Lesson 1
I.
Background of the book
A.
Author – Paul (1 Corinthians 1:1)
B.
Church planted by Paul around 50-52 AD on 2nd
missionary journey (Acts 18:1ff)
C.
Date -- 53 – 57AD
more towards the last 3 years of this span
D.
Origin – Paul was in
Ephesus
on 3rd missionary journey
E.
Recipients – The
church
of
God
in
Corinth
(1:2 NIV)
i.
Those sanctified in Christ Jesus
ii.
Those called to be holy
iii.
Contrast those descriptions to the
problems evidenced in the book
1.
Struggling Christians
2.
Most social backgrounds involved.
(
1:26
& 7:21-24)
3.
Most problems imaginable
F.
City Background – Destroyed by Romans in 146 BC –
reestablished by Julius Caesar in 44 BC
i.
Original
Corinth
known as “sin city” because of reputation for idolatry and sexual deviance
ii.
Regained that reputation by the time of
Paul
iii.
Cultural and commercial crossroads for
East-West sea travel and North-South travel overland
iv.
Location of temple to Aphrodite and one to
Apollo – source of many of the problems Paul addresses
1.
Idol worship
2.
Prostitution
II.
Purpose – To correct problems within the church (problems
related to Paul through Chloe’s household (
1:11
) and questions from the church(7:1))
A.
Divisions within the church
B.
Sexual immorality
C.
Lawsuits between Christians
D.
Food sacrificed to idols
E.
Lord’s Supper
F.
Worship
G.
Spiritual gifts
H.
Resurrection of the dead
III.
Theme – “Stand Firm… always give yourselves fully to the
work of the Lord…” (1 Corinthians 15:58)
1 Corinthians Chapter 1
Lesson 2
1)
How does Paul describe those to whom he is
writing? ______________________
__________________________________________________________________
2)
For what was Paul Thankful?
_________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
3)
What was confirmed in the Corinthians? ________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
4)
What is the gift Paul speaks of in 1:7?
__________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
5)
How will those be found who are confirmed by Christ?
____________________
_________________________________________________________________
6)
What is the first problem addressed by Paul?
_____________________________
7)
What is Paul’s desire for them regarding this problem?
_____________________
_________________________________________________________________
8)
What was the basis for these divisions?
_________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
9)
Why does Paul say he is glad he baptized only a few? _____________________
_________________________________________________________________
10)
Who were those few?
________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
11)
What was Paul sent by Christ to do?
____________________________________
12)
Does that mean no
one else was baptized? ______________________________
13)
The message of the cross is _________________ to those who are
perishing, but
it is the ________________________________ to those who are being saved.
14)
How else are those who consider the message to be foolishness
described?
__________________________________________________________________
15)
What did God choose to shame the wise? (explain)
________________________
_________________________________________________________________
16)
What did Christ become on their (our) behalf?
____________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Lesson 3
1)
How did Paul declare the gospel to those at
Corinth
?
__________
________________________________________________________
2)
What was Paul determined to know? (explain) ________________
________________________________________________________
3)
What three terms does Paul use to describe his presence in
Corinth
?________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
4)
What was Paul’s preaching not?
___________________________
________________________________________________________
5)
Paul’s preaching was a demonstration of: ____________________
________________________________________________________
6)
Their faith was to be not in the wisdom of men, but: ___________
________________________________________________________
7)
Who does Paul say he speaks his message of wisdom to? (explain)
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
8)
How is this a hidden wisdom?
_____________________________
_______________________________________________________
9)
How is God’s wisdom revealed?
___________________________
_______________________________________________________
10) Based on
2:11
-13, how would you describe the
Spirit’s role?
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
11) Who
accepts the things of God? ___________________________
_______________________________________________________
I Corinthians 3
Lesson 4
1)
How does Paul address the Christians in this chapter? __________
______________________________________________________
2)
Why does he describe them in this way? _____________________
______________________________________________________
3)
What were the Corinthians not ready for? ____________________
______________________________________________________
4)
What must take place for one to receive solid food? ___________
______________________________________________________
5)
How were they acting and how (or like whom) does Paul believe
they should be acting? ___________________________________
______________________________________________________
6)
What did Paul consider himself to be? (explain) ______________
______________________________________________________
7)
What is the one purpose of the one who plants or waters? _______
______________________________________________________
8)
How will each one be rewarded?
__________________________
______________________________________________________
9)
What foundation did Paul lay?
____________________________
______________________________________________________
10)
Who is building upon that foundation? ______________________
______________________________________________________
11)
(Personal question) Who laid your spiritual foundation and what
is that foundation?
12)
What can be used for building upon the foundation? ___________
______________________________________________________
13)
Is it possible to build with the wrong material and be saved?
(explain your answer) ___________________________________
_____________________________________________________
14)
What is God’s temple? How can it be destroyed? And what is the
consequence of destroying it? _____________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
15)
The wisdom of this world is ____________ in God’s sight.
16)
Explain “… all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ
is of God.” 3:22-23
Lesson 5
1)
How were the Corinthians to regard Paul, Peter, and Apollos? (explain
what this means)
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
2)
What is required of those given a trust? ____________________
3)
What is this trust and who has received it? __________________
____________________________________________________
4)
Why does Paul say he does not judge himself? ______________
____________________________________________________
5)
What is the context or scope of this judgment (does Paul make no
judgments of right or wrong; what does he mean)? ___________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
6)
When is the proper time for the type of
judgment Paul is referring
to? __________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
7)
What will be exposed at that time? ________________________
8)
What did Paul do for the benefit of the Corinthians (and us)?
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
9)
What does Paul identify as part of the problem in verse 6?
______
10)
Share your answers to Paul’s questions in verse 7. ____________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
11)
Re-read verses 8-13. Summarize
Paul’s statements in these verses
(keep them in context of the entire chapter).
_________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
12)
What is the significance of the term guardians in verse 15? _____
_____________________________________________________
13)
Who does Paul say they should imitate and why? _____________
_____________________________________________________
14)
Discuss Paul’s statements in verses 18-21.
Lesson 6
1)
What is the subject of this Chapter? ________________________
______________________________________________________
2)
How severe does Paul consider this sin? ____________________
3)
What response or attitude should have been displayed in this
situation? _____________________________________________
______________________________________________________
4)
Did Paul wait until he was present to make a judgment about this
person? (explain why) ___________________________________
5)
What does Paul mean by “deliver such a one to Satan?” (cf 2 Thes.
3:14-15) ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
6)
What were the Corinthians glorying in? _____________________
_____________________________________________________
7)
How did this person affect their worship? ___________________
_____________________________________________________
8)
Is this the first letter (epistle) Paul has written to the
Corinthians?
(explain) ____________________________________________
______________________________________________________
9)
How does Paul describe the church’s relationship with the
world?
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
10)
Does that description affect how we interact with the world on
spiritual issues today (gay rights, abortion, sexual immorality,
etc.)? If so how? _______________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
11)
Who does Paul say he judges?
____________________________
12)
What is the extent of that judgment? ________________________
______________________________________________________
13)
Who will judge those outside the church? Inside? _____________
______________________________________________________
14)
What is Paul’s final judgment on the matter? _________________
______________________________________________________
15)
Does Paul apply this only to the sexually immoral? ____________
Lesson 7
1)
What is the first problem Paul addresses in this chapter? __________
________________________________________________________
2)
Who will judge the world? How? _____________________________
________________________________________________________
3)
Does Paul say that Christians should not or will not have
problems
with other Christians? _____________________________________
________________________________________________________
4)
If there is a problem how should it be handled?
__________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
5)
What is the problem with taking these problems to those outside
the
church? _________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
6)
What does Paul say would be better to do than to take a fellow
Christian to court?
________________________________________
________________________________________________________
7)
Who will not inherit the
kingdom
of
God
? ______________________
________________________________________________________
8)
Who does Paul say were once those types of people? _____________
________________________________________________________
9)
What changed in their lives? _________________________________
________________________________________________________
10)
Explain Paul’s
statement in verse 12. _________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
11)
What is the
importance of food and the stomach? ________________
________________________________________________________
12)
What is our body
intended for? ______________________________
________________________________________________________
13)
Explain the
relationships Paul refers to in verses 15-20. ___________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
Lesson 8
1)
What notable change takes place at the beginning of this chapter
separating it from the previous six? ___________________________
________________________________________________________
2)
What were the Corinthians saying on the new subject in this
chapter?
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
3)
How does Paul respond to their beliefs? _______________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
4)
What is each spouse supposed to render to the other?
_____________
________________________________________________________
5)
Who has authority over our body? ____________________________
________________________________________________________
6)
Explain verses 5-6. ________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
7)
Does Paul teach against marriage? (explain) ____________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
8)
What is God’s intention for the married? _______________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
9)
Discuss
Paul’s teaching in verses 12-16. ______________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
1 Corinthians 7:17-40
Lesson 9
1)
What has God distributed to each one? ______________________
______________________________________________________
2)
What does Paul mean by let each one walk as he is called and
what
are the limits (if any)?
(explain) ___________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
3)
What matters most? _____________________________________
4)
On one hand Paul tells them not to be concerned if they are a
slave
and on the other he tells them not to become slaves of men, explain
these statements. _______________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
5)
What problem is the Corinthians dealing with beginning in verse
25? ________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
6)
What is Paul’s advice on this problem? ____________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
7)
Is it a sin to marry, and why would they think so? _____________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
8)
Explain verses 29-30. ___________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
9)
Who does Paul say should not marry? Who should? ____________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
10)
Explain why Paul teaches this. _____________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
11)
How should both the married and the unmarried be living? (what
should be their focus?) __________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Lesson
10
1)
What is the subject of this chapter? _________________________________
2)
How does knowledge puff up?
_____________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
3)
What counter-balances knowledge?
_________________________________
4)
What is the significance of idols or other gods to the
Christian? __________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
5)
What does Paul say about their existence?
____________________________
______________________________________________________________
6)
“Yet for us there is ___________ God, the Father, of whom are
_________
things, and we for Him; and _________ Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are
_________ things, and through whom we __________.”
7)
If Paul says there is nothing wrong with eating the meat,
because an idol is
nothing, why is there a problem? __________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
8)
What does not commend us to God? What does?
_______________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
9)
How does Paul equate the ability to eat meat that has been
sacrificed to idols?
______________________________________________________________
10)
What can that my ability be for others?
_______________________________
_______________________________________________________________
11)
What is the principle expressed in verse 10 and how does that
apply in our
lives today? ____________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
12)
What is the result for the weaker brother?
____________________________
_____________________________________________________________
13)
Who is responsible for the sin of the weaker brother?
__________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
14)
Against whom are we sinning, if we are the stronger brother?
____________
_____________________________________________________________
15)
What was Paul willing to do to avoid the problem? ___________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
16)
What are you willing to do?
Lesson 11
1)
Why does Paul open this chapter with this series of questions?
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
2)
How does this tie into the subject from chapter 8?
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
3)
What does Paul use as proof of his statements of apostleship?
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
4)
What does he use for proof of his rights? _________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
5)
What is Paul’s explanation of God’s intent Deuteronomy 25:4?
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
6)
How does Paul use his rights?
__________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
7)
How did Paul consider his ministry, a work or a job? ________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
8)
What is his reward? ___________________________________
___________________________________________________
9)
Why does Paul give up his freedoms or rights? _____________
___________________________________________________
10)
Explain becoming all things to all men? __________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
11)
How should we run the race? ___________________________
___________________________________________________
12)
What does Paul do to ensure he wins the prize? ____________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
Lesson 12
1)
What comparison does Paul begin this chapter with? ____________
_______________________________________________________
2)
What is the purpose of that comparison? ______________________
_______________________________________________________
3)
What were some of the things they lusted after? ________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
4)
What warnings does Paul give? _____________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
5)
What is the pivotal verse in this chapter? ______________________
6)
Does Paul tie the subject of this chapter in with that of
chapter 8, if so
how? ___________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
7)
What is Paul teaching against in verses 14-22?
__________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
8)
What is he not teaching against? _____________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
9)
“All things are ____________for me, but not all things are
__________; all things are ____________ for me, but not all things
___________.
10)What are we to be seeking?
___________________________
_______________________________________________________
11)Discuss verses 25-29?
________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
12)Whose conscience plays a
role in the decision to eat or not eat?
_______________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
13)How or Why
should we do all things? ____________________
________________________________________________________
Lesson 13
1)
In what way are we to imitate Paul? __________________________
________________________________________________________
2)
How does Paul describe his teachings to the Corinthians? _________
________________________________________________________
3)
What is the “order of leadership” as Paul explains it?
_____________
________________________________________________________
4)
What subject does this “order” introduce in this chapter?
__________
________________________________________________________
5)
What event is taking place to create this subject? Explain.
_________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
6)
What is meant by “having one’s head covered or uncovered”
and what
is the covering? ___________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
7)
What is the purpose of the covering? __________________________
________________________________________________________
8)
What does Paul say was given to the woman for a covering? _______
________________________________________________________
9)
What other subject is addressed by Paul in this chapter?
___________
________________________________________________________
10)What would have been the
“normal order” of this event? ____
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
11)What is the problem with
this event? _____________________
________________________________________________________
12)What is Paul’s advice to
them to correct the problem? _______
________________________________________________________
13)Why does Paul describe the
manner in which Jesus instituted
the Lord’s Supper? ________________________________________
________________________________________________________
14)Why does Paul recommend
judging ourselves when we prepare
to partake of the Lord’s Supper? _____________________________
_______________________________________________________
15)What is Paul’s final
advice on how to properly participate in
this “event”? _____________________________________________
________________________________________________________
1 Corinthians 12
Lesson 14
1)
What subject does Paul address in this chapter?
__________________
________________________________________________________
2)
How were these gifts affecting the Corinthians and their
relationship
with each other? __________________________________________
________________________________________________________
3)
Why does Paul remind them of their past and being carried away
to
idols in verse 2? ___________________________________________
________________________________________________________
4)
Discuss verse 3 and its application to the Corinthians and to us
today.
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
5)
What does Paul clarify about the Holy Spirit and His gifts?
________
________________________________________________________
6)
What can be taking place in the congregation? And what should be
holding it together? ________________________________________
________________________________________________________
7)
What is the purpose of the Spirit and His manifestation?
___________
________________________________________________________
8)
Does the Spirit still work with these gifts (vs. 8-10) today?
Why or
Why not? ________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
9)
What is Paul trying to accomplish in verses 12 and following? _____
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
10)How well would the church
function if we were all exactly the
same “talent wise”? _______________________________________
_______________________________________________________
11)Is there any gift or talent
that is greater than someone else’s?
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
12)Who equalized the value of
the different “parts” or “gifts”? And why? ___________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
13)Should we desire the gifts
of the Holy Spirit? ______________
________________________________________________________
Lesson 15
1)
What is the subject of this chapter? ______________________________
2)
How does this chapter tie directly to chapter 12?
___________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
3)
What is the emphasis of Paul’s statements in verses 1-3? ____________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
4)
List and discus the ways in which Paul describes love? ______________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
5)
To what level or degree are we able to do things? __________________
___________________________________________________________
6)
What is “that which is perfect”?
_________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
7)
How will it change us? ________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
8)
Explain verse 13. ____________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Lesson 16
1)
What does Paul encourage the Corinthians to pursue and desire?
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
2)
Is there a difference in the speaking of tongues that Paul
refers to in
this chapter and the speaking in tongues we normally think of on the
Day of Pentecost? (If so explain.)_____________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
3)
Who benefits from speaking in tongues without an interpreter? With?
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
4)
Explain Paul’s musical comparison. ___________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
5)
Why does Paul encourage them to seek spiritual gifts? ____________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
6)
What is Paul’s ultimate goal when using spiritual gifts? ___________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
7)
Paul desire’s the Corinthians to be babes in ________________
and
not in _______________.
8)
Why was the gift of tongues given? ___________________________
________________________________________________________
9)
Why was the gift of prophesy given?
__________________________
________________________________________________________
10)
What must happen
for these purposes to be successful? ___________
________________________________________________________
11)
What
guidelines for worship does Paul layout? Discuss these
guidelines. _______________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
12)
What is Paul’s
concluding statement regarding how people should act
or use there gifts within the church? ___________________________
________________________________________________________
Lesson 17
1)
What was the affect of the Gospel in the lives of the
Corinthians?
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
2)
What condition(s) does Paul say that affect is based upon? ____
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
3)
Give Paul’s description of the Gospel as he preached it.
_______
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
4)
Compare Paul’s worthiness to be an apostle to our worthiness
to be
Christians. ____________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
5)
What problem or teaching does Paul address in verses 12-19? ___
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
6)
What does Paul say is the result if that teaching is correct?
______
_____________________________________________________
7)
Who was responsible for death? ___________________________
8)
Who was responsible for resurrection? ______________________
9)
What will take place after the final victory? __________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
10)
What is Paul teaching about in verses 29-32? (explain) _________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
11)
What happens around “evil company?” _____________________
______________________________________________________
12)
Will our eternal bodies be like the ones we have now? (explain)
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
13)
How quickly will the change take place between these two bodies?
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
14)
Through whom is the victory?
____________________________
15)
This chapter has been about reassuring the Corinthians that
their
faith and labor have not been in ______________________.
Lesson 18
1)
What is the subject of this chapter? _____________________
___________________________________________________
2)
What was the purpose of this collection? __________________
___________________________________________________
3)
How was the collection to be taken up? ___________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
4)
When was the collection to be taken up? __________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
5)
Why was this to be the time and procedure? _______________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
6)
What was Paul’s hope regarding visiting the Corinthians? ____
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
7)
Who was Paul expecting to arrive at
Corinth
? _____________
___________________________________________________
8)
What is Paul’s final exhortations
to the Corinthians? ________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
9)
How does Paul urge them to do all things? ________________
__________________________________________________
10)
Who had aided and lifted Paul’s spirit? __________________
__________________________________________________
11)
Who was hosting a church in their house? _______________
_________________________________________________
12)
How were the brethren to greet one another? _____________
_________________________________________________
Church
of Christ at