Summary of 1 Corinthians

The Message of 1 Corinthians

1. Two key issues Paul deals with in 1 Corinthians, are division in the Corinthian church (1:10, 11:18); and the defense of his apostleship (4:14-15, 9:1-3, 11:1, 15:8). Paul addresses specific areas of disharmony, and reminds them that he is their “father” (1:14-15) in the gospel. He appeals to the gospel, as the justification for change, culminating in a reminder that it is a matter of “first importance” (15:3). Specifically, in dealing with:

a. Factions along personalities (1 Corinthians 1:10-18 and 3), ultimately Christ, “whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption” was their one “source” (1:30);

b. Sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 5, 6:12-20), he urges them to “cleanse out the old leaven”, because “Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” (5:7) ;

c. Lawsuits among believers (6:1-11), he warns that the “unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God” (6:9), and reminds that they were “washed”, “sanctified” and “justified”, “in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ” (6:11);

d. Marriage and divorce (1 Corinthians 7), the believing spouse should stay married so that the unbeliever may be saved (7:16), and reminds that “the present form of this world is passing away” (7:31);

e. Relating to the pagan culture, i.e. food offered to idols (1 Corinthians 8) and idolatry (10:1-22), “food will not commend us to God” (8:8); and we cannot partake in both the Lord’s table and that of demons (9:21); and

f. Propriety in worship (1 Corinthians 11, 14:26-36), including the practice of spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12-14), confession of Christ’s Lordship, is a measure of genuineness (12:3); and the building up of the church (14:12) is the purpose.

Possible Application

2. Expect ‘messiness’ in the Church – The Corinthian church was a ‘messy’ church embroiled in a whole range of controversies. One is tempted to condemn and declare that these are in fact unregenerate pagans poorly masquerading as believers. But Paul does not do that. In fact, he begins his letter, “To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints…” (1:2). The church, at its best, is a collection of sinners saved by grace, being sanctified on an ongoing basis. There will thus be ‘messy’ people among us. If we search our hearts honestly enough, we too will find ‘messiness’ there, just call it sin. We shouldn’t then be too quick to condemn, but instead with gentleness and firmness correct one another, in the gospel, urging one another on towards holiness.

3. Use the gospel in discipline – We have noted that Paul goes back to the gospel and works out its implications when he corrects. Paul notes that the gospel that was “preached” was also the same gospel that they “stand”, and the gospel by which they are “being saved” (15:1-2). The gospel has a continual role in the life of the Christian and of the church. Paul presents the gospel as the real answer to the many ‘messy’ problems in the Corinthian church, and we do well to follow along the apostle’s path. Our church discipline and restoration methods must be infused richly with gospel content. Some of this content can be very firm, for example “deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh”, and we should not mistake gospel discipline with being soft. However, the purpose is always redemptive. In this example, “so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord” (5:5).