1 Corinthians

The Book of 1 Corinthians​​​​

 

The apostle Paul wrote this letter to the church in Corinth, a major city in ancient Greece, around AD 55. The Corinthian believers were facing many struggles as they tried to live out their new faith in a culture filled with pagan practices and immorality. Paul had founded this church a few years earlier, and when he heard about their problems, he wrote to address their questions and correct their misunderstandings about following Jesus Christ.

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This book is deeply practical and speaks to issues that new believers still face today. Paul tackles problems like church unity, sexual purity, marriage, spiritual gifts, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Throughout the letter, Paul consistently points believers back to the cross of Christ as the foundation for Christian living.

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Unity in Christ and God's Wisdom

Paul begins by addressing divisions in the church. Some people said, "I follow Paul," while others claimed, "I follow Apollos," or "I follow Cephas" (1 Corinthians 1:12, NIV). Paul firmly corrects this by asking, "Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you?" (1 Corinthians 1:13, ESV). Our unity comes from Christ alone, not from human leaders.

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Paul presents a striking contrast between God's wisdom and human wisdom. He writes, "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" (1 Corinthians 1:18, NKJV). Paul quotes Isaiah 29:14, showing that God has always operated differently from human expectations: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate" (1 Corinthians 1:19, NIV).

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God chose to save people through a crucified Messiah. Paul reminds believers that "God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong" (1 Corinthians 1:27, ESV). This ensures that no one can boast in their own achievements. Everything we build in our Christian lives must be constructed on Jesus Christ as the foundation (1 Corinthians 3:11).

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Sexual Purity and Honoring God

Corinth was known for sexual immorality, and this culture had infiltrated the church. Paul commands believers to "flee from sexual immorality" (1 Corinthians 6:18, NASB). He provides a powerful reason for sexual purity: "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, NIV).

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When we trust in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit comes to live within us. Our bodies become sacred dwelling places for God Himself. Jesus purchased us through His death on the cross, so we belong to Him completely. Living in sexual purity honors the price He paid for our redemption.

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Marriage, Singleness, and Christian Freedom

Paul addresses practical questions about marriage and remaining single. He affirms that marriage is good and that married couples should fulfill their obligations to one another (1 Corinthians 7:3-5). He also values singleness as a gift that allows undivided devotion to serving the Lord (1 Corinthians 7:32-35). Both marriage and singleness are valuable gifts from God.

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Regarding food offered to idols, Paul teaches about Christian freedom guided by love. While "an idol is nothing at all in the world" (1 Corinthians 8:4, NIV), he warns, "Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak" (1 Corinthians 8:9, NIV). Love for others takes priority over personal rights. This reflects the self-sacrificing love that Jesus showed when He gave His life for us.

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Discipline and Warnings from History

Paul compares the Christian life to running a race: "Run in such a way as to get the prize" (1 Corinthians 9:24, NIV). Following Jesus Christ requires discipline and self-control. He reminds the Corinthians about Israel's experiences in the wilderness, warning, "So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!" (1 Corinthians 10:12, NIV).

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However, Paul also encourages: "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it" (1 Corinthians 10:13, NIV).

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Worship and the Lord's Supper

Paul addresses problems in their worship gatherings. When they came together for the Lord's Supper, divisions and selfish behavior marred the occasion. Paul reminds them of Jesus's words: "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me" and "This cup is the new covenant in my blood" (1 Corinthians 11:24-25, NIV).

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Paul warns that participating requires self-examination: "Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup" (1 Corinthians 11:28, NIV). We should approach this remembrance with reverence, confession of sin, and genuine faith in Jesus Christ's sacrifice.

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Spiritual Gifts and the Body of Christ

Paul explains that spiritual gifts are abilities given by the Holy Spirit to serve the church. These include wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, prophecy, speaking in tongues, and interpreting tongues (1 Corinthians 12:8-10). Using the metaphor of a human body, Paul teaches that all believers are necessary parts: "Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ" (1 Corinthians 12:12, NIV).

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Every believer has a vital role to play. When we trust in Jesus Christ, we become united with Him and with all other believers. The Holy Spirit places us into this body, giving us both identity and purpose.

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The Supremacy of Love

In the most beautiful chapter, Paul describes the supremacy of love. "If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal" (1 Corinthians 13:1, NIV). Even the most impressive spiritual gifts mean nothing without love.

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Paul describes what love looks like: "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres" (1 Corinthians 13:4-7, NIV).

This description comes directly from observing Jesus Christ Himself. He demonstrated perfect love that led Him to the cross. Paul concludes, "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love" (1 Corinthians 13:13, NIV).

 

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ

Paul addresses the foundational truth of Christianity: the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. He lists eyewitnesses who saw Jesus alive after His crucifixion, including over five hundred people at one time (1 Corinthians 15:6). Paul emphasizes, "And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith" (1 Corinthians 15:14, NIV).

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Without the resurrection, there is no Christianity. But because Jesus rose from the dead, we have complete assurance that His sacrifice was accepted and death has been conquered. This fulfills ancient prophecies like Psalm 16:10, where David wrote, "You will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay" (NIV). Peter later explained this was speaking prophetically about Christ's resurrection (Acts 2:31).

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Paul declares, "But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep" (1 Corinthians 15:20, NIV). Just as firstfruits guarantee more harvest will follow, Christ's resurrection guarantees that all who belong to Him will also be raised.

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Our Hope of Resurrection

Paul explains that our resurrection bodies will be transformed and perfect. "The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power" (1 Corinthians 15:42-43, NIV). We will have real, physical bodies, but they will no longer be subject to death, disease, or decay.

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Paul declares triumphantly, "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" (1 Corinthians 15:55, NIV). This echoes Hosea 13:14, where God promises to redeem His people from death. Through Jesus Christ, this ancient promise has been fulfilled.

Paul explains how Jesus accomplished this: "The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:56-57, NIV). Death entered through sin, but Jesus Christ lived a perfect life without sin, then died to pay the penalty for our sins. When He rose from the dead, He proved He had conquered both sin and death.

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This fulfills Isaiah 53:5, written over seven hundred years before Jesus was born: "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed" (NIV).

 

Living in Light of the Resurrection

Because Jesus has conquered death, we must live differently. Paul commands, "Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain" (1 Corinthians 15:58, NIV).

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The resurrection transforms our daily lives. When we know Jesus Christ will raise us to eternal life, we can face hardship without fear. We can invest our lives in serving God, knowing that nothing we do for Him is wasted. Every act of love has eternal significance.

 

Conclusion

The issues Paul addressed in first-century Corinth remain relevant today. For new believers, 1 Corinthians teaches essential truths about following Jesus Christ. We learn that the gospel is central to everything, that love must guide all our actions, that our bodies matter to God, that the church is a unified body, and that Christ's resurrection gives us certain hope.

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The book constantly points us to Jesus Christ and His death and resurrection as the foundation for Christian faith. When we trust in Jesus, we are forgiven, transformed by the Holy Spirit, united with other believers, and guaranteed eternal life. Paul's blessing for all believers is this: "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you" (1 Corinthians 16:23, ESV).

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Scripture paraphrased and quoted from various translations for clarity.

© The Unknown Believer