New Testament Survey First Corinthians The Author External

New Testament Survey: First Corinthians

The Author • External evidence clearly shows that the apostle Paul authored the book. • Internal evidence of Paul’s authorship is also very strong. – 1: 3; 16: 21 -24

The Date • A letter that preceded the first letter contained no additional needed truth. – 1 Corinthians 5: 9 • Paul, while in Ephesus in 55 AD, learned of serious problems in Corinth. • Divisions existed in the church. • The Corinthian church sent Paul a letter requesting answers to several questions.

The Date • Paul answered with this epistle dispatched by Timothy. – 1 Corinthians 4: 17 • Had Paul paid them a personal visit after his first letter? – 2 Corinthians 12: 14; 13: 1, 2 • Did the letter accomplish its intended purpose? – 2 Corinthians 2: 4; 7: 8 • Paul wanted to know the effect of the letter. He waited for Titus to come from Corinth with answers. – 2 Corinthians 2: 13; 7: 5, 13

The City • Corinth was geographically situated at the center of the Grecian peninsula. • Built upon an isthmus, it was strategically important in the defense and conquest of the Grecian peninsula. • The city was fortified by a wall. • Citadel rising 2, 000 feet above sea level— the view from the summit to the sea, from both east and west, is magnificent.

The City • A lower-level harbor made Corinth a city of east-west trade. • In 46 B. C. , Julius Caesar established a Roman colony in Corinth. • The new city grew, attracting both Jews and Greeks, who were more numerous than Romans. • Dishonesty, suspicion, speculation, egotism, profligacy, and vice ruled the city. • The temple to the goddess Venus supported 1, 000 temple prostitutes!

The Church • Established by Paul – Acts 18: 8 • After Paul, Apollos met with unusual success in preaching the gospel. • Division arose when men started following other men instead of Christ. • Their licentious character was evidenced by some of the sins committed by God’s people. – 1 Corinthians 6: 11

The 1 Corinthian Letter • The letter’s address is significant. – 1: 1, 2 • Its first four chapters deal with division. – Trusted in human wisdom – Gloried in men rather than Christ – Carnally minded, making spiritual understanding and reception impossible – Failure to distinguish between holy and profane things—ending in defilement of God’s temple

The 1 Corinthian Letter • Prescription for remedying the division (1: 10): – “Speak the same thing. ” – “That there be no more divisions among you. ” – “That you be perfected together in the same mind and same judgment. ”

The 1 Corinthian Letter • Paul dealt with the corrupt influence of heathen immorality. – Chapters 4 and 5 • The Church was harboring a man who was living in open adultery with his father’s wife! • Public withdrawal – 5: 5 • Have no company with him—make him ashamed! – 5: 9

The 1 Corinthian Letter • Engaged in commerce and industry— sometimes with one another. • Some were having financial disputes and disagreements. • They sought to settle the matter before heathen courts and judges. • Paul condemned this and told them to settle these matters among themselves. – 1 Corinthians 6: 1 -11

The 1 Corinthian Letter • Moral laxity had made it difficult for them to honor their marriage commitments. • A chapter is devoted to answering their questions about this relationship. • Certain rules and applications were to be used “because of the present distress. ” – 1 Corinthians 7: 26 -32 • Marriage was to be honored, even when a Christian was married to an unbeliever. – 1 Corinthians 7: 10 -24

The 1 Corinthian Letter • Some were eating for food the remnants of the bodies of animals offered in heathen services. • Some of the Jewish brethren questioned this practice. • Paul taught that this matter was a case of “personal liberty. ” • The practice was not to be exercised at the expense of a weaker brother’s conscience. – 1 Corinthians 8— 10

The 1 Corinthian Letter • Paul next discussed the local church’s obligations. • The church was to support and sustain those who made their living by preaching and teaching the gospel. – 1 Corinthians 9

The 1 Corinthian Letter • Abuses during the worship assembly: – God’s order of authority and the place of women – Praying and prophesying – Refusing to wear the veil—a custom of the day showing subjection and the man’s authority • 1 Corinthians 11: 1 -16

The 1 Corinthian Letter • Having a feast before observing the Lord’s Supper. • Glutting themselves with food and drink— not spiritually discerning the meaning of the Lord’s Supper. • They came together to worship. • They had houses in which to eat and drink to nurture their physical bodies. – 1 Corinthians 11: 19 -34

The 1 Corinthian Letter • Due to their exaltation of selfish ambitions and fleshly values, they had serious disputes about spiritual gifts. – Pitting the importance of one gift against another. – The nature and purposes of the gifts. • 1 Corinthians 12 – The “better way”—love – Temporal nature of the gifts • 1 Corinthians 13 – Each member working together for the whole! • 1 Corinthians 14

The 1 Corinthian Letter • Questions concerning the resurrection: – Christ has risen • 15: 1 -11 – Meaning of the resurrection • 15: 12 -57 – Universality of the resurrection • 15: 20 -22 – The Christian’s new body • 15: 42 -49 – Inheriting the kingdom of God • 15: 50, 51

The 1 Corinthian Letter • Question concerning the collection for the poor saints in Jerusalem: – Divine plan for church finances • 16: 1, 2 – Benevolence to be raised by its own contribution – Church to select its own messengers • 16: 3, 4 – Limited to the “needy saints. ” • Acts 11: 27 -30