First Epistle to the Corinthians

The First Epistle to the Corinthians is a book of the Bible in the New Testament. 1 Corinthians is a letter, or a conflation of several letters, from Paul of Tarsus and Sosthenes to the Christians of Corinth, Greece. It is one of the core group of Pauline epistles whose authenticity has never seriously been questioned. In fact, due to its early date (mid to late 50's) which predates all but the earliest dates for the Gospels, this text is often used to bolster the authenticity of the Gospels in terms of the historical proof of Jesus and the development of the early Christian beliefs. As many historians would generally agree, it is unlikely that legends or myths about individuals to develop over as short of a period as two decades, while many eyewitnesses would still be alive. Furthermore, ascribing Paul's conversion to Christianity to any earlier date additionally reduces the possibility for any significant legend development before Paul accepted the doctrine. Therefore, the brief comments Paul makes about Jesus's actual life and ministry carry notable historical weight. While this is by no means proof of the legitimacy of the Gospels and general Christian doctrine, the authenticity of 1 Cornithians should be considered with the canonical Gospels for the purpose of comparing to other religious claims (notably Judaism and Islam) that conflict with this interpretation of the historical Jesus.

Time and Place

It was written from Ephesus (16:8) about the time of the Passover in the third year of the apostle's sojourn there (Acts 19:10; 20:31), and when he had formed the purpose to visit Macedonia and then return to Corinth (probably AD 57). The news which had reached him from Corinth, however, frustrated his plan.

The traditional subscription to the epistle, translated in the Authorized Version, states that this epistle was written at Philippi, perhaps arising from a misinterpretation of 16:5, "For I do pass through Macedonia," as meaning, "I am passing through Macedonia." In 16:8 Paul declares his intention of staying in Ephesus until Pentecost.

Outline

The epistle may be divided into six parts.Outline from ^*.

Salutation (1:1-9)
Division in Corinth (1:10–4:21)
1. Facts of division
2. Causes of division
3. Cure for division
Immorality in Corinth (5:1–6:20)
1. Discipline an Immoral Brother
2. Resolving personal disputes
3. Sexual purity
Difficulties in Corinth (7:1–14:40)
1. Marriage
2. Christian liberty
3. Worship
Doctrine of Resurrection (15:1-58)
Closing (16:1-24)

Content

He had heard of the abuses and contentions that had arisen among them: first from Apollos (Acts 19:1) and then from a letter they had written him on the subject, and also from some of the "household of Chloe," and from Stephanas and his two friends who had visited him (1:11; 16:17). (Since there was no regular postal service in the Roman Empire, some of those people probably brought the letter with them.) Paul thereupon wrote this letter, urging uniformity of belief ("that ye all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you," 1:10) and correcting the erroneous opinions that had sprung up among them, and remedying the many abuses and disorderly practices that prevailed. Titus and a brother whose name is not given were probably the bearers of the letter (2 Cor 2:13; 8:6, 16–18).

This epistle "shows the powerful self-control of the apostle in spite of his physical weakness, his distressed circumstances, his incessant troubles, and his emotional nature. It was written, he tells us, in bitter anguish, 'out of much affliction and pressure of heart . . . and with streaming eyes' (2 Cor 2:4); yet he restrained the expression of his feelings, and wrote with a dignity and holy calm which he thought most calculated to win back his erring children. It gives a vivid picture of the early church . . . It entirely dissipates the dream that the apostolic church was in an exceptional condition of holiness of life or purity of doctrine." The apostle in this epistle unfolds and applies great principles fitted to guide the church of all ages in dealing with the same and kindred evils in whatever form they may appear.

Notes

External links

Online translations of First Epistle to the Corinthians:

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: 1 Corinthians

Books of the Bible
Preceded by: Romans	Epistles	Followed by: 2 Corinthians

New Testament books | Charismatic and Pentecostal Christianity

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Time and Place

Outline

Content

Notes

See also

External links