1. New Testament Survey: First Corinthians
Title Slide: New Testament Survey—Book of First Corinthians

2. The Author
External evidence clearly shows that the apostle Paul authored the book.
Internal evidence of Paul’s authorship is also very strong.
1:3; 16:21-24
See page 54…

3. The Date
A letter that preceded the first letter contained no additional needed truth.
1 Corinthians 5:9
Paul, while in Ephesus in 55 AD, learned of serious problems in Corinth.
Divisions existed in the church.
The Corinthian church sent Paul a letter requesting answers to several questions.
See page 54…Maybe some references (2 Cor.6:4—7:1)

4. The Date Paul answered with this epistle dispatched by Timothy.
1 Corinthians 4:17
Had Paul paid them a personal visit after his first letter?
2 Corinthians 12:14; 13:1,2
Did the letter accomplish its intended purpose?
2 Corinthians 2:4; 7:8
Paul wanted to know the effect of the letter. He waited for Titus to come from Corinth with answers.
2 Corinthians 2:13; 7:5,13
See page 54…First visit to Corinth in Acts 18: When news came that all was well, Paul wrote the second letter, sometimes referred to as “the letter of reconciliation.”

5. The City
Corinth was geographically situated at the center of the Grecian peninsula.
Built upon an isthmus, it was strategically important in the defense and conquest of the Grecian peninsula.
The city was fortified by a wall.
Citadel rising 2,000 feet above sea level—the view from the summit to the sea, from both east and west, is magnificent.
See page 55…

6. Pics of modern Corinth…

7. The City A lower-level harbor made Corinth a city of east-west trade.
In 46 B.C., Julius Caesar established a Roman colony in Corinth.
The new city grew, attracting both Jews and Greeks, who were more numerous than Romans.
Dishonesty, suspicion, speculation, egotism, profligacy, and vice ruled the city.
The temple to the goddess Venus supported 1,000 temple prostitutes!
See page 55…Seemingly, no place offered less opportunity for the gospel, than Corinth; yet, through God’s providence, Paul stayed there 18 months—”had much people in the city.”

8. The Church Established by Paul
Acts 18:8
After Paul, Apollos met with unusual success in preaching the gospel.
Division arose when men started following other men instead of Christ.
Their licentious character was evidenced by some of the sins committed by God’s people.
1 Corinthians 6:11
See page 55,56…Some had great difficulty in living the Christian life. Even the worship degenerated and became disorderly. Paul concluded that they were “eating and drinking damnation to themselves.” (1 Cor.11:29-34). Judaizing teachers also disturbed the Church by seeking to destroy confidence in Paul. Probably no letter in the NT more clearly reveals the character and problems of the people to whom it was addressed than the Corinthian letters. Paul “opens the roof” and exposes the internal problems plaguing a local church.

9. The 1 Corinthian Letter The letter’s address is significant.
1:1,2
Its first four chapters deal with division.
Trusted in human wisdom
Gloried in men rather than Christ
Carnally minded, making spiritual understanding and reception impossible
Failure to distinguish between holy and profane things—ending in defilement of God’s temple
See pages 56,57—First four chapters…

10. The 1 Corinthian Letter
Prescription for remedying the division (1:10):
“Speak the same thing.”
“That there be no more divisions among you.”
“That you be perfected together in the same mind and same judgment.”
See pages 57—1 Cor.1:10…

11. The 1 Corinthian Letter
Paul dealt with the corrupt influence of heathen immorality.
Chapters 4 and 5
The Church was harboring a man who was living in open adultery with his father’s wife!
Public withdrawal
5:5
Have no company with him—make him ashamed!
5:9
See pages 57—1 Cor. 5…

12. The 1 Corinthian Letter
Engaged in commerce and industry—sometimes with one another.
Some were having financial disputes and disagreements.
They sought to settle the matter before heathen courts and judges.
Paul condemned this and told them to settle these matters among themselves.
1 Corinthians 6:1-11
See pages 57—1 Cor. 6:1-11…

13. The 1 Corinthian Letter
Moral laxity had made it difficult for them to honor their marriage commitments.
A chapter is devoted to answering their questions about this relationship.
Certain rules and applications were to be used “because of the present distress.”
1 Corinthians 7:26-32
Marriage was to be honored, even when a Christian was married to an unbeliever.
1 Corinthians 7:10-24
See pages 57—1 Cor. 7…

14. The 1 Corinthian Letter
Some were eating for food the remnants of the bodies of animals offered in heathen services.
Some of the Jewish brethren questioned this practice.
Paul taught that this matter was a case of “personal liberty.”
The practice was not to be exercised at the expense of a weaker brother’s conscience.
1 Corinthians 8—10
See pages 57—1 Cor. 8—10 …

15. The 1 Corinthian Letter
Paul next discussed the local church’s obligations.
The church was to support and sustain those who made their living by preaching and teaching the gospel.
1 Corinthians 9
See pages 57—1 Cor. 9 …

16. The 1 Corinthian Letter Abuses during the worship assembly:
God’s order of authority and the place of women
Praying and prophesying
Refusing to wear the veil—a custom of the day showing subjection and the man’s authority
1 Corinthians 11:1-16
See pages 57—1 Cor. 11:1-16 …

17. The 1 Corinthian Letter
Having a feast before observing the Lord’s Supper.
Glutting themselves with food and drink—not spiritually discerning the meaning of the Lord’s Supper.
They came together to worship.
They had houses in which to eat and drink to nurture their physical bodies.
1 Corinthians 11:19-34
See pages 57,58 —1 Cor. 11:19-34 …

18. The 1 Corinthian Letter
Due to their exaltation of selfish ambitions and fleshly values, they had serious disputes about spiritual gifts.
Pitting the importance of one gift against another.
The nature and purposes of the gifts.
1 Corinthians 12
The “better way”—love
Temporal nature of the gifts
1 Corinthians 13
Each member working together for the whole!
1 Corinthians 14
See pages 58 —1 Cor. 12—14 …

19. The 1 Corinthian Letter Questions concerning the resurrection:
Christ has risen
15:1-11
Meaning of the resurrection
15:12-57
Universality of the resurrection
15:20-22
The Christian’s new body
15:42-49
Inheriting the kingdom of God
15:50,51
See pages 58 —1 Cor. 15 …

20. The 1 Corinthian Letter
Question concerning the collection for the poor saints in Jerusalem:
Divine plan for church finances
16:1,2
Benevolence to be raised by its own contribution
Church to select its own messengers
16:3,4
Limited to the “needy saints.”
Acts 11:27-30
See pages 58 —1 Cor. 16 …the first Corinthian letter closes with personal exhortations and salutations.