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)

God’s Wisdom must hold sway in His Temple – The Church (3:16-23) Human wisdom must not defile God’s temple The church is God’s temple! (3:16; Eph. 2:19-22) God will destroy the one who destroys it (3:17) Those deceived by human wisdom imagine they can do what they please with the church (3:18) The Lord will catch such futile thinkers in their own craftiness! (3:19-20; Job 5:13; Psalm 94:11) Do not rely on human wisdom, but avail yourself of all that God has supplied! (3:21-23) Ephesians 2:19-22  Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,  20  having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,  21  in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,  22  in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. In contrast to those who inadvertently built with the wrong materials, others at Corinth were destroying the Lord’s church through their divisions. ELIPHAZ in Job 5:13  He catches the wise in their own craftiness, And the counsel of the cunning comes quickly upon them. Psalms 94:11  The LORD knows the thoughts of man, That they are futile.

The Quality of Paul’s Apostleship (4:1-21) Evaluating Preachers (4:1-5) They must be faithful as servants and stewards (4:1-2; 2 Timothy 1:13-14; 2:2) God is the ultimate Judge of the evangelist and his work, as well the Judge of “each one” (4:2-5) A clear conscience does not necessarily mean that one is right with God (Acts 23:1; 26:9) God alone is qualified to judge, because He knows what’s been hidden and He tests the hearts (Hebrews 4:12; Proverbs 21:2; 24:12) Humans who preempt God’s judgment are out of place. 2 Timothy 1:13-14  Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.  14  That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. 2 Timothy 2:2  And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Proverbs 21:2  Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the hearts. Proverbs 24:12  If you say, "Surely we did not know this," Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?

The Quality of Paul’s Apostleship (4:1-21) Corinthian Pride VS Apostolic Humility (4:6-13) Through Paul’s illustration, the Corinthians were meant to learn that pride in men and pride of man MUST NOT take precedence over “what is written” (4:6-8; 1 Peter 4:11) The humiliation of the apostles The apostles were “displayed” and “made a spectacle” “as men condemned to death” to demonstrate the lowliness of those through whom God works His power (4:9-13; compare 1:27-31) 1 Peter 4:11  If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. “those condemned to death” seems to be a reference to those who were forced to fight to the death in the gladiatorial games. This and 1 Corinthians 9:26 are references to games that would have been well known in Corinth

The Quality of Paul’s Apostleship (4:1-21) Corinthian Pride VS Apostolic Humility (4:9-13) To the present hour… we both hunger and thirst we are poorly clothed beaten (Acts 16:22-23; 2 Cor. 11:25) homeless  we labor (Acts 18:3; 20:34; 1 Thess. 2:9; 2 Thess. 3:8) being reviled, we bless (1 Pet. 3:9; Luke 6:28; Rom. 12:14) being persecuted, we endure (Matt. 5:10-11, 44) being defamed, we entreat We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now  Acts 16:22-23  Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods.  23  And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. 2Co 11:25  Three times I was beaten with rods; Paul had worked to support himself in Corinth -- Acts 18:3  “So, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked; for by occupation they were tentmakers.” But also in Ephesus and Thessalonica. 1 Peter 3:9  not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. Luke 6:28  bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. Romans 12:14  Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Matthew 5:10-11  Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  11  "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake Matthew 5:44  But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,

The Quality of Paul’s Apostleship (4:1-21) Paul’s example & teaching correct (4:14-21) Paul’s language was designed to warn (4:14) The Corinthians needed to follow Paul’s fatherly words and example (4:15-16) Timothy was sent to remind them of Paul’s “ways” and teaching, which was the same in every church. (4:17; cf. Philippians 2:19-24) Paul would return to Corinth and sort out the prideful talkers who had no real power! (4:18-21) Their acceptance of his rebuke now would determine his disposition when he came! Philippians 2:19-24  But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state.  20  For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state.  21  For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus.  22  But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel.  23  Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes with me.  24  But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly.

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