1 Corinthians

Paul greets the Corinthian church, thanks God for their spiritual gifts, and appeals for unity amid reports of divisions over leaders like Paul, Apollos, and Peter (Kēphas). He contrasts worldly wisdom with the foolishness of the cross, which is God's power for salvation.

Paul explains that he preached the gospel not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that faith might rest on God's power rather than human wisdom. He reveals God's wisdom—hidden, predestined for glory, unknown to the rulers who crucified the Lord of glory—but revealed by the Spirit to spiritual believers, who have the mind of Christ.

Paul rebukes the Corinthians as mere infants, still worldly due to jealousy and quarreling over leaders like Paul and Apollos, whom he portrays as co-workers planting and watering but God giving the growth. He stresses Christ as the only foundation, warns that leaders' works will be tested by fire on the day, and declares believers as God's temple indwelt by the Spirit of God.

Paul asserts that apostles like himself and Apollos are servants and stewards of God's mysteries, judged only by the Lord, not by human standards. He rebukes the Corinthians' arrogance, contrasts their worldly pride with the apostles' humble sufferings, and urges them to imitate him as a father in Christ.

Paul addresses a case of incest in the Corinthian church—a man living with his father's wife—and rebukes the church for their pride rather than sorrow over this immorality.[1] He instructs them to expel the man from the church so that through affliction his flesh may be destroyed and his spirit saved, using the metaphor of leaven to illustrate how a little sin corrupts the whole community.[1][2]

Paul addresses lawsuits among believers, instructing them to resolve disputes within the church rather than before secular courts, and emphasizes that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of Theos (God).[1][3] He teaches that believers' bodies are temples of the Pneuma Hagion (Holy Spirit) and calls them to flee sexual immorality, reminding them they were washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of Kyrios (Lord) Iesous (Jesus) and by the Spirit of Theos.[1][3][4]

Paul addresses Corinthian questions on marriage and singleness, teaching mutual sexual responsibility between spouses to avoid temptation, commanding married believers not to divorce, and permitting divorce if an unbelieving spouse departs. He advises the unmarried, widows, and virgins to remain single like himself if possible amid present distress, but permits marriage without sin, and urges all to remain in their calling, whether slave or free, as bought by Christ.[1][2][5]

Paul addresses food sacrificed to idols, stating that knowledge puffs up but love builds up, and affirms there is no God but one—the Father and the Lord Iēsous Christos—despite so-called gods.[1][3] He warns those with knowledge not to cause the weak in conscience (syneidēsis) to stumble by eating such food, as sinning against a brother sins against Christ, and resolves never to eat meat if it causes another to fall.[1][2][3]

Paul defends his apostolic rights to material support, citing Old Testament law (Deuteronomy 25:4), temple practices, and Jesus' command, but explains he forgoes them to avoid hindering the gospel of Christ. He describes becoming 'all things to all people' to win more to Christ—adapting to Jews, those under the law, those outside it, and the weak—while likening his disciplined ministry to athletes running for an imperishable prize, lest he be disqualified.

Paul warns the Corinthians using Israel's exodus experiences under the cloud and through the sea, where despite privileges like spiritual food and drink, many fell due to idolatry, immorality, tempting Christ, and complaining, destroyed by serpents, plague, or the destroyer.[1][2][3][5] He assures God's faithfulness in temptation, urges fleeing idolatry and demon sacrifices in idol food, and instructs eating market meat freely but abstaining if it offends others' conscience, doing all for God's glory without causing offense to Jews, Greeks, or the church.[1][3][4][6]

Paul addresses two main issues in the Corinthian church: the proper conduct regarding head coverings for women during prayer and prophecy, and the correct observance of the Lord's Supper.[1][2] He rebukes the Corinthians for their divisive behavior during communal meals, where the wealthy consumed their own food while the poor went hungry, and he reiterates the institution of the Lord's Supper as Jesus commanded it on the night of his betrayal.[1][2]

Paul addresses spiritual gifts (*pneumatika*), explaining their diversity from the same Spirit, Lord (*Kyrios*), and God, including wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongues, and interpretation, distributed for the common good as the Spirit wills[1][2][3][6]. He uses the body metaphor to emphasize unity in Christ: baptized by one Spirit into one body regardless of Jew/Greek or slave/free, with every member essential and interdependent, honoring the weaker parts to prevent division[1][2][3][4].

Παῦλος emphasizes the supremacy of **ἀγάπη** (agape), declaring that spiritual gifts like tongues, prophecy, knowledge, faith, and even sacrificial acts are worthless without it[1][6]. He describes ἀγάπη as patient, kind, not envious or boastful, enduring all things, never failing, surpassing childish ways, with faith, hope, and ἀγάπη abiding, the greatest being ἀγάπη[1][3][4].

Paul compares the spiritual gifts of tongues and prophecy, emphasizing that speaking in tongues is directed to Theos (God) rather than to men and primarily edifies the speaker, while prophecy edifies the entire ekklesia (church).[2] Paul instructs the Corinthians to pursue prophecy over uninterpreted tongues in public worship, to maintain order and maturity in their thinking, and to ensure that unbelievers and the uninformed can understand and be convicted by the gospel message.[1][2]

Paul reminds the Corinthians of the gospel—that Christos died for sins, was buried, and raised on the third day, appearing to Kephas, the Twelve, over 500 brethren, and Paul himself—and argues that without resurrection, faith is vain and believers remain in sins[1][3]. He defends the reality of bodily resurrection, describes the nature of resurrected bodies as imperishable and spiritual, proclaims Christ's victory over death with 'Death, where is your sting?', and exhorts steadfastness in the Lord's work[1][2][5].

Paul instructs the Corinthians to collect funds for the Jerusalem believers, emphasizing planned and voluntary giving from the heart rather than pressure-based fundraising[1][8]. He outlines his travel plans, explains his decision to remain in Ephesus until Pentecost due to open ministry opportunities, requests respect for Timothy's visit, and concludes with exhortations to steadfastness, courage, and love[1][3][5].