Lesson 1—Paul Writes to the Corinthians

I Corinthians 1:1-17

Introduction

In order to better understand the text, it is necessary to look at background material concerning the people to whom the author was writing, the relationship between the author and the recipients of the letter, and the time in which this letter was written. I’m reminded of the words which Ray Vander Laan uses to begin each of his “Faith Lessons” video series. He says: “In order to understand the words of the Bible, we must first understand the worlds of the Bible.” Understanding the background of this book is essential to understanding the book.

First, let’s look at a brief overview of the city and its people. Corinth is located at the southern end of a narrow isthmus, only four miles across, which connects the southern part of Greece with the rest of the country and with other countries to the north. Because of its physical location it became a prosperous center of trade and commerce. If a person were traveling by land from southern Greece to northern Greece it would have been necessary for him to go through the city of Corinth. And, if a person were traveling by sea going east or west he would choose to cross the narrow isthmus by land rather than navigate the dangerous waters at the southern tip of Greece. Large ships would unload on one side of the isthmus and the cargo would be carried by porters to the other side of the isthmus and re-loaded on another ship. Small ships could be placed on rollers and dragged across the isthmus and re-launched on the other side (Prior 11). Thus, if a person were traveling north or south, east or west the chances were great that he would go through Corinth.

Corinth was a city of wealth, luxury, and immorality. It had no rivals as a city of vice. In spite of the fact that classical historians and authors referred to Corinth as a wealthy city known for its military importance, its reputation was largely based on the immorality of its citizens. It was customary in a stage play for a Corinthian to come on the scene drunk (Zondervan 183). The inhabitants were naturally devoted to the worship of Poseidon, since they drew so much wealth from the sea, but their greatest devotion was given to Aphrodite, the goddess of love. Her temple on the Acrocorinthus had more than a thousand priestesses who practiced prostitution in the name of religion. At its height, Corinth was estimated to have had a free population of 200,000, plus a half million slaves (Zondervan 183). 

Contextual Overview
Paul visited Corinth for the first time on his second missionary journey (Acts 18). He had just come from Athens, where he had not been well received. Based on the reputation of the city, Paul’s reaction to being led by God to Corinth should come as no surprise. He says that he came into Corinth “…in weakness and fear and with much trembling” (I Cor. 2:3). It even required a special vision from the Lord to keep him in Corinth.

“One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you,.because I have many people in this city” (Acts 18:9-10).

Based on the confidence he gained from the Lord, Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half.

Two important events happened at Corinth that helped define the remainder of Paul’s ministry. (1) Because of the abuse he received from the Jews, Paul decided to “give up on the Jews” and devote his ministry to the Gentiles (Acts 18:6). (2) Because of the decision made by Gallio, the proconsul, that Paul’s preaching could not be interpreted as an offense against Roman law, Paul gained a new idea of the protection the Roman law afforded him as a preacher of the Gospel. (Acts 18:12-17) 

The letter of I Corinthians was written by Paul while he was staying in Ephesus during his third missionary journey (I Cor.16:8,19). He had previously written a letter to the Corinthians which has not been preserved in which he warned them against associating with immoral persons (I Cor. 5:9). In reply, he had received a letter (alluded to several times i.e. I Cor. 5:10; 7:1; 8:1) in which they felt it was impossible to follow his advice without going out of the world altogether, and submitted to him a number of problems on which they asked his opinion. This letter from Corinth was probably brought to Paul by three of their number, Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus (I Cor. 16:17). Meanwhile, Paul had heard of factions in the church from the servants of Chloe (I Cor. 1:11). It was these various circumstances which led to the writing of I Corinthians.

Outline
I. The Perfect Church (vv 1-9)
A. Greeting (vv.1-3)
B. Thanksgiving (vv.4-9)

II. The Imperfect Church (vv 10-17)
A. Divisions (vv.10-12)
B. Solution (vv.13-17)

Textual Review
I. The Perfect Church (vv 1-9)

A. Greetings (vv 1-3)
Paul describes himself in almost the same way as he does in the beginning of Romans, II Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, and Colossians: i.e., as an Apostle by the “will of God.” Paul was not hesitant to say that he felt “called” to his ministry.

Paul uses several descriptive and significant words and phrases to describe the recipients of this letter (v 2). First, Paul does not talk of “my church,” but of the “church of God.” Paul was as responsible for the existence of the church in Corinth as any human being could have been. He “birthed” it and nurtured it. Yet, it was God’s church, not Paul’s. 

Second, Paul says that those in the church were “sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy.” Christians have no holiness nor righteousness of their own. Instead, it resides in “Christ Jesus.” It is interesting to notice how many times Paul uses a form of the word “call” in this letter. In the first two verses, it is used four times. The word for church is “ekklesia” which literally means “a company of those called out.” We have been “called out” by God and “called to be holy” and our proper response is to “call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jesus deserves all the glory and praise for our salvation.

B. Thanksgiving (vv 4-9)
It would have been easy for Paul to have immediately addressed the problems in the Corinthian church. Instead, he talks about the church as it is in Christ, a “perfect church.” First, he mentions the fact that they had been the recipients of grace, they had been enriched in every way, and that they did not lack any spiritual gift. These three statements speak of the generosity of God toward all of us who have been redeemed. Paul makes it abundantly clear in chapters 12 and 14 that no one person can claim to have all spiritual gifts. However, when we are joined to each other through fellowship in a local congregation we potentially do have every spiritual gift within our corporate life. 

Not only is Paul very positive about the present resources of the church of God at Corinth; he is also full of confidence about its future (vv 8-9). Our confidence in the future should be based on the same thing on which Paul’s confidence was based (i.e., the faithfulness of God). God is not going to call us and then abandon us. He is faithful and will keep us strong to the end.

II. The Imperfect Church (vv 10-17)

A. Divisions (vv 10-12)
The high view that Paul just expressed about the church must have magnified the sadness that he felt upon hearing the news of divisions within the church. Generally, it can be said that divisions occur when we take our eyes off of Jesus.

Therefore, it is not surprising to hear that this division was caused by those who started following men (i.e., Paul, Apollos, and Peter). However, it might be surprising to some that the division was also caused by those who claimed to be following Christ (v 12). Perhaps, these were the ones who felt that they were the spiritually elite and had a unique hold on “spirituality” while everyone else in the congregation was made to feel spiritually inferior. This attitude is just as insidious, if not more so, than that which comes by rejecting Christ in favor of following after men.

B. Solution (vv 13-17)
Paul, after outlining the causes of the division, presents the solution in the recognition of three essential facts: (1) Christ is not divided; (2) No one but Christ was crucified for us; and, (3) Christ is our only Lord which is the acknowledgment we make when we are baptized in the name of Christ. When we return our eyes to Jesus that focus should be on (1) the wholeness of Christ, (2) the cross of Christ, and (3) the Lordship of Christ. That focus will produce true unity. 

Discussion Questions
1. What ministry do you feel called to by the will of God?
2. Are there any dangers in referring to a congregation as “my church” or “our church?” If so, what are they?
3. Are there any spiritual gifts lacking in the congregation at Pleasant Valley?
4. What are some of the causes of division within the church today? 
5. What is the impact on unbelievers when division occurs in a local congregation?


References
Henry, Matthew. “The First Epistle to the Corinthians,” Commentary on the Whole Bible. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing Company, 1961.

Fausett, A. R. “Corinth,” Bible Encyclopedia and Dictionary. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1948.

Morris,Leon. The First Epistle of Paul to The Corinthians. Grand Rapids, 
Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1985.

Prior, David. The Message of I Corinthians. Downers Grove, Illinois: Inter-Varsity Press, 1985.

Tenney, Merrill C., ed. “Corinth,” The Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary. 
Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1963.

Tenney, Merrill C. New Testament Survey. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1961.

Wiersbe, Warren W. Be Wise. Wheaton, Illinois: Victor Books, 1983. 

-Jim Dockery





(Jim Dockery has been a member of the Pleasant Valley congregation since 1981. He presently serves the congregation as one of its elders and an adult Bible school teacher.)