1 Corinthians
By Jim McCracken and Rich Kao © Five Stones Impact 2024
O B S E R V A T I O N S
1. What were the divisions in the church that Paul was concerned about? (CHAPTER 1)
2. When Paul quotes from Isaiah 29 concerning wisdom and intelligence, how does he apply it to the Corinthians and people in general? (CHAPTER 1)
3. What was Paul’s demeanor when he went to Corinth and what are the two types of wisdom he speaks of? (CHAPTER 2)
4. What has the Spirit of God revealed to us? (CHAPTER 2)
5. What does the analogy of planting and watering mean and who is God’s field? (CHAPTER 3)
6. Paul says he is an expert builder and Christ is the foundation. How are people to build on this and who is the temple? (CHAPTER 3)
7. How does Paul describe himself and the other apostles? (CHAPTER 4)
8. What is the character of the kingdom of God? (CHAPTER 4)
9. What does Paul say they should do with the sexually immoral man in the church, and is it the same for those outside the church? How does he compare this to making bread? (CHAPTER 5)
10. What is the issue of lawsuits in the church? (CHAPTER 5)
11. As our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, what are we to avoid? (CHAPTER 6)
12. What are Paul’s guidelines for divorce? (CHAPTER 7)
13. Why does Paul think it is better in some ways to be single as he is? (CHAPTER 7)
14. What are the instructions for eating food sacrificed to idols? (CHAPTER 8)
D E E P E R T H O U G H T
1 How is the message of the cross received differently by various people? (CHAPTER 1)
2. In what way do we have the mind of Christ? (CHAPTER 2)
3. How will the Day of the Lord bring to light what we have built? (CHAPTER 3)
4. What did Paul mean when he said the Corinthians have ten thousand guardians in Christ but not many fathers? (CHAPTER 4)
5 What does Paul mean that everything is permissible for him but not everything is beneficial? (CHAPTER 6)
6 In general, Paul thinks it best for people to retain the place in life where they were when God called them What are the exceptions? (CHAPTER 7)
7 What does Paul mean that knowledge puffs up but love builds up? (CHAPTER 8)
C O N S I D E R A T I O N
C O R N E R
ANSWERS TO LESSON 19 OBSERVATIONS
1. There was quarreling about which minister people were following. (1:11-13)
2. The wisdom and intelligence of the world are nothing compared to what God has, so people should not take pride in it, especially in Corinth where the Greeks seek after earthly wisdom and philosophy. (1:18 - 31)
3. He went in weakness and fear, not superior wisdom or eloquence. He compares God’s secret wisdom, which is powerful and superior to human wisdom, which is inferior. (2:1 - 8)
4. The Spirit has revealed what God has prepared for those who love him. (2:9 - 10)
5. Paul planted the seed of preaching the gospel and Apollos watered it with further teaching and ministry. The field was Corinth. (3:1 - 9)
6. People should build with imperishable acts in life. People are the temple. (3:10 - 17)
7. They are servants, the end of the procession, those condemned to die, a spectacle, fools for Christ, weak, cursed, and the scum of the earth. (4:9 - 13)
8. It’s not a matter of talk, but of power. (4:20)
9. They should turn him over to satan so he will repent and expel him from the church. That immorality is like leaven in a batch of dough. We are not called to judge people outside the church because God will do that himself. (5)
10. The Christians should not take matters of dispute before ungodly judges. They are to settle it among themselves and even be willing to be wronged for the sake of unity. (6:1 - 5)
11. Sexual immorality. (6:15 - 20)
12. Do not divorce unless an unbelieving spouse leaves and you have no control over the situation. (7:10 - 16)
13. A single person can focus more on the things of the Lord, plus marriage has some additional challenges. (7:28 - 35)
14. Since idols are nothing, eating that food is not a bad thing unless it offends someone who doesn’t understand. (8)
Consider this:
Ancient Corinth lay in ruins for a century until it was repopulated with freed slaves from Rome by Julius Caesar in 44 BC About 100 years later, Paul started the church in a then-thriving city This would account for Paul saying in his letter that not many were influential or of noble birth Corinth was historically Greek and took great pride in its wisdom This explains Paul’s teaching about God’s wisdom versus man ’ s wisdom with his statement “It is because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God - that is our righteousness, holiness, and redemption Therefore, as it is written, let him who boasts, boast in the Lord ” (1:26 - 31)
QUESTIONS FOR DEEPER THOUGHT
1. It is the power of God to those who are saved but foolishness to the ungodly. (1:18 - 19)
2. We understand what God has freely given us, we can express spiritual truths and judge things correctly. (2:12 - 16)
3. God will use fire to test each person's work, burning up useless things, which are wood, hay, and stubble. (3:10 - 15)
4. He wanted them to imitate him as a father would want his children to do, which is going beyond elementary instructions. (4:15 - 17)
5. Things we do or eat may not be sin but we should never be controlled by them or offend others with our actions. (6:12)
6. It is better to marry than to burn with passion. Every person is not gifted in to be single. (7:7 - 9)
7. When a person thinks he knows everything he is prideful, but the person who loves the Lord is known by God himself. (8:2 - 3)
O
B
S E R V A T I O N S
1. What proof does Paul offer of his apostleship? (CHAPTER 9)
2. What examples does he use that illustrate being supported as ministers and does he ask for this support? (CHAPTER 9)
3. How were the things that happened in the Old Testament to be examples for the Corinthians? (CHAPTER 10)
4. What truths did head coverings symbolize at that time in Corinth? (CHAPTER 11)
5. What was the problem with the way the Corinthians were celebrating the Lord’s supper and how did Paul tell them to change? (CHAPTER 11)
6. What are the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit that Paul teaches about? (CHAPTER 12)
7. How does Paul use the analogy of the body to encourage Christians? (CHAPTER 12)
8. How does love relate to the gifts of the Spirit? (CHAPTER 13)
9. Paul speaks in tongues frequently, and yet, he says that prophecy is more beneficial. Why? (CHAPTER 14)
10. What should the character of worship be when the Christians meet? (CHAPTER 14)
11. In what way would faith be futile in relation to the resurrection, and what is the last enemy? (CHAPTER 15)
12. When the last trumpet sounds, what will happen to Christians who have died and Christians who are living? (CHAPTER 15)
13. How did the churches collect money to give to Paul and how much did each person give? (CHAPTER 16)
D E E P E R T H O U G H T
1 What does Paul mean when he says he became all things to all men? (CHAPTER 9)
2. How does God relate to us when we are tempted? (CHAPTER 10)
3. How does Paul compare the Lord’s supper with idol feasts? (CHAPTER 10)
4 What is Paul’s main thought when he says that woman came from man but man is born from a woman? (CHAPTER 11)
5. What happens when we judge ourselves and also let God judge us? (CHAPTER 11)
6. When Paul talks about not being led astray by idols, why does he specifically say “mute” idols? (CHAPTER 12)
7 Why is it important for each member of the body to honor the others and have equal concern for them? (CHAPTER 12)
8. What are the attributes of love and why is it superior? (CHAPTER 13)
9 What could Paul have meant when he said women should remain silent in church, and yet he also says women are gifted members of the body? In fact, Philip had four daughters who prophesied (Acts 21:9) (CHAPTER 14)
10. What must happen for Isaiah 25:8 to be true, “Death has been swallowed up in victory?” (CHAPTER 15)
11 Why would Timothy have reason to fear going to Corinth? Why would there be a question of him being accepted? (CHAPTER 16)
C O N S I D E R A T I O N
C O R N E R
ANSWERS TO LESSON 20 OBSERVATIONS
1. He had seen Jesus. The church in Corinth was a “seal” of his apostolic ministry. (9:1 - 2)
2. He compares ministers to soldiers, farmers, oxen who tread out the grain, and those who work in the temple. He did not ask for support but chose to support himself. (9:12 - 18)
3. The Old Testament examples served as warnings to not set their hearts on evil things. (10:1 - 11)
4. Head coverings were a symbol of honor and protection. Christ is the head of every man, and the head of women is man because God first created man and then woman from the man. (11:3 - 16)
5. Some were drunk, others overly hungry, and also people not waiting for others to partake. They should eat at home first, examine their own lives, and wait for each other with patience. (11:17 - 34)
6. Word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, tongues, and interpretation of tongues. (12:7 - 11)
7. Each one is a member of the body of Christ with different functions. God has arranged this so that all are important. (12:12 - 31)
8. The gifts of the Spirit are nothing if you don’t have love. (13:1 - 3)
9. Speaking in tongues edifies the individual as he is speaking to God. Prophecy edifies the whole church. Speaking in tongues with an interpretation also edifies the church in a similar way. (14:1 - 25)
10. Orderly, with everyone participating. (14:26 - 33)
11. Faith is futile if people don’t believe in the resurrection, and death is the last enemy, which Christ defeated. (15:12 - 28)
12. Christians who are dead will be raised and Christians who are alive will be changed to imperishable in a flash. (15:50 - 54)
13. Each person gave in proportion to his income, setting it aside each week and giving it to Paul when he arrived for him to distribute. (16:1 - 4)
Consider this:
Corinth was located on an isthmus, and hosted the Isthmian games, being second only to Athens in their infatuation with sports Because Corinthians would have been very familiar with the sports, training, and awards at these games, it provided Paul with an excellent comparison to the Christian life. In chapter 9, he speaks about racing, boxing, strict training, and the winner's crown Comparing this to the Christian life, he says he did not run aimlessly or fight like he was beating the air but made his body subject to himself to be qualified in the ministry He says we should run our race to get the prize, which is not an earthly crown that will perish, but a spiritual crown, which will last forever!
QUESTIONS FOR DEEPER THOUGHT
1. Though he was free from Jewish law he embraced the spirit of the law to win Jews. To the Gentiles, he lived as free from the Jewish law, but without worldly ways, to win Gentiles. (9:19 - 23)
2. He gives us a path out of temptation and strength to overcome. (10:13)
3. Food sacrificed to idols is for demons. In the Lord’s supper, the wine and bread represent the body and blood of Jesus the Son of the true and living God. (10:16 - 22)
4. Men and women are not independent of each other and both come from God. In the Lord we are equal. (11:11 - 12)
5. When we judge ourselves we won’t be judged by others, and when God judges us it is for discipline, which is good. (11:31 - 32)
6. Idols cannot speak to give wisdom and direction. The living God speaks to us through the gifts of the Spirit to guide us. (12:1 - 11)
7. We need each other to have a complete Christian experience and church life. We relate together in both times of sorrow and rejoicing. (12:12 - 26)
8. Love is patient and kind, doesn’t envy or boast, isn’t proud, rude, or self-seeking. Love is not easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs, and does not delight in evil. Love rejoices in truth, always protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres. Love never fails. (13)
9. He was referring to women not asking their husbands something in the middle of worship. (14:3335)
10. The perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. (15:5354)
11. Acts 16:1 tells us his mother was Jewish and his father was Greek, so he could have felt rejection from either group, and he was timid by nature according to 2 Timothy 1:6 - 7. (16:10 - 11)