What Is The Purpose Of The Book Of 1st Corinthians? A Bible Study

Last updated on: November 17, 2015 at 9:19 pm by Jack Wellman

What Is The Purpose Of The Book Of 1st Corinthians? A Bible Study 2015-11-17T21:19:09-06:00 Jack Wellman

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Why did Paul write the Book of 1st Corinthians? Are there essentials for us to learn from in this book?

The Author

The Apostle Paul apparently wrote the Book of 1st Corinthians because he opens the letter by writing “Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours” (1st Cor 1:1-2) and it is believed to have been written around AD 55. Paul wanted to address the ongoing sexual immorality in the church and the division that had been problematic with the members there. He reminded the church about the unfaithfulness of ancient Israel in the wilderness and that is the tendencies of all of our hearts. This book seems to be hot off the press and almost as if it was written for the modern era since many of these problems are systemic throughout the churches.

The Purpose of 1st Corinthians

Paul had a lot of issues with the church at Corinth. Paul had heard reports “that there is quarreling among” them (1st Cor 1:11) and some said “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ” (1st Cor 1:12). This really disturbed Paul because Christ’s body is not divided (1st Cor 1:13) as would be any other body since “a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand” (Mark 3:25). It’s in the best interests of the body to be of one mind and one spirit but Paul writes “there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way” (1st Cor 3:3) so Paul asks a rhetorical question, “one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human” (1st Cor 3:4) hoping they’ll realize that it is “only God who gives the growth” (1st Cor 3:7). What Paul was trying to communicate was that we must never look at a man like Paul, Apollos, or Cephas (Peter). We must all follow Christ and take our eyes off of men and the admonition to also stop dividing over non-essentials.

The Need for Purity

In 1st Corinthians 5:1-2 Paul gets right to the point with the Corinthian church; “It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father’s wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you.” What should they have done about this man living in sexual immorality and still being in the church? Paul tells them they “are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord” (1st Cor 5:5) probably meaning God withdrawing His divine protection from the enemy and Satan could buffet him around some with the express goal of bringing him to repentance and turning away from that sin. Not only that, they were not to even “associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world” (1st Cor 5:-9-10). That’s not a gray area at all that Christians can debate.

The Focus of Love

First Corinthians chapter thirteen is sometimes called “the Love Chapter” and is often used at weddings, and for very good reasons. Paul zeroed in on loving one another by writing “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal” (1st Cor 13:1). The same goes for “prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing” (1st Cor 13:2). Paul says he could even “deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing” (1st Cor 13:3). If there isn’t love in what we do, it’s like we’re playing with Monopoly money; it has no value. Paul’s definition of love is that it’s “patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1st Cor 13:4-7). Love is a verb; it’s what you do, not simply what you say.

Conclusion

Today’s world has never been more dangerous. Terrorist attacks, natural disasters, hostile threats from aggressive nations, refugees, superstorms, disease, and a dozen other foreboding events on the horizon. Is Jesus’ going to return soon? Many believe He is. I don’t know. I know that judgment comes at the time of death (Heb 9:27) or at Christ’s return, so best to know how you might be saved today (Rom 10:9-13) rather than die apart from saving faith in Christ. Please consider it, while it’s still called “today” (2nd Cor 6:2).

Article by Jack Wellman

Jack Wellman is Pastor of the Mulvane Brethren Church in Mulvane Kansas. Jack is also the Senior Writer at What Christians Want To Know whose mission is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians and to address questions about the believer’s daily walk with God and the Bible. You can follow Jack on Google Plus or check out his book Teaching Children the Gospel available on Amazon.

Previous Post

November 17, 2015

What Is The Purpose Of The Book Of Philippians? A Bible Study

Next Post

November 17, 2015 What Is The Purpose Of The Book Of 2nd Corinthians? A Bible Study

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Bible Answers Bible Definitions Bible Story Bible Study Bible Verses Christian Books Christian Entertainment Christian Fathers Christian Mothers Christian Quotes Devotional Famous Christians Music News Parables Prayers Quotes Sunday School Lesson Uncategorized Youth Sermons

Select a Month October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does Paul tell the Philippians to rejoice in always?

Select your answer to see how you score.

God's goodness The Lord Their salvation All circumstances