The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians
Paul lived in Corinth for a year and six months in the course of his second missionary journey. Thereafter the church in Corinth spilt into several factions.
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Chapter 1
Paul introduces himself as an apostle. Paul greets the saints at Corinth with grace and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul is concerned about contention in the church. He named four subdivisions or separate denominations already existing in Corinth:
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[12] Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
[13] Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
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Cephas is another name for Simon Peter (John 1:42, Luke 24:33-34).
Paul also declares that the gospel is preached by the weak and the simple. He speaks against the Jews who require a sign and the Greeks who seek after wisdom.
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Chapter 2
Paul teaches that the gospel is preached by the power of the spirit.
Faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
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[14] But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
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Chapter 3
Paul teaches that fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
He also declares
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[16] Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
[17] If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
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Chapter 4
Paul tells about the persecution and suffering that he and the other ministers of Christ endure. The kingdom of God is not in word but in power.
Paul speaks against those who are puffed up.
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Chapter 5
Paul condemns fornication. He was concerned that the Corinthian Christians seemed to take sin lightly. He refers to a case where a man was apparently having an immoral relationship with his stepmother. Paul directed that this man be put outside of the church.
Paul teaches that Christ, our passover, is sacrificed for us.
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Chapter 6
Paul teaches that the brethren should not go to law with each other. He also speaks against fornication and idolatry.
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[19] What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
[20] For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
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Chapter 7
Paul teaches about marriage.
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[12] But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.
[13] And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
[14] For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
[15] But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.
[16] For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?
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Chapter 8
Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
Paul preaches against idols. "An idol is nothing in the world." He then proclaims:
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[6] But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
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Chapter 9
Paul speaks about his missionary work as an apostle.
Paul states that he saw Jesus Christ. Cross reference with Acts 9:17.
Paul writes that "I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some."
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Chapter 10
Jesus Christ is the Rock of Israel.
Paul teaches
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[13] There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
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He also states "whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."
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Chapter 11
Paul teaches concerning the sacramental emblems. The bread represents Jesus body "which is broken for you." The cup is the "new testament" symbolizing Jesus' blood.
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[28] But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
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[31] For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
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Chapter 12
The Holy Ghost reveals that Jesus is the Christ.
Paul discusses spiritual gifts which are given by the Spirit.
1. Word of wisdom
2. Word of knowledge
3. Faith
4. Gifts of healing
5. Working of miracles
6. Prophesy
7. Discerning of spirits
8. Diverse kinds of tongues
9. Interpretation of tongues.
Paul further teaches
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[27] Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
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Chapter 13 CHARITY
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[1] Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
[2] And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
[3] And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
[4] Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
[5] Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
[6] Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
[7] Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
[8] Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
[9] For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
[10] But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
[11] When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
[12] For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
[13] And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
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Chapter 14
Paul teaches about the gifts of tongues and prophecy. Prophecy is the greater of these gifts. If someone speaks in tongue, he or someone else must interpret so that the church may be edified.
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[39] Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
[40] Let all things be done decently and in order.
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Chapter 15
Paul proclaims that Christ died for our sins. He was buried, and he rose again the third day. He was seen of Cephas and then of the twelve.
Again, Cephas is another name for Simon Peter (John 1:42, Luke 24:33-34). Cephas is also the Aramaic name for "rock."
The resurrected Jesus Christ then appeared to "above five hundred brethren."
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[20] But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
[21] For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
[22] For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
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Paul further teaches about resurrection of man.
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[39] All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.
[40] There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
[41] There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
[42] So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
[43] It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
[44] It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
[45] And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
[52] In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
[53] For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
[54] So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
[55] O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
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Chapter 16
Paul discusses his travel plans. He proclaims "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith."
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This page is sponsored by Tom Irvine, Email: tomirvine@aol.com
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