OUTLINE OF FIRST CORINTHIANS

1Co 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 1Co 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

1Co 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

 

Part One: In Answer to Chloe's Report of Divisions (1:1-4:21)

I. Introduction............................ 1:1-9

A.  Greetings of Grace     1:1-3

1Co 1:3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

B.   Prayer of Thanksgiving     1:4-9

1Co 1:4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;

II. Report of Divisions............................. 1:10-17

1Co 1:11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.

III. Reasons for Divisions............................... 1:18-4:21

A. Misunderstanding of the Gospel Message................... 1:18-3:4

1.  The Gospel Is Not Earthly Wisdom..................... 1:18-2:5

1Co 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

1Co 1:19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

2.  The Gospel Is Heavenly Wisdom  2:6-3:4

1Co 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

B.   Misunderstanding of the Gospel Messenger......................... 3:5-4:5

1.  Ministers Are Co-labourers with God..................... 3:5-17

1Co 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

1Co 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.

2.  Ministers Are Accountable to God..................... 3:18-4:5

1Co 4:1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

1Co 4:4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

C.   Misunderstanding of Paul's Ministry     4:6-21

1Co 4:16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.

1Co 4:17 For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.

 

Part Two: In Answer to Reports of Fornification (5:1-6:20)

I. On Incest............................ 5:1-13    

A.  Deliver the Fornicators for Discipline     5:1-8   

1Co 5:3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,

1Co 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

B.  Separate Yourselves from Immoral Believers    5:9-13

1Co 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

II. Concerning Litigation Between Believers  6:1-11

1Co 6:4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.

III. Warning Against Sexual Immorality .... 6:12-20

1Co 6:18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

Part Three: In Answer to the Letter of Questions (7:1-16:24)


I. Counsel Concerning Marriage..................... 7:1-40   

A.  Principles for Married Life     7:1-9

1Co 7:3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.

B.  Principles for the Married Believer . . 7:10-16

1Co 7:14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

C.  Principle of Abiding in God's Call. . . 7:17-24

1Co 7:17 But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.

D.  Principles for the Unmarried     7:25-38

1Co 7:27 Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.

1Co 7:28 But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.

E.  Principles for Remarriage     7:39, 40

1Co 7:39 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

II. Counsel Concerning Things Offered to Idols......................... 8:1-11:1

A.  Principles of Liberty and the Weaker Brother.................... 8:1-13

1Co 8:7 Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.

1Co 8:13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

B.   Illustration of Paul and His Liberty. . . 9:1-27

1.      Paul Lists His Rights as a Minister 9:1-14

1Co 9:7 Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?

1Co 9:14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

2.      Paul Limits His Rights for Ministry................ 9:15-27

1Co 9:15 But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.

C.   Warning Against Forfeiting Liberty. . 10:1-13

1Co 10:2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

1Co 10:5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

D.  Exhortation to Use Liberty to Glorify God.................... 10:14-11:1

1Co 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

1Co 10:33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

III. Counsel Concerning Public Worship 11:2-14:40

A.  Principles of Public Prayer .     . . 11:2-16

1Co 11:4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.

1Co 11:5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.

1Co 11:7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.

B.  Rebuke of Disorders at the Lord's Supper.................... 11:17-34

1Co 11:27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

C.  Principles of Exercising Spiritual Gifts................... 12:1—14:40

1.     Test of the Spirit's Control    12:1-3

1Co 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

1Co 12:3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

2.     Diversity of the Gifts    12:4-11

1Co 12:4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

1Co 12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

3.     Importance of All Gifts    12:12-31

1Co 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

4.     Exercise Gifts with Love    13:1-13

1Co 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

5.     Superiority of Prophecy    14:1-6

1Co 14:1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

6.     Gift of Tongues    14:7-25

1Co 14:12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

1Co 14:13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.

1Co 14:14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

1Co 14:25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

7.     Exercising Gifts in Public Worship............... 14:26-40

1Co 14:26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

1Co 14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

IV. Counsel Concerning the Resurrection. . . 15:1-58

A.  Fact of Christ's Resurrection     15:1-11

1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

B.  Importance of Christ's Resurrection   15:12-19

1Co 15:12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?

1Co 15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

C.  Order of the Resurrections . .         . . 15:20-28

1Co 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

1Co 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

D.  Moral Implications of Christ's Resurrection.......................... 15:29-34

1Co 15:29 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?

E.  Bodies of the Resurrected Dead     15:35-50

1Co 15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:

1Co 15:44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

F.  Bodies of the Translated Living .... 15:51-58   

1Co 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

 V. Counsel Concerning the Collection for Jerusalem.......................... 16:1-4

1Co 16:1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.

1Co 16:2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

VI. Conclusion     16:5-24

1Co 16:14 Let all your things be done with charity.

1Co 16:23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

1Co 16:24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen. <The first epistle to the Corinthians was written from Philippi by Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus and Timotheus.>