The Book of 1 Corinthians
The church in the real world — Paul's counsel on unity, holiness, love, and resurrection hope.
Overview
First Corinthians is Paul's practical, pastoral letter to a gifted but divided church wrestling with real problems: quarrels, pride, and confusion about how to live. His answers keep returning to the cross and to love.
It contains the Bible's greatest chapter on love (chapter 13) and its fullest teaching on the resurrection (chapter 15) — the hope that makes the Christian life worth living.
Key themes
Unity in the church
Paul pleads with a divided church to be united around Christ crucified rather than around personalities.
Love above all
Spiritual gifts mean nothing without love, which Paul describes more fully here than anywhere.
Resurrection hope
Because Christ is risen, our labour is not in vain and death itself is defeated.
Key verses from 1 Corinthians
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.
The Bible's fullest description of love.
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.
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Let all your things be done with charity.
How to read 1 Corinthians
Read chapter 13 as a portrait of Christ's love before a to-do list for yours.
Notice how often Paul returns to the cross to settle every dispute.
Let chapter 15's resurrection hope reframe how you face death and difficulty.