Overview of I Corinthians

Class Discussion

  1. Give one statement that summarizes the entire book of I Corinthians.
  2. What verse would you say sets the theme for the entire book?
  3. Discuss any problems encountered in marking the keywords of the text.

An Overview of I Corinthians

Since Paul had left Corinth it appears that problems had marred the fellowship of the brethren. There were disagreements over who they were following, ignoring sin, misunderstandings about marriage, misunderstandings over dealing with idolatry, questions over paying preachers, questions about customs, misuse of the Lord’s Supper, misuse of the spiritual gifts, disorder in worship, and false doctrine concerning the resurrection. Paul’s desire is to address as many of these problems through his letter so they can be settled before he arrived. “Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love” (I Corinthians 16:13-14).

Problems cannot be left to fester like a dirty wound. Thus, Paul’s letter is a call to solve their problems, even the ones they might not realize that they had. “Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough? Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened” (I Corinthians 5:6-7).

Initial Mark-Up (Chapters 7 to 11)

  1. Go through chapters 7 to 11 and mark up the text.
    1. Mark each person named as a person and underline the name. Use a different color for each person.
    2. Mark each location named and underline the name. Use a different color for each place.
    3. Mark each time reference.
    4. Mark each keyword.
Print Friendly, PDF & Email