Brief Summary:
The Corinthian church was plagued by divisions. The believers in Corinth were dividing into groups loyal to certain spiritual leaders (1 Corinthians 1:12; 3:1-6). Paul exhorted the Corinthian believers to be united because of devotion to Christ (1 Corinthians 3:21-23). Many in the church were essentially approving of an immoral relationship (1 Corinthians 5:1-2). Paul commanded them to expel the wicked man from the church (1 Corinthians 5:13). The Corinthian believers were taking each other to court (1 Corinthians 6:1-2). Paul taught the Corinthians that it would be better to be taken advantage of than to damage their Christian testimony (1 Corinthians 6:3-8).
Paul gave the Corinthian church instructions on marriage and celibacy (chapter 7), food sacrificed to idols (chapters 8 and 10), Christian freedom (chapter 9), the veiling of women (1 Corinthians 11:1-16), the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:17-34), spiritual gifts (chapters 12-14), and the resurrection (chapter 15). Paul organized the book of 1 Corinthians by answering questions the Corinthian believers had asked him and by responding to improper
conduct and erroneous beliefs they had accepted.
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The Book of 1 Corinthians Summary
Summary of the Book of 1 Corinthians – Bible Survey | GotQuestions.org
Context Summary
First Corinthians 10:23—11:1 shows that merely asking, ”Is this lawful?” is the wrong question for Christians. Instead, we must continue by asking, ”Will this glorify God?” and ”Will this build up our neighbors?” Paul instructs them to act on this by refusing to eat meat they know has been offered to an idol. The reason is to avoid causing anyone to think Christians approve of idol worship in any way. They are free, though, to eat any meat they don’t know to have been offered to an idol, with a clear conscience, and with thanks to God. The key message of this passage is that our intent, and the effects of our actions on others, are more important than the physical things involved.
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“1 Corinthians 11:1” Bibleref.com
What does 1 Corinthians 11:1 mean? | BibleRef.com
1 Corinthians 11:1
1 Be imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ.
Context Summary
First Corinthians 11:2–16 describes Paul’s correction of an inappropriate practice of some women in the Corinthian church. Contrary to social norms of that era, they were not wearing head coverings when praying or prophesying before the church. Paul insists that both women and men consider what their chosen appearance implies about their relationship with God. Cultural details may vary, but the principle does not: Christian men and women ought to be ”respectable” in their manners and dress. In parallel, this teaching also touches on the concept of spiritual leadership.
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“1 Corinthians 11:12” Bibleref.com
What does 1 Corinthians 11:12 mean? | BibleRef.com
1 Corinthians 11:12
12 For as woman came from man, so a man also comes through a woman; but all things are from God.
Context Summary
First Corinthians 11:17–34 contains Paul’s rebuke of the church in Corinth for their application of the Lord’s Supper. They had turned it into a gathering at which the wealthy ate and drank too much, leaving the poorer Christians hungry and humiliated. Paul warns that communion should be a time of sober self-reflection about our sin and Christ’s sacrifice, as well as a time to unite the body of Christ, the church, while taking in representations of the blood and body of Christ. Some in Corinth were sick and others had died as part of God’s judgment for participating in communion in an unworthy manner.
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“1 Corinthians 11:24” Bibleref.com
What does 1 Corinthians 11:24 mean? | BibleRef.com
1 Corinthians 11:24
24 When he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “Take, eat. This is my body, which is broken for you. Do this in memory of me.”
Context Summary
First Corinthians 12:12–31 continues Paul’s teaching on the spiritual gifts as they cooperate to empower God’s will for the church. The Christian church is like a human body. It is one individual organism made up of many different parts that serve a wide variety of functions. All those functions matter. Nobody should decide they don’t like their gift or their role in the church and try to quit. The body needs each member to do its part in order to work properly. We must respect and value each other for the vital roles we serve in the church.
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“1 Corinthians 12:13” Bibleref.com
What does 1 Corinthians 12:13 mean? | BibleRef.com
1 Corinthians 12:13
13 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.
Context Summary
First Corinthians 13:1–13 is one of the most loved and well-known passages in the Bible, but Paul places it after his teaching on the spiritual gifts for a specific reason. Some of the gifts may seem impressive, but if attempted without self-sacrificing love for others, they become meaningless, even destructive. Paul uses 14 verbs to describe what love does and does not do. Love is the foundation for Paul’s teaching in the following chapter on prophecy, tongues, and even orderly worship. While this section is often quoted in romantic settings, such as a wedding, the concept in mind is that of agape: a self-sacrificing, godly love.
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“1 Corinthians 13:1” Bibleref.com
What does 1 Corinthians 13:1 mean? | BibleRef.com
1 Corinthians 13:1
If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don’t have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal.
Context Summary
First Corinthians 13:1–13 is one of the most loved and well-known passages in the Bible, but Paul places it after his teaching on the spiritual gifts for a specific reason. Some of the gifts may seem impressive, but if attempted without self-sacrificing love for others, they become meaningless, even destructive. Paul uses 14 verbs to describe what love does and does not do. Love is the foundation for Paul’s teaching in the following chapter on prophecy, tongues, and even orderly worship. While this section is often quoted in romantic settings, such as a wedding, the concept in mind is that of agape: a self-sacrificing, godly love.
For a more detailed summary select the link below.
“1 Corinthians 13:2” Bibleref.com
What does 1 Corinthians 13:2 mean? | BibleRef.com
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don’t have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don’t have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but don’t have love, it profits me nothing.
Context Summary
First Corinthians 13:1–13 is one of the most loved and well-known passages in the Bible, but Paul places it after his teaching on the spiritual gifts for a specific reason. Some of the gifts may seem impressive, but if attempted without self-sacrificing love for others, they become meaningless, even destructive. Paul uses 14 verbs to describe what love does and does not do. Love is the foundation for Paul’s teaching in the following chapter on prophecy, tongues, and even orderly worship. While this section is often quoted in romantic settings, such as a wedding, the concept in mind is that of agape: a self-sacrificing, godly love.
For a more detailed summary select the link below.
“1 Corinthians 13:4” Bibleref.com
What does 1 Corinthians 13:4 mean? | BibleRef.com
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
4 Love is patient and is kind. Love doesn’t envy. Love doesn’t brag, is not proud, 5 doesn’t behave itself inappropriately, doesn’t seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; 6 doesn’t rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. 8 Love never fails.
Context Summary
First Corinthians 13:1–13 is one of the most loved and well-known passages in the Bible, but Paul places it after his teaching on the spiritual gifts for a specific reason. Some of the gifts may seem impressive, but if attempted without self-sacrificing love for others, they become meaningless, even destructive. Paul uses 14 verbs to describe what love does and does not do. Love is the foundation for Paul’s teaching in the following chapter on prophecy, tongues, and even orderly worship. While this section is often quoted in romantic settings, such as a wedding, the concept in mind is that of agape: a self-sacrificing, godly love.
For a more detailed summary select the link below.
“1 Corinthians 13:6” Bibleref.com
What does 1 Corinthians 13:6 mean? | BibleRef.com
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
4 Love is patient and is kind. Love doesn’t envy. Love doesn’t brag, is not proud, 5 doesn’t behave itself inappropriately, doesn’t seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; 6 doesn’t rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. 8 Love never fails.
Context Summary
First Corinthians 13:1–13 is one of the most loved and well-known passages in the Bible, but Paul places it after his teaching on the spiritual gifts for a specific reason. Some of the gifts may seem impressive, but if attempted without self-sacrificing love for others, they become meaningless, even destructive. Paul uses 14 verbs to describe what love does and does not do. Love is the foundation for Paul’s teaching in the following chapter on prophecy, tongues, and even orderly worship. While this section is often quoted in romantic settings, such as a wedding, the concept in mind is that of agape: a self-sacrificing, godly love.
For a more detailed summary select the link below.
“1 Corinthians 13:11” Bibleref.com
What does 1 Corinthians 13:11 mean? | BibleRef.com
1 Corinthians 13:11-12
11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child. Now that I have become a man, I have put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, even as I was also fully known.
Context Summary
First Corinthians 13:1–13 is one of the most loved and well-known passages in the Bible, but Paul places it after his teaching on the spiritual gifts for a specific reason. Some of the gifts may seem impressive, but if attempted without self-sacrificing love for others, they become meaningless, even destructive. Paul uses 14 verbs to describe what love does and does not do. Love is the foundation for Paul’s teaching in the following chapter on prophecy, tongues, and even orderly worship. While this section is often quoted in romantic settings, such as a wedding, the concept in mind is that of agape: a self-sacrificing, godly love.
For a more detailed summary select the link below.
“1 Corinthians 13:13” Bibleref.com
What does 1 Corinthians 13:13 mean? | BibleRef.com
1 Corinthians 13:13
13 But now faith, hope, and love remain—these three. The greatest of these is love.
Context Summary
First Corinthians 14:1–25 describes why the gift of prophecy is superior to the gift of tongues in church services, especially when nobody with the gift of interpreting tongues is available. Prophecy benefits everyone in the room with a revelation from God. Praying in a tongue, when nobody can interpret, only benefits the one praying. In fact, displaying the gift of tongues without interpretation may do more harm than good—it generates confusion and division. In contrast, the use of prophecy provides the opportunity for unbelievers to hear from God, be convicted about sin, and come to faith in Christ and genuine worship.
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“1 Corinthians 14:4” Bibleref.com
What does 1 Corinthians 14:4 mean? | BibleRef.com
1 Corinthians 14:4
4 He who speaks in another language edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the assembly.
Context Summary
First Corinthians 14:1–25 describes why the gift of prophecy is superior to the gift of tongues in church services, especially when nobody with the gift of interpreting tongues is available. Prophecy benefits everyone in the room with a revelation from God. Praying in a tongue, when nobody can interpret, only benefits the one praying. In fact, displaying the gift of tongues without interpretation may do more harm than good—it generates confusion and division. In contrast, the use of prophecy provides the opportunity for unbelievers to hear from God, be convicted about sin, and come to faith in Christ and genuine worship.
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“1 Corinthians 14:25” Bibleref.com
What does 1 Corinthians 14:25 mean? | BibleRef.com
1 Corinthians 14:25
25 And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed. So he will fall down on his face and worship God, declaring that God is among you indeed.
Context Summary
First Corinthians 15:1–11 describes the gospel as it was delivered to Paul and as he delivered it to the Corinthians. It begins with the death of Christ on the cross for our sins, but it continues to His burial and, significantly, His resurrection. The alive-again Christ appeared to many people still alive at the time Paul wrote his letter. Paul establishes that the Corinthians believed the gospel, including faith in the physical resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Paul will connect that faith to belief in the resurrection of all believers from the dead.
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“1 Corinthians 15:1” Bibleref.com
What does 1 Corinthians 15:1 mean? | BibleRef.com
1 Corinthians 15:1
Now I declare to you, brothers, the Good News which I preached to you, which also you received, in which you also stand,
Context Summary
First Corinthians 15:1–11 describes the gospel as it was delivered to Paul and as he delivered it to the Corinthians. It begins with the death of Christ on the cross for our sins, but it continues to His burial and, significantly, His resurrection. The alive-again Christ appeared to many people still alive at the time Paul wrote his letter. Paul establishes that the Corinthians believed the gospel, including faith in the physical resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Paul will connect that faith to belief in the resurrection of all believers from the dead.
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“1 Corinthians 15:2” Bibleref.com
What does 1 Corinthians 15:2 mean? | BibleRef.com
1 Corinthians 15:2
2 by which also you are saved, if you hold firmly the word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
Context Summary
First Corinthians 15:1–11 describes the gospel as it was delivered to Paul and as he delivered it to the Corinthians. It begins with the death of Christ on the cross for our sins, but it continues to His burial and, significantly, His resurrection. The alive-again Christ appeared to many people still alive at the time Paul wrote his letter. Paul establishes that the Corinthians believed the gospel, including faith in the physical resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Paul will connect that faith to belief in the resurrection of all believers from the dead.
For a more detailed summary select the link below.
“1 Corinthians 15:3” Bibleref.com
What does 1 Corinthians 15:3 mean? | BibleRef.com
1 Corinthians 15:3-5
3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
Context Summary
First Corinthians 15:50–58 powerfully concludes Paul’s teaching on the resurrection of Christians: when the last trumpet blasts and Christ returns for those who belong to Him. In that moment, all believers in Jesus, living and dead, will be transformed into the glorified, eternal bodies God has promised us. Death will be defeated forever, never to hurt anyone again. Sin brings death, and the law is the power of sin, but God has given us the victory over death by forgiving our sin through faith in Jesus and by His grace.
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“1 Corinthians 15:50” Bibleref.com
What does 1 Corinthians 15:50 mean? | BibleRef.com
1 Corinthians 15:50
50 Now I say this, brothers,[b] that flesh and blood can’t inherit God’s Kingdom; neither does the perishable inherit imperishable.
Context Summary
First Corinthians 15:50–58 powerfully concludes Paul’s teaching on the resurrection of Christians: when the last trumpet blasts and Christ returns for those who belong to Him. In that moment, all believers in Jesus, living and dead, will be transformed into the glorified, eternal bodies God has promised us. Death will be defeated forever, never to hurt anyone again. Sin brings death, and the law is the power of sin, but God has given us the victory over death by forgiving our sin through faith in Jesus and by His grace.
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“1 Corinthians 15:57” Bibleref.com
What does 1 Corinthians 15:57 mean? | BibleRef.com
1 Corinthians 15:57
57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Context Summary
First Corinthians 16:12–18 contains some of Paul’s last-minute instructions to the Corinthians at the close of his letter. He tells them Apollos will not be coming to visit them right away. He urges them to be on guard and stand firm in the faith, likely against false teachers. They must be strong but also do everything in love. Finally, Paul tells them to submit and give recognition to people like those of Stephanas’s household. These devoted servant-leaders were the first Christians in Corinth and have greatly encouraged him by coming to see him in Ephesus.
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“1 Corinthians 16:13-14” Bibleref.com
What does 1 Corinthians 16:13 mean? | BibleRef.com
1 Corinthians 16:13-14
13 Watch! Stand firm in the faith! Be courageous! Be strong! 14 Let all that you do be done in love.
Context Summary
First Corinthians 16:19–24 concludes Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth. These are final greetings from the churches in Asia, from their friends Aquila and Prisca, and from believers elsewhere. Paul writes the last lines with his own hand, taking the pen from his scribe. He curses those who do not love the Lord—meaning false teachers—then prays for Christ’s return, and prays for the grace of the Lord to be with them. His final words declare his love for all of them in Christ Jesus.
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“1 Corinthians 16:22” Bibleref.com
What does 1 Corinthians 16:22 mean? | BibleRef.com
1 Corinthians 16:22
22 If any man doesn’t love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be cursed. Come, Lord!
