Study notes

1 Corinthians 1

Introducing 1 CorinthiansWho wrote it, when, why, and what to look for as you read

1:1

  • An apostle of Christ Jesus was a missionary evangelist sent out with special authority by Christ himself. The term refers to someone who was chosen and given a specific mission to spread the message of Jesus.

  • Sosthenes, Paul's co-worker, might be the same person mentioned in Acts 18:17.

1:1–3

Paul usually starts his letters by introducing himself. He then offers greetings and wishes for grace and peace. He follows the typical style of ancient Greek letters but adds Christian significance.

1:1–17 Section

Paul had helped start the church in Corinth (Acts 18:1–18). He stayed in Corinth for more than a year teaching about Jesus.

In this letter, Paul reminded the Corinthians that God chose him to be an apostle. Paul didn’t serve the Corinthians based on his own authority but on God’s authority.

The Corinthians were part of God’s people because they believed in Jesus. God had blessed them and had given them life with Jesus.

Paul begged them to stop arguing. The Corinthian believers had separated into different groups that followed different human teachers. These teachers were Paul, Apollos and Peter. Yet these three men all taught people to follow only the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul made it very clear that the Corinthians shouldn’t follow any human teacher. Serving Jesus as Lord brings his followers together as one.

1:2

The church consists of people called by God to be his holy people. These "holy people" are those who belong to him and are dedicated to him. They are holy because of the work of Christ Jesus. God set them apart as his own people through his Son's saving work and their faith in him.

1:3

Grace and peace are traditional Greek and Hebrew greetings. Grace is an unearned blessing from God's kindness. Peace is a feeling of well-being and contentment, based on the Good News and given by the Holy Spirit (see Galatians 5:22). Together, the phrase refers to gifts from God (see Romans 5:1–2).

1:4–9

Paul thanks God for the spiritual gifts he sees in the Corinthian Christians. He is confident that God will protect them until the end.

1:5

God gave the Corinthian church many spiritual gifts. Two of these were the ability to speak well and the ability to understand spiritual truth. These gifts likely included special messages and insights from the Spirit (see 1 Corinthians 1:7). The church at Corinth took pride in these abilities.

Speech and knowledge appear often in this letter. Paul acknowledges the many spiritual gifts God gave the church in Corinth. Later, he corrects their misunderstandings about these gifts (see 1 Corinthians 1:18–2:5; 3:18–20; 12:1–14:40).

1:10

  • brothers: This term traditionally addresses family members, both male and female.

  • I appeal to you: Paul encourages them through the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, not his own.

  • in the name: In Jewish culture, a person's name represented their authority and reputation.

  • that there may be no divisions: He wanted them to avoid conflict and be united in thought and purpose, filled with the Spirit of Christ (see Philippians 2:2).

1:10–17

The Corinthian believers argued about which leading evangelist (Paul, Apollos, or Peter) was the best. Paul scolded them for their arguments and worldly comparisons. As ministers of Christ and the good news about Jesus, God works through Paul and the others (see 1 Corinthians 3:1–4:7).

1:10

The main part of the letter contains Paul's guidance on specific problems and questions in the Corinthian church.

1:11

Chloe was a woman from Corinth, not mentioned in other parts of the Bible.

1:12

  • The Christians in Corinth had formed groups loyal to different leaders, but the leaders themselves did not seem to be in conflict. Paul, who first brought the Good News to Corinth, received loyalty from some.

  • Apollos, now with Paul (see 1 Corinthians 16:12), was an eloquent Jew from Alexandria who became a powerful Christian evangelist and ministered in Corinth (see Acts 18:24–19:1). He attracted followers due to his skillful speaking and ability to interpret Scripture, perhaps in contrast to Paul.

  • Peter: Greek Cephas; see also Matthew 16:18; John 1:42. Peter was the main early evangelist to the Jews. He represented a more traditional Jewish perspective and had a talent for speaking to crowds (see Acts 1:15–22; 2:14–40; 3:12–26; 4:8–12; 10:34–43).

  • I follow Christ: This might refer to a group who rejected allegiance to any human authority and saw themselves as more holy than others.

1:13

Paul asks three rhetorical questions, all expecting the obvious answer, "no." Christians should devote themselves to Christ, not to his messengers.

1:14

Crispus and Gaius were two of Paul's first converts in Corinth. Crispus was once a leader of the synagogue in Corinth (see Acts 18:8). Gaius later let Paul use his home (see Romans 16:23). This might mean he was Titius Justus, an earlier convert to Judaism who lived next to the synagogue (see Acts 18:7). His full Roman name would then be Gaius Titius Justus.

1:16

The household of Stephanas were the first people to convert in the province of Achaia (southern Greece; see 1 Corinthians 16:15). Household means everyone living in the house, possibly including more than just Stephanas's immediate family.

1:17

  • The important thing is not baptism, but sharing the good news about Jesus. Baptism shows how people respond to the message.

  • not with words of wisdom: This refers to speaking well or appealing to human wisdom.

  • lest the cross be emptied of its power: Focusing too much on eloquence and human reasoning can distract from the simple message that Christ died for people's sins so they could be forgiven (1 Corinthians 2:1–5; 15:1–3).

1:18

To unbelievers, the idea that God saves the world through a condemned criminal seems foolish because they cannot see the truth (2 Corinthians 4:4). For believers, whom God has enlightened, the message of the cross feels true, and they recognize its power to touch the human heart (see 1 Corinthians 1:23–24; Romans 1:16). Unbelievers, still in their sins, are heading towards destruction and ultimate condemnation. Believers, whose sins are forgiven, are being saved and are on their way to eternal life and glory.

1:18–31

Paul contrasts eloquence and human wisdom, which some Corinthians valued, with the seemingly foolish message of the cross, which expresses God's wisdom. The followers of Apollos, in particular (see 1 Corinthians 1:12), were likely drawn to his speaking skills and intellectual approach to ministry (see Acts 18:24–28). In contrast, Paul emphasizes that the true power is in the simple message of the cross of Christ.

1:18–31 Section

God’s wisdom is very different from what Paul called the wisdom of the world. He was talking about sin and ways of thinking and acting that are based on sinful desires.

The wisdom of the world isn’t based on the ways of God. Paul showed how God works in ways that people don’t expect. He often works through things and people who are considered foolish and unimportant.

The greatest example of this is how Jesus was nailed to the cross and died. To those around Jesus, it looked like he had failed completely. But God worked powerfully through Jesus’ death. Through his death, Jesus set people free from the power of sin and death.

On the cross, Jesus seemed weak and foolish. But in actual fact he was powerful and wise. Jesus’ followers mustn’t boast about their own wisdom or strength. Instead they must tell others about the wonderful works of the Lord.

1:20

In God's view, human wisdom based only on the world's knowledge and expectation is foolish. True wisdom comes from the message of the cross and Jesus Christ (see 1 Corinthians 1:24, 30).

1:21

Human wisdom alone does not lead people to truly know God. This understanding comes only through the message of the cross. The world sees this message as foolish, but it saves those who believe (see Matthew 11:25).

1:22

Jews who did not believe wanted to see miracles to confirm the message (see Matthew 12:38–39; 16:1–4; John 2:18, 23; 4:48). Greeks, famous for their philosophy schools, were interested only in human wisdom, meaning philosophical reasoning.

1:22–24

Paul uses the words Greeks and Gentiles interchangeably to refer to non-Jews.

1:23

Paul insisted on sharing only the simple message of the cross, despite what unbelieving Jews and Gentiles wanted. Many Jews found the idea of a crucified Messiah contradictory. They believed crucifixion showed God's curse, not His power and blessing (see Galatians 3:13; compare Deuteronomy 21:23).

1:25

What the non-believing world sees as foolish and weak (Christ and the message of the cross) is actually wiser and stronger than anything else. It solves the world's biggest problem, which is sin, and defeats all evil forces against people.

1:26

Socially and culturally, most Corinthian Christians were ordinary people. Few were among the elite (compare Matthew 11:25). Only a few Christians, such as Erastus, the city treasurer in Corinth (see Romans 16:23), were wealthy or high born (compare James 2:5).

Verse notes: Adapted by Mission Mutual (Aquifer Open Study Notes) from Tyndale Open Study Notes © 2023 Tyndale House Publishers. CC BY-SA 4.0. Section notes: Biblica Study Notes © 2023 Biblica, Inc. CC BY-SA 4.0, via BibleAquifer. About the sources