Paul’s Letters to Corinth
—Focus on his ministry.
In these studies, we examine Paul's letters to the Christians in Corinth. We look at the challenges, defense, and substance of Paul's ministry. Tap any title next to an arrow in the list below.
—To be called by God is a marvelous blessing. It is a most important theme in 1Corinthians chapter one. This chapter identifies three cases of a calling from the Lord. Firstly there is Paul, secondly the Christians at Corinth, and thirdly the Lord Jesus himself. All these were called by God.
—This lesson studies 1Corinthians chapter 1 a few verses at a time. There are five ideals in this chapter that should characterise a church or congregation of God. They are grace, unity, truth, wisdom, and glory. Let's see what Paul said about them as they applied to the Corinthian church.
—Paul was utterly dedicated to his ministry as an apostle of Jesus Christ. His preaching was without charisma, but not without substance. In this chapter (1Corinthians 2) Paul defends his message and states its credentials
—In this chapter (1Corinthians 3), Paul wrote of four classes of people, namely Babes, Beanplanters, Builders, and Boasters. We will see who among these were servants of God.
—Paul wished the Corinthian church to understand the worries, hardships, and challenges he and his companions experienced in the ministry. These were extreme challenges, yet they embraced them all. This lesson is part 1 looking at five troubles (1Corinthians 4).
—This is Part 2 following the previous lesson. It looks at five more of Paul's troubles (1Corinthians 4).
—After writing about his own troubles, Paul next wrote about a most serious problem in the Corinthian church. There was a shocking attitude to immorality, particularly regarding the sexual immorality of one man in the congregation. This chapter (1Corinthians 5) describes what was wrong, and records what God, through Paul, said about it.
—This chapter (1Corinthians 6) demonstrates the substance and practicality of Paul’s doctrine. The chapter has two parts. The first eight verses, are against Christians taking each other to law to resolve disputes. Verses nine to twenty, are about our physical bodies and how we should regard and use them.
—In this chapter, (1Corinthians 7), Paul addressed several issues regarding marriage. The Corinthians were apparently confused about how they should view their marriages. Paul gave them 14 principles of marriage with regard to the circumstances of the Corinthian church. In this lesson we have before us the first six of those principles.
—In this chapter, (1Corinthians 7), Paul addressed several issues regarding marriage. The Corinthians were apparently confused about how they should view their marriages. Paul gave them 14 principles of marriage with regard to the circumstances of the Corinthian church. In this lesson we have before us the last eight of those principles.
—Christians in Corinth frequently faced situations where they might (knowingly or unknowingly) eat meat that had been offered to idols. That's why some Christians said that it was wrong to eat meat. Paul observed four key concerns in the controversy in Corinth. They were Knowledge, Idols, Food, and Liberty. In Paul’s view, they amounted to nothing and were dangerous. The real concern was love.
—In this chapter for study, (1Corinthians 9), Paul saw the need to defend his ministry again. On this occasion he reminded the Corinthian Christians of how he had endured much self-denial to bring the gospel to them and establish the church. Paul willingly suffered loss in several ways for their gain.
—Paul wanted the church at Corinth to understand itself better; so he pointed to what Stephen called "the church in the wilderness" (Acts 7:38 KJV). Long ago, Moses rescued the Israelites from their slavery in Egypt. He led the congregation through the wilderness to Mount Sinai. This "church" behaved badly. Paul made this an edifying analogy of the congregation in Corinth. We consider the points Paul makes (1Corinthians 10:1-12).
—In the previous lesson, Paul compared the Corinthian church to the idolatrous 'church' of Moses in the wilderness. Paul followed that with some instructions about idolatry. In this lesson we look at those instructions (1Corinthians 10:13-33). You may find a big surprise in this passage.
—Paul addressed a number of issues raised by the Corinthian church. In the chapter we now study, (1Corinthians 11), we are looking at the first 16 verses. Paul discussed head covering and several related elements of the Christian way of life.
—This lesson is about the Lord's Supper. We look at the last half of our chapter for study (1Corinthians 11). We examine verses 17 to 34. Paul discussed the problems in the church at Corinth to do with the memorial of Christ. The Christians at Corinth were acting very differently to the proper observance. Paul wrote about how they had lost sight of five principles.
—Our chapter for study (1Corinthians 12), was written by Paul at two levels. At one level he discussed spiritual gifts, but at a deeper level he described six hallmarks of the body of Christ. He wasn't referring to the body that was crucified, raised from death, and taken up to glory. Rather he meant the result of that crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension —namely, the church of Christ. So we will focus on six hallmarks of that body, the people who came when Jesus called them out of worldliness.
—Our chapter for this study (1Corinthians 13) is a lesson on love in which Paul showed how love was greater than spiritual gifts, and even greater than faith and hope. We consider 8 important topics which Paul mentioned. He taught that they were nothing unless they were ruled by love. Love is supreme.
This series was started in November 2025. More lessons will follow through 2026/2027 God willing.