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A Brief Exposition of 1 Corinthians Chapter 1

Paul wrote 1 Corinthians from Ephesus around A.D. 57, during the third year of his ministry there, shortly before Passover [7]. The letter responds to troubling reports about the Corinthian church—some delivered by members of Chloe's household, others by Apollos, and still others contained in a letter the Corinthians themselves had sent [7]. What emerges across the epistle's sixteen chapters is a sustained effort to address both doctrinal confusion and moral disorder in a congregation fractured by pride, litigation, sexual immorality, and quarrels over spiritual gifts.

The Opening: Apostolic Authority and Church Identity

Paul opens by asserting his apostleship "by the will of God" [4], establishing the authority from which he will speak. He addresses the letter to "the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints" [3], a designation that underscores their corporate identity as set apart and holy, despite the disorders he is about to confront. The greeting extends beyond Corinth to "all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord" [3], situating the local congregation within the universal church. Paul's thanksgiving (1:4–9) acknowledges the spiritual gifts enriching the Corinthian assembly, even as the letter will soon reveal how those gifts have become sources of division rather than edification.

Divisions and the Wisdom of the Cross

The first major issue Paul confronts is factionalism. Reports from Chloe's household revealed that the Corinthians were aligning themselves with different leaders—"I am of Paul," "I am of Apollos," "I am of Cephas" [1, 9]. These contentions, rooted in pride and competitive loyalty, threatened the church's unity [1]. Paul responds by reframing Christian ministry: apostles and teachers are merely servants and stewards of God's mysteries [5, 6], not rival chieftains to be championed. The gospel itself, he insists, must not be preached "with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect" [9]. The cross is God's chosen instrument precisely because it confounds human wisdom and humbles human pride, ensuring that glory belongs to God alone [9].

Moral Disorders and the Sanctity of the Body

Chapters 5 and 6 address shocking moral failures. Paul rebukes the congregation for tolerating sexual immorality and for taking disputes before pagan courts rather than resolving them within the church [11]. The litigation issue is particularly galling: believers dragging one another before unbelieving judges over trivial matters exposes the church to public scandal and reveals a failure to embody the reconciling ethic of the gospel [11]. Paul's argument against fornication in chapter 6 hinges on the doctrine of the body: "Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?" and "your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit" [11]. Sexual sin is uniquely serious because it violates the believer's union with Christ and defiles the dwelling place of God.

Marriage, Liberty, and Love

Paul addresses questions about marriage and singleness in chapter 7, then turns in chapters 8–10 to the issue of food offered to idols. Here he introduces a principle that will govern much of his ethical instruction: knowledge without love puffs up, but love builds up. While believers may possess the "right" to eat such food, exercising that right without regard for weaker consciences wounds both the brother and Christ himself [12]. True Christian liberty is constrained by love and oriented toward the neighbor's good, not one's own advantage [12].

Worship, Gifts, and the Supremacy of Love

Chapters 11–14 address disorders in corporate worship: improper conduct during the Lord's Supper, confusion about spiritual gifts, and chaotic assemblies. Paul insists that spiritual gifts, though diverse, originate from the same Spirit and are given for the common good, not for individual display [10]. Chapter 13 interrupts the discussion of gifts with a hymn to love, describing it as the "more excellent way" that outlasts even prophecy and tongues. Gifts are partial and temporary; love endures [8].

The Resurrection and Final Exhortations

Chapter 15 anchors Christian hope in the bodily resurrection of Christ, an event Paul had preached and the Corinthians had received [2]. Without the resurrection, faith is futile and believers remain in their sins. Paul closes with practical instructions about the collection for Jerusalem and commendations of co-workers, grounding lofty theology in the concrete life of the church.

Sources

  1. Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “1 Corinthians 1:11 cross-references: Genesis 27:42, Genesis 37:2, 1 Samuel 25:14, Proverbs 13:10, Proverbs 18:6, 1 Corinthians 3:3, 1 Corinthians 6:1, 1 Corinthians 11:18, 2 Corinthians 12:20, Galatians 5:15, Galatians 5:20, Galatians 5:26, Philippians 2:14, 1 Timothy 6:4, 2 Timothy 2:23, James 4:1”
  2. Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “1 Corinthians 15:1 cross-references: Mark 4:16, John 12:48, Acts 2:41, Acts 11:1, Acts 18:4, Romans 2:16, Romans 5:2, 1 Corinthians 1:4, 1 Corinthians 1:23, 1 Corinthians 2:2, 1 Corinthians 3:6, 1 Corinthians 15:3, 2 Corinthians 1:24, Galatians 1:6, 1 Thessalonians 1:6, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, 1 Thessalonians 4:1, 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 1 Peter 5:12”
  3. Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “1 Corinthians 1:2 cross-references: Genesis 4:26, Genesis 12:8, Genesis 13:4, Psalms 45:11, John 17:17, Acts 7:59, Acts 9:14, Acts 9:21, Acts 10:36, Acts 15:9, Acts 18:1, Acts 18:8, Acts 22:16, Acts 26:18, Romans 1:7, Romans 3:22, Romans 10:12, Romans 14:8, 1 Corinthians 1:30, 1 Corinthians 6:9, 1 Corinthians 8:6, 2 Corinthians 1:1, 2 Corinthians 4:5, Galatians 1:2, Ephesians 5:26, Philippians 2:9, 1 Thessalonians 1:1, 1 Thessalonians 4:7, 2 Thessalonians 1:1, 2 Thessalonians 2:16, 1 Timothy 3:15, 2 Timothy 1:9, 2 Timothy 2:22, Hebrews 2:11, Hebrews 10:10, Hebrews 13:12, 1 Peter 1:15, Jude 1:1”
  4. Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “1 Corinthians 1:1 cross-references: Luke 6:13, John 15:16, John 20:21, Acts 1:2, Acts 1:25, Acts 18:17, Acts 22:21, Romans 1:1, Romans 1:5, 1 Corinthians 3:9, 1 Corinthians 6:16, 1 Corinthians 9:1, 1 Corinthians 15:9, 2 Corinthians 1:1, 2 Corinthians 11:5, 2 Corinthians 12:12, Galatians 1:1, Galatians 1:15, Galatians 2:7, Ephesians 1:1, Ephesians 4:11, Colossians 1:1, 1 Timothy 1:1, 1 Timothy 2:7, 2 Timothy 1:1”
  5. I Corinthians “I Corinthians 4:1 (YLT) — Let a man so reckon us as officers of Christ, and stewards of the secrets of God,”
  6. 1 Corinthians “So let a man think of us as Christ’s servants, and stewards of God’s mysteries. -- 1 Corinthians 4:1”
  7. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Corinthians, First Epistle to the — Was written from Ephesus (1 Cor. 16:8) about the time of the Passover in the third year of the apostle's sojourn there (Acts 19:10; 20:31), and when he had formed the purpose to visit Macedonia, and then return to Corinth (probably A.D. 57). The news which had reached him, however, from Corinth frustrated his plan. He had heard of the abuses and contentions that had arisen among them, first from Apollos (Acts 19:1), and then from a letter they had written him on the subject, and also from some of the "household of Chloe," and from ”
  8. 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 13:10: that which is in part--fragmentary and isolated.”
  9. 1 Corinthians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Corinthians 1 (introduction): In this chapter we have, I. The preface or introduction to the whole epistle (Co1 1:1-9). II. One principal occasion of writing it hinted, namely, their divisions and the origin of them (Co1 1:10-13). III. An account of Paul's ministry among them, which was principally preaching the gospel (Co1 1:14-17). IV. The manner wherein he preached the gospel, and the different success of it, with an account how admirably it was fitted to bring glory to God and beat down the pride and vanity of men (Co1 1:17 to the end).”
  10. 1 Corinthians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Corinthians 12 (introduction): In this chapter the apostle, I. Considers the case of spiritual gifts, which were very plentifully poured out on the Corinthian church. He considers their original, that they are from God; their variety and use, that they were all intended for one and the same general end, the advancement of Christianity and the church's edification (Co1 12:1-11). II. He illustrates this by an allusion to a human body, in which all the members have a mutual relation and subserviency, and each has its proper place and use (Co1 12:12-26). III. He tells us that th”
  11. 1 Corinthians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Corinthians 6 (introduction): In this chapter the apostle, I. Reproves them for going to law with one another about small matters, and bringing the cause before heathen judges (Co1 6:1-8). II. He takes occasion hence to warn them against many gross sins, to which they had been formerly addicted (Co1 6:9-11). III. And, having cautioned them against the abuse of their liberty, he vehemently dehorts them from fornication, by various arguments (Co1 6:12 to the end).”
  12. 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 10:24: (Co1 10:33; Co1 13:5; Rom 15:1-2).”
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