
o Titus and His Companions Sent
to Corinth (8:16—9:5)
o Results of Generous Giving
(9:6–15)
 Polemical: Paul’s Vindication of His
Apostolic Authority (chapters. 10–13)
o Paul’s Defense of His Apostolic
Authority and the Area of His
Mission (chapter. 10)
o Paul Forced into Foolish
Boasting (chapters. 11–12)
o Final Warnings (13:1–10)
o Conclusion, Final Greetings and
Benediction (13:11–14)
Message
 God’s way of measuring success and
significance is entirely different than the
world’s way. In many places today the
church is publicly marginalized because
it is seen as silly, or it is persecuted
because it is seen as irrelevant. Judged
by the world’s standards of influence,
the church seems powerless at such
times. Viewed with heaven’s eyes,
however it is, often precisely in such
places of adversity that the Spirit is alive
and well and the gospel is advancing. (2
Thess. 3:1)
 This is hope-giving, but also humbling.
In those places around the world today
where statistics would seem to indicate
that the church is healthy, such health
may be hollow. Where the numbers
seem to indicate success in evangelism,
who knows how many will turn out to
have been “rocky ground” (see Mark
4:5) Where significant financial
resources have produced slick programs
and impressive services, has
dependence on the Holy Spirit been
neglected? God will accomplish his
work in the world, whether “by many or
by few” ( 1 Sam. 14:6)
 Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians is
therefore both heartening and
chastening. It encourages those who
are struggling while cautioning those
whose lives may be outwardly
impressive. As the global church
continues to pursue our sacred calling
to make disciples of all nations (Matt.
28:19), may we do so in the glad
knowledge that natural eloquence,
impressive resumes, and sparkling
educations are not required for the
Spirit to move in power. Such things,
while good, may even get in the way. All
that is needed is sincere openness to
the Lord who in Christ became weak
himself (2 Cor. 13:4) so that weak
sinners can know true strength, by his
grace.