1 Corinthians | Book Overview

Overview Article

In this fascinating letter to a multiethnic church, we see some of the everyday problems the early Christians were dealing with. In Paul’s advice on how to handle these problems, we find deep principles that shape his thinking about practical Christian living. These enduring principles—so different from the popular trends of Paul’s time or ours—provide rich guidance for us as we deal with similar problems today.

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Key People, Places, and Terms

Places 7

Themes

The Church 9 The church is the community of people who acknowledge Christ as Lord and obey him ( Ephesians 5:21–24 ). The New Testament word for "church" comes from the Greek word ekklēsia (meaning "a group of people who gather to... Holiness and Sexual Purity 9 The Bible teaches that people should be holy in their sexual relationships. God created humans as sexual beings. The first command God gave to Adam and Eve was to "Be fruitful and multiply" ( Genesis 1:28 ). This mean... Giving up Rights 8 Paul consistently teaches that Christians should be willing to give up their personal rights and freedoms for the good of others and for the spread of the good news about Jesus. He does not command Christians to defen... The Holy Spirit’s Work 7 Different New Testament writers emphasized various aspects of the Holy Spirit's work. The apostle John, for example, emphasized the Spirit's role as a teacher and revealer of God's thoughts and ways ( John 14:17 , 26... The Church as a Living, Active Body 7 The apostle Paul considered the church as the living body of Jesus Christ made up of believers. Paul did not make any formal difference between professional church leaders and ordinary members, where only the leaders... The Resurrection of Jesus 7 The Bible clearly describes how Jesus physically rose from the dead through God's power. However, many other explanations have been suggested: Jesus did not actually die. He fainted and later woke up in a cold tomb. S... Tolerance 6 The apostle Paul urges tolerance (patient understanding) between those weak in faith and those strong in faith. He teaches Christians to accept each other ( Romans 14:1 ; 15:7 ). He instructs them to stop condemning o... The Gift of Prophecy 6 As the apostle Peter stated on the day of Pentecost, prophecy was a result of God's Holy Spirit poured out ( Acts 2:17–21 ; see Joel 2:28–32 ). The book of Acts mentions a few Christian prophets ( Acts 11:27–28 ; 13:1...

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The Day Is Coming 5 Jesus prophesied three future events in the Synoptic Gospels: One event was his own death and resurrection ( Mark 8:31 ; 9:31 ; 10:33–34 ). This had already happened before the Gospels were written. Women’s Roles in the New Testament Church 5 The apostle Paul's words in 1 Timothy about women's roles in the church were intended to correct what was happening in Ephesus. But Bible scholars debate how this passage applies to other situations. There are three m... The Church as God’s Temple 5 The idea of the church as God's temple comes from the Old Testament. The kings David and Solomon received a promise that the temple in Jerusalem would be where God lived among his people (see 2 Samuel 7:12–16 ; 1 King... Belonging to Christ 5 To many people today, the New Testament seems to present an extreme view of the Christian life. God calls Christians to give up their rights, endure suffering, and even face death for Jesus ( Mark 8:34–36 ). They must... Baptism 4 Baptism has been a key part of Christianity since it began ( Acts 2:38 ). In Judaism, "baptism" and "baptize" referred to a religious cleansing ceremony. The law of Moses required water to cleanse people from ceremoni... Church Leaders 4 The first church gatherings were spontaneous and God's spirit gave gifts in a special way (see 1 Corinthians 14:26–33 ). The apostles generally led the Christian communities along with the elders in Jerusalem ( Acts 6... Human Sexuality 4 When God created the first humans in his own image, he created them male and female ( Genesis 1:27 ). God gave them the ability to have children through their sexuality. This was so they could fill the earth with peop... The Holy Spirit’s Presence 4 The book of Acts emphasizes the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Before the Spirit came, Jesus spoke about the Spirit's influence on his followers ( 1:8 ; see John 14:15–17 , 26 ; 15:26 ; 16:7–15 ). The Spirit c... The Mystery of the Good News 4 In his letters, the apostle Paul often uses the word mystery to describe the good news about Jesus (some translations use the word secret ). Sometimes, Paul uses mystery as a way of referring to the good news itself (... Death 4 Humans are mortal, and death is the natural end of life on earth ( Psalm 90:1–6 ). Human identity began when God breathed life into the dust of the earth and made a man ( Genesis 2:7 ). This state reverses at death wh... The Coming of God’s Kingdom 4 A key part of Jesus' message was that God's kingdom had come. The people of Israel eagerly awaited this reality. It would fulfill God's many promises that had not yet become a reality: The Holy Spirit would return, as... The Stone the Builders Rejected 3 Jesus continually offended the Jewish leaders and their followers. Although he was from the family line of King David, they questioned his mother's reputation ( Matthew 1:18–25 ). Jesus came from Nazareth ( Matthew 2:...

Outline

Greetings 1:1–9

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Problems in Corinth 1:10–6:20

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Paul answers questions from the Corinthian believers 7–14

Jesus was raised from the dead 15–15

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Paul shares greetings and says goodbye 16–16

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Use of the Old Testament in 1 Corinthians

17 quotations from 8 Old Testament books

Total quotations 17

Connected books 8

Most-connected book Isaiah 6

All References

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Group by OT book

1 Corinthians	OT Passage	Compare
1 Corinthians 1:19	Isaiah 29:14	Compare OT Text Therefore I will again confound these people with wonder upon wonder. The wisdom of the wise will vanish, and the intelligence of the intelligent will be hidden.” NT Text I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate
1 Corinthians 1:31	Jeremiah 9:24	Compare OT Text But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, who exercises loving devotion, justice and righteousness on the earth— for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD. NT Text Let him who boasts boast in the Lord
1 Corinthians 2:9	Isaiah 64:4	Compare OT Text From ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides You, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him. NT Text No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him
1 Corinthians 2:16	Isaiah 40:13	Compare OT Text Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, or informed Him as His counselor? NT Text who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to instruct Him
1 Corinthians 3:19	Job 5:13	Compare OT Text He catches the wise in their craftiness, and sweeps away the plans of the cunning. NT Text foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness
1 Corinthians 3:20	Psalm 94:11	Compare OT Text The LORD knows the thoughts of man, that they are futile. NT Text The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile
1 Corinthians 5:13	Deuteronomy 17:7	Compare OT Text The hands of the witnesses shall be the first in putting him to death, and after that, the hands of all the people. So you must purge the evil from among you. NT Text Expel the wicked man from among you
1 Corinthians 6:16	Genesis 2:24	Compare OT Text For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. NT Text unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh
1 Corinthians 9:9	Deuteronomy 25:4	Compare OT Text Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain. NT Text Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain
1 Corinthians 10:7	Exodus 32:6	Compare OT Text So the next day they arose, offered burnt offerings, and presented peace offerings. And the people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry. NT Text as some of them were. As it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry
1 Corinthians 10:26	Psalm 24:1	Compare OT Text The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof, the world and all who dwell therein. NT Text The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof
1 Corinthians 14:21	Isaiah 28:11–12	Compare OT Text Indeed, with mocking lips and foreign tongues, He will speak to this people to whom He has said: “This is the place of rest, let the weary rest; this is the place of repose.” But they would not listen. NT Text By strange tongues and foreign lips I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to Me, says
1 Corinthians 15:27	Psalm 8:6	Compare OT Text You made him ruler of the works of Your hands; You have placed everything under his feet: NT Text God has put everything under His feet
1 Corinthians 15:32	Isaiah 22:13	Compare OT Text But look, there is joy and gladness, butchering of cattle and slaughtering of sheep, eating of meat and drinking of wine: “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!” NT Text what did I gain? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die
1 Corinthians 15:45	Genesis 2:7	Compare OT Text Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being. NT Text The first man Adam became a living being”; the
1 Corinthians 15:54	Isaiah 25:8	Compare OT Text He will swallow up death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from every face and remove the disgrace of His people from the whole earth. For the LORD has spoken. NT Text and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come to pass: “Death has been swallowed up in victory
1 Corinthians 15:55	Hosea 13:14	Compare OT Text I will ransom them from the power of Sheol; I will redeem them from Death. Where, O Death, are your plagues? Where, O Sheol, is your sting? Compassion is hidden from My eyes. NT Text Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting

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