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Book 46 of 66 · New Testament

1 Corinthians

Paul answers a divided, troubled church point by point — and gives the Bible's great chapter on love.

16 chapters437 versesWritten in GreekSet To the church in Corinth

Overview

1 Corinthians is Paul dealing with a real and messy church. Corinth was divided into factions, tolerant of scandal, confused about marriage, food, worship, and spiritual gifts, and unsure about the resurrection. Paul takes their questions one by one. In the middle of it all comes chapter 13, the Bible's great description of love, and chapter 15, its great defence of the resurrection.

Book facts

Author
PaulWritten by the apostle Paul to the church he had founded in Corinth.
Date written
c. AD 55Written from Ephesus.
Original language
GreekPractical, answering the church's real questions.
Setting
To the church in CorinthA gifted but quarrelsome church in a wealthy port city.

How it came to be

1 Corinthians was written by the apostle Paul. He had founded the church at Corinth, and now writes from Ephesus to answer their questions and correct their errors.

It responds both to reports he had heard and to a letter the Corinthians had sent him.

What is arguedLittle about authorship is disputed; particular passages, such as those on women in worship, are much discussed.

The whole book, chapter by chapter

ChapterWhat this chapter covers
Divisions and disorder — factions, scandal, and lawsuits, chapters 1–6
Chapter 1The divisionsPaul appeals against the factions dividing the church, and preaches Christ crucified.
Chapter 2The hidden wisdomGod's wisdom is deeper than human wisdom, revealed by the Spirit.
Chapter 3The buildersThe church is God's building; its leaders are only servants.
Chapter 4The stewardsApostles are stewards, judged by God, not by human approval.
Chapter 5The leavenPaul confronts a case of scandalous immorality in the church.
Chapter 6The lawsuitsBelievers should not take one another to court; the body belongs to God.
Answers to their questions — marriage, food, worship, and gifts, chapters 7–14
Chapter 7The married and unmarriedPaul's counsel on marriage, singleness, and staying as you are.
Chapter 8The meat offered to idolsOn eating food offered to idols, and not wounding weaker consciences.
Chapter 9The rights of an apostlePaul sets aside his own rights for the sake of the gospel.
Chapter 10The wilderness examplesIsrael's failures in the wilderness are a warning against idolatry.
Chapter 11The Lord's supperOrder in worship, and how to keep the Lord's Supper rightly.
Chapter 12The giftsThe many spiritual gifts belong to one body with many members.
Chapter 13The love chapterThe way of love: "though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels."
Chapter 14The tongues and prophecyProphecy is preferred to tongues; let all be done in order.
The resurrection — the resurrection body and final matters, chapters 15–16
Chapter 15The resurrection bodyThe heart of the gospel, and the resurrection of the dead.
Chapter 16The collectionInstructions for a collection, and closing greetings.

All 16 chapters. Start reading →

Worth knowing

Key people

The apostle who wrote the letter.

Key places

Written from Ephesus, to the church in Corinth.

Known for

Some of the best-known verses in 1 Corinthians — tap the verse to read it.