1 Corinthians 1 Background Information with Maps and Images (Picture Study Bible - 1 Corinthians) Free Bible Online

1 Corinthians 1

1 - Paul, called to be an apostle of JesusChrist through the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,

2 - to the assembly of God which is at Corinth; those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, both theirs and ours:

3 - Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 - I always thank my God 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 of Christ was confirmed in you:

7 - so that you come behind in no gift; waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ;

8 - who will also confirm you until the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9 - God is faithful, through whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

10 - Now I beg you, brothers, through the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

11 - For it has been reported to me concerning you, my brothers, by those who are from Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you.

12 - Now I mean this, that each one of you says, "I follow Paul," "I follow Apollos," "I follow Cephas," and, "I follow Christ."

13 - Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized into the name of Paul?

14 - I thank God that I baptized none of you, except Crispus and Gaius,

15 - so that no one should say that I had baptized you into my own name.

16 - (I also baptized the household of Stephanas; besides them, I don't know whether I baptized any other.)

17 - For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the Good News-not in wisdom of words, so that the cross of Christ wouldn't be made void.

18 - For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are dying, but to us who are saved it is the power of God.

19 - For it is written,"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,I will bring the discernment of the discerning to nothing."Isaiah 29:14

20 - Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the lawyer of this world? Hasn't God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

21 - For seeing that in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom didn't know God, it was God's good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save those who believe.

22 - For Jews ask for signs, Greeks seek after wisdom,

For Jews ask for signs, Greeks seek after wisdom,

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23 - but we preach Christ crucified; a stumbling block to Jews, and foolishness to Greeks,

but we preach Christ crucified; a stumbling block to Jews, and foolishness to Greeks,

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24 - but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.

25 - Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

26 - For you see your calling, brothers, that not many are wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, and not many noble;

27 - but God chose the foolish things of the world that he might put to shame those who are wise. God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong;

28 - and God chose the lowly things of the world, and the things that are despised, and the things that are not, that he might bring to nothing the things that are:

29 - that no flesh should boast before God.

30 - Because of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who was made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption:

31 - that, according as it is written, "He who boasts, let him boast in the Lord."Jeremiah 9:24

The Book of 1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 4:5 - Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 - Charity suffereth long, [and] is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

1 Corinthians in The New Testament - A Brief Overview

Painting of Paul the Apostle by Rembrandt - 1657

Introduction to The Book of 1 Corinthians

Brief Summary. Paul exhorts the church at Corinth regarding disorders, problems, abuses, and heresies.

Summary of The Book of 1 Corinthians

Purpose. Paul desired to correct some of the problems that had arisen at the church in Corinth. Paul addresses questions which the church at Corinth had sent to him in a letter delivered by Fortunatus, Stephanus, and Achaicus. Paul deals with each problem individually in order. He rebukes the parties which arose from a divisive spirit and a failure to humble themselves before the true wisdom of God. He also rebukes strongly a case of incest which existed in the church. He also encourages the believers to settle disputes among themselves and the church, not bringing lawsuits into heathen courts. He also urges Christians to  "flee fornication," which was obviously a big problem in licentious Corinth. Paul also deals with many of the problems connected with marriage. He then discusses Christian liberty and how to live in a community filled with idolatry. He also instructs the church regarding the conduct of women in public worship and the abuses concerning the Lord's Supper. He also urges Christians to desire spiritual gifts and to use them properly. 1 Corinthians 13 is the famous "love" chapter and Paul defines what true Christian love is. Paul also addresses the resurrection of the dead, and the glorified bodies awaiting the believers in Christ. He encourages the church at Corinth to take up a collection for the poor at Jerusalem, and he lets them know that he intended visit to Corinth soon. He concludes with practical concerns as well as the customary salutations, warnings, and benediction.

Authorship. Paul was the author of the book of 1 Corinthians.

Date. Most scholars agree that 1 Corinthians was written in 55 AD

Place of Writing. Ephesus (1 Corinthians 16:8).

Outline of the Book of 1 Corinthians

Unity Versus Division - Chapters 1-3
Order Versus Disorder -  Chapters 4-11
Church Gifts, Love, and Doctrines - Chapters 12-16

The Name Jesus In Ancient Hebrew Text
"Yeshua" in First Century Hebrew Text. This is how the name "Jesus" would have been written in ancient Hebrew documents. The four letters or consonants from right to left are Yod, Shin, Vav, Ayin (Y, SH, OO, A). Jesus is the Greek name for the Hebrew name Joshua or Y'shua which means "The LORD or Yahweh is Salvation".

1 Corinthians Maps and Resources

Map of the Roman Empire (14 A.D.) - This map reveals the Roman Empire during the time shortly after the birth of Jesus, in 14 AD at the time of the death of Augustus. The order which prevailed in this extensive empire, the good military roads, and the use of Koine Greek as the general language of culture throughout the area were among the factors which multiplied the rapid spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (Color Map)

Map of Paul's First Missionary Journey (48 A.D.) - This map reveals the areas in Asia Minor where Paul visited in his first missionary journey. Around 48 AD, in the springtime, Paul and his companions Barnabas and Mark were sent on a mission from the church in Antioch. This would be the first of Paul's Missionary Journey's. (Color Map)

Map of Paul's Second Missionary Journey (51 A.D.) - This map reveals the areas in Asia and Greece where Paul visited in his second missionary journey. Paul re-visits a couple cities in Asia, one of which was Lystra where he was stoned and left for dead a few years earlier. He later has a vision that leads him over to Greece and Paul and his companions travel and minister in various cities in Greece (Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens and Corinth. Later Paul returns to Ephesus and finally to Caesarea and Antioch. (Color Map)

Map of Paul's Third Missionary Journey (54 A.D.) - This map reveals the areas in Asia and Greece where Paul visited in his third missionary journey. On Paul's third missionary journey he returned to the cities he had first visited on his first missionary journey. During this time he decided to remain in Ephesus for about 3 years, and this city was the main focus of his activities and an important Christian community (Acts 19). (Color Map)

Map of the New Testament World - This map reveals the "Nations" within the ancient world during the first century A.D., the time of the New Testament. The map includes the areas of Israel, Asia, Greece, and Italy. (Color Map)

Map of New Testament Greece This map reveals the cities within Greece in the ancient world during the first century A.D.,The map includes the principal cities of Greece like: Athens, Corinth, and Thessalonica, and provinces like Macedonia and Achaia. (Color Map)