Outline of I Corinthians

The Problems at Corinth

Dr. Carl E. Sadler
Pastor, Trinity Missionary Baptist Church, Richmond, Kentucky President, Kentucky Mountain Baptist Schools

  1. Introduction.
    1. The Early History of the Church at Corinth.
      1. This comes from Acts 18:1-18, I Corinthians, II Corinthians, and Philippians.
      2. During Paul’s second missionary journey, Paul began preaching at Corinth.   He first preached in the synagogue.   Some were converted, but the majority blasphemed and opposed him.   He turned to the Gentile and many were saved.
      3. God, through Paul, gave many extraordinary gifts to the Corinthian Christians.   A great display was made of them there.
    2. The Circumstances were Difficult for New Christians.
      1. Corinth was a wicked city – even by the standards of its own day.   The term a Corinthian meant a profligate – one who engaged in prostitution.   Corinthians were often displayed as drunkards.   The moral corruption that was a part and parcel of the city was not easy for the babes in Christ.   Thievery, lying, drinking, and murdering had been the way of life for many of the newly saved.   The life-style change was very drastic – not an easy thing to accomplish; especially, under such fierce opposition.
      2. The city attracted many different kinds of people.   The Jews were there because of commercial advantages; a dominant Roman minority because the city was under Roman control; the naturalistic, idol-loving Greeks considered it their city; more slaves there in proportion to population than anywhere.   All these in a city whose streets were thronged with travelers, traders, and agents of vice from almost every country.   From this society God called unto salvation.   The response was from rich and poor; literate and illiterate; moral and immoral; religious and irreligious; worshippers of Jehovah and worshippers of idols.
      3. It was here that God, through Paul, established a New Testament Church.   One should not be surprised that disorders happened here.   Judaism of the Jews, idolatry of the Gentiles, and immorality of the masses are the opposite to the vocation to which the saved are called.   We observe in this church the application of the cross of Christ to almost every problem in the Christian life.
    3. Some Thoughts Concerning this First Letter to the Corinthians/
      1. During Paul’s third missionary journey, while he was at Ephesus, he heard unpleasant reports of the Corinthian Church.   The reports of disorder were the occasion for the writing of this letter concerning the behavior in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of truth (I Timothy 3:15).   Out of the sins and shortcomings of the Corinthian Church, God has given us a priceless treasure.
      2. There is much more in this letter than correcting problems in the church.   This is one of four letters written during Paul’s second missionary tour that had the Cross of Christ as their overall theme.   This letter, as the other three, clearly declares the sacrificial death of Christ as the basis of a free and complete salvation by grace through faith in the crucified and risen Son of God.
      3. A third reason for writing was to answer some questions they had asked of him about what to do under certain circumstances.
      4. A rigid analysis of I Corinthians is difficult.   Having taught this book several times to Bible College students and to church members, I have found the best way to study it is a study of the problems that existed in the Corinthian Church.   The first fourteen chapters deal with the problems (not always arranged chronologically); the fifteenth chapter deals with the resurrection; the sixteenth chapter deals with some general information.

  2. Ecclesiastical Disorders (1:1-14:40).
    1. Factions – Divisions (1:1-4:7).
      1. The underlying cause of their problems was the lack of a proper Christian relationship with one another.   When saved people do not crucify the old nature and its lusts, divisions are likely to be the result.   Such a spirit in a church will often render the preaching of the cross by that church of little effect.
      2. Party feelings /spirit is as a result of a mixed society.   The differences among the Corinthians – Jews, Romans, Greek and other Gentiles; rich and poor; bond and free; literate and illiterate – could be expected where sanctification was lacking.   It is evident that it is easier for people to get-along when they have a common background.   In our larger cities there are whole sections that are almost totally:   Polish, German, French, black, Spanish speaking, etc.   Even people of Kentucky, when they move to another location, find housing in the same neighborhood and go to the same church in our cities.
      3. Paul’s criticism is not of those differences in our individual make-up.   Salvation does not do away with individuality.   Such is not to be deplored; rather, it is something in which we can rejoice.   Differing with a brother can be healthy when the right spirit prevails.   We need minds of different hues to transmit the many rays of truth.   A church needs this variety so they do not become narrow or one-sided.   But we must not let those natural and useful differences give rise to hurtful divisions in the body.
      4. Where factions exist, there are those glorifying their own distinctive shibboleths.   Instead of concern for the welfare of fellow-Christians they were promoting their own selves.   Through this selfish attitude, they divided the body of believers into several parties or cliques – little groups within the body doing their own thing.
      5. These warring divisions were not merely personal, they went beyond and involved the very heart and soul of the church.   Each individual was harmed by this lack of unity, but the church was damaged much more.   The world judges Christianity from its totality more than by individual characters within the church.   Unity is essential to the church’s stability, growth, and witness.
      6. Party spirit/ factions/divisions within a church is wrong/evil.   It brings dishonor upon the name of Christ; disgraces the love feast; squanders the energies on evil doings.
      7. Paul’s argument against schisms:
        1. 1:13 – Christ is not divided.   Salvation is not based upon human teachers, but upon Christ’s redeeming purpose.
        2. 1:29,31 – no flesh should glory for glory belongs to the Lord.
        3. 3:9-17 – we who labor will be judged and rewarded accordingly.
        4. 4:2 – faithfulness is the top requirement of a steward.
        5. Chapter 13 – everything must be done through love.
    2. Their Revolt Against Paul’s Apostolic Authority (4:8-21; 9:1-27).
      1. In the New Testament the word apostle is used for those who had distinctive callings to that office and for any who were sent to represent Him.   The word itself means one sent forth – an envoy, a missionary.   It was a title given to the twelve (Luke 6:13).   Paul was counted as an apostle (Acts 14:14); Epaphroditus also (Philippians 2:25 – messenger is a translation of the word: apostolos).
      2. There is no evidence that the apostles collectively exercised a separate and autocratic authority.   Their authority/power was spiritual, ethical, and personal.   A difference was seen among them as is seen in all others who are spiritually endowed.   It was not official in the sense that it could be transferred to another.
      3. The Scriptures show that the apostles did possess an authority/power not possessed by other disciples.
      4. Some did not believe Paul was an apostle as were the twelve.   With some it was his doctrine; with others, different personal reasons; some wanted no authority on them.   This disturbed Paul, not for his own sake, but for their good.
      5. Pastors do not have apostolic authority/power.   They have a leadership role and such authority is vested in leadership (I Peter 5:1-4).
    3. Church Discipline (5:1-13).
      1. A serious moral issue in the church was brought to Paul’s attention which needed to be resolved.   It was a dishonor to Christianity and a source of division in the church.
      2. Paul:   I am told that fornication exists in the church and one flagrant case in particular: a man has his father’s wife.   This could mean that he had her as his wife or as his mistress.   It was perhaps his step-mother.
      3. That fornication was among these folks recently converted from immoral heathenism is not surprising.   Saved folks do not become mature saints in a moment, even in our culture.   People who have been brought up to lie, to cheat, to curse, to practice adultery/fornication, etc. must learn to put away their sins.   We must be aware that these early churches were pioneer churches among people who had not known Christian principles.
      4. One of the objects of the church is to teach them to observe all things I have commanded you (Matthew 28:20).   Each member must be taught/trained/disciplined in the ways of the Lord.
      5. Church discipline is for spiritual improvement.   It may be formative discipline, corrective discipline, or excisive discipline (exclusion from church fellowship).   Usually when discipline is mentioned it is exclusion that is meant.
      6. The Lord’s churches are under obligation to exclude from its membership any member who has heretical doctrines, lives inconsistently with the Christian profession, or disrupts the unity of the church.
      7. In this chapter, Paul was instructing the church at Corinth concerning this incestuous man:   He (Paul) had already judged him; told the church they should exclude him.   Paul did not exclude him and neither were each individual member to exclude him.   It was to be done in church capacity.
      8. Deliver him to Satan is a difficult passage.   Is Satan God’s emissary?   Is Satan waiting to destroy the saved when left unprotected?
      9. Destruction of the flesh is also difficult.   Is it the infliction of bodily disease or is it the destruction of the carnal nature?
      10. Putting them together we think the act of exclusion will work God’s desired results in the discipline of one’s life.   Every child of God needs protection.   One of the places of protection is in the assembly of believers.   Turning him out is like turning a sheep out of the fold – exposing him to danger.
    4. Some Things Relating to Christian Conduct (6:1-8:13; 10:1-15; 23-33).
      1. The first of these: some when they have been wronged or thought they had been wronged by their brother-in-Christ had been going to law against them (6:1-8).
        1. They had not learned that God had placed judiciary authority in His church to settle disputes between the brethren.
        2. Jesus taught His disciples that truth (Matthew 18:15-18).
      2. In 6:9-20, Paul deals with the sanctity of the body.
        1. Believers are holy because they have been cleansed.
        2. Believers are holy because their body belongs to the Lord.
        3. Therefore, they should flee fornication because it is a sin against their bodies.
      3. Chapter 7 is probably the best chapter in the Bible concerning marriage.   It deals with several things concerning the marriage of believers.
      4. 8:1-13 and 10:23-33 deals with Christian liberty; especially in the eating of things offered to idols.
      5. 10:1-15 show how Israel in the wilderness is an example for us.   Don’t be guilty as they were.
    5. The Perversion of the Woman’s Position in the Church Assembly (11:1-16; 14:34, 35)
      1. Some:   Since in the Gospel there is neither male nor female, does regeneration change the natural subordination of woman to man and the sphere in which each is to work?
      2. Paul says that salvation does not change their natural spheres of activity.   Women are to show this subordination in two manners:
        1. They are to show their subjection by wearing a head covering (11:1-16).
        2. They are to obey the principle by keeping silent and not usurping authority over the male members (14:34, 35).
        3. Both of these refer to the church assembly.
    6. The Perversion of the Lord’s Supper (10:16-22; 11:17-34).
      1. It is a church ordinance, not a Christian ordinance.
        1. Therefore, it is for the body rather than for the individual Christian.
        2. To meet this requirement it would be closed communion.
        3. It is a serious disorder when this church ordinance is abused.
      2. The Corinthians were abusing the Lord’s Supper:
        1. By inviting in those who were not of the body (10:16-22).
        2. Not doing it in unity as a body (11:17-22, 33).
        3. With the wrong attitude – unworthily (11:27-32).
      3. The meaning of the Lord’s Table:
        1. It is a memorial service – of the death of Christ for our sins.
        2. The elements are only symbolic – of His broken body and shed blood.
        3. It is to be observed in this manner until Christ comes for His saints.
        4. There were no set times when it was to be done – as often.
    7. The Abuse and Misuse of Gifts (12:1-14:40).
      1. These three chapters deal with the gifts of the early churches.
        1. The emphasis is upon the extraordinary gifts of the apostolic churches.
        2. The principle of their bestowal and use is the same for the ordinary gifts.
      2. Chapter 12 – spiritual gifts and their use in the body.
        1. Gifts are given sovereignly by the Holy Spirit.
        2. These extraordinary gifts were given (except on the day of Pentecost and at the house of Cornelius) by the laying on of apostles’ hands (Acts 8:17; 19:6).
        3. The gifted ones in the church likened to the parts of the human body.   As the hands, feet, and eyes work together so should the members of a church work.
        4. Three classes of gifts are mentioned, probably in the order of their importance:   1) gifts of knowledge; 2) miraculous powers; 3) tongues.
        5. The gifts are for the benefit of the church rather than for the one who possess them.
        6. The body is the church at Corinth – not some invisible-universal church/body theory as many unlearned advocate.
        7. They were encouraged to seek better gifts.
      3. Chapter 13 – This love chapter was placed here to show that love, which had probably been neglected at Corinth in their disputes-rivalries about these gifts, is superior to all the gifts.
        1. Without love, none of the gifts were of any worth.   Love is the more excellent way and is to be desired more than any gift.
        2. The characteristics of love are more valuable than all the gifts.
        3. Some of the most desired gifts (Paul selected three) were only temporary (would come to an end; there is evidence of their cessation); whereas, love is permanent.
        4. Love is shown to be the chief of the permanent graces.
      4. Chapter 14 – The superiority of the prophecy to the gift of tongues and the use of gifts in the church.
        1. 14:2-12 – Prophecy edifies the church; whereas, tongues edifies the speaker only unless it is interpreted.
        2. 14:13-20 – In tongues the spirit only is active; whereas, in prophecy understanding is also involved.
        3. 14:21-25 – Tongues only do not impress unbelievers; whereas, prophecy reveals and convicts.
        4. 14:26-40 – The use of their gifts was to be done decently and in order.

  3. The Resurrection (15:1-58).
    1. The Gospel Concerning Jesus Christ (15:1-4).
      1. Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.
      2. Christ was buried and rose again according to the Scriptures.
    2. The Fact of the Resurrection (15:5-11)
      1. He was seen of Peter and the twelve.
      2. He was seen by over 500 at one time.
      3. He was seen of James and the apostles.
      4. He was also seen of Paul.
    3. The Importance of the Resurrection (15:12-19).
      1. It disputes the doctrine of no resurrection.
      2. If there is no resurrection, Christianity is a hoax.
    4. The Order of the Resurrections (15:20-23)
      1. Christ is the first fruit from the dead.
        1. He is the first in time that did not afterward die.
        2. He is first in His preeminence.
        3. First fruits denotes the beginning of a harvest; it guarantees a harvest.
      2. Many (if not all) of the Old Testament saints were raised at the time of Christ’s arising (Matthew 27:50-53).
      3. The New Testament saints (saints of the church age) will be resurrected at the time of the rapture (I Thessalonians 4:13-18).
      4. The tribulation saints who die will be raised after the tribulation (Revelation 20:4).
      5. The rest of the dead will be raised at the end of the Millennium (Revelation 20:5).
    5. The Relation of the Resurrection to the Kingdom (15:24-34).
      1. Christ’s resurrection was a pledge of the coming kingdom.
        1. It was a pledge to the seed of David to restore that kingdom promise.
        2. It was a pledge to bring all things under subjection to Him.
      2. Baptism (water) is a symbol of a burial and a resurrection.
        1. A symbol of Christ’s burial and resurrection.
        2. A symbol of the Christian’s death to sin, burial of the old man, and a resurrection to new life.
        3. Also, a symbol of the Christian’s physical death and final resurrection to be with Christ in His kingdom.
      3. The resurrection gives us a hope though the Christian’s life is in peril.
    6. The Manner of the Resurrection (15:35-50).
      1. A change is made in the body buried and body raised.
      2. The body is sown in corruption; raised in incorruption.
      3. The body is sown in dishonor; raised in power.
      4. The body is sown a natural body; raised a spiritual body (not a spirit body).
      5. The body was the image of the earthy; it will be the image of the heavenly.
    7. The Mystery of the Resurrection (15:51-53).
      1. Not all of the New Testament saints will die, but all will be changed.
      2. The rapture is a New Testament teaching; it was hidden in the Old Testament.
    8. The Resurrection is the Believers’ Ultimate Victory (15:54-57).
      1. Victory over death and the grave.
      2. The victory is through our Christ.
    9. The Resurrection is a Motive for Faithful Service (15:58).

  4. General Instructions (16:1-24).
    1. The Collections (16:1-4).
    2. Information about Paul’s Movements (16:5-9).
    3. The Coming of Timothy and Apollos (16:10-12).
    4. Exhortation (16:13, 14).
    5. Some Salutations (16:15-21).
    6. The Anathema (16:22).
    7. The Benediction (16:23, 24).