Introduction to I Corinthians

Dr. Gail E. Terrell
Pastor, Grace Baptist Church, Hamilton , Ohio

1. Author.   Paul wrote I Corinthians (1:1) in about 57 A.D. from Ephesus during his third missionary journey.
   
2. Recipients.   I Corinthians is written to the church at Corinth, and also to all believers who read this book (1:2).
   
3. Theme.   Unity in the church body; errors of Christian conduct must be corrected.
   
4. Key verses.   1:10 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.   14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
   
5. Key words used in I Corinthians:   body – 44 times; judge, judged, judgeth, judgment, judgments – 39 times; member, members – 17 times; together – 12 times.
   
6. References to the Lord’s church in I Corinthians:   the word church appears 22 times in I Corinthians.
   1. Paul is concerned with church unity in chapters 1-13.   Paul pleads for the divided church at Corinth to serve Christ with undivided oneness, high standards, and togetherness in the church body.   Paul reminds church members that their entire church body was in one spirit of unity when they were each baptized and became members of their church; 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.Although not a member of the church body at Corinth, Paul uses the editorial pronoun we to include any Christian in any church anywhere at any time.
      1. 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours.
      2. 4:17 For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.
      3. 6:4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.
      4. 7:17 But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk.   And so ordain I in all churches.
      5. 10:32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the churches of God.
      6. 11:16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.
      7. 11:18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.
      8. 11:22 What?   have ye not houses to eat and drink in?   or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not?…
      9. 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles…
   2. Paul is concerned with church disorders in chapters 14 and 15.   The church at Corinth was confused by charismatic miracles, and the showmanship of some Christians to whom God gave the missionary ability to speak foreign languages without having ever studied these languages.   Paul pleads for the divided church at Corinth to cease searching for charismatic gifts and to unite while they work together as members of one church body:   14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.   14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
      1. 14:4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
      2. 14:5 I would that ye all spoke with tongues but rather that ye prophesied:   for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
      3. 14:12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
      4. 14:19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words in my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
      5. 14:23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
      6. 14:28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
      7. 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches…
      8. 14:34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience…
      9. 14:36 What?   came the word of God out from you?   or came it unto you only?
      10. 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
   3. Paul urges the church at Corinth to conduct business in an orderly fashion and also reminds them of their fellowship with other churches.
      1. 16:1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.
      2. 16:19 The churches of Asia salute you.   Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.
7. I Corinthians has 16 chapters, 437 verses, and about 9,489 words.

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