Introduction to First Corinthians

1 Corinthians

The background of Corinth: The city was completely destroyed in 146 A.D. by Roman general L. Mummius. For 100 years it lay in complete ruins, but then was refounded by Julius Caesar. The new settlers were veterans, freemen, and slaves. It was a Roman colony whose official language was Latin. Corinth was the Athens of our day. When people go to visit Greece today, they usually go to Athens, because it is a much bigger city than Corinth. Today Corinth only has approximately 20,000 people in it. But in Paul’s time, it is estimated to have a population of approximately 200,000. Corinth got it’s size from a very thriving cargo business. Ships would use this gulf all the time for safety. Since it was full of such a big business and so many people, the congregation experienced some “big city” problems. With many nationalities and sailors coming through town, it resulted in a morally corrupt town. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian Christians had to deal with the influence of this immorality on his congregation.

The Founding of the Congregation: Luke explains the founding of this congregation in Acts 18. Aquila and Priscilla were instrumental in the founding of this congregation. Paul joined together with them as a tentmaker. Even though the Jews opposed Paul and banned him from the synagogue, God still granted him great success. He even converted the ruler of the synagogue and the city’s director of public works. Paul stayed there for a year and a half on his second missionary journey and established what was perhaps the largest of mission congregations.

Background of the Letter: Paul heard about the problems in the congregation while he was in Ephesus, a city across the Aegean Sea from Corinth. The people were divided because they were bragging about who their leader was. They were also led astray by the casual view toward sex in Corinth. Apparently he had made a visit once to try and fix the problems (2 Cor 12:14,21; 13:1), but there was no substantial change. He wrote his first letter from Ephesus (1 Cor 5:9-11), but that didn’t work. (This letter is no longer in existence.) Instead, the people wrote Paul back and challenged his authority. They even may have ridiculed Paul, showing a casual attitude toward immorality. It was in response to these challenges, that Paul wrote 1 Corinthians. He had to write a strong letter and yet mix it with the loving spirit of the gospel. This letter was also written from Ephesus on his 3rd missionary journey, in the mid 50's A.D. It is an interesting and practical letter which can be very applicable to us today.

I. Greeting and thanksgiving (1:1-9)

A. The Apostolic Greeting (1:1-3)

How does this greeting compare to other greetings of the that day - Demophon to Ptolemaeus, greeting. (245 B.C.) Hilarion to Alis his sister, many greetings. (1 B.C.)

Compare this to other greetings in the New Testament epistles - how does it compare?

Sosthenes may have been a member of the Corinthians congregation who was in Ephesus with Paul at this time and could substantiate the reports Paul had received about problems in the congregation.

In what 3 ways does Paul emphasize his divine commission?

Considering the background of the letter - why was it necessary for Paul to do this?

He calls the church of God in Corinth “sanctified”. What does that mean? How does the tense of the verb have special meaning to us?

What phrase indicates that this letter was written for more than just the Corinthians?

Where do you hear vs. 3 quite often?

B.Thanksgiving for Spiritual Blessings (1:4-9)

In what ways did Paul reflect a great faith in God?

Why might a congregation like the Corinthians have more problems than normal?

How many times does Paul mention Jesus Christ in the first nine verses?

Nowhere else in Scriptures is Jesus Christ named nine times in nine successive verses. Paul did not commend them for their deeds of love and Christian service, as he did other congregations. Instead, he gives all credit to God. Everything they are and have as Christians he attributes to Jesus.

Why might he have done this with the Corinthians?

Paul has established the foundation of his entire letter - Jesus Christ.

Now the question is - what will Jesus do for them if he fills their lives?

II. Contending with a False Conception of the Christian Ministry (1:10-4:21) A. Divisions in the Congregation (1:10-17) Read 1:10-12. What was the problem within the congregation? (Factions.) Some might have liked Paul because of his background and his loyalty to Christ. Others might have like Apollos - the pastor at Corinth - because he wa a good preachers. More might have followed (Peter) Cephas - maybe because he was the first of the apostles. They all had their reasons.

Would Paul have favored any of these groups?

In what ways might this happen today?

What did Paul want to happen instead?

How is this different from todays ideas of unity?

Is unity something we should want? What is the only way this is possible?

Answer

Read 13-17for Paul’s answer to this problem.

What was Paul’s response?

Paul is not giving the Corinthians the idea that baptism may be omitted. He is only indicating that co-workers like Silas and Timothy could take care of the baptizing. the different task of preaching the gospel to the worldly-wise Corinthians could absorb all of Paul’s capabilities and energies.

What was Paul renouncing?

How appropriate to speak of wisdom to the Corinthians! To them, life’s highest goal was to gain wisdom. It was a sign of power and prestige. But they valued the wisdom of the humanists. Paul didn’t offer their kind of philosophy. The cross is emptied of its power when too much is made of human wisdom and eloquence.

Crispus: Acts 18:8 Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized. (NIV)

Gaius: Romans 16:23 23 Gaius, whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy, sends you his greetings.

Stephanus: 1 Corinthians 16:15, 17 15 You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. 17 I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you. (NIV)

What kind of applications could preachers get from Paul’s approach to ministry?

Read 1:18-19. Why would the message of the cross seemed like foolishness to those perishing?

Why do we call it the “power of God?”

Paul quotes Isaiah 29:14 Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish." what was true back then is still true today. The wisest scholars of this age seldom come to faith in Christ - it takes faith - something their wisdom gets in the way of.

Read 1:20-25. What is the point of these questions?

In what ways did the Jews demand a miraculous sign from Jesus?

How do people expect the same of Christ today? Answer

Why isn’t Jesus enough for these people?

Vs. 23 states “ we preach Christ crucified.” Notice Paul doesn’t say “Jesus crucified.” Christ crucified shows that Jesus was more than a man - He was the anointed one - God and man - crucified on the cross. The literal word for stumbling block means “a trap, an enticement, or a thing that causes revulsion - which arouses oppisition - an object of anger or disapproval.” In God’s kingdom things are topsy-turvy. What man considers foolish, God considers wise. What Jews considered weakness, God considered strength. The weak He considers strong. The wise He considers foolish. The poor He considers rich. Thank God He has made us who were poor, foolish, and weak - strong, wise, and rich through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Read 1:26-29. What proved that God considers weakness, strength?

Celsus, a pagan philosopher of the time, wrote - Christians “show that they want and are able to convince only the foolish, dishonorable, and stupid, and only slaves, women, and little children.” Nietzsche, the German philosopher wrote about the Christian faith as - “a favoring of the botched and degenerate, and a despising of the rich, scholarly, noble, healthy, and strong.”

How does this prove true yet today?

Why did God choose to do it this way?

Read 1:30-31. How did the Corinthians get to be Christians?

What term did Paul use to describe a Christian?

What does that mean?

Hymn 219 puts it beautifully - Lord, when your glory I shall see and taste your kingdom’s pleasure, Your blood my royal robe shall be, My joy beyond all measure! When I appear before your throne, Your righteousness shall be my.

crown; With these I need not hide me. And there, in garments richly wrought, As your own bride I shall be

brought To stand in joy beside you.

This hymn was a variation of hymn 376 - Jesus, your blood and righteousness My beauty are, my glorious dress Mid flaming worlds, in these arrayed, with joy shall I lift up my head.

Galatians 3:26-27 26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

What does being clothed in Christ do for our looks according to vs. 30?

Why does God prefer to save us in this way?

This was Paul’s attitude toward himself ~ 1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. Galatians 1:15 God set me apart from birth and called me by his grace.

This ends the first chapter of 1 Corinthians. Any questions?