They did this is order to establish their reputation and reap financial rewards as political orators and teachers of the rich. They were expected to give flowery speeches in praise of the city and their own personal achievements. Vs 1–2 and 3–4 both begin with ‘ and I’ and describe Paul’s activities, in this case, his original entry to Corinth. Orators followed certain well-established conventions when they entered a city. ‘ And I’, in the original text links this passage with the last statement about boasting only in the Lord (1:31). In the Greek plays Corinthians were usually represented as drunkards.Ĭarson on 1 Cor 2:1-5 - Now comes an illustration of the insufficiency of secular rhetoric and wisdom.
The term " a Corinthian" meant a profligate, and " to Corinthianize" ( Korinthiazomai lit., to act the Corinthian) meant to engage in prostitution (to practice fornication).
Our picture of the Corinthian church is drawn, not by an enemy of the church, but by the founder of that church himself, as contained in his two epistles to that church which have been preserved for us.Corinth was a wicked city, even as large cities in the Empire went. The picture given us of this church shows that even apostolic churches were not perfect churches. 1 Cor 2:1-5 The Folly of Paul's Preachingĭ Edmond Hiebert- WE POSSESS more detailed information about the actual conditions within the church at Corinth than about any other church in the New Testament.1 Cor 1:26-31 The Folly of the Corinthian Believers.1 Cor 1:18-25 The Folly of a Crucified Messiah.THE GOSPEL AS CONTRACTION OF HUMAN WISDOM - 1 Cor 1:18-2:5 1 Cor 1:10-17 The manifestation of the problem.OUTLINE of 1 Corinthians 1:1-2:5 - Thomas Constable ( Paul Apple's Commentary - 445 pages - recommended) (3) A third purpose that appears throughout the book is Paul’s defense of his apostolic authority. (2) His second reason was to deal with several questions that had been asked in a letter the Corinthians had sent to him (1 Cor 7:1). (1) His first purpose was to deal with several moral problems and the divisions that had formed as people had divided into fan-clubs and were proclaiming themselves followers of Paul, Apollos, Peter or Christ (1 Cor 1:10). PURPOSE: Paul’s purposes for writing the Corinthians were several. They had not understood the implications of their calling, and the relationship they personally and individually had with Jesus Christ Himself." It is a statement that God had called them to a very important relationship, and, by implication, here at the very beginning of this letter we learn that this is the reason for all of the problems in the Corinthian church. The rest of the letter centers around it. Ray Stedman feels that 1 Corinthians 1:9 + is "the key verse of First Corinthians. KEY VERSES - 1 Corinthians 1:10 (divisions), 1 Corinthians 7:1 (personal and corporate problems), 1 Corinthians 15:57 SECOND DIVISION - Chapters 7-16 = Personal Problems, Worship Problems.FIRST DIVISION - Chapters 1-6 = Problems of Congregation - Divisions & Depravities,.( 1 Corinthians 1 Commentary) PREVIOUS NEXTġ CORINTHIANS - PROBLEMS OF A LOCAL CHURCHĬharts from Jensen's Survey of the NT - used by permission