1 Corinthians 1 — Sermon Prep & Expository Preaching Guide
Scripture
1 Corinthians 1
Historical Background · Verse-by-Verse Commentary · Reception History
What is the historical and cultural background of 1 Corinthians 1?
Corinth: A City Rebuilt and Reimagined
Corinth occupied one of the most strategically advantageous positions in the ancient Mediterranean world. Destroyed by Rome in 146 BCE, the city lay in ruins for nearly a century before Julius Caesar ordered its refounding as a Roman colony in 44 BCE. By the mid-first century CE, when Paul wrote this letter, Corinth had become the capital of the province of Achaia and one of the busiest commercial centers in the empire.
What does each verse of 1 Corinthians 1 mean?
vv. 1-3: The Opening as Argument
Paul identifies himself as "an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God" — a phrase that does more than establish credentials. By grounding his apostleship in divine will rather than human appointment, Paul quietly sets up the contrast that will govern the entire chapter: what God chooses versus what human wisdom prefers. The opening line is already anti-rhetorical.
How has 1 Corinthians 1 been interpreted and preached throughout church history?
Explores how this passage has been interpreted and preached throughout church history, based on academic sources.
John Chrysostom: A Diagnosis of Spiritual Illness
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