1. Survey of 1Cor. 1-16

2. I. General information

3. N.T. Letters Specific letters were Romans through Hebrews
General letters were James through Jude

4. Author
Paul
(1:1, 12-17; 3:3-4, 22; 16:21)
Paul worked with the church in Corinth for 18 months
In Corinth, Paul worked with Aquila and Priscilla as tentmakers.

5. To whom written Church at Corinth All men everywhere
Paul established the church in Corinth on his second missionary journey. Acts 18:1-17

6. The city of Corinth
After Corinth was destroyed by the Romans in 146 B.C., the city was rebuilt by Julius Caesar in 46 B.C.
The capital of Achaia.
Its official language was Latin.
It common language was Greek.
In Paul’s day the population was about 7000,000 people.

7. The city of Corinth ½ of the population were slaves.
Was filled with shrines and temples.
Temple of Aphrodite, --- had some 1,000
temple prostitutes.
To “act like a Corinthian” became a synonym for debauchery and prostitution. (Donnie Barnes Bible charts)

8. Why it was written
To make the church aware of the sins that it had and to encourage them to live faithful

9. “The core of Paul's message is Christ
“The core of Paul's message is Christ. He insists that the most important topic he discussed with these Christians was the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (15:3-8). When he sums up the essence of his message, it is ‘Christ crucified’….

10. (1:23). Paul likes to show how the cross-- which seems to be evidence of weakness and appears so foolish to many-- is really evidence of great power (1:18) and wisdom (2:6-8; 1:18-2:16;3:18-20; 8:1-3).” (W. Gann)

11. Outstanding features of the book
Someone has written that the theme of this letter is problems, problems, problems
Christ and his gospel constitute the solution to every problem and the answer to every question

12. “1 Corinthians is a manual on church problems…This letter contains more rebuke than any other of Paul’s letters. It gives us the best picture of the life and problems of a congregation of the first century.” (Joe Cox, A Bible Handbook)

13. “With so many problems at Corinth the letter serves to show us how a church can deal with such problems in the lives of Christians today. It is therefore, an important practical letter for churches in our time.” (W. Gann)

14. Brief outline Problems and questions 1-11 Spiritual gifts 12-14
The Resurrection 15
The contribution and closing remarks 16

15. II. Main Points In Each Chapter

16. 1 Cor. 1
Introduction and call to unity; God’s wisdom in the cross

17. 1 Cor. 2
Christ crucified --- Inspiration --- revelation

18. 1 Cor. 3 Carnality and the division that results from it
“Preacheritis”

19. 1 Cor. 4
Apostolic stewardship and authority

20. 1 Cor. 5
Sin in the church (One has his father’s wife)

21. 1 Cor. 6
Going to law with brethren --- purity vs. impurity (sins of the body) --- temple of the Holy Spirit

22. 1 Cor. 7
Marriage

23. 1 Cor. 8
Meat offered to idols; knowledge vs. love

24. 1 Cor. 9
Support of preachers --- liberties vs. self-denial

25. 1 Cor. 10
Warnings from Israel’s sins –”take heed lest ye fall” - concern for conscience

26. 1 Cor. 11
Women in the church (covering of the head) --- The Lord’s supper

27. 1 Cor. 12
Identification of spiritual gifts in the church

28. 1 Cor. 13
Duration of spiritual gifts (Illustration of love, temporary vs. permanent)

29. 1 Cor. 14
How to use and abuse the spiritual gifts

30. 1 Cor. 15
The gospel that saves; the resurrection of the dead; Christ’s victory over death

31. 1 Cor. 16
The contribution --- “watch ye”--- closing remarks

32. III. Some of the errors in the Corinthian church

33. 1. Division in the church 1 Cor. 1:10-13
[10] Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

34. [11] For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. [12] Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. [13] Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

35. 2. Immorality 1 Cor. 5:1
[1] It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.

36. 1 Cor. 5:5
[5] To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

37. 3. Going to law with one another 1 Cor. 6:1
[1] Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?

38. 4. Marriage 1 Cor. 7:1
[1] Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

39. 5. Eating meat offered to idols 1 Cor. 8:1
1 Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.

40. 6. Perversion of the Lord’s Supper 1 Cor. 11:27
[27] Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

41. 40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
7. Spiritual gifts 1 Cor. 12,13,14
1 Cor. 14:39-40
39 Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues.
40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

42. 8. Mistaken view of the resurrection --- 1 Cor. 15
[14] And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

43. Conclusion 13 Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.
14 Let all that you do be done with love