Key word: Cross
Paul writes two inspired epistles to the young church at Corinth, which was in southern Greece, due west of Athens. It was comprised of many immature believers who struggled with a variety of sins, from division, to moral issues, to pride, suing one another, to marital problems, and abuse of the Lord’s supper. They were spiritual babies who had not yet broken cleanly from the sinful practices of the world around them. Doctrinally, they were pretty sound, as Paul only addresses one theological concern – the resurrection in chapter 15. The biggest issue of all was their resistance to the apostleship and authority of Paul – we see this even more clearly in Paul’s second letter to them; but we see this in the first chapter (1:1, 12). Because they did not honor Paul’s apostleship, they also did not honor his message. And this was crucial when it came to the gospel. They were fascinated with Greek wisdom and philosophy (1:22). And because they compromised and diluted the true gospel. Paul makes it clear that the message of the cross is foolishness to the unsaved, but for the believer it is the power of God (1:18). For that reason, Paul said his message was not framed in worldly wisdom, but was the simple message of Jesus Christ and Him crucified (2:2). Our faith must not rest on the wisdom of men but on the power of God (2:5). They were trying to impress the world by engaging philosophically with them. But Paul informed them that the unbeliever is not impressed with this approach because they cannot comprehend spiritual things – to them it is all nonsense. But things should be different for the Christian because we have the mind of Christ (2:14-16). With all this as a foundation Paul says it was time for them to move out of their spiritual nursery and to grow up (3:1-3). The rest of the book addresses issues in which they needed to mature.
Key verse: 1 Corinthians 1:18 – For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
