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CHAPTER 46 – 1 Corinthians: Approx. 57 A.D.

The first epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians is the forty-sixth book of the Bible. The title of the book in Greek in the earliest manuscripts is Pros Korinthious A meaning “To the Corinthians 1.” The title in the English Bible is “The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians.”

Authorship

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, is the author of the book, The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians. It was probably written not later than 57 A.D.

Summary

The book of 1 Corinthians is actually a letter (epistle) written by the Paul to the Christian church at the city of Corinth in ancient Greece. It was probably written from the city of Ephesus in what is modern-day Turkey during Paul’s three-year stay there on his Third Missionary Journey.

The book opens with greetings from Paul to the church at Corinth and a prayer of thanksgiving to God for their spiritual growth. Paul then rebukes the Corinthians because of the factions in the church, each of which supports a different spiritual leader. He, Paul, defends his own ministry and the gospel, and states that they should glory in none other but Christ. He declares that their strife over spiritual leaders is a sign of their immaturity and worldliness. Paul counsels them that the ministers of the gospel are but servants of God, in that, they are co-labourers with God, stewards of the mysteries of God, sufferers for Christ’s sake, examples to the church, and administrators of church discipline.

Paul next rebukes them for not disciplining a church member who is guilty of incest. He also rebukes the litigations between church members in secular courts, stating that the church is fully qualified to administer justice among its members. Members of the church, Paul says, should submit to the church’s judgments. Paul then counsels the church that, as members of Christ’s body and temples of the Holy Spirit, they should abstain from all sexual immorality.

After this, Paul responds to one or more letters from the Corinthian believers which raise a number of questions. On the question of marriage, Paul counsels on the marital rights of both husband and wife in their sexual relationship, recommends an unmarried state under certain circumstances, and counsels that believing spouses should not leave an unbelieving marital partner. Paul states that one’s acceptance of Christ does not change one’s social status, and he gives advice to those betrothed to someone for future marriage.

On the question of food sacrificed to idols, Paul states the Christian principle of sacrificing certain rights and privileges in order not to cause the ignorant and weak in faith to stumble in their spiritual life. Next, Paul gives himself as an example of surrendering certain of his rights and as an apostle in order to win people to Christ.

He then describes the experience of ancient Israel and their infidelity to God as a warning to the Corinthians. Paul also advises them that their sacred fellowship at the Lord’s supper demands that they separate themselves from evil associations, and that whatever they eat, drink, or do, they should in all these things glorify God.

Paul next gives counsel that social customs are to be observed regarding matters of dress, rebukes them for their disorder at the Lord’s supper, and advises them of the proper way to observe it.

After this, Paul speaks of the Holy Spirit as the Source of a diversity of spiritual gifts, and that all gifts are important in the church, which is the body of Christ. He then says that love is the most important gift and describes what is true love. Paul next states that the gift of tongues, which is the ability to speak in known, foreign languages, is to be exercised decently and in order in the church. He makes the point that the gift of prophecy is the more important gift because it benefits the church by easy-to-be-understood instruction.

Paul then declares the certainty of the resurrection from the dead because Christ Himself was resurrected, the literal nature of resurrection, and the hope of resurrection of the righteous dead that is to be realised when Christ comes to the earth a second time.

He next takes up his plans for the future—the collection for the poor saints, his intention to visit Corinth again—and asks that the church accept Timothy, his fellow-worker, when he comes to them. Paul then informs them of the decision of Apollos to remain at Ephesus and not to visit the Corinthians at the present time. He closes his letter with inspiring and encouraging words, saying that he was refreshed by the coming of some of their church members to visit him, and sends greetings from the churches in the Roman province of Asia and himself.

Themes

• Counsels and rebukes to a church from one chosen by God to be an apostle.
• Limited spiritual growth of Christian believers due to their immaturity and worldliness.
• Spiritual gifts and their proper exercise by Christian believers.
• Marriage and sexual morality.
• The resurrection of the dead.

God as Revealed in the Book

• God who by His grace causes spiritual growth in individuals.
• God’s wisdom exceeds human wisdom.
• God as judge of every person’s doings in their life.

Connections with the Rest of the Bible

“And Saul (Paul) was consenting unto his death” (Acts 8:1), the death of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. “As for Saul, he made havock [havoc] of the church, entering into every house, and haling [dragging off] men and women committed them to prison.” Acts 8:3.

“And Saul (Paul), yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord [Jesus Christ]” (Acts 9:1), “as he…came near Damascus…suddenly there shined…a light from heaven: And he…heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” Acts 9:3, 4. “And he said, Who art thou, Lord [God]?

And the Lord [God] said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks [goads which prick your conscience]. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord [God], what wilt thou have me to do?” Acts 9:5, 6. So, Christ Himself stopped Paul in his tracks of persecution and Paul became a devoted disciple of Christ.

Spiritual Applications

Pray to God sincerely and ask God to help you to do His will, believing that God will help you, and thus you will be enabled to make the spiritual applications noted below:

• Ever seek to grow spiritually and avoid dividing the church.
• Ask God to help you to identify your spiritual gifts as a true Christian and use your gifts to win persons to Christ.
• Worship, exalt, and honour none other but the Godhead.
• Live according to the counsels and rebukes of God given through the apostle, Paul.

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