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

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A Bird’s Eye View: 1 Corinthians

Series Goals:

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

1. Background to 1 Corinthians

1. Corinth was a competitive, status-driven, pluralistic city.

2. Paul planted the church and spent 18 months there (Acts 18:11).

   1. Epistles Reading Tip #1: Check if the book of Acts provides any helpful background for the letter

3. After moving on to Ephesus, Paul received reports of problems in Corinth (1 Cor. 1:10–11) and a letter from the Corinthians (1 Cor. 7:1).

   1. Epistles Reading Tip #2: Look in the letter for evidence of what motivated the author to write it

   2. The NT epistles are real letters written by real people to address real situations

2. Purpose & Flow of 1 Corinthians

Paul’s purpose: To re-proclaim the gospel and re-orient the Corinthians around a value system informed by the resurrection and defined by the cross.

The letter addresses issues such as:

1. Divisions in the church

2. Sexuality and marriage

3. Food offered to idols

4. Corporate worship and spiritual gifts

5. The resurrection

The common thread: In every section, Paul points believers back to the cross: give up your rights, preferences, and status for the good of others.

3. A Test Case Within 1 Corinthians: Community Divisions (1 Corinthians 1–4)

The Corinthians were dividing over favorite leaders: “I follow Paul,” “I follow Apollos,” etc.

This reflected Corinth’s cultural obsession with impressive speakers and status.

Paul’s correction:

1. The cross looks foolish to the world (1:17–18). God’s wisdom overturns worldly ideas of power and success.

2. Paul preached “Jesus Christ and him crucified” (2:1–5). Faith rests on God’s power, not human eloquence.

3. Leaders are servants, not celebrities (3:5–7; 4:1). “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.”

Key Contrast:

Corinth’s value system: “Good leadership means being impressive.”

The cross’s value system: “Good leadership means being a servant.”

4. Big Picture Takeaway from 1 Corinthians

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

1 Corinthians calls believers to identify worldly values that have slipped into the church and allow the cross to reshape our thinking and living in those areas.

One contemporary example: American consumerism

1. Treating church as a product to consume

2. Expecting to be catered to

The cross calls us instead to serve, give, sacrifice, and build others up.

Reflection Questions

1. Where do you see the values of your culture shaping your approach to church life?

2. How does the cross challenge your ideas of success, status, and leadership?

3. What is one practical way you can build others up this week through sacrificial service?