Summary
1 Corinthians addresses a troubled congregation plagued by divisions, immorality, lawsuits, and confusion over spiritual gifts and worship. Paul calls the church to unity in Christ, proper conduct, and the centrality of the gospel, culminating in the great resurrection chapter.
Outline
- Divisions in the Church (1–4)
- Moral and Ethical Issues (5–6)
- Marriage and Christian Freedom (7–10)
- Worship and Spiritual Gifts (11–14)
- The Resurrection (15)
- Final Instructions (16)
Key Verses
"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."
"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."
"For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures."
Christ in 1 Corinthians
Christ crucified as the power and wisdom of God; the firstfruits of the resurrection; the foundation of the church