The Rock

1 Corinthians Bible Study

• Paul Johnson
• Dec 17, 2006
• Series: The Rock Blog

Compiled by Daniel Hult and Paul Johnson

 

This study takes you through the book of 1 Corinthians in 17 segments.  It is by no means exhaustive.  The questions are designed to help you get the most from the passage.  DO NOT skim the passage just so you can answer the questions and get on with your day!  The goal is discovery of who God is and who we are in him through his Word.  The questions are just one means of aiding you in this. You will get out what you put in to this study.

 

The study is intended to take about twenty to thirty minutes a day.  Before beginning the study, read the background below to help you see the big picture and give a foundation for when you delve into the text. 

 

 

Background

 

First Corinthians was a letter from the Apostle Paul to the church he had planted in the Geek city of Corinth.  “Corinth was a principal city of Greece, in that particular division of it which was called Achaia. It was situated on the isthmus (or neck of land) that joined Peloponnesus to the rest of Greece, on the southern side, and had two ports.”  This made Corinth a wealthy trade center.  With this came legendary immorality.  Corinth was so famous for sexual immorality throughout the Middle East that the term Corinthian was synonymous with sexual immorality.

 

“Yet in this lewd city did Paul, by the blessing of God on his labors, plant and raise a Christian church.”  Paul came to Corinth from Athens on his Second Missionary Journey.  There, he joined up again with Silas and Timothy and they spent two years establishing the church.  The congregation was mainly Gentile with few Jews. (See Acts 18)

 

Paul wrote 1 Corinthians from Ephesus to ‘water’ what he had planted and to deal with a number of problems that had surfaced.  Part of the letter was written in direct response to questions the Corinthians had written Paul about, but Paul does not limit his correction to these questions.  Guided by the Holy Spirit, Paul wrote the letter “with all wisdom and faithfulness, and with a due mixture of tenderness and authority.”

 

As Corinth in Biblical times is much like our own society today, we gain valuable insight about how to live lives for Christ amongst such immorality.  The Spirit uses Paul through this book to instruct us on things ranging from unity in the church to spiritual gifts and shows us how we should live in order to imitate Christ.

 

Quotes and information from Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible

 

 

Day 1:  Read 1 Corinthians 1:1-31.

1.      What does Paul thank God for in verses 4-8? Which of those blessings are enjoyed in your church? Thank God for the ways in which you have experienced those blessings.

2.      What does Paul have against baptism? Do you agree with his priorities? Why or why not?

3.      Paul quotes Isaiah 29:14 in verse 19. What point do you think he was trying to make with this quotation?

4.      In what ways has Christ become wisdom from God for you? In what ways has he become righteousness, sanctification, and redemption for you?

Day 2:  Read 1 Corinthians 2:1-16.

1.      Paul states in verse 4 that his preaching was a demonstration of the Spirit and power. What did he mean? How do you tell when preaching is a demonstration of Spirit and of power?

2.      What promise arises from verse 12? What do verses 6-13 say about our ability to have confidence that we have correctly understood the message of salvation?

3.      What danger(s) do you see in verse 15? Are you aware of specific circumstances in which such dangers actually happened? What is the best response in times like that?

Day 3:  Read 1 Corinthians 3:1-23.

1.      What accusation does Paul level against the Corinthians in 3:1-4? What evidence supports his claim? What problems most undermine the effectiveness of Christian witness in our world? What can we do about it?

2.      What roles did Paul and Apollos fill according to verses 5-9? What role does God fill?

3.      How can your church become a temple for God's Spirit? What evidences would indicate that the Holy Spirit felt at home in your church?

Day 4:  Read 1 Corinthians 4:1-21.

1.      Do you think Paul was being serious or sarcastic in verse 8? Why? Do you think sarcasm should be allowed in the Bible? Why or why not?

2.      What enables a person to respond the way Paul describes in the last part of verse 12 and the first part of verse 13? What would need to change in your life for you to respond that way?

3.      What does it mean to have a spiritual father as Paul was for the Corinthians? What contributions has your "spiritual father" made to your life?

Day 5:  Read 1 Corinthians 5:1-13.

1.      What problem mentioned in verses 1-5 most concerned Paul? Why?

2.      What is Paul's point when he states that a little yeast leavens the whole batch? Can you give an example from your own life?

3.      Describe the expectations of chapter 5 with regard to sexual purity. Pray and ask God to help you and your church demonstrate that level of purity in this promiscuous world in which we live.

Day 6:  Read 1 Corinthians 6:1-20.

1.      Paul argues that since Christians will someday judge the world they should be competent to solve their own relational problems. Do you agree? Why? or why not? What assumptions may be necessary for Paul's "solution" to work?

2.      In what way(s) are the sins listed in verses 9-10 incompatible with the Kingdom of God?

3.      In what ways do verses 12-20 argue against sexual immorality?

4.      Are Paul's references to the "body" in these verses only applicable in a sexual context? Or would his words be equally applicable to other "sins" against the body? Can you think of an example? What does this say about the importance of one's "body" in the Christian life?

Day 7:  Read 1 Corinthians 7:1-40.

1.      Summarize in your own words Paul's view of sexuality in Christian marriage according verses 1-7. How does it differ from the view of sexuality in contemporary culture?

2.      Summarize in your own words Paul's instructions to Christians married to unbelievers. How often have you seen an unbelieving spouse won to Christ?

3.      How would the instruction to "remain in the condition in which you were called" apply to the question of marriage? Does Paul make that application clear?

4.      What concept(s) appear(s) in verses 25-35 that explains Paul's reluctance about marriage? Do you agree with him? Why or why not?

5.      According to verse 35 what is Paul's intention with these teachings? Does he accomplish his goal?

Day 8:  Read 1 Corinthians 8:1-13.

1.      What relationship between knowledge and love does Paul describe in verses 1-3? What illustration of his point can you give from the experiences of your life? How does that affect your desire for knowledge? …your desire to give love?

2.      What is Paul's point in verses 7-8? How do our culture and the way we are brought up affect the way we think about spiritual matters?

3.      What principle seems to be guiding Paul in verses 7-13? What are some circumstances in which that principle can be applied in our day and time?

Day 9:  Read 1 Corinthians 9:1-27.

1.      What rights do apostles have in Paul's opinion? What application would that have for our treatment of ministers today?

2.      What "right" that Paul has does he avoid using? Why? What priorities in our ministries are more important than our rights?

3.      What "rights" that we have might put an obstacle or hindrance in the way of the gospel? What changes in lifestyle and attitudes could you make not to cause obstacles or hindrances?

4.      Take Paul's words, "I have become all things to all people, that I might save some," as your motto. What specific applications would it have in your life if you were to develop it for your context like Paul did for his in verses 19-23?

Day 10:  Read 1 Corinthians 10:1-33.

1.      Verses 6 and 11 describe Israel as an example for us. What can we learn from the mistakes of the Israelites?

2.      What specific things does the context suggest we should watch out for to keep from falling as verse 12 warns us?

3.      Verse 14 commands us to flee idolatry. What kinds of idolatry does our culture practice that we should flee? In what specific areas of life do you find it easy to fall into idolatry? How can you flee?

4.      Eating meat offered to idols demonstrated allegiance to demons according to verse 20. What activities demonstrate allegiance to evil in our society? On Paul's logic why must Christians not participate in such activities?

5.      Verse 23 states that all things are lawful but all things are not beneficial. What are some examples of behavior that might not end one's Christian life, but they do not help one live a better Christian life?

 

Day 11:  Read 1 Corinthians 11:1-34.

1.      How would you feel about telling others to imitate you as Paul did in 11:1? What things in your life might need to change so others could imitate you as you imitate Christ? Prayer and ask God to help you make those changes.

2.      In verse 2 Paul commends the Corinthians for maintaining the traditions he had taught them. What are the values of traditions about Christian behavior? What are the dangers of such traditions?

3.      Would your understanding of verse 3 be changed if the words "head of" meant "source of" rather than "superior to?" Which meaning best explains the three relationships mentioned in verse 3? Why?

4.      What is the problem at the Lord's Supper in Corinth? Why does Paul describe it as despising or showing contempt for the church?

 

Day 12:  Read 1 Corinthians 12:1-31.

1.      What spiritual gifts or manifestations of the Spirit described in verse 8-10 did the Corinthians possess? Did the Corinthians have trouble "handling" some of these gifts? If so, which ones and why?

2.      What is the role of the Holy Spirit in verses 4-13? What spiritual gift(s) or manifestation(s) of the Spirit do you believe you have received? What have you done with these gifts?

3.      What does Paul's teaching about the body of Christ say about the importance of each person in the church? What patterns and habits in the life of the church undermine this teaching? What can you do about it?

Day 13:  Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-13.

 

1.      What do each of verses 1-3 say about motivation? What are some false motivations that could lead a person to take the actions described in verse 3? How can we tell whether one's motivation is really love?

2.      Take the statements of verses 4 and 5 and describe how they would apply in one of the important relationships of your life.

3.      Take the statements of verses 6 and 7 and describe how they would apply in one of the important relationships of your life.

4.      Who has come the closest to living out these verses toward you personally? What factor(s) enabled that person to demonstrate such love for you? What changes do you need to experience to demonstrate this kind of love for others?

5.      What is taught about eternity in verses 8-10? How does that help you apply 1 Corinthians 12:31 to your own life?

6.      What is the most important truth of 1 Corinthians 13 for you? Why is it so important? What spiritual growth is the Holy Spirit calling for from you out of this chapter?

Day 14:  Read 1 Corinthians 14:1-40.

1.      What primary goal for the church does Paul promote in verses 1-5? In the life of your local church what ministries would best contribute to the "upbuilding" or "edification" of that congregation?

2.      What does Paul say about the importance of the mind in worship according to verses 14-16? What application would you make for the way the mind is used and involved in worship today?

3.      What concern for outsiders and unbelievers appear in verses 13-25? What principle guides Paul's instructions on this subject? How should we apply that same principle to our worship to day?

4.      What instructions does Paul give for structuring the worship service in verses 26-33? Why does he instruct in this way?

 

Day 15:  Read 1 Corinthians 15:1-34.

1.      How does Paul describe the "gospel" or "good news" that he proclaimed to the Corinthians? Are there any elements that are not part of your concept of the gospel? If so what are they?

2.      According to verses 9-10 what did the grace of God make possible in Paul's life? What has the grace of God made possible in your life? What is the grace of God now making possible in your life?

3.      Paul claims that Christian faith is worthless if Christ was not raised. Why wouldn't Christianity be valuable if all we had were Christ's teachings and knew nothing of his death and resurrection?

4.      What elements of verses 20-28 are already accomplished? What elements are still to be accomplished in the future?

5.      How does verse 33 relate to verses 29-32? How does verse 33 relate to verse 34? What does Paul really want from the Corinthians at this point?

Day 16:  Read 1 Corinthians 15:35-58.

1.      Do verses 35-49 teach varying degrees of glory in heaven for different saints? If so, how is this taught? If not, what is the point of the verses dealing with glory?

2.      What contrasts does Paul draw in verses 42-49 between a natural body and a resurrection body? Summarize his point in your own words.

3.      What conclusions can you draw about Paul's view of sin and its place in the life of a believer from verses 50-58?

4.      What conclusion or practical life application should faith in the resurrection lead us to?

 

Day 17:  Read 1 Corinthians 16:1-24.

1.      What instructions does Paul give regarding the collection? What do you find especially practical about his instructions?

2.      Summarize the message of verses 13-14 in your own words. What is the most important part of this instruction?

3.      What is the point of verse 16? How would it be applied today? Specifically, how could it be applied in your own life?

 

Questions modified from the source below. Some questions were omitted and some were reworded.

 

Haan, Roger.  “First Corinthians Bible Study.”  CRI/Voice Institute.  c2006, Christian Resource Institute.  7 December 2006.  <http://www.cresourcei.org/biblestudy/bb1cor.html>.