1 Corinthians

The Corinthian church, despite its rich gifting and growth, was plagued with many problems ranging from moral to ethical, doctrinal to practical, and communal to personal. The city of Corinth, a strategic commerce center in southern Greece, was notoriously immoral and largely Gentile in its demographic make-up. This might have led to abuses and excesses within the church as the believers struggled to make sense of their new-found faith that was contrary to their former lifestyles and belief system.

Paul planted the church on his second missionary journey, in the face of fierce opposition from proselyting Jews and strong pagan religious presence there. After receiving a mandate from the Lord through a vision at night, he stayed in Corinth for one and a half years, teaching and guiding the local believers while tent-making with Aquila and Priscilla, a couple who became his companions and co-workers (Acts 18:1-11).

The first epistle to the Corinthians can be divided into two parts, the first half of which Paul dealt with church-related problems using a reprove-correct approach (chapters 1-6), while the second half concerns with doctrine-related problems in which Paul adopted a question-answer approach (chapters 7-16). Correction is the theme of this letter and here we see Paul's firm but patient love in reproving and disciplining as a spiritual father.

4:15 For though you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

Pastors and church leaders can learn from Paul's wisdom and approach in handling problems within their congregations; church members too can play an important role by giving support to this difficult but necessary task.

OUTLINE OF 1 CORINTHIANS

1. Introductory Address (1:1-9)
2. Contentions within the Church (1:10-4:21)
        a. Reproving Schisms and Divisions (1:10-17)
        b. Contrasting Earthly-Heavenly Wisdoms (1:18-3:4)
        c. Co-Labouring with a Right Perspective (3:5-17)
        d. Defining Stewardship (3:18-4:5)
        e. Defending Apostleship (4:6-21)
3. Confusions within the Church (5:1-10:33)
        a. On Incest and Excommunication  (5:1-13)
        b. On Litigation between Members (6:1-8)
        c. On Immorality and Fornication (6:9-20)
        d. On Marriage and Celibacy (7:1-40)
        e. On Things Offered to Idols (8:1-10:33)
4. Questions concerning Gathering (11:1-34)
        a. Distinction between Men and Women  (11:1-16)
        b. Observation of the Lord's Supper (11:17-34)
5. Questions concerning Gifting (12:1-14:40)
        a. Nature and Purpose of Spiritual Gifts  (12:1-31)
        b. Love the Governing Principle (13:1-13) 
        c. Right Use and Practices of the Gifts (14:1-40)
6. Questions concerning the Resurrection (15:1-58)
        a. Christ's Resurrection  (15:1-34)
        b. The Christian's Resurrection (15:35-58)
7. Concluding Matters (16:1-24)
        a. Collection of Gift for the Poor  (16:1-4)
        b. Paul's Personal Plans (16:5-12)
        c. Final Exhortation (16:13-24)