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Paul wrote the book of first Corinthians to the church at Corinth around the year 56. The city of Corinth is located on the isthmus between the Aegean and Adriatic Seas. Corinth was a wealthy commercial port city. The city of Corinth had an outdoor arena/theater that held 20,000 people. The Olympics only, surpassed athletic feats held in Corinth. The city of Corinth boasted a population that consisted of Romans, Greeks and Orientals. Corinth was also famous for its great temple of Aphrodite, which was home to some 1,000 prostitutes. The city of Corinth also boasted an immoral state given the Greek name, Korinthiazomai, which means, “to act the Corinthian” which came to mean, “to practice fornication.” Corinth was noted for many drinking taverns and everything dealing with a sinful life.
The Corinthian church had more Gentiles than Jews. The apostle Paul competed with the superstitions of the one sect, and the sinful behaviors of the other. The church of Corinth was plagued with false teachers undermining the authority of the apostle Paul. Paul wrote this letter to deal with the accusations made against him by the Jewish people. The theme of this letter is twofold:
· To employ appropriate solutions to the mayhem and exploitations that was overtaking them
· To provide acceptable resolutions for the arguments upon which Paul’s counsel was wanted
Paul’s remarkable writing on the truths of the errors of the Jewish people and the sinfulness of the Gentiles is handled in a very firm manner yet with a very compassionate and Christ like manner. Paul affirms the truth and will of God pertaining to the matters at hand. Some of the matters at hand consisted of:
· Divisions in the church
· An exhortation to brotherly love
· Immorality
· Questions about food, worship, marriage and the resurrection
· Uncharacteristic beliefs and practices within the church
The second letter to the Corinthians was most likely written about a year after the first. Its main theme is very similar in nature to the first letter. The manner in which Paul wrote the letter expresses great gratitude to God. Paul made a trip to Corinth after writing the first letter because the problems addressed in the first letter had not been resolved. Many of the people in Corinth had shown signs of repentance but many still held on to their false teachings and sinful ways. This letter contains words dealing with the charges against him and his compassion for the people and his love and respect of the Gospel of Christ. Paul praises God for giving him comfort and deliverance from his troubles and professes his integrity and the integrity of those that labor with him for the Gospel. Paul concludes with an appeal for repentance.
The main purpose of this letter is threefold:
· To articulate great joy at the encouraging response of the church towards Paul’s ministry
· To bring the people in remembrance of their obligation to the gift for the Christians in Judea
· To defend Paul’s authority as an apostle
This second letter of Corinthians gives great insight into the personal life of Paul. It is almost autobiographical and contains the longest discourse on giving in the New Testament.
An Outline to first and second Corinthians:
The salutation or introduction 1:1-9
A. Sanctified in Christ
B. An expression of thankfulness for the people of Corinth
C. Spiritual gifts which are the abilities given by God to believers
D. God is faithful to the believers
Schisms or divisions within the church 1:10 – 4:21
A. The church divided
B. Quarrels and strife amongst the people
C. Paul sent to preach not to baptize
D. God uses all types of people to convey the Gospel of Christ
E. No man should boast before God
F. Things long hidden now revealed by the Spirit
G. Using spiritual thoughts with spiritual words
H. Spiritual growth stunted by division
I. The rewards will be lost unless the foundation built upon is Christ Jesus. 1 Corinthians 3:11, "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ."
J. Paul speaks of the conditions of sin
The moral problems of the church 5:1 – 6:20
A. Immorality and incest
B. A form of punishment for this is spoken of
C. The judgment of the world by Christ and His Saints
D. Paul warns against moral depravity
Marriage and Celibacy is discussed 7:1-40
A. Paul answers questions pertaining to marriage and celibacy
B. Paul addresses divorce
C. Spiritually mixed marriages
D. Christian service and marriage
E. Celibacy spoken of as the desired state for Christian service
F. Remarriage
Idols and offerings 8:1 –11:1
A. Type of food a Christian should eat
B. Things sacrificed to idols
C. An idol’s temple
D. Paul as an example
E. The law and material things
F. Support of priests
G. Self control – avoiding self-indulgence
H. Do not join in with the feasts of idols
I. Glorify God by giving to others and taking care of others
Worship in the public place, Lord’s Supper and Spiritual Gifts 11:2 – 14:40
A. Women and worship – head veiled
B. Man’s authority of the woman
C. A woman’s hair given as her covering
D. The Lord’s supper
E. The body and blood of Christ
F. Proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes
G. Do not take in an unworthy manner
H. Types of spiritual gifts
1. Word of wisdom
2. Word of knowledge
3. Faith
4. Gifts of healing
5. Prophecy
6. Tongues and interpretation
I. The purpose of the gifts
J. Agape type of love
K. Love is the supreme gift of all
1. Love is patient
2. Love is kind
3. Love is not jealous
4. Love does not brag nor is it arrogant
5. Love does not seek itself
6. Love does not rejoice at pain
7. Love never fails
L. Prophecy over tongues
M. Prophecy must edify the church
N. Tongues are useless without interpretation
O. How to use the gifts
The resurrection of Christ and its importance 15:1-58
A. Death burial and resurrection of Christ
B. Christ died for our sins
C. If resurrection of Christ did not happen then preaching the Gospel does not matter
D. The hope of the Christian is life hereafter in Christ
E. The resurrection of the body will be like the body of Christ
F. The Christian believer has victory through Christ
The believers and personal matters 16:1-24
A. The collection of gifts for the believers
B. Paul plans to visit Corinth
C. Paul gives his exhortations and benediction to the people of Corinth
Introduction to the second letter of Corinthians 1:1-11
A. Paul’s greeting
B. Paul expresses his gratitude for the goodness of God
Paul addresses the problem at Corinth 1:12 – 2:13
A. Paul’s plans change towards his visit
B. The punishment of the offender
C. A meeting with Titus
Paul’s Ministry 2:14 –6:10
A. Paul considered himself a captive for Christ with confidence of victory
B. The Holy Spirit at work in Paul’s life and the lives of the Corinthians caused changed lives
C. The New Covenant and confidence in Christ
D. The character and manner of the ministry – bondservants to Christ
E. Causes of the ministry
F. The earthly vessel we live in
G. The judgment seat of Christ
H. The love of Christ
Paul exhorts the Corinthians 6:11 – 7:16
A. Paul asks them to be open to his ministry
B. Paul exhorts them to separate themselves from evil
C. Paul assures them of his joy for their repentance
Paul pleads for gifts for the Judean People 8:1 – 9:15
A. Reasons for giving
B. Rewards in giving
C. God’s generosity to supply all needs when the people give
Paul speaks of his Authority as an Apostle 10:1 – 12:18
A. Paul defends his authority to those that still doubt
B. Paul talks of his conduct as an apostle
C. Paul speaks of his sufferings
D. Paul talks of his vision
E. Paul addresses his unselfishness
Paul gives his closing words 12:19 – 13:14
A. Paul gives an appeal for the peoples repentance
B. Paul states his plan to visit
C. Paul closes with a word telling them they are complete in Christ
Resources:
KJV Holy Bible
NIV Holy Bible
Sermon Notes by Pastor Thomas E. Miles, Sr.
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