Lesson Introduction & Chapter 1 of 1 Corinthians
Welcome to the book of 1 Corinthians. The first lesson will share some basics about the book, share some helpful hints about how to study Corinthian's as well as other Pauline writings, and then go into chapter 1, where the text countinues to intriduce the letter of 1 Corinthians.
I hope you enjoy the lesson and remember, in all of your getting, get understanding.
Pastor
The 1st Epistle of Paul to The Church @ Corinth
Lesson one: Introduction to the Book & Chapter 1
Introduction
Welcome to the book of 1 Corinthians.
In this first lesson we will learn some general things about the book, and then look at the purpose for which it was written
Particulars About of 1st Corinthian
Author: Paul
Vs. 1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,
Recipient: The Church of God @ Corinth
VS.2 To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:
The Church @ Corinth
The Churches in every other place and in every other time.
Who the Corinthians were according to Paul
Vs. 4-9 I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. 5 For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge— 6 God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. 7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 8 He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
They were a people under grace Vs.4
They were gifted by the Spirit in every way and in knowledge. Vs. 5 meaning every spiritual gift was present in this church. Vs. 7
They were being sanctified. Vs. 8
They were in koinonia with Christ. Vs. 9
Purpose for the Letter
The letter that Paul wrote to the Corinthian Church can easily be defined as a “Problem Epistle.” That is, Paul writes this letter to deal with several problem areas that had come about in the existence of the church. The problems that are easily identified in the book are:
Division in the church (1–4).
Discipline (5–6).
Marriage and divorce (7).
Doctrinal disputes (8–10).
Misunderstanding of spiritual (charismatic) gifts (12–14).
In addition, the letter touches on the role of women, the importance of the Lord’s Supper, and on the centrality of the Resurrection in Christian teaching.
How To Study This Kind of Writing
There are several different genres present in the Bible; Historical Narratives, Poems, Apocalyptic, and doctrinal. Each literary form calls for a different method of study.
This Epistle is considered doctrinal and the best way to study this genre is to carefully follow the authors line of thought.
This approach will guard us from taking a verse out of context, and interpreting it as if it stood alone. But most important, this method will enable us to truly understand what God is teaching us in a particular passage.
Some Tips for Studying 1 Corinthians
The difficulty we will find in attempting to follow Paul is long sentences and paragraphs.
Here are some tips for studying this letter:
Read the passage if at all possible twice before coming to class.
Take the paragraphs and try to summarize the main thought into your own sentence. You will notice as we read the book that Paul often gives a summary sentence, that exposes his subject at the beginning of the paragraph.
Try to paraphrase long arguments in a way that summarizes the complete argument.
Problem # 1 Unity Chapter 1-4 Chapter 1
Vs.10- 17
10 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters,[a] in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. 11 My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12 What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas[b]”; still another, “I follow Christ.”
13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so no one can say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
What is the main issue in verses 10-17
Division Or Schisms In the Church
How does Paul argue this problem? Let’s investigate the argument together.
How does Paul legitimize that disunity is a problem?
Vs. 11 11 My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you.
Paul makes an appeal for unity in the church family. Vs. 10.
How does Paul describe the problem?
Vs. 12 What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas[b]”; still another, “I follow Christ.”
How does Paul argue the foolishness of the problem?
Vs. 13-17 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so no one can say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
What does Paul identify as the solution to the problem?
Vs. 18-31 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”[c]
20 Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”
Can We Build Some Practical Application
What are the practical things that we should understand from this first chapter, as it relates to unity in the church?
The Church should have a singular vision Vs. 10
The Church should not be hung up on leadership Vs. 12
We should always remember that we have grace in common. Vs. 24
Jesus is Central to the Church Vs. 30-31
