Overview of the Book of 1 Corinthians

Overview of 1 Corinthians and the Church’s Problems

The overview of the week for this Sunday is the book of 1st Corinthians. 1st Corinthians was written by the Apostle Paul somewhere around 56 AD and the theme of the letter is Christian conduct. Anyone who knows anything about 1st Corinthians, you know that Paul is writing to the church in order to correct and admonish the church because of their their bad Christian conduct.

So Paul was the founder of the Corinthian Church. He established the church during his second missionary journey and sometime later while in Ephesus, Paul received troubling news that there were factions forming in the church.

There was division in the church. False teachers had crept in and led people astray. There was sexual immorality in the church. It was becoming common. So with those things along with many other things, as the result of hearing this, Paul decided to write them a letter.

Paul’s Letters to Corinth and the Call to Be Saints

Based on the evidence, it appears that Paul actually wrote four letters to the church at Corinth, but two are lost to history. So what we know as 1st Corinthians is probably the second letter and what we know as 2nd Corinthians is probably the fourth letter, but whatever the case, Paul reminds them in chapter 1 verse 2 that they were called to be saints.

Then he says in chapter 2 verses 1 and 2 and I, brethren, when I came to you did not come with excellence of speech or wisdom, declaring to you the testimony of God. In other words, Paul was not an eloquent speaker, as some people are, but he said I determined not to know anything else among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

The Gospel, Grace, and Christian Conduct

What Paul did do was he preached the gospel and that's the most important thing in churches today, that we are preaching the gospel. And while the gospel is a free gift by grace alone through faith, Christ does make demands upon us and in our life to live out what we say we believe.

Church Discipline and Separation from Pagan Culture

So when church members were refusing to separate themselves from the pagan culture around them, Paul had something to say about it. One man in the church was even having relations with his stepmother and Paul demanded that the church put out that man and not let him back in until he turned away from his sin.

Spiritual Gifts, Love, and the Resurrection

Other significant passages include Paul's teaching on the spiritual gifts in chapter 12, there's the love chapter, chapter 13, and then the most important chapter of all in the Bible on the subject of the resurrection, that's chapter 15.

Paul’s Final Blessing in 1 Corinthians 16

And then Paul ends the book by reminding the church not only of his love for them, but also of God's love for them. Despite all the church's flaws, Paul still loved them and God still loved them. He says in chapter 16 verse 23, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.