 Second Presbyterian Church Lewis and Frederick Streets / Staunton, Virginia |
| First Corinthians Bible Study Fall 2010 Introduction Date and Author Purpose Times Schedule |
| INTRODUCTION The letter of First Corinthians has been called "the doctrine of the cross in its social application." It explores issues at the center of the Christian faith, and asks how they should be applied to everyday living. "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?" asks 1 Corinthians 3:16. |
 DATE AND AUTHOR
1 Corinthians is at least the
second letter written by Paul to the churches in Corinth. (2
Corinthians is possibly his fourth letter to those churches!) Most
commentators have assigned the letter to Paul's third missionary
journey, while he was in Ephesus (see 16:8,9,19). This would date
the letter in A.D. 55 or 56, four to five years after
his ministry in the city. [Image: map of Corinth and
the Achaian Peninsula.]
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 PURPOSE
The church in Corinth, the capital
of Achaia, was founded by Paul during his second missionary journey
(Acts 18:1-18). Paul wrote 1 Corinthians in
response to reports he had received about problems and divisions
within the church at Corinth. These included disputes between
members, doctrinal matters, (spiritual gifts, the resurrection),
sexual morality, and problems surrounding the celebration of the
Lord's Supper. Paul writes to correct the improper understandings
and behaviors of the church surrounding these matters.
[Picture: The Accrocorinth, a stone monolith overlooking the ancient
city of Corinth.]
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TIMES
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| DATE | TEXT | SUBJECT |
| September 14 | 1:1-9 1:10-17 | Introduction Divisions/Factions in the Church |
| September 21 | 1:18 - 2:16 | Cause #1: Improper Understanding of the Gospel |
| September 28 | 3:1 - 4:5 | Cause #2: Poor View of Christian Ministry and Ministers |
| October 5 | 4:6-13 4:14-21 | Cause #3: Wrong View of the Christian's Role A Call to End Divisions |
| October 13 | 5:1-13 | Church Discipline matters! |
| October 19 | 6:1-11 6:12-20 | Lawsuits within the Church Sexual Morality |
| October 26 | 7:1-40 | Christian View of Marriage |
| November 2 | 8:1-13 9:1-27 | Food Sacrificed to Idols Apostolic Rights |
| November 10 | 10:1-22 10:23 - 11:1 | The Issue of Idolatry The Limits of Freedom |
| November 16 | No Bible Study this week | |
| November 23 | 11:1-34 | Issues of Proper Worship |
| November 30 | 12:1-31 13:1-13 | Spiritual Gifts #1 The Greatest Gift |
| December 7 | 14:1-40 | Spiritual Gifts #2 |
| December 14 | 15:1-58 16:1-4 16:5-5-24 | The Resurrection A Stewardship Postscript Personal Requests and Final Greetings |
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