Paul founded the church of Corinth on his second missionary journey.  He often established churches in key locations such as major trade routes in order to influence the largest number of people possible in those days of difficult travel.  Corinth was located in southern Greece, about 45 mi. from Athens and on one of the major trade routes in Asia.  His letter to the Corinthian believers was most likely written in A.D. 55 from Ephesus.

Like many major Greek cities, Corinth had an acropolis, a high point, which rose 2,000 feet and was used for defense and for worship.  The most prominent building on the acropolis was the temple to Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love.  Some 1,000 priestesses, who were “religious” prostitutes, lived and worked there and came down into the city in the evening to offer their services to male citizens and foreign visitors.  Corinth was so morally corrupt that its very name became synonymous with decadence and moral depravity.  To “corinthianize’ came to represent gross immorality and drunken debauchery.  In 6: 9,10, Paul lists some of the specific sins for which the city was noted and which had characterized many believers in the church there.  Unfortunately, some of the worst sins were still found among church members.

Unable to fully break with the cultures from which it came, the church there was exceptional for taking sides, showing its carnality and immaturity.  The biggest problem of the church was worldliness, an unwillingness to divorce from the culture around them.  Most of the believers could not consistently separate themselves from their old, selfish, immoral, and pagan ways.  It became necessary for Paul to write them to correct this, as well as to command the faithful Christians not only to break away from fellowship with the disobedient and unrepentant members, but also to put those members out of the church.

The most controversial issue at Corinth was the use of the “sign” gifts (Chap 12-14), particularly the gifts of miracles and tongues speaking.  Some believe that all the gifts are permanent, so that the gift of speaking in tongues will cease (13:8) only at the time the gifts of prophecy and of knowledge cease, namely, when that which is perfect (the eternal state when we in glory see God face to face (Rev.22:4) and we have full knowledge as He reveals all the mysteries of heaven to us) has come (13:10).The issue was whether the gift of speaking in tongues and miracles are still valid spiritual gifts today and should they be exercised with the same power as they were in NT times by the apostles or whether the miraculous signs had ceased.  The issue of divorce is addressed as well as “universalism,” the false idea that all men will eventually be saved through Christ’s righteousness.

Chapter 1 – Greetings From Paul

1.     Paul establishes himself as an apostle.  Why was this important?  (A) An apostle was a “sent one” and in Paul’s case, one sent directly by the Lord to minister in His name.  Paul’s authority as an apostle was vital because the church was so divided in many issues and he wrote to correct the problems.

2.     Paul immediately sets forth the right standing of the people of the church.  It is the same for believers today.  (A) “The church…called to be His holy people.”  Other versions say it this way, “To the church… to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints.”  This refers to everyone who by salvation has been sanctified (set apart by God from sin to holiness).  Grace and peace is theirs; grace meaning undeserved favor with God - peace a result of God’s saving grace.

3.     V.V.4, 5 speak of “all” the generous gifts God “has given” now that we belong to Christ Jesus.  (A) “Has given” looks at the past, that is, their salvation when God justified them by undeserved and unrepayable love and mercy, forgiving their sin through the work of His son.  In the present, the believer has everything the Lord has to give and therefore everything he needs (Eph.1: 3), specifically the gifts of eloquence (some translations say “utterances” and knowledge, related to presenting the truths of God’s word.

4.     What do these two specific gifts (v.5) mean to you?  (A) Eloquence (or utterances) –believers are able to speak when God wants them to because of His enablement.  We ask God to enable us and studying God’s word helps us achieve it.  Knowledge – God provides believers with all the knowledge they need in order to speak effectively for Him (2 Cor. 4:6; Col.1: 9,10).

5.     V.8 says that “you have every spiritual gift that you need as you eagerly await the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  What does that mean to you?  When did you receive these gifts and what are they?  (A) These spiritual gifts were given to you at the moment of your salvation because at that moment you received God’s grace.  “Gift” in the Greek is specifically “a gift of grace” – a gifts you didn’t deserve.  Those gifts of speech and knowledge were primarily for evangelizing the lost (which we are all called to do), while the spiritual gifts enlighten, or bless, the church.  They are given to each believer, without regard for maturity or spirituality, and each has them in full.  The question remains – what am I going to do with these precious gifts?  Dare I sit on them and refuse to use them for His glory?  In chapters 12-14, we’ll look closer at the gifts.

6.     In v.8, Paul writes that “He will keep you free from all blame on the great day our Lord Jesus returns.”  What does this imply?  (A) It implies that you are already, past, present and future, blameless before the Lord and will be, even up until that day of His return!

7.     V. 18 –What is “the message of the cross?”  Why would it sound foolish to “those on the road to destruction?”  (A) God’s total revelation – the Gospel in all its fullness, centered on the incarnation (God taking the form of man) and the crucifixion of Christ, His entire divine plan and His provision of redemption for sinners in His death and Resurrection.  This would have sounded foolish to the Greeks in Corinth who prided themselves in their philosophy.  It is still foolishness today to those who try to argue over and intellectualize the Gospel.

8.     What does Paul mean when he says, “But we who are being saved…?”  Aren’t we already saved when we believe?  (A) Every person is either in the process of salvation, called sanctification, (though not completed until the redemption of the body (see Rom. 8:23; 13:11) at the Rapture, or in the process of destruction.  One’s response to the Cross determines which.  To believers, the Gospel is powerful wisdom.

9.     The Jews continually wanted a supernatural sign, but the sign was given and rejected – that of a virgin-born, crucified and risen Messiah.  This is the only message we preach (v.23).

10.  Man takes great pride in “choosing” or “accepting” Christ.  V.30 makes it very clear –“God alone made it possible for you to be in Christ Jesus.”  Christ did it all!  In His wisdom, He made us acceptable to God, pure and holy, and gave Himself for our redemption.

Chapter 2 – Christ Crucified

Paul was a great teacher who taught the whole testimony of God but took no false pride in his efforts.  The only thing he was interested in sharing was Christ Jesus and His death on the cross that paid the penalty for sin (v.2).

1.     According to vv.4, 5, what was Paul determined to do?  (A) Paul knew that he was unable to bless or save, so he determined to that he would lead men to trust in God alone rather than in the wisdom of men.  In other words, it’s not about me!  The Spirit who lives in me saves me, strengthens me, gives me the words to say, the power, and the need to share His Word and live His life.

2.     Paul gave all the credit to God, yet he says that when among mature Christians, he speaks with words of wisdom, the secret wisdom of God, previously hidden, but made for the believers benefit before the world began.  What is this “secret wisdom” or mystery he speaks of?  (A) He refers to the truth known to God before time began, that he has kept secret until the appropriate time for Him to reveal it.  The truth God established before time and revealed in the NT wisdom of the Gospel is the truth that God will save and glorify sinners (Eph. 3:8-12).  This truth is only for those who love Him.

3.     How do we know this truth?  (A) V. 10,11 – It has been revealed to us by the HS, who alone is qualified because He knows all that God knows, Himself being God.  This truth is given us not because of anything we have done, but because God chooses to freely give it to us.

4.     Just to reiterate – V. 16 – “Who can know what the Lord is thinking?”  (A) Those who do not know Christ do not have the Spirit who is the One who reveals all of God’s spiritual truths to those who do know Him.  We have the mind of Christ, allowed by the Word and the Spirit to know the thoughts of the Lord.  God is only known only as He chooses to make Himself known.

Chapter 3 – Paul and Appolos, Servants of Christ

Paul understood the fact that new believers must at first be spoon-fed.  The deep truths of God’s message are understood through maturity, study, growth, illumination and revelation.  During Paul’s first visit to Corinth, he fed the new believers milk because they were weak and young in their faith.  He is dismayed that the Corinthians were still not ready to receive deeper teaching.  He felt he should have been able to write to them as mature believers.

1.     What was their problem?  Why had they not grown spiritually?  (A) They were still “carnal” in nature, that is, they were not fully controlled by the Spirit, instead, the flesh controlled them.

2.     What were two aspects of their carnality (v. 3)?  (A) Jealousy and quarreling that produce other divisions.  When one practices these divisions, it proves they are still controlled by their flesh, not acting like people belonging to the Lord.

3.     What was the focus of their problem?  (A) There was contention between those who favored the teaching of Appolos and those who favored Paul.  This showed the immaturity of the believers:  the mature Christian practices love and seeks to get along with others.  The immature “child” wants to get his own way.  These immature believers all wanted their own way, putting one minister over the other.  Paul saw the role of himself and Appolos as merely servants through whom God caused the Corinthians to believe.

4.     From vv.6-9, who plants?  Who waters?  Who is the field?  Who is responsible for growth?  How does this apply to the problem in the Corinthian church?  (A) Paul planted, Appolos watered, the field was the hearts of the Corinthians.  But neither was important: God is important because He is the One who makes the seed grow.  This applies because the Corinthians were trying to give the credit for their Christianity to either Paul or Appolos and neither deserved it.  Paul says they were mere partners working together as (v.9).  We can take our cue from these two workers and ask of ourselves, “In whose lives have I planted or watered so that God could make them grow?

5.     What is the foundation Paul says we must build on?  (A) V. 11 -  “… the One we already have, Jesus Christ.”  What we use to build on that foundation is up to us - Gold or silver, hay, wood or straw.  The former build the church through the correct use of spiritual gifts through faithful ministry.  The later imply shallow activity with no eternal value. 

6.     We all have a choice to make.  Why?  (A) Because there will be a time of testing at the judgment day (the Bema Seat Judgment of Jesus Christ [2 Cor. 5:10]), when every Christians works will be judged.  Those works that keep their value (those which have been accomplished in God’s power, not ours, and for His glory) will survive and be rewarded.  Those whose works are burned up as useless and unworthy will suffer loss of rewards (v.15).  Neither has anything to do with eternal salvation, but rather about a job well done or not.

7.     Some may shrug and foolishly say, “Just as long as I get in” but Paul gives us the proper motive for our Good Works.  (A) V.16, “All of us together are the Temple of God and God’s Spirit lives in us.”  V.17, “God will bring ruin upon anyone who ruins His Temple (those who would interfere with the building of the church on the foundation of Christ- false teachers) which is holy.”  We are that Temple made up of individuals who must take their role seriously and with dignity.  That said, our proper motive then must be the glory of God in all we do.

8.     What do we base our good works on?  (A) The wisdom of God as found in His Word.  The famous missionary, Amy Carmichael put it this way, “ The work will never go deeper than we have gone ourselves.”

Chapter 4 – Apostles of Christ

Paul explains that he considers himself a mere servant of Christ called by God to explain His mysteries (His full revealed truth in the NT) to the church.  As far as being judged by the Corinthian factions, he could care less.  He knows that Christ, when He comes back at just the right time, will judge whether someone is faithful or not to his call.

1.     What does he say in v. 5 that Christ will do?  (A) “He will bring our deepest secrets to light and reveal our motives.  Then He will give everyone what he deserves.”  These refer to the inner motives, thoughts, and attitudes, which only God can know.  We are not to judge others of their Christian service.  Rather, wait until the Lord comes when He will judge not only what was done, but why it was done.

2.     this does not mean that we are to let all things pass as Ok until Christ returns.  (A) NO, “we are to pay attention to Scripture” (v.6).  When it comes to false teachers, the key test is: Have they been faithful to obey and teach the Word of God?”  Not just faithful preaching, but faithful practicing.

3.     Paul asks the central question: “What makes you better than anyone else (v.7)?”  Why should any of us feel superior?  John the Baptist said it best, “A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven…He (Christ) must increase, but I must decrease (John 3:27,30).”  Our talents and our gifts are not the result of our own cleverness.

4.     The Corinthians thought that they had everything they needed, boastful of the many spiritual gifts they already had.  They acted as if they were already on their thrones, reigning over others, already having reached spiritual greatness.  What does Paul have to say about their attitude?  (A) Paul actually wished it were so, that they and he were already seated on their Millennial thrones, sharing in God’s glory.  But no one has arrived – we are still in training for that glorious time when we do reign with Christ Jesus.  At a coronation, no one put on his or her crowns until the new sovereign has put on his.

5.     As part of their training, Paul urges them to be imitators of him in his tireless love and service for his fellow believers (v.16).  How do his words of admonishment in v. 20, affect you?  (A) It’s not just enough to talk about being in the Kingdom of God, it is living by God’s power in all you do.  Which do you choose?

Chapter 5 – Paul Condemns Spiritual Pride

This chapter deals with the necessity for disciplinary action in a church when one member has committed serious sin of a public nature.  Discipline is necessary for the church to retain its holy character and for the HS to work ungrieved among it.

1.     What was the problem in the church?  (A) Incest – a man sleeping with what was apparently his stepmother (v.1).  But the problem went deeper.  The Corinthians were proud in their position in Christ and of their own spiritual gifts, and rather than mourn deeply over this sin and correct it, they chose to be tolerant of it.  What is the church if it is the same as the rest of society?

2.     What did Paul suggest to correct this problem?  (A) They were to call a meeting of the church to cast the man out and into Satan’s hands.

3.     How were they to cast him out?  What does he mean “into Satan’s hands”?  (A) It means to bar him from public association with church activities.  This assumes that the church elders would have already tried to restore him in love.  “Deliver into Satan’s hands,” does not mean to deprive him of salvation.  That is not in their power to do so.  When a Christian is in fellowship with the church and with the Lord, he enjoys a certain protection from the power of Satan.  When he is out of fellowship with the Lord and excommunicated from the church, he is fair game for Satan to attack so that the sinning believer would repent and return to the Lord.  This must be done in and with love.

4.     What is Paul’s point in v.6-13?  (A) They were so proud and boastful of their own perceived righteousness that they did not care that the sin they ignored was permeating and devastating their own church.  Just like a little yeast in the dough, it will permeate the whole loaf.

5.     Is Paul suggesting that we are to have no contact with the sinners of the outside world (v.9)?  (A) They thought so and stopped having contact with outsiders while ignoring sin on the inside.  On the contrary, we are to be witnesses to the whole world.  Those on the outside are for God to judge and believers to evangelize.

Chapter 6 – Avoiding Lawsuits With Christians

Paul writes to try to solve another situation that repeatedly occurred among the Corinthians.  They were going to law against their fellow believers, but rather than settle it among themselves in Christian love, they were going to outside, secular courts.

1.     What does he mean that someday we Christians are going to judge the world?  (A) Christians will assist Christ to judge the world in the millennial kingdom (Rev. 2:26,27; 3:31; Dan. 7:22).  If that is the case, they are more than qualified with the truth, the Spirit, the gifts, and the resources they presently have in Him to settle small matters that come up among themselves.

2.     Paul is astounded that they would appoint those least qualified (unbelievers) to resolve church matters.  In this age, do you agree with Paul that we are qualified enough to settle small legal matters among ourselves?  When you are wronged, are you more likely to stand up and fight for your rights, just let it go, or look to get even?

3.     How should Christians handle being wronged and cheated (v.7)?  How does this contrast with what the world says to do?  What are they doing when cheated (v.8)?

4.     Once again, we come to what appears to be an incongruity in Scripture.  V. 9 seems to be saying that “those who do wrong will have no share in the Kingdom.”  Paul goes on to list a host of sins people indulge in and says that “none of these will share in the Kingdom of God.”  So are we eternally saved, assured that Christ paid the price and justified us, or, when we sin, are we going to hell?  (A) First, what is His Kingdom?  It is the spiritual area of salvation where God rules as King over all who belong to Him by faith (Matt.5: 3,10).  All believers are in that spiritual Kingdom, yet are waiting to enter into the full inheritance of it in the age to come.  The people who are characterized by these listed sins (and all sin for that matter) are not saved (1 John 3: 9,10).  But believers commit sin, what about them?  They do and will commit sin, but they are not characterized by them as an unbroken life pattern.  When they do, it demonstrates that the person is not in God’s Kingdom.  True believers, who do sin, resent that sin and seek to gain victory over it.

5.     Some of us had past lives described by these sins, but all sin is equal.  What are we described as now (v.11)?  (A) Our sins are washed away and we have been set apart for God.  We didn’t do it, earn it, or are good enough to keep it, but we have been made right with God because of what the Lord Jesus Christ and the Spirit of God have done for us.  It is finished!

6.     The Corinthians argued –well, we’ve been set free from sin forever, so why not have some fun.  It’s true isn’t it?  (A) We have been set free, but not all things are good for us (v.12).  The price of abusing freedom and grace was very high.  Sin always produces loss.

7.     V.13 says that our bodies are made for the Lord and v. 15 says that our bodies are parts of Christ, a spiritual Temple in which the Spirit of Christ lives.  What is the point he is making?  (A) V.15 – when a believer commits a sexual sin, it involves Christ with a prostitute.  He quotes Gen. 2:24 that defines the sexual union between a man and a woman as “one flesh.”  When a person is joined to a prostitute, it is a “one flesh” experience; therefore, Christ is spiritually joined to that prostitute.

8.     Paul takes it a little further in v.17.  How does it apply even today?  (A) The believer is joined to the Lord and becomes one spirit with Him, so all sex outside of marriage profanes the Lord because the believer is one with Him. 

9.     Flee sexual sin!  The price is high – it will cost you in your body and it cost Jesus with His death on the cross.  As temples of the HS, we do not belong to ourselves and so must honor God with our body.