1 Corinthians
Context and the problems arising in the Corinthian Church following the Second MJ
Purpose and Context
Following the establishment of the Corinthian Church by Paul on his Second MJ, disturbing news concerning
the Church reaches Paul in Ephesus on his Third MJ. ‘Chloe’s people’ inform him that members of the
Corinthian Church are dividing into opposing factions and that his apostolic authority is being questioned. The
church had allowed the sins of the city to infiltrate their Christian community and thus the new believers faced
more practical problems around the application of their new faith due to the nature of the society
1 Corinthians is Paul’s reply, giving them practical lessons on how to live as Christians and warning them of the
dangers of disunity and immorality.
Who was Chloe? Wealthy leading lady in the Corinthian Church
Socio-religious context - what was society in Corinth like?
Being the capital city of Achaia, it was cosmopolitan and diverse in nature with a variety of
nationalities most prevalently Jews.
The vices of the world were prevalent here with 1,000 cult prostitutes selling themselves in the name of
religion. Boasted a lifestyle of ‘loose living’ and famous for its sexually immoral ways.
Being a relatively new city with newly acquired wealth it inevitably invited problems as there was not
yet an established aristocracy which would stabilise society.
A city whose core value was “entrepreneurial pragmatism in the pursuit of success.”
1. To warn the Corinthians of the danger of divisions - teaching on unity
Paul had been able to stabilise the congregation whilst in Corinth, but after leaving the new Christians attempted
to configure their new faith among themselves by conjuring up different answers and ideas which led them to
divide into four groups which reflected their contrasting backgrounds and allowing them to profess spiritual
allegiance to their prefered figures, Paul, Apollos, Peter or Christ.
Coritnahian society was varied as ‘men and women from such different spiritual and intellectual backgrounds
brought with them into the church some very diverse concepts and ideas’ – John Drane
Paul deals with the confusion that had emerged as a result of the division. Paul was also angered at the fact that
the Corinthians were seeking resolution outside the church through pagan courts for their grievances and petty
arguments.
2. To encourage the believers to avoid immorality - teaching on moral living
Paul sought to maintain morality within the Corinthian Church for a man in the church was having a sexual
relationship with his stepmother. Paul highlights the serious nature of such a sin and of how freedom in Christ is
not a synonym for the freedom to indulge in immorality.
3. To encourage order in worship - guidance for church life and worship
Paul stresses the significance of respect and order in church worship services as some Corinthian believers had
exploited and corrupted the agape meal alongside the celebration of the Lord’s Supper as an excuse to party and
become intoxicated
Corinthian zeal for the spiritual gift of speaking in tongues led to chaos in services due to everyone exercising
their gift simultaneously. Paul informs them that their attitude towards and exploitation of the spiritual gift was
the wrong way to behave, thus he writes how to procure order in worship services
,Characteristics and Main Themes
What does Paul provide teachings on?
Chpts 1-4 Divisions
Chpt 6 Lawsuits
Chpt 11 True meaning of the Lord’s Supper
Chpts 12-14 Unity of the Spirit
Chpt 1-6 Issues he heard from ‘Chloe’s people’ concerning the Corinthian Church
Chpt 1-4 Teaching on unity (Divisions)
Chpt 5-6 Teaching on moral living (Sexual Immorality)
Chpt 7 - 14 (excluding 9) Issues raised by the Corinthians
Chpt 7 Marriage
Chpt 8 A question of conscience (meat sacrificed to idols & idol feats and the Lord’s Supper)
Chpt 10 A question of conscience (practical advice)
Chpt 11 Guidance for Church Life and Worship (Worship and Lord’s Supper - the veiling of women,
abuses during the Lord’s Supper, the true meaning of the Lord’s Supper)
Chapter 12-14 Spiritual gifts
Chpt 13 Love
Chpt 14 Gifts of prophecy and tongues, the role of women
A personal letter
Paul had founded the Corinthian Church from nothing and therefore was very much devoted to its members and
problems which urged him ‘to put pen to paper when strange teachings began to divide the Church’ - Prior
A pastoral letter
Provides practical advice and guidance which retains its importance for today, particularly on moral and public
worship issues. He gives his own advice where God has not given a direct command.
Theological guidance
‘most of the commands throughout 1 Corinthians centre on some aspect of Church unity’ - Hafemann
The Corinthians are both ‘the temple of the Holy Spirit’ and ‘the body of Christ’. Paul stresses the importance of
Christians retaining control over their moral lives as the Kingdom of God has not come in all its fullness yet.
Warnings
Warns them to stand firm in their faith
Chpt 7 ‘the present crisis’
Opposition to his teaching and apostolic authority
Ends with plea to ‘be alert, stand firm in your faith’
, Problems Arising in the Corinthian Church
Unity Chpt 1-4
Divisions in the church (1:10-17)
10 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree
with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be
perfectly united in mind and thought. 11 My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household
have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12 What I mean is this: One of you says, “I
follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow
Christ.”
13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I
thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so no one can say that
you were baptized in my name. 16 (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that,
I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to
preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its
power.
Challenges the issue of disunity within the Corinthian Church as a result of the divisions caused by
the formation of ‘cliques’ (Morris) or factions, each professing idolatrous spiritual allegiances to key
individuals. In true entrepreneurial Corinthian style, the factions were competing against each other in
order to gain status for themselves. Ultimately, their disagreement meant they refused to share
fellowship with one another.
The Paul Party (the ‘libertines’)
Having become Christians by listening to Paul’s preaching, the Corinthians were attached to him,
claiming that his words were the ultimate truth and regarded other teachers as subordinate to him.
They advocated how immorality was not an issue for concern.
The Apollos Party
Came to Corinth during third MJ and his intelligence and excellence as a speaker served to justify
why he had devoted followers. People began to compare him to Paul and believed they possessed a
wisdom superior to Paul’s preaching.
The Peter Party (the ‘legalists’)
Had been a Christian longer than Paul and Apollos hence being the leader of the twelve apostles
Barrett comments ‘the Cephas group represented Jewish Christianity’ as they had favoured Jewish
Law more than Paul. They sought to revert back to the Law Eg. questioned whether Christians should
eat food previously offered to idols
The Christ Party (the ‘mystics’)
Believed Christ to be their only leader, opposing human leadership in the Church and regarded
themselves to be super-spiritual thereby making other Corinth Christians feel spiritually inferior
