1st Corinthians

Introduction to 1st Corinthians: A Window into the Church in a Corrupt City

1. Understanding the City of Corinth: The World the Church Lived In

To understand the book of 1st Corinthians, we must first understand Corinth, the city where the believers lived. Corinth was not just any city—it was one of the most important and influential cities in the Roman Empire during the time of the Apostle Paul.

Location and Importance

Corinth was located on a narrow strip of land called the Isthmus of Corinth, between the Aegean Sea and the Ionian Sea in present-day Greece. This location made it a major trade hub. All ships traveling from east to west passed through Corinth. Goods from across the empire—Italy, Asia Minor, Egypt, and beyond—flowed in and out of its ports.

Economic Life

Corinth was a wealthy city, full of traders, business people, craftsmen, and sailors. Because of trade, the city became rich, and many people came seeking fortune. However, with wealth came pride, luxury, and indulgence in sin. The rich flaunted their power, and the poor were often despised or neglected. This class division appears in the church as well (see 1 Corinthians 11:20–22).

Social and Moral Life

Corinth was morally corrupt. The city was known across the Roman world for its sexual immorality. So notorious was Corinth's sin that to “Corinthianize” became a proverb meaning “to live in sexual sin.”

At the heart of this immorality was the Temple of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty (called Venus by the Romans). This massive temple stood on the Acrocorinth, a mountain overlooking the city. Inside the temple were hundreds of temple prostitutes, both women and men. These were not ordinary prostitutes—they were priestesses and priests who performed sexual rituals as acts of worship to the goddess. People believed that by engaging in sexual acts with them, they were connecting with the divine and receiving blessings.

This form of idolatry—worshipping false gods through sexual rituals—was a central part of Corinthian religion. It affected the culture so deeply that even after conversion, some believers in the church struggled to separate from those past sins (see 1 Corinthians 6:9–11, 18–20).

Religious Life and Idolatry

Corinth was a city of idols. The people worshipped many gods and goddesses: Aphrodite for love and pleasure, Apollo for music and wisdom, Asclepius for healing, and Poseidon for the sea. One of the most influential goddesses was Diana (Artemis), whose temple was in nearby Ephesus but whose worship was widespread, including Corinth. Diana was the goddess of fertility, and her worship was also filled with sexual and mystical rituals.

Public feasts were often held in idol temples, where meat was offered to these false gods and then eaten in fellowship with others (see 1 Corinthians 8–10). This created a big problem for new Christians—should they eat meat offered to idols? Should they attend such gatherings?

The religious life of Corinth was deeply connected with its social life. Idolatry was not just personal; it was public, celebrated, and deeply woven into business, family, and friendship. Rejecting idols meant being rejected by society.

Political Influence

Corinth was a Roman colony, and its people were proud Roman citizens. They followed Roman law, celebrated Roman holidays, and had Roman-style government. It was a city of power and status. Wealth, knowledge, eloquence, and freedom were highly valued. This background helps us understand why the Corinthians valued human wisdom and public speaking so much (see 1 Corinthians 1:18–25; 2:1–5).

2. Founding of the Church in Corinth

The Apostle Paul came to Corinth during his second missionary journey (Acts 18:1–18). He preached the Gospel and stayed for a year and six months, teaching the Word of God. Many believed and were baptized. Key people involved in the founding of the church include Aquila and Priscilla, Silas, Timothy, and later Apollos.

Despite the difficult environment, God planted His church in Corinth. But after Paul left, problems began to rise, which leads us to the reason for this letter.

3. Why Did Paul Write 1st Corinthians?

Paul wrote this letter from Ephesus during his third missionary journey (1 Corinthians 16:8), around AD 54–57. He had received disturbing reports from Chloe’s household (1 Corinthians 1:11) about divisions in the church. There was also:

Sexual immorality (chapter 5),
Believers suing one another in court (chapter 6),
Confusion about marriage, food offered to idols, spiritual gifts, and the resurrection.

In addition, the Corinthian believers had written to Paul asking for guidance on certain issues (1 Corinthians 7:1). Paul writes to correct their sins, answer their questions, and call them back to unity in Christ.

4. Central Structure of 1st Corinthians

Here is a basic structure of the book:

Chapters 1–4: Divisions and pride in the church.
Chapters 5–6: Discipline and holiness.
Chapter 7: Marriage, singleness, and family life.
Chapters 8–10: Christian liberty and food offered to idols.
Chapters 11–14: Worship, spiritual gifts, and order in the church.
Chapter 15: The resurrection of Christ and believers.
Chapter 16: Final instructions and greetings.

5. Key Chapter and Key Verse

Key Chapter: 1 Corinthians 13 – The “Love Chapter,” showing that no spiritual gift or knowledge matters without charity (love).
Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 1:18 –
“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”

This verse contrasts the world's view of wisdom and strength with God's wisdom revealed in the cross of Christ.

6. Central Theme of the Book

“Sanctification in a Sinful World: God’s Church Must Be Holy, United, and Governed by the Wisdom of the Cross.”

Paul teaches that though the Corinthians were saved by grace, they must now live holy, orderly, and loving lives, reflecting the Gospel in their culture.

7. Summary

1st Corinthians is a powerful book. It shows us that the church, even in a sinful and idolatrous world, can still live for Christ. It teaches that the Gospel does not only save us—it transforms how we live, worship, relate to one another, and walk in love.

Even today, Christians face similar struggles: sexual sin, worldly wisdom, spiritual pride, and confusion about worship. But the same Gospel that corrected and strengthened the Corinthians can guide us now. Let us walk through this letter with open hearts, ready to learn how God builds His holy people even in the darkest places.

1 Corinthians Teaching Notes: Chapters 1–4

1. Book Overview

Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 1:18 — “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”
Key Chapter: Chapter 13 – Emphasizes the supremacy of love (charity) in all Christian life and ministry.
Central Theme: Correcting a carnal and divided church by calling it back to gospel-centered unity, holiness, and love.
Purpose of Writing:
- To address divisions, immorality, and doctrinal confusion in the church.
- To answer questions raised by the Corinthian believers.
- To re-establish gospel priorities amid cultural compromise.

2. 1:1–9 – Greetings and Thanksgiving

Paul’s Identity (v.1)

Paul, “called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ” — not self-appointed.
His authority comes from divine calling, not popularity.
Corinth needed to recognize apostolic authority in a time of spiritual rebellion.

Recipient Identity (vv.2–3)

“Church of God which is at Corinth” — they belonged to God despite their failures.
Called to be saints — separated unto God.
Corinth was a wealthy, idolatrous, and immoral city; yet God planted His church there.

Paul’s Prayer (vv.4–6)

He gives thanks for the grace given to them.
They were enriched in utterance and knowledge — spiritual gifts were present, yet maturity was lacking.
Paul's approach is pastoral: affirming God’s work before correcting their failures.

Paul’s Pastoral Love (vv.7–9)

He assures them that God will sustain them until the end.
God is faithful — this is Paul's foundation for church reform.
Even with their flaws, Paul believes in their perseverance by God's grace.

3. The First Reason for the Epistle: Divisions in the Church (1:10–3:23)

The Reason Revealed (1:10–16)

The church was divided over personalities (Paul, Apollos, Cephas, Christ).
Paul pleads for unity: “that ye all speak the same thing.”
He urges agreement in doctrine and mind — not uniformity of personalities but unity in gospel truth.

Not Sent to Baptize but to Preach the Gospel (1:17)

Paul downplays his role in baptizing to avoid sectarianism.
He emphasizes the gospel over ceremonial acts.
Baptism is good, but preaching is central.

The Gospel: Foolish to the Lost, Power to the Saved (1:18)

The gospel is offensive to human pride.
It looks weak, yet it is the only message that saves.
Corinth’s culture valued eloquence and philosophy — but God chose “the foolishness of preaching.”

God’s Wisdom vs. Worldly Wisdom (1:19–25)

God destroys the wisdom of the wise (v.19).
The cross doesn’t appeal to Jews (they want signs) or Greeks (they want logic).
But the gospel is God’s power and wisdom to those called (v.24).
God reverses the world’s values — strength in weakness, wisdom in simplicity.

The Called and the Uncalled (1:26–31)

God deliberately calls the weak and foolish things of this world.
This humbles the proud and gives glory to God alone.
Believers should not boast in themselves, but in the Lord.

Lessons from Paul’s Conduct (2:1–5)

Manner of Preaching

No excellency of speech — not impressive oratory.
No trust in human wisdom or testimonies.
He preached “Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”
He came with fear and trembling — a humble preacher, not a performer.
He relied on the Holy Spirit’s power, not persuasion.

God’s Wisdom Revealed to the Mature (2:6–13)

Spiritual Wisdom

God’s wisdom is hidden from the world.
It was ordained before the world began — aimed at our glorification.
Rulers of this world (spiritual or political) could not understand it.
Only the Spirit of God can reveal it.
Believers receive the Spirit and are able to understand these truths.
The deep things of God are spiritually discerned, not academically attained.

Why Some Cannot Understand Spiritual Truths (2:14–16)

The Natural Man

He does not receive the things of the Spirit of God.
Spiritual truths seem like foolishness to him.
He cannot know them because he lacks the Spirit.
Only those with the “mind of Christ” can understand God's wisdom.

Evidence of Carnality in the Church (3:1–4)

Paul calls them “babes in Christ.”
They were full of envy, strife, and division — signs of spiritual immaturity.
They were behaving like the world, not like the church.
Carnal Christians live by feelings and fleshly impulses.

The Mature View: Laborers Together (3:5–9)

Paul and Apollos are not rivals, but servants.
God gives the increase — He alone causes growth.
Ministry is teamwork under God.
Every servant will receive his reward based on faithfulness, not fame.

Building on the Right Foundation (3:10–12)

Paul laid the foundation (Christ), others build upon it.
Every minister must be careful how he builds.
The foundation is Jesus Christ — not personalities, methods, or philosophies.

Judgment of Every Man’s Work (3:13–15)

Each believer’s work will be tested by fire (Bema Seat).
Work done in Christ will receive reward; false work will be burned.
Even if one suffers loss, he is still saved — but with no reward.

Believers Are God’s Temple (3:16–23)

You (plural) are the temple of God.
The Spirit of God dwells in the church.
Defiling the church brings God’s judgment.
Wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.
All things are yours — ministers, future, present — for you are Christ’s.

4:1–21 – Ministers Are Stewards

Ministers are not owners, but stewards.
Faithfulness is what God requires.
Judgment belongs to Christ, not to men.
Don't glory in man — glory in Christ who gave gifts to all.
Paul rebukes their pride and defends his fatherly authority.
Though others may teach, only Paul was their spiritual father in Christ.
He urges imitation of his example, and promises to come and deal with disorder in power and love.

Kenneth Malenge

1st Corinthians