Chapter 11
1 Corinthians:
The Supremacy of Love
First Corinthians is a letter from a missionary pastor who came as a father (4:14–15) to address a local church about local church problems. He wrote with love and a spirit of gentleness, hoping the issues would be resolved so he did not need to come later with discipline (4:21). Some of the problems of the city of Corinth had become the problems in the church in Corinth. The church was exercising their spiritual gifts, but they were also immature and full of problems. Paul wrote to address those issues and answer questions the church had addressed to him.
Author: The apostle Paul and Sosthenes (1:1)
Recipient: The church at Corinth (1:2)
Where Written: Ephesus
Date: AD 56
Key Word: Love (Gk. agapē/agapaō)
Key Verse: “Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love” (13:13).
AUTHOR
First Corinthians 1:1 identifies Paul as the author of this letter, a fact which is generally accepted (see also 1:12–17; 3:4–6,22; 16:21):
What is more, the contents of this book coincide with what is known of Paul in his travels in Acts.
RECIPIENTS
The book is addressed “To God’s church at Corinth, . . . with all those in every place who call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord—both their Lord and ours” (1:2). Corinth was situated on the isthmus that joined the Ionian and Agean Seas. It was a maritime city that sat between the ports of Lechaion and Cenchreae in Greece. From the beginning of the letter, Paul was emphasizing the spiritual truth of one local “body of Christ” with application to all believers and/or all local churches (cf. 12:12–27).
The city of Corinth, a Roman colony, was the capital of the Roman province of Achaia. Situated on the Peloponnesian peninsula, the area was a center for commerce, bringing many travelers through the region. As a result, Corinth was known for its wealth and for being the center of the worship of Aphrodite, goddess of love and immorality, as well as other deities. From this city Paul wrote the first chapter of Romans containing the most graphic description of immorality in the New Testament. Some of that climate had infected the church there.
The columns of the temple of Apollo at Corinth.
OCCASION AND DATE
First Corinthians was written while Paul was in Ephesus near the end of his third missionary journey, putting the date at AD 56 (16:5–9). Paul visited the city of Corinth for the first time on his second missionary journey (Acts 18:1–18). He planted a church, staying with them for a year and a half (Acts 18:11). On his third missionary journey, Paul’s main stop was in Ephesus where he remained and ministered for about two and a half years (AD 53–56; cf. Acts 18:23–19:41). While in Ephesus, Paul heard some negative news about how the Corinthian church was handling an immoral situation. He wrote them a letter, which is now lost to us, but referred to in 1 Cor 5:9. A visit to Paul, from some of Chloe’s household (1:11), followed this letter, reporting that the letter was misunderstood (5:10–11) and that there were quarrels among the people causing divisions in the church. In addition, several moral issues needed to be addressed. Around the same time Paul received a list of questions, possibly through the visit of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus (16:17). In response, Paul wrote the letter known as 1 Corinthians.
GENRE AND STRUCTURE
First Corinthians is a pastoral letter to a local church from a father addressing his spiritually erring children (4:14–21). After the introduction (1:1–9), Paul immediately confronted the matter of divisions in the church at Corinth (1:10–4:21). The church needed to correct its spiritual unity before it could solve other issues. Second, Paul spoke to three moral issues in the church: incest (5:1–13); litigation between believers (6:1–11); and sexual immorality with prostitutes (6:12–20). Third, Paul gave spiritual answers to various questions passed on to him from the readers (7:1–16:12). Finally, he gave some closing exhortation, greetings, and a benediction (16:13–24).
I. Introduction (1 Corinthians 1:1–9)
II. Reproof: “I Exhort You” (1 Corinthians 1:10–4:21)
III. Correction: “You Have Become Arrogant” (1 Corinthians 5:1–6:20)
IV. Instruction: “Don’t Be Ignorant” (1 Corinthians 7:1–14:40)
V. Teaching: “I Tell You a Mystery” (1 Corinthians 15:1–16:12)
VI. Final Exhortations, Greetings, and a Benediction (1 Corinthians 16:13–24)
MESSAGE
The message of 1 Corinthians is that the problems of the local church are rooted in a sinful self-centeredness and can be effectively solved by spiritual people who have given themselves in sacrificial service to their Lord and so are walking in imitation of Christ. In addressing the problems, Paul told them to “imitate me, as I also imitate Christ” (11:1; cf. 4:16). The letter demonstrates a spiritual person’s response as correct doctrine is applied to life in the process of walking with God.
A look at the main issues brings a major theme to the forefront. While Paul addressed many subjects, the central teaching is the love chapter (chap. 13), and the central example is Christ in the illustration of the Lord’s Supper (chap. 11). Through these issues the readers learn how to give up their own immediate goals and desires for a higher good that impacts the whole body of Christ.
I. Introduction (1 Corinthians 1:1–9)
Paul’s introduction began on an encouraging note. After identifying himself as the author, and Sosthenes who was with him, Paul describes the church at Corinth in view of God’s sovereign call and sanctification (1:1–3). Even though there were serious problems in this church, the readers belonged to God and were set apart in this evil city by his purposes for them. Paul also thanked God for his gracious giving of spiritual gifts to them. While there were problems in the exercise of those gifts, God had graciously been at work in them and would be to the end (1:4–9).
II. Reproof: “I Exhort You” (1 Corinthians 1:10–4:21)
Paul began the body of his letter with an issue that was at the root of their problems: the need for unity around the gospel message. Their problem was divisions centered on men (1:10–17). The focus of their problem was various groups siding with men they felt were the best representatives of their view of Christianity. This resulted in divisions and quarrels (1:10–17). Paul illustrated what he meant by naming the individuals and reminding them of the nature of his own ministry. His focus was not to build up a following but to preach the gospel and lift up the cross of Christ.
Paul corrected their worldly thinking which had caused these divisions (1:18–4:21). The wisdom of God was different from the wisdom of the world. God’s wisdom triumphs over the wisdom of the world (1:18–2:5). The world looks at the message of the cross and sees foolishness, whereas it is really the power of God to save those who believe. In order to prevent boasting in human wisdom, God chooses to save and use those the world often rejects. As a result, glory appropriately goes to God. As an example, God took the human weakness of Paul’s message, combined it with the power of the Spirit who taught him wisdom, and produced results now seen in the Corinthian church (2:6–13).
The unbeliever (psychikos anthroˉpos) cannot accept the things of God, but the spiritual person (pneumatikos) has the mind of Christ (2:14–16). The Corinthians were operating as immature, baby Christians, still using the wisdom of the world, resulting in divisions among them. Paul was not able to speak to them as spiritual people (pneumatikos) but as to immature believers (“people of the flesh [sarkinos], as babies in Christ”). They were still fleshly (sarkikos), still controlled by the flesh and living like unbelievers, according to human wisdom (3:1–3).
Corinth First-Century Diagram.
Next, Paul explained how to view these various servants of God (3:5–4:5). Instead of being leaders of the...
