Biblical Commentary

  • 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

    Paul's salutation to the believers in Corinth.

  • 1 Corinthians 1:10-18

    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.

  • 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

    The cross is foolishness to the perishing, but the power of God to those who are saved. God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is greater than the world's power.

  • 1 Corinthians 3:1-9

    Who is Apollos, and who is Paul, but servants through whom you believed? I planted. Apollos watered. But God gave the increase. So neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.

  • 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23

    Paul laid the foundations for the Corinthian church, but others built on that foundation. The foundation is Jesus Christ.

  • 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

    Paul deals with the issue of Christians eating meat which was sacrificed to idols. Since idols are nothing, eating the meat is permissible, unless doing so would be a harmful witness to a younger believer.

  • 1 Corinthians 9:16-23

    Paul has made himself a servant of all so that he might win more people to Christ.

  • 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

    Athletes discipline themselves so they might win a perishable wreath, but Christians pursue an imperishable wreath.

  • 1 Corinthians 10:1-13

    God will not allow you to be tested/tempted beyond your ability to resist. God also provides the means to resist.

  • 1 Corinthians 10:16-17

    The cup and bread that Christians share is a sharing in the body and blood of Christ.

  • 1 Corinthians 12:27 Unity in the Spirit (Gerhardy)

    Some regarded their spiritual gifts as superior to those of others and it went on. Paul spoke firmly to those Christians saying, "For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all given to drink into one Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12.13).

  • 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 The Community (Hyde)

    Paul says that we have a variety of gifts. Some are good at some things while others are good at doing something else. There is one Spirit, Paul says, but when the Spirit dispenses gifts to us they come out varied and different. But when we put all these gifts together, we form community.

  • 1 Corinthians 12:4-13 Unity, Not Conformity (Donovan)

    There was a lot of vitality in Corinth. People exercised a variety of gifts. One gift, in particular, was causing trouble — the gift of tongues. Some people, then as now, made the speaking of unknown or spiritual languages the criterion for a faithful Christian. They wanted limit the church to tongues-speakers. They wanted conformity.

  • 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 Our Gifts: Tools or Trophies (Donovan)

    The problem in Corinth was that people took pride in their own gifts and demeaned other people's gifts. In many cases, our problem is just the opposite. We admire other peoples' gifts, and demean our own. We know that some people are smart--talented--beautiful. But we feel ordinary—plain—ungifted. But God didn't leave any of us without gifts.

  • 1 Corinthians 12:12-32 Where Everyone Counts (Wagner)

    In Corinth. some folks thought they were better than others. They were not inclusive, so the love of God was not very visible. Therefore, Paul was reminding them that although they weren't all the same, they were still the body of Christ. The only way they could be the body of Christ was to be united.

  • 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

    If I speak in the tongues of men and angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong. Faith, hope, and love abide, and the greatest of these is love.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

    Christ died for our sins in accordance with scripture, was buried, was raised from the dead, and appeared to many disciples as the resurrected Christ.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:12-20

    If Christ was resurrected from the dead, how can anyone say there is no resurrection? Christ is the firstfruits of those who those who die (and will be resurrected).

  • 1 Corinthians 15:19-26

    As in Adam all die, so in Christ shall all be made alive. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:20-28

    As in Adam all die, so in Christ shall all be made alive. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50

    Some will ask, "How are the dead raised––with what kind of body?" The body that is sown is perishable, but the body that is raised is imperishable. It is sown a physical body, but raised a spiritual body.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:51-58

    The trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable. The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through Jesus Christ.