Intro to Paul and Corinth

1 And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. 3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

Long before Paul came to know Jesus as the Christ, he was a devout Jew who was zealous to the point of desiring to persecute and kill Christians

While on his way to persecute more Christians, Saul is confronted by Jesus

Acts 9:3–5 ESV

3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

Jesus saw this man full of zeal and passion and knew that he loved God…he just didn’t know Who God was.

Why was he called Saul in Acts 7&8 but called Paul throughout the rest of the New Testament?

There are some that believe that when God revealed Himself to Saul that He changed his name like He’d done for Abraham and Jacob (Israel). But that is not the case

World renowned NT scholar Craig Keener writes:

New Testament (Second Edition) (13:4–12: The Pronconsul of Cyprus Believes)

As a citizen, Saul had a Roman cognomen (“Paul,” meaning “small”) given at birth (not at Paul’s conversion...)

This is because Paul was born a Roman citizen. Being born as a Roman, he had a Roman name in addition to his Jewish name.

Keener continues:

New Testament (Second Edition) 13:4–12: The Pronconsul of Cyprus Believes

Paul’s Roman name sounded similar to his Jewish name (Saul, from the name of the *Old Testament’s most famous Benjamite; cf. Phil 3:5). This is not a name change; now that Paul is moving in a predominantly Roman environment, he begins to go by his Roman name.

What makes Paul’s nationality important?

He understands Hellenistic/Roman culture

This became a way by which he could reach the Gentiles although he himself was a Jew.

Paul went on three missionary journeys (although some consider his arrest and travel to Rome a 4th)

From Antioch to Cyprus, through Pisidia, and Pamphylia

established churches all over the region of Asia Minor

Traveled with Silas and later Timothy and Luke. Traveled through Asia Minor into Macedonia and Greece establishing churches in cites like Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens and the topic of this study, Corinth.

Revisited the churches he founded in Asia Minor & Macedonia

So, lets talk about Paul’s 2nd missionary journey, because this is where the basis of our study really begins

Acts 18:1–3 ESV

1 After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them, 3 and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade.

Paul arrives at Corinth and stays here for 18 months preaching and teaching

He worked with Aquila and Priscilla to establish a church in Corinth

working hard to reach the people of this city, a city rich with commerce

Strategically located at a crossroads for many trade routes

this city was rich with culture and influence of the Romans

This was a very Hellenistic city

While there is more about Paul we could discuss, let’s move on to the setting for the first letter that Paul wrote to the Corinthian church

Corinth - a Crossroads of Culture

What made Corinth so rich with culture?

Merchants would dock in the eastern port of Corinth to transfer their wares across 6km of land to the western port

This was one of the most highly traveled trade routes in all of the Mediterranean Sea

All of the coastal cities would sail to Corinth to conduct their business

Egypt, Rome, Judea, Galatia, Phrygia, Cyrene, Pamphylia, all of these major players would converge on Corinth to facilitate trade

This made Corinth a city rich with tremendous amounts of culture

gods from nations all over the known world would be present theres

People would immigrate to this city because it was a place of immense opportunity

How did the culture of Corinth affect the Corinthian church?

Due to the heavy Greek culture mixed with cultures of other nations, there were many presuppositions that had come into the church

including an inflated sense of spiritual maturity

People would think that because they had a spirituality that came from other cultures and religions that it translated into a maturity in Christianity

How does this cultural diversity mirror what we see in American churches?

Why doesn’t maturity in culture translate to maturity in Christianity?

Throughout 1 Corinthians, we can see where Paul addressed topics including things such as spiritual gifts, marriage, food offered to idols, the resurrection of the dead, among other major themes.

The book of 1 Corinthians seems to have a very wide and almost scattered approach to the topics

This was due to the vastness of the issues experienced in the church brought about by the many different cultural and religious influences

To sum up what Paul was trying to teach the Corinthians in all things

1 Corinthians 15:58 (ESV)

58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

To do this, Paul addressed things, starting with Unity and Division

the Christians in Corinth were loyal to the leaders they had known

They touted that the person they were baptized by was greater and more important than the person that baptized their brother and sisters

1 Corinthians 1:10 ESV

10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.

He then taught them on wisdom and foolishness

showing the importance of the wisdom of God

This is true wisdom

The wisdom of the world is false wisdom or foolishness

He taught on sexuality and the culture of promiscuity in Corinth

He taught about marriage and singleness, Christian freedoms, worship, spiritual gifts

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Introduction (1 Corinthians 1:1-9)

Content: Paul opens with a greeting and thanksgiving, affirming the Corinthians’ call to holiness and the faithfulness of God.Purpose: Sets a positive tone, acknowledging the Corinthians' strengths before addressing their issues.

Addressing Divisions and Factions (1 Corinthians 1:10-4:21)

Content: Paul addresses the issue of divisions within the church, criticizing the congregation for forming factions around different leaders.Purpose: Emphasizes unity in Christ and the folly of boasting in human leaders.

1. Unity in Diversity

Contemporary Challenge: The modern church often faces divisions along theological, cultural, or personal lines, similar to the Corinthian church's issues.Application: Encourage participants to consider ways they can contribute to unity within their local church and the broader Christian community. Discuss the importance of focusing on shared faith in Christ rather than differences. Reflect on practical steps to foster reconciliation and mutual respect.

Moral and Ethical Issues (1 Corinthians 5:1-6:20)

Content: Paul confronts cases of sexual immorality and lawsuits among believers.Purpose: Calls for church discipline and holiness, emphasizing the believer's body as a temple of the Holy Spirit.

3. Addressing Moral and Ethical Issues

Contemporary Challenge: Believers today navigate a complex world with varying views on morality and ethics.Application: Discuss how Paul's instructions on sexual immorality and lawsuits among believers can inform the church's approach to discipline, counseling, and public witness. How can the church maintain biblical standards while showing love and grace?

Questions on Marriage and Singleness (1 Corinthians 7)

Content: Paul answers questions regarding marriage, divorce, and celibacy.Purpose: Provides guidance for relationships in the Christian life, balancing practical advice with spiritual principles.

Freedom in Christ vs. Christian Responsibility (1 Corinthians 8-10)

Content: Discusses the issue of food offered to idols and Christian liberty.Purpose: Teaches on the responsible exercise of freedom, considering the impact on weaker believers and the witness to the world.

Contemporary Challenge: Christians today enjoy great freedom, but there's often confusion about how to use this freedom without causing others to stumble.Application: Consider contemporary issues (e.g., alcohol consumption, entertainment choices) where Christian freedom must be balanced with love for others. Encourage a discussion on making choices that edify others and honor God.

Worship Practices and the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:1-34)

Content: Instructions on head coverings in worship and corrections concerning the Lord’s Supper.Purpose: Addresses proper conduct in worship, ensuring respect for communal traditions and the significance of the Lord’s Supper.

Contemporary Challenge: Worship styles and practices vary widely, sometimes leading to disagreements within congregations.Application: Reflect on how Paul's guidance on worship practices and spiritual gifts can inform current discussions about worship. How can the principles of edification and order guide the church's worship practices?

Spiritual Gifts and Love (1 Corinthians 12-14)

Content: Paul discusses spiritual gifts, the primacy of love, and guidelines for orderly worship.Purpose: Highlights the diversity of gifts within unity, the supremacy of love, and the need for edification in the use of gifts in worship.

Contemporary Challenge: In a world often marked by division and strife, practicing biblical love is both a challenge and a necessity.Application: Challenge participants to identify specific ways they can demonstrate love as described in 1 Corinthians 13 in their community, church, and relationships. How can love guide their responses to contemporary social and moral issues?

The Resurrection (1 Corinthians 15)

Content: A profound exposition on the resurrection of Christ and its implications for believers.Purpose: Affirms the foundation of Christian hope and the importance of steadfast faith in the gospel.

Contemporary Challenge: In times of personal loss or global crisis, the hope of the resurrection is a crucial anchor.Application: Discuss how the assurance of the resurrection can influence our perspective on death, suffering, and our daily living. How does this hope motivate us to persevere in faith and good works?

Conclusion and Final Exhortations (1 Corinthians 16)

Content: Paul concludes with personal remarks, instructions about the collection for the Jerusalem church, travel plans, and final exhortations.Purpose: Encourages vigilance in faith, love, and adherence to the teachings he has laid out, reinforcing his authority and care for the church.

Reflection and Application

Conclude by emphasizing that Paul's letter to the Corinthians is not just an ancient text but a living document that speaks into the complexities of modern Christian life. Encourage participants to apply these timeless principles in ways that are relevant to their context, fostering growth, unity, and love within the body of Christ.

This overview provides a framework for exploring Paul's first letter to the Corinthians in depth. As you work through each section, consider how Paul's teachings and corrections are relevant to contemporary church life, personal holiness, and the unity and edification of the body of Christ. Each part of the letter offers rich insights for discussion, reflection, and application to modern Christian living and ministry.

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