1 Corinthians

Author: Paul
Date of Writing: AD 56
Type of Book: Epistle
Theme: Christian Conduct

The Apostle Paul wrote the book of 1 Corinthians around AD 56.  After starting the church of Corinth, as described on Acts 18, Paul went on to Ephesus from where he wrote the letter.

Corinth was a large city with two major ports and it was an important center of trade in Greece.  It was also an extremely immoral city.  A major temple for the goddess Aphrodite, mainly just a religious hose of prostitution, was located there.

The church of Corinth existed in the middle of a horrible environment of debauchery, and the challenges to the church were enormous.  As in our society today, they faced a huge temptation to compromise and conform to the immoral world around them.

After receiving several reports of disturbing things happening within the Corinthian church, Paul wrote this letter to correct some of their misconduct.  The church was characterized by a strong partisan spirit, with various people polarizing themselves around certain individuals.  Unity was sorely lacking.  There were serious moral problems, whereby the people prided themselves for their tolerance of evil and neglected the discipline necessary for protecting the purity of the church.  The people abused the Lord's Supper, sometimes using it as an occasion for getting drunk.  And they were also confused about the resurrection of Jesus and about the future resurrection of Christians.  They were a gifted people, but they were exercising their spiritual gifts without control or restraint, and without love.

Some of the most helpful Scriptures are those that were written in response to errors or questions, and the book of 1 Corinthians gives us useful information and instruction as paul corrects their errors by laying out the truth in a straightforward and practical way.  When we read the book today we can't help but see the similarities between the church in Corinth and the modern-day church.  As they were ridden with moral problems, false doctrine, and division, so today these same issues threaten the effectiveness of the church.  This is a practical, relevant book that calls us to a pure faith and a walk of love.

-from Pastor Chuck Smith from The Word for Today Bible