At a glance
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Authorship | Paul + Sosthenes |
| Date | ~54-55 AD (from Ephesus) |
| Audience | Corinthian church (founded by Paul; Acts 18) |
| Genre | Epistle |
| Purpose | Address divisions + immorality + worship + resurrection issues |
| Chapters | 16 |
Outline
| Section | Chapters | Content |
|---|---|---|
| Divisions | 1-4 | Quarreling over leaders |
| Immorality | 5-6 | Incest case; lawsuits; sexual immorality |
| Marriage + singleness | 7 | Practical counsel |
| Food offered to idols | 8-10 | Christian liberty + love |
| Worship issues | 11-14 | Head coverings; Lord's Supper; spiritual gifts; tongues; love (1Co.13) |
| Resurrection | 15 | Christ's + believers' resurrection |
| Closing | 16 | Collection + travel plans |
Main themes
| Theme | Description |
|---|---|
| Unity in Christ | Healing divisions |
| Christian sexual ethics | Pure conduct |
| Spiritual gifts | For body's edification |
| Love | 1Co.13 supreme |
| Resurrection | 1Co.15 magnum opus |
| Christian liberty + love | Don't cause weaker brother to stumble |
Key passages
- 1Co.1.18, message of cross
- 1Co.6.19-20, body as temple of Spirit
- 1Co.7, marriage + singleness counsel
- 1Co.10.13, temptation + way of escape
- 1Co.11.23-26, Lord's Supper
- 1Co.12, body + spiritual gifts
- 1Co.13, love chapter
- 1Co.15, resurrection magnum opus