Kress Biblical Resources :: Introductory Matters

Introductory Matters of 1 Corinthians

The Wisdom of the Cross Purifies and Unites Believers, the Wisdom of the World Pollutes and Divides

1. The author (1Co 1:1)
   1. The human author¹
      1. His name
      2. His office
      3. His authority
      4. His amanuensis/secretary (cf. Act 18:17)
   2. The divine Author (2Ti 3:16; 2Pe 1:21; 2Pe 3:15-16)
2. The audience (1Co 1:2)
   1. The original recipients (cf. Act 18:1-18; Act 19:1)
      1. The church and their city
      2. Their holy position and calling
      3. The wider audience
   2. The current recipients (2Ti 3:16; cf. 2Pe 3:15-16)
3. The aim
   1. To confront and address church factions (1Co 1:10-11; 1Co 11:18-19; 1Co 12:25; cf. 1Co 3:3-4; 1Co 6:1-7)
   2. To confront and address immorality and improper conduct in the church (1Co 5:1ff; 1Co 6:1-20; 1Co 11:2ff)
   3. To correct erroneous doctrine about the resurrection (1Co 15:1ff)
   4. To comment on questions the Corinthians had raised (1Co 7:1ff; 1Co 8:1-11:1; 1Co 12; 1Co 13; 1Co 14; 1Co 16:1ff)
      1. Questions concerning marriage, singleness, divorce and remarriage (1Co 7:1ff)
      2. Questions concerning things sacrificed to idols and Christian liberty (1Co 8; 1Co 9; 1Co 10; 1Co 11:1)
      3. Questions concerning spiritual gifts (1Co 12; 1Co 13; 1Co 14)
      4. Questions concerning the offering for the saints in Jerusalem (1Co 16:1ff)
      5. Summary reason: To reveal that the gospel, properly understood and applied, is the answer to all the questions, problems, and issues the church faces. [The wisdom of the cross purifies and unites believers—the wisdom of the world pollutes and divides]

¹For a biblical biography of the Apostle Paul see Act 7:58; Act 8:1; Act 9:1-30; Act 11:25-30; Act 12:25-28:31; 1Co 15:30-32; 2Co 6:4-5; 1Co 11:23-30; Gal 1:13-2:16; Phl 3:4-14; 2Th 3:8.