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Topic:
The Book Of 1st Corinthians - A Brief Overview
The book of 1 Corinthians was written from Ephesus (1 Cor. 16:8) about
the time of the Passover in the third year of the apostle's sojourn there
(Acts 19:10; 20:31), and when he had formed the purpose to visit
Macedonia, and then return to Corinth (probably A.D. 57). The news which
had reached him, however, from Corinth frustrated his plan. He had heard
of the abuses and contentions that had arisen among them, first from
Apollos (Acts 19:1), and then from a letter they had written him on the
subject, and also from some of the "household of Chloe," and
from Stephanas and his two friends who had visited him (1 Cor. 1:11;
16:17). Paul thereupon wrote this letter, for the purpose of checking the
factious spirit and correcting the erroneous opinions that had sprung up
among them, and remedying the many abuses and disorderly practices that
prevailed. Titus and a brother whose name is not given were probably the
bearers of the letter (2 Cor. 2:13; 8:6, 16-18).
The epistle may be divided into four parts:
(1.) The apostle deals with the subject of the lamentable divisions and
party strifes that had arisen among them (1 Cor. 1-4).
(2.) He next treats of certain cases of immorality that had become
notorious among them. They had apparently set at nought the very first
principles of morality (5; 6).
(3.) In the third part he discusses various questions of doctrine and of
Christian ethics in reply to certain communications they had made to him.
He especially rectifies certain flagrant abuses regarding the celebration
of the Lord's supper (7-14).
(4.) The concluding part (15; 16) contains an elaborate defense of the
doctrine of the resurrection of the dead, which had been called in
question by some among them, followed by some general instructions,
intimations, and greetings. This epistle "shows the powerful
self-control of the apostle in spite of his physical weakness, his
distressed circumstances, his incessant troubles, and his emotional
nature. It was written, he tells us, in bitter anguish, 'out of much
affliction and pressure of heart...and with streaming eyes' (2 Cor. 2:4);
yet he restrained the expression of his feelings, and wrote with a dignity
and holy calm which he thought most calculated to win back his erring
children. It gives a vivid picture of the early church...It entirely
dissipates the dream that the apostolic church was in an exceptional
condition of holiness of life or purity of doctrine." The apostle in
this epistle unfolds and applies great principles fitted to guide the
church of all ages in dealing with the same and kindred evils in whatever
form they may appear. This is one of the epistles the authenticity of
which has never been called in question by critics of any school, so many
and so conclusive are the evidences of its Pauline origin. The
subscription to this epistle states erroneously in the Authorized Version
that it was written at Philippi. This error arose from a mistranslation of
1 Cor. 16:5, "For I do pass through Macedonia," which was
interpreted as meaning, "I am passing through Macedonia." In
16:8 he declares his intention of remaining some time longer in Ephesus.
After that, his purpose is to "pass through Macedonia."
From: Easton's Bible Dictionary. Fair Use. Presented for educational
purposes only.
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