Brief Outline of 1 Corinthians

by Nancy Paulson

The Epistles written to the church of Corinth were written as a reproof. Paul had to write to them so that they could learn to correct the way they were living. This first epistle can be divided into three things that the church at Corinth needed to correct:

• Chapters 1- 4 Paul wrote to correct their failure of not thinking like God, they had succumbed to the wisdom of the world. In these four chapters Paul is identifying the problem of their not thinking like God. In each of these four chapters, Paul mentions wisdom.
• Chapters 5-10 Paul is reproving the Corinthians for not living like God, for not applying the sanctification truths of Romans 6-8. God has done something for us to enable us to live holy. In Romans 6-8, we learn that we are dead to sin and alive unto God so that we can live out the life that has been given to us.
• Chapters 11- 16 Paul is reproving the Corinthians for not laboring together with God in the work of the ministry.

Thinking like God, living like God, and laboring together with God in the ministry are three components of godliness. 1 Corinthians is a book of reproof for one living ungodly. All three of these components were missing in the church at Corinth. The Corinthians had no appreciation for what God is doing in the dispensation of grace.