1 Corinthians Week Two: 1 Corinthians 1:4-17

⁴ I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, ⁵ that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, ⁶ even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, ⁷ so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, ⁸ who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

¹⁰ Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. ¹¹ For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you. ¹² Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, “I am of Paul,” and “I of Apollos,” and “I of Cephas,” and “I of Christ.” ¹³ Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? ¹⁴ I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, ¹⁵ so that no one would say you were baptized in my name. ¹⁶ Now I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any other. ¹⁷ For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void.

—1 Corinthians 1:4-17

Notes

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References

Weekly Study Guide

Let’s transport ourselves back to an ancient time. This is always an important step to take when reading scripture if we are to truly understand its meaning and message. The books of the Bible were written to specific people in specific life situations, and without the proper historical lens, there is a very real danger of misunderstanding their message. The unfortunate tendency today is to read our Bibles through 21st-century lenses, using modern presuppositions. Unless we go to great lengths to counter this tendency, we will invariably miss out on what scripture is saying. So, join me on this journey.

In exploring 1 Corinthians, we find ourselves in the middle of the 50’s—not the 1950’s—but the actual 50’s, some 20 years after Jesus died and rose again. There is a small and struggling church in the bustling, cosmopolitan city of Corinth. This church is only a few years old. It was founded by the Apostle Paul on his second missionary journey. Paul spent about 1½ years working to gain a foothold for the gospel in this major hub of trade and commerce in the ancient world.

So, what kind of world did the Corinthian church know, and what challenges did they face? This city was not just a prosperous, booming metropolitan environment—it was also a melting pot of different cultures, religious perspectives, and philosophies. Yet Corinth was known, not just for its prosperity, but for its immorality. The worship in the temple of Aphrodite involved thousands of temple prostitutes enticing these ancient pagans into deviant sexual practices. In this environment, Paul’s call to purity was radically countercultural. This was the culture and world the believers in the church at Corinth were immersed in and struggled to let go of.

A few years after founding this church, Paul writes 1 Corinthians to address some pressing issues that were tearing this young church apart. These new followers of Jesus were being shaped much more by the values of the city and culture around them than by the teachings of Jesus. This congregation consisted of Jews and Gentiles, former idol worshipers, and those from diverse social backgrounds. Their struggles reflected the challenges of living as Christians in a sinful, idolatrous culture. Many of these believers were new to the faith and had not yet fully grasped what it meant to follow Christ in daily life.

When Paul first came to Corinth, he stayed and worked with Aquilla and Priscilla in their leather and tent shop. Paul’s pastoral heart is obvious in how he addresses his readers. He does not simply rebuke but instructs, guiding them like a father. He longs to see them transformed by the renewing of their minds (Rom 12:2). Paul addresses a long list of issues that he had heard afflicted this church. There were factions forming and divisions among the people that were undermining their unity. There were issues relating to sexuality and marriage. They had questions about how to deal with meat that had been sacrificed to idols. There were questions regarding how corporate worship should function, and how best to administer the sacraments. And there were also questions about the end times and the resurrection from the dead.

Most commentators outline this letter according to these issues that Paul tackles one by one. The first major section of the letter focuses on the divisions plaguing the church. The next section deals with immorality, sexuality, and marriage. Paul then talks about Christian freedom flowing from the topic of meat sacrificed to idols. The next section focuses on orderly worship, followed by a discussion of the Resurrection. He then finishes by addressing the collection of money for the church with some final closing remarks.

In this first chapter, Paul confronts several critical issues we very much face in the church today; including divisions within the church, the nature of true wisdom, and the centrality of the cross. In discussing how pride was causing division amongst these new believers, he uses the example of baptism. They were ranking their status by who had baptized them. But in doing so, Paul makes an important statement. He says in 1 Corinthians 1:17 that Christ did not send him to baptize, but to preach the gospel. This simple statement subtly, but powerfully, refutes those who believe that one must be baptized in order to be saved. In Paul’s mind, the issue of baptism falls outside of the core message of the gospel. This is one of many doctrinal distinctions and clarifications Paul will give us as we go.

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Discussion Questions

1. Paul begins this section by expressing his gratitude for the believers at Corinth. What are you truly grateful for? (MULTILINE)
2. How does Paul begin this section (vv. 4-9)? In a book that carries such a weighty tone of correction and admonishment, why do you think Paul begins with such a positive approach? Why do you think baptism is a touchstone issue for Paul in this chapter? What role did baptism play in the early church in proclaiming one’s identity and allegiances? How might that significance be different today? How does Paul clarify the meaning of baptism in verse 17? (MULTILINE)
3. Why does Paul immediately transition from thanksgiving to addressing divisions within the church (vv. 10-17)? What does this shift tell us about the urgency of the problem? What does Paul’s rejection of boasting in human leaders teach us about the issue of authority in the church? What do we learn about God’s character and desires from this passage? (MULTILINE)
4. Why do you think it was tempting for these early believers to identify themselves with particular leaders? Where do we see that happening today? What do you think the modern church has in common with the church at Corinth? How does Paul’s appeal for unity in the church relate to contemporary issues of division within churches today? (MULTILINE)
5. In what ways have you experienced unity or disunity in the church? How can we ensure we are centered on Christ and His message, and not overly focused on church leaders or denominational identity? One of the ways we join together with the body in unity is through baptism. Have you been baptized? If not, why not? What does your baptism mean to you? What is one way you can apply the truths of this passage to your life this week? (MULTILINE)

Going Deeper

1. Paul ends this section by referring to the power of the cross. What do you think Paul means by this? What is the power and meaning of the cross? How does this power manifest itself in our lives? How would you describe this power to an unbeliever? What is the core message of the gospel, and how does Paul relate baptism to that message? (MULTILINE)
2. What does the existence of so many and varied denominations in the church today have to do with Paul’s call for unity? What is the purpose of having so many denominations? Is this a good thing or a bad thing? Does having these kinds of distinctions necessarily indicate division? (MULTILINE)

Transformational Activity

Community

How we are to live together in community in at least some semblance of unity is an age-old question. We all have different needs, desires, personalities, and even agendas. Yet we are called to be one in Christ. What are some techniques for valuing and pursuing unity in our church families that do not gloss over the very real differences we have? What are some examples you have seen where a church was truly unified? What were the primary reasons for this? Take some time this week to think and pray about this issue of unity and how you might be a part of the solution.

Family Focus

Read this passage together as a family! 1 Corinthians 1:4-17

Worth a Note: (vv. 10-17) After Paul had greeted his friends and given thanks (those were common parts of ancient letters), what’s the very first thing out of his mouth (v. 10)? When you’ve got something on your mind, it tends to come tumbling out! What was the problem Paul wanted to address? Take a minute to write out what you see here. God wants His family to be tight-knit, peaceful, loving, and aiming at the same goal. When we bicker and put each other down, we tear the fabric of God’s family. Is there anything you need to admit to God about the way you’ve treated another believer?

Discussion Questions:

1.  What does Paul thank God for in verses 4-9? Why is it so vital for church leaders to express thankfulness to God for the churches they lead, especially if their church has problems? (MULTILINE)
2. Paul is thankful for the amazing way the Corinthian church had been gifted with every spiritual gift. Yet the church had so many shortcomings: problems with divisions, sin, false doctrine, immorality, and other issues. What does this teach you about spiritual gifts (vv. 5, 7)? (MULTILINE)

Memorize this verse together as a family this week:

I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus (1 Cor 1:4).

Focused Family Prayer: Pray specifically for any perceived division in our body of Christ. Pray for the leaders of the church.