the epistle of first Corinthians Outline of 1

the epistle of first Corinthians

Outline of 1 Corinthians SECTION ONE: Dealing with reported problems (1: 1 — 6: 20) A. Unity based on God’s wisdom (1: 10— 4: 21) • Greeting, thanksgiving, and exhortation to unity (1: 1 -17) • God’s wisdom & power vs. human pride (1: 18 -31) • Paul’s Example – relying on God’s wisdom and power (2: 1 -16) • God’s foundation and building (3: 1 -23) • The quality of Paul’s apostleship (4: 1 -21) B. Dealing with sin in the church (5 -6) • Dealing with the immoral (5: 1 -13) • Dealing with those filing lawsuits (6: 1 -11) • Flee Sexual Immorality (6: 12 -20)

Outline of 1 Corinthians SECTION TWO: Dealing with questions and concerns of the Corinthians (7: 1 --16: 9) C. Their Concerns (7 -9) • • Marriage problems & issues for singles (7: 1 -16) Live as you are called (7: 17 -40) Things offered to idols (8: 1 -13) The rights and responsibilities of preachers (9: 1 -27) D. Common Concerns (10 -11) • • Old Testament warnings about temptation (10: 1 -13) Flee idolatry (10: 14 -33) Respecting headship when praying or prophesying (11: 1 -16) The Lord’s Supper (11: 17 -34)

Outline of 1 Corinthians SECTION TWO: Dealing with questions and concerns of the Corinthians (7: 1 --16: 9) E. Spiritual Gifts (12 -14) • • Gifts of Spirit (12: 1 -31) The superiority of love (13: 1 -13) Keeping tongues in perspective (14: 1 -22) Order and decorum in the assembly (14: 23 -40) F. The Gospel of the Resurrection (15) • The Gospel and the FACT of the resurrection (15: 1 -20) • The Character of Resurrection (15: 21 -58) G. Closing Words (16) • Concerning the collection and Paul’s future plans (16: 1 -24)

Marriage Problems & Issues (7: 1 -16) Marital Relations: Sanctity & Surrender (7: 1 -7) • This chapter begins a new section of the epistle in which Paul deals with concerns the Corinthians sent to him in writing (7: 1; 7: 25; 8: 1; 12: 1; 16: 1) • “It is good for a man not to touch a woman” (7: 1) • Marriage is honorable! It is not a “lesser good” than celibacy (Gen. 2: 18 -24; Heb. 13: 4; Eph. 5: 22 -23) • Paul’s reasoning for making (or consenting to) the statement can be found in the context (7: 6, 26, 32 -33)

Marriage Problems & Issues (7: 1 -16) Marital Relations: Sanctity & Surrender (7: 1 -7) • Marriage is a defense against fornication (7: 2; 6: 18 -20) • Husbands and wives mutually surrender themselves (7: 3 -4) • Depriving one another is forbidden, unless there is mutual consent for the purpose of prayer & fasting (7: 5) • Yet even in this case, Paul is merely allowing a brief period of abstinence, not commanding it (7: 6) • Paul wishes that all people had his “gift” to live celibate without excessive stress or temptation, but he

Marriage Problems & Issues (7: 1 -16) Instructions for the Widowed & Unmarried (7: 8 -9) • It is “good” for widows and the unmarried to remain unmarried (7: 8) • Compare this to 1 Timothy 5: 14 • Why the difference? Consider verses 8, 26, and 32 -33.

Marriage Problems & Issues (7: 1 -16) Instructions for the Married (7: 10 -16) • As Christ commanded, one who is married is not to leave or send away his or her spouse (7: 10; Matthew 5: 32; 19: 6, 9) • If she departs she is to remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband • This does not condone the separation that Paul just prohibited!! (cf. Galatians 5: 14 -15; James 3: 13 -14)

Marriage Problems & Issues (7: 1 -16) Instructions for the Married (7: 10 -16) • Paul addresses a situation that Christ did not -- a believer who is married to an unbeliever • The believer is not to end the relationship if the unbeliever is willing to dwell together (7: 12 -14) • In a marriage between a believer and an unbeliever, both partners were joined by God in “holy matrimony. ” With respect to the marriage, both are “holy” participants (cf. Hebrews 13: 4). • If this were not the case the children would be considered “unholy” (illegitimate? )

Marriage Problems & Issues (7: 1 -16) Instructions for the Married (7: 10 -16) • Paul addresses a situation that Christ did not -- a believer who is married to an unbeliever • If the unbeliever is unwilling to dwell, the believer is not under bondage to fulfill spousal duties (7: 15) • NOTE: “Bondage” is the obligation of duty; IT IS NOT the same concept as the marriage bond (where 2 become 1) • These are two entirely different words and concepts: δουλο ω (douloo ) = to make a slave, be in bondage δε ω (deo , 7: 27) = to tie or fasten together • By staying married, the believer might save the unbeliever (7: 16; 1 Peter 3: 1 -2 )

Lesson Schedule for our study of First Corinthians Eastside Auditorium Fall Quarter 2017