Summary: Written to the church at Corinth by the apostle Paul.
He deals with a series of problems, sins and false teachings that were present
in the newly formed church. Most members were from a promiscuous pagan
background and were exhorted to put away their previous ways. Paul's purposes
for writing were (1) to instruct and restore the church in its areas of
weakness, correcting erroneous practices such as divisions, immorality,
litigation and abuse of the Lord's supper; (2) to correct false teaching
concerning the resurrection; and (3) to give instruction concerning the offering
for the poverty-stricken believers in Jerusalem.
Key verse: "I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no
divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought"
(1Co 1:10).
Outline
1. Introduction: 1Co 1:1-9
2. Responses to their letter: 1Co 1:10 - 6:20
a) The problem of division in the church: 1Co 1:10 -
4:21
b) The problem of the incestuous man: 1Co
5:1-13
c) The problem of lawsuits: 1Co 6:1-11
d) The problem of sexual immorality: 1Co
6:12-20
3. Instruction about marriage: 1Co 7
4. Instruction on questionable practices: 1Co 8:1 -
11:1
a) The principles involved: 1Co 8
b) The principles illustrated: 1Co 9
c) A warning from Israel's history: 1Co
10:1-22
d) The principles applied: 1Co 10:23 - 11:1
5. Instruction on public worship: 1Co 11:2 -
14:40
a) Women in the church: 1Co 11:2-16
b) The Lord's supper: 1Co 11:17-34
c) Spirit gifts: 1Co 12:1 - 14:40
6. Instruction on the resurrection: 1Co 15
7. Conclusion: practical and personal matters: 1Co 16