Study on First Corinthians - Week 1

  1. GREETING: 1:1-3
  2. THANKSGIVING: 1:4-9

    Note that in the thanksgiving St. Paul already flags what will be prominent themes in the letter. Specifically, he expresses thanks to God for the Corinthians' extraordinary spiritual gifts. However, throughout the letter, Paul will challenge the Corinthians to use their gifts and to understand themselves in ways that conform to the “mind of Christ” (2:16). Note language such as: “you have been enriched in [Christ Jesus], in speech and knowledge of every kind… so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1:5-7 NRSV). Paul returns to these themes: riches in 4:8-13, perhaps also 11:17-34; speech in chapter 14; knowledge in chapters 8-10; and spiritual gifts in chapters 12-14. Our resurrection at Christ's return is dealt with in chapter 15.

  3. BODY OF THE LETTER: 1:10-16:18
  1. Divisions at Corinth: 1:10-4:21
  1. Statement of the Problem: 1:10-17

    2. Paul has learned from “Chloe's people” that there are divisions at Corinth and appeals to them to be of one mind and purpose. Apparently, some members are even appealing to specific teachers to support their “positions” or assert their superiority over their brothers and sisters. This appeal to unity is one of the overarching themes of the letter. Indeed, many interpreters see in 1:10 the thesis statement of the entire letter. But how does Paul go about trying to restore unity and order to the chaos at Corinth?

  2. Appeal to the Cross: 1:18-2:16
  1. The foolishness of the Cross confounds the wisdom of the world: 1:18-31 Paul reminds the Corinthians that their salvation has come through a proclamation that appears foolish and that God has revealed His strength through weakness. They know this by their own experience, even when the Corinthians were called, many lacked worldly status.
  2. God's “weakness” and “foolishness” conceal a spiritual mystery known to those are spiritual: 2:1-16 Paul reminds the Corinthians that his preaching focused on Christ crucified and relied on the Spirit and God's power – not worldly wisdom or rhetorical polish – for its proof. With reception of the Spirit, the Corinthians should have spiritual understanding. In perhaps the most important statement of the letter, Paul declares: “we have the mind of Christ” (2:16).*
  1. The Corinthians reveal that they are still fleshly, not spiritual, by their divisions: 3:1-4
  2. Who, then, are Paul and Apollos? 3:5-4:5
  3. What does all of this mean for the Corinthians and their factions? 4:6-21

* Although the argument in 1:18-2:16 relates to the immediate context, as I have outlined above, it also reveals the underlying “logic” of most of the letter. Paul urges the Corinthians to work through their problems by acquiring the “mind of Christ” – the One Who revealed God's power by being weak and crucified for others.