Table of Contents
Introduction 1
Outline of the Letter 13
Opening the Letter: A Community Called By God 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 15
1:1-3 Salutation 15
1:4-9 Thanksgiving 17
Reflections for Teachers and Preachers 19
A Call for Unity in the Community 1 Corinthians 1:10?4:21 21
1:10-17 Factions in the Community 21
Reflections for Teachers and Preachers 25
1:18?2:5 The Foolishness of die Cross Excludes Boasting 26
God's Foolishness and Human Wisdom (1:18-25) 27
God's Calling Excludes Human Boasting (1:26-31) 31
Preaching the Cross (2:1-5) 35
Reflections for Teachers and Preachers 36
2:6?3:4 Wisdom for die Mature 39
God Reveals the Hidden Wisdom of the Cross through die Spirit (2:6-16) 41
People of die Flesh (3:1-4) 47
Interpretation
Reflections for Teachers and Preachers 49
3:5-23 The Community and Its Leaders Belong to God 51
Paul and Apollos as God's Field Hands (3:5-9) 52
Our Construction Work Will Be Tested by Fire (3:10-15) 53
The Church as God's Temple (3:16-17) 56
Reprise and Summary: All Belongs to God (3:18-23) 58
Reflections for Teachers and Preachers 61
4:1-21 Direct Confrontation with Corinthian Boasters 64
Servants Are to Be Judged Only by Their Lord (4:1-5) 65
Puffed-Up Corinthians and Suffering Apostle (4:6-13) 67
Fatherly Admonition to Paul's Corinthian Children (4:14-17) 73
A Final Warning to the Boasters (4:18-21) 75
Reflections for Teachers and Preachers 76
A Call for Community Discipline 1 Corinthians 5:1?6:20 80
5:1-13 "Drive Out the Wicked Person from among You" 80
Reflections for Teachers and Preachers 88
6:1-11 Legal Disputes Should Be Handled within the Community 92
Reflections for Teachers and Preachers 98
6:12-20 "Glorify God in Your Body' 101
Reflections for Teachers and Preachers 107
Responses to Contested Issues in Corinth 1 Corinthians 7:1?15;58 110
7:1-40 Sex and Marriage at the Turn of the Ages 111
Outline of 1 Corinthians 7 112
Counsel for Corinthians in Various Marital Statuses 113
General Rule: Remain as You Were When Called (7:17-24) 122
Counsel for Engaged Couples: Remain as You Are (7:25-38) 126
Reprise: Counsel for Wives and Widows (7:39-40) 129
Reflections for Teachers and Preachers 130
8:1?11:1 Idol Meat 134
Knowledge Puffs Up, but Love Builds Up (8:1-13) 136
Reflections for Teachers and Preachers 143
The Apostolic Example of Renouncing : Rights (9:1-27) 146
Reflections for Teachers and Preachers 156
Warning against Idolatry (10:1-22) 159
Reflections for Teachers and Preachers 171
Conclusion: Use Your Freedom for the Glory of God (10:23?11:1) 174
Reflections for Teachers and Preachers 180
11:2?14:40 Community Worship 181
Hairstyles and Gender Distinctions (11:2-16) 182
Reflections for Teachers and Preachers 190
Interpretation
The Lord's Supper: Discerning the Body (11:17-34) 192
Reflections for Teachers and Preachers 203
Spiritual Manifestations in Worship (12:1?14:40) 206
Excursus: "Women should be silent in the churches" (14:34-35) 245
Reflections for Teachers and Preachers 249
15:1-58 The Resurrection of the Body 252
The Resurrection of the Dead Is Constitutive of the Gospel (15:1-34) 254
Resurrection Means Transformation of the Body (15:35-58) 269
Reflections for Teachers and Preachers 277
Concluding Matters: A Community Called to Love 1 Corinthians 16:1-24 283
16:1-12 The Collection and Travel Plans 284
16:13-24 Farewell 288
Reflections for Teachers and Preachers 293
Bibliography 297
