1 Corinthians | A Bird’s Eye View: The Epistles

---

The culture says:

“I’ll pursue whatever spiritual experience works for me."

The culture says:

• “I’ll pursue whatever spiritual experience works for me."

• “I don’t care who I have to step on, I’m going to get ahead."

The culture says:

• “I’ll pursue whatever spiritual experience works for me."

• “I don’t care who I have to step on, I’m going to get ahead."

• “My status in society is the most important thing about me."

• “I don’t associate with people of lower status than me."

The culture says:

• “I’ll pursue whatever spiritual experience works for me."

• “I don’t care who I have to step on, I’m going to get ahead."

• “My status in society is the most important thing about me."

• “I don’t associate with people of lower status than me."

• "I’m committed to my favorite leaders and media personalities no matter what."

• “I don’t care what’s true, I care what I like."

Corinthian culture says:

• “I’ll pursue whatever spiritual experience works for me."

• “I don’t care who I have to step on, I’m going to get ahead."

• “My status in society is the most important thing about me."

• “I don’t associate with people of lower status than me."

• "I’m committed to my favorite leaders and media personalities no matter what."

• “I don’t care what’s true, I care what I like."

The heart that treasures God will hunger for His Word, labor to understand it, and joyfully live beneath its authority.

Goals for this series:

1. Grow our confidence in being able to read the Bible faithfully

Goals for this series:

1. Grow our confidence in being able to read the Bible faithfully

2. Grow our understanding that the gospel speaks to every area of life

Roadmap

• The background to 1 Corinthians

• The purpose and flow of 1 Corinthians

• A test case within 1 Corinthians

• A big picture takeaway from 1 Corinthians

Roadmap

• The background to 1 Corinthians

• The purpose and flow of 1 Corinthians

• A test case within 1 Corinthians

• A big picture takeaway from 1 Corinthians

Acts 18:11

Reading the Epistles - Tip #1

Check if the book of Acts provides any helpful background for the letter

*For 1 Corinthians, see Acts 18:1-19:1

1 Corinthians 1:10-11

1 Corinthians 5:1

1 Corinthians 7:1

Reading the Epistles - Tip #2

Look in the letter for evidence of what motivated the author to write it

The NT epistles are real LETTERS written by real PEOPLE to address real LIFE SITUATIONS

Roadmap

• The background to 1 Corinthians

• The purpose and flow of 1 Corinthians

• A test case within 1 Corinthians

• A big picture takeaway from 1 Corinthians

Corinthian culture says:

• “I’ll pursue whatever spiritual experience works for me."

• “I don’t care who I have to step on, I’m going to get ahead."

• “My status in society is the most important thing about me."

• “I don’t associate with people of lower status than me."

• "I’m committed to my favorite leaders and media personalities no matter what."

• “I don’t care what’s true, I care what I like."

Paul writes to the Corinthians to re-proclaim the gospel and re-orient them around the value system informed by the resurrection and defined by the cross.

Outline of 1 Corinthians

• 1:1-9 — Greeting and Thanksgiving

• 1:10-4:21 — Community Divisions (Wisdom; Ministry Leaders)

• 5:1-6:20 — Moral Issues (Sexual Integrity; Legal Action)

• 7:1-40 — Items Related to Marriage

• 8:1-11:1 — Food Offered to Idols

• 11:2-14:40 — Proper Worship (Coverings; Lord’s Supper; Spiritual Gifts)

• 15:1-58 — The Resurrection

• 16:1-24 — Concluding Matters

Roadmap

• The background to 1 Corinthians

• The purpose and flow of 1 Corinthians

• A test case within 1 Corinthians

• A big picture takeaway from 1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 1:10-12

1 Corinthians 1:17-18

1 Corinthians 2:1-5

Reading the Epistles - Tip #3
Use a study Bible for help with the letter’s background, purpose, and flow

1 Corinthians 3:5-7

1 Corinthians 4:1

1 Corinthians 4:6

Paul writes to the Corinthians to re-proclaim the gospel and re-orient them around the value system informed by the resurrection and defined by the cross.

Roadmap

• The background to 1 Corinthians

• The purpose and flow of 1 Corinthians

• A test case within 1 Corinthians

• A big picture takeaway from 1 Corinthians

Certain of Jesus’s resurrection, I will build others up by embracing the value system of the cross.