1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians Outline

Paul’s purposes for writing the Corinthians were several. His first purpose was to deal with several moral problems and the divisions that had formed as people had divided into fan-clubs and were proclaiming themselves followers of Paul, Apollos, Peter or Christ (1:10). His second reason was to deal with several questions that had been asked in a letter the Corinthians had sent to him (7:1). A third purpose that appears throughout the book is Paul’s defense of his apostolic authority. (Fee)

1. Response to Oral Reports from Corinth, 1:11 (1:1-6:20)

Paul’s introduction is distinct from introductions to his other epistles in that he fails to commend these believers. One might compare his thankfulness for the Roman and Ephesian Christians’ faith and the Philippians’ participation in the gospel. Only the epistle to the Galatians starts off with less warmth than this one. (That may be because the issue in Galatians is justification by faith and their very salvation was threatened.) Instead he elaborates on their position and blessings in Christ and His faithfulness to confirm them to the end. It might even be considered amazing that Paul is able to be thankful for the grace of God because it was their abuse of that grace that caused all these problems he is writing about. He is able to be thankful that they are not lacking in any spiritual gifts, although they are not using them for edification of the body. (Guthrie)

A. Divisiveness (1:1-4:21)

Paul built this church as seen in Acts 18:1-17, Paul had to be very upset with the Division. This is one of the problems that could be fixed with just the following of the Love commandment. The church just had to put their egos in check. Many of these problems come out of the pressures, problems, and the struggles of a church called out of a pagan society.

B. Immorality (5:1-13; 6:12-20)

The church had some lifestyle problems with factions, lawsuits, immorality, questionable practices, abuse of the Lords Supper and problems with the understanding of the spiritual Gifts of the spirit. The immorality that seemed to come from the pagan past is creeping to the forefront again. I would think that this came from weak leadership and the fact that there is so much division. Factions that can not work together will not succeed.

C. Litigation (6:1-11)

If we could only get the church then and the church now to understand that Christians just do not bring our dirty laundry out for all to see. Christians are to be judged only by God. All earthly disputes should be adjudicated by the Elders. The problem is that all three of these problems could be solved by a stronger purity and a response of love thy neighbor.

2. Response to a letter from Corinth, 7:1 (7:1-16:24)

We can only guess what this letter actually stated. We get the idea that there were lifestyle issues that the leadership could not enforce or had trouble with the answer to these issues.

A. Marriage and Divorce (7:1-40)

Paul goes through a long list of what is right and moral and what we as Christians should not act. This letter reads as if it could be a letter sent to most churches today. I remember the first time that I really studied this section and really though how like today it was.

B. Christian conscience and Idolatry (8:1-11:1)

I have never really figured this one out. Why would you eat the meat of an Idol? Just once I wish I could go back and see what was really going on. Christian need to have a moral fortitude to makes them above the pagan society.

C. Respect for Authority (11:2-16)

Paul brings up the issue of woman in the church and what role they are to have. Woman could be overstepping their new ontological equality. Woman were forgetting that Paul and others still saw them as submissive to man.

D. Abuses of the Lord’s Supper (11:17-34)

The Lord’s Supper was very different in the first century. People were really having supper. They were there after service in the Temple and this was where they could remember the Lord’s Last meal. People were abusing this meal. Some took to much bread. There were even people that would show up or leave drunk. This was not remembering!

E. Spiritual Gifts (12:1-14:40)

Christians are reminded of the gifts that they are receiving from the Lord. Paul goes on at length to explain what the Spirit has given us. Paul makes sure that the church was not ignorant. Paul gives us a clear vision of what Christians have in their arsenal to confront the Enemy.

F. The Resurrection of the Body (15:1-58)

I can only assume that this is probably as much an issue then as it is today. Many people when they first respond to Christianity have issues with the Resurrection. The Resurrection is very hard for some to understand and fully accept.

G. The Collection for the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem (16:1-24)

This is a call for relief and is a dateable fact. We know that as some point there is a famine in Jerusalem. This response would be interesting. What was Paul’s status? What would this church do if their leaders asked for help for someone else?

Works Cited:

Fee, Gordon, The First Epistle to the Corinthians, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1987).

Guthrie, Donald, New Testament Introduction, Rev. ed. (Downers Grove, Illinois: Intervarsity Press, 1990).

Outline from:

McRay, J. (2003). Paul: His life and teaching. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.