Introduction: Have you moved to a new church and wished the people would view you as a valuable new addition? Have you taken a new job and wanted your new employer and fellow employees to take you seriously? I recall when Karen and Bill Shea started attending my Sabbath School class in Manassas, Virginia. Karen came first, and then her husband showed up a few weeks later. This elderly couple sat quietly in my class as I taught the book of Daniel. What I did not know was that William Shea was the leading scholar in our worldwide church on Daniel. He had not only written a book on Daniel that was still being published, but he took the leadership role in writing hundreds of pages for the church’s position paper on Daniel and Revelation. When I realized who Bill was, I told him the wrong guy was teaching the class! He graciously told me that I was doing a fine job and should continue. Bill’s approach is not the same as that of Paul when he writes to the Corinthians. Is there a reason? Let’s dive into our study of 1 Corinthians!
I. Greetings from an Apostle!
A. Read 1 Corinthians 1:1. What position in the church does Paul hold? (Paul states that he is “an apostle of Christ Jesus.”)
B. Read 2 Corinthians 1:1 and Mark 3:13-14. In his second letter to the Corinthians Paul again states that he is an “apostle of Christ Jesus.” Paul was not one of the twelve disciples described in Mark. As far as we can tell, Paul never followed Jesus while He was on earth. Is he an “apostle?”
1. I just watched a video about a woman who claims to be a psychologist with a doctoral degree. That claim is not true. I attended church with a fellow who did something similar. Why do people do that?
a. Should you listen to those who claim credentials they do not possess? (Compare those two with Bill Shea who was so humble he did not broadcast his stellar qualifications.)
C. Read 1 Corinthians 9:1 and 1 Corinthians 15:5-9. Paul now clearly states the very thing that seemed impossible. Like the twelve disciples, he has seen Jesus and was called by Him. Is that true? (Read Acts 9:3-6 and Acts 22:11-15. He is telling the truth. Paul, previously called Saul, has been visited by the risen Jesus and commanded to be His witness.)
1. Since Paul was commanded by Jesus to speak and write, is resisting Paul resisting God? (This gets to the heart of why Paul claims that he is an apostle when he writes to the Corinthians.)
2. Look again at 1 Corinthians 15:9 where Paul says that he is “unworthy” to be called an apostle. Why did he fail to mention that in the introduction to his letters to the Corinthians? (This is not a matter of pride for Paul. Rather, he asserts the authority given to him by Jesus because the Corinthians need to take his counsel seriously.)
II. The Audience
A. Read 1 Corinthians 1:2. To whom is Paul writing? Just the members of the church in Corinth? (He is writing to the Corinthians, but he is also writing to us who “call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”)
B. Read 1 Corinthians 1:3-8. How would you summarize these verses? (Paul is writing complimentary and encouraging things to the Corinthians.)
III. The Approach
A. Read 1 Corinthians 1:10. What problem has Paul pinpointed? (They have divisions in the church.)
1. Let’s step back a moment. How would you explain Paul’s strategy in his letter to the Corinthians? (Paul first states his authority to direct them. He then compliments them. He does this before he makes any criticism.)
2. Is this a pattern that you follow in correcting members of your church?
a. If you have no special authority, should you be correcting others? (I vote, “No.” If the problem is not a personal one between you and the other member, you should go to an authority in your church. Correction should come from those entrusted with authority.)
B. Read 1 Corinthians 2:1. What do you think about this approach?
1. Recently, I heard a political figure explain to young people some simple facts about the sun and the moon in “lofty speech.” It was clear that she did not understand the basics, and she tried to hide this with “big words.” Is this speaker bright? (I have a rule of thumb. If a person writes or speaks in a way meant to impress you with their intellect, that person is not very smart. Smart people want you to understand the important things that they say.)
C. Read Acts 17:16-17. What has provoked Paul’s spirit? (All of the idols that he saw in Athens.)
D. Read Acts 17:18-19. What great opportunity is Paul given to share the gospel? (The Areopagus (Mars Hill) is where the “celebrated supreme judges of Athens assembled” according to Barnes’ Notes on the Bible.)
E. Read Acts 17:22-25, and skim the rest of the chapter. This is how Paul approached those in Athens just before he approached the Corinthians. When you compare Acts 17 with 1 Corinthians 2, does it sound as if Paul decided to change his approach? (It does. Read Acts 17:34. Paul won some converts with his “lofty speech and wisdom.”)
1. What do you think about Paul’s presentation in the Areopagus? (Paul was addressing highly educated men. I don’t think that his message was “lofty” in the sense that he was trying to impress his listeners with his intellect as opposed to teaching them about the true God of heaven.)
F. Read 1 Corinthians 2:2-5. Has Paul changed his approach because he had lost his courage, speaking skills, and his wisdom? (Some of this is difficult to understand. As I read what Paul presented in Acts 17, he spoke with wisdom and skill. I cannot believe that he lost those abilities when he traveled to Corinth. Instead, I think he is teaching us that we should focus on the gospel and not rhetorical skill.)
1. Look again at 1 Corinthians 2:4-5. What fundamental change does Paul say that he is making? (He wants their faith to rest on “the power of God,” not on his speaking skills.)
2. Think about sermons you have heard that you thought were great. Did they come from a speaker who was entertaining and who held your attention? (Over the years I have worked to improve my speaking skills. However, it is only the Holy Spirit who can change hearts. We must never forget this.)
IV. Problem Solving
A. Read Acts 18:4. Paul has just arrived in Corinth. Where does he start with his teaching? (The synagogue. He is sharing with both Jews and Greeks.)
B. Read Acts 18:5-6. How does Paul solve the problem of being attacked by the Jews? (He moves on to teach the Gentiles.)
1. What does this teach us about dealing with those who oppose us? (We should not continue in a running battle with those who will not listen. We should move on to those who will listen.)
C. Read Acts 18:8-10. What does God have to say about this conflict? (Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, was converted! God tells Paul to continue teaching in Corinth. God has people who want to hear what Paul has to say. Note that the problems that follow are later in time, after a church has been established in Corinth.)
D. Read 1 Corinthians 1:11-12. What is one problem in Corinth? (The believers are divided because they claim different leaders in the church.)
E. Read 1 Corinthians 1:13-15. How does Paul address this conflict? How do you understand his argument? (They were baptized in the name of Jesus. Jesus was crucified for them. They should all be united in Jesus.)
F. Read 1 Corinthians 5:9-13. What distinction is Paul making between the sexually immoral among unbelievers and the sexually immoral within the church? (Paul is not saying that Christians should avoid all sinners, because then we would have to leave the world. Nor is he saying that we should pretend there are no sinners in the church, because we are all sinners.)
1. How does that work? I regularly eat with church members, and we all are sinners! (Paul is dealing with open rebellion against God, not ordinary human weakness. The church should lovingly seek repentance and restoration, but it should not act as if open, serious sin is acceptable among those who claim the name of Christ.)
G. Friend, we can do nothing without God’s Spirit leading and working in us. Will you ask, right now, for the leading of the Holy Spirit in your gospel work?
V. Next week: The Message of the Cross.
Copr. 2026, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Suggested answers are found within parentheses. If you normally receive this lesson by e-mail, but it is lost one week, you can find it by clicking on this link: http://www.GoBible.org. Pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as you study.
