Current Series

Context

c. AD 50–51

c. AD 53–55

c. AD 54–55

Paul establishes the church in Corinth during his second missionary journey

Paul spends over two years in Ephesus during his third missionary journey

Paul writes 1 Corinthians in response to reports and questions from the Corinthian church

Corinth was a wealthy port city in southern Greece, known in the first century for its diversity, intellectualism, and immorality. Paul established the church there during his second missionary journey (Acts 18:1–17), likely around AD 50–51, and stayed for 18 months. He later wrote 1 Corinthians from Ephesus, probably around AD 54–55, after hearing troubling reports about the church he had planted.

Paul addresses a wide range of issues in the letter: divisions in the church (1:10–17), sexual immorality (ch. 5–6), lawsuits among believers (6:1–8), questions about marriage and singleness (ch. 7), food offered to idols (ch. 8–10), improper worship practices, especially regarding the Lord’s Supper (ch. 11), misuse of spiritual gifts (ch. 12–14), and denial of the resurrection (ch. 15). These weren’t just isolated problems—they pointed to deeper misunderstandings of what it means to live as a gospel-formed community.

Throughout the letter, Paul calls the Corinthians to reorient their lives around the cross of Christ. He insists that God’s wisdom and power are found not in status or eloquence, but in the crucified and risen Jesus (1:18–2:5). Though the tone is often corrective, it’s also deeply pastoral—Paul writes not to shame them, but as a spiritual father who loves them (4:14–21). His message is clear: the gospel reshapes everything—how we think, how we live, and how we love one another as the body of Christ.

Setting

In Paul’s time, Corinth was a major Roman city located on a key land and sea trade route. Known for its wealth, diversity, and reputation for immorality, it was a cultural and commercial hub. Paul likely wrote this letter from Ephesus to the entire church in Corinth. The letter would have been read aloud and shared among believers meeting in various house churches throughout the city.

1 Corinthians: Summary

Paul opens the letter by reminding the Corinthians that they are called to be God’s holy people, united in Christ (1:1–9).

He then addresses reports of division in the church (1:10–4:21), urging them to reject human pride and follow the wisdom of the cross instead of aligning with different Christian leaders. Next, Paul confronts moral and ethical issues: sexual immorality (5:1–13), lawsuits among believers (6:1–11), and misuse of Christian freedom (6:12–20). He calls the church to live in a way that honors God with their bodies. He responds to questions they had asked him about marriage, singleness, and sexuality (7:1–40), encouraging believers to stay faithful in whatever situation God has called them.

Paul addresses food offered to idols (8:1–11:1), urging the Corinthians to put others first and avoid behavior that might cause others to stumble in their faith. In chapters 11–14, Paul gives guidance on corporate worship. He speaks about head coverings, problems with the Lord’s Supper, and the use of spiritual gifts. He emphasizes that love should be the guiding principle for all Christian conduct (chapter 13). Finally, he focuses on the resurrection (chapter 15), teaching that Christ’s resurrection is essential to the Christian faith and the future hope of believers. Paul ends with practical instructions and greetings (chapter 16), urging the Corinthians to stand firm in faith, act with love, and support the work of the gospel.

Reading Guide

Sunday, May 26th Part 1: Am I Grounded Enough?
Scripture: Galatians 1:1-9

Sunday, June 2nd Part 2: The Gospel of Grace
Scripture: Galatians 1:10-24

Sunday, June 9th Part 3: The Unity of the Gospel
Scripture: Galatians 2:1-10

Sunday, June 16th Part 4: A Clear and Compelling Gospel
Scripture: Galatians 2:11-21

Sunday, June 23rd Part 5: Being Set Free from Spiritual Dullness
Scripture: Galatians 3:1-14

Sunday, June 30th Part 6: The Law and Life in the Gospel
Scripture: Galatians 3:15-29

Sunday, July 7th Part 7: Heart for God, Heart for People
Scripture: Galatians 4:1-20

Sunday, July 14th Part 8: By the Flesh or By the Spirit
Scripture: Galatians 4:21-31

Sunday, July 21st Part 9: Guarding the Gift of God’s Grace
Scripture: Galatians 5:1-15

Sunday, July 28th Part 10: Walking in the Spirit
Scripture: Galatians 5:16-26

Sunday, August 4th Part 11: A New Dimension of Power and Love
Scripture: Galatians 6

Ready to go deeper? We use Discovery Bible Study, a method of study that encourages the reading of scripture within community to address some of our biggest questions, overcome hurdles, and encourage obedience to the Word of God. The model is always the same and it builds on itself each week, no matter what your community is reading.

Discovery Bible Study Questions

First, Recap…

  • Retell the narrative from last week’s passage in your own words, with others filling in the details as needed.

  • How did you respond to the passage, or who did you share it with?

Then, Study…

  • Read this week’s passage aloud. Retell it in your own words.

  • Have someone else read the passage again. What does this passage teach us about God, Jesus, or His plan?

  • Have someone else read the passsage a third time. What does this passage teach us about humanity, sin, and our needs?

Now, Respond.

  • If this is God’s will for my life, how will I respond to it and obey in light of it?

  • Who else am I going to tell about this passage?

  • Pray together: ask God for opportunities to respond to His word and share it with others.