1 Corinthians CommentaryThe Bible Says Commentary on 1 Corinthians

Authored by the Apostle Paul around the mid-50s AD, 1 Corinthians was a letter addressed to the church in Corinth, a significant city located in southern Greece. Corinth’s strategic position between the Saronic and Corinthian gulfs made it a bustling commercial hub that attracted people from various backgrounds, resulting in a diverse and often divided community. Paul, writing during his ministry in Ephesus, intended to guide this fledgling congregation back toward unity and holiness in the midst of internal conflict and moral challenges.

The challenges faced by the Corinthian church included divisions based on allegiance to different church leaders, moral infractions, and controversies over spiritual gifts. Paul urged believers to abandon divisions and focus on the central truth of the gospel, famously reminding them, “For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). In emphasizing Christ’s sacrifice, Paul sought to bring the community back to the foundational message of unity under the lordship of Jesus, rather than personal loyalties to individual teachers.

Another major theme Paul addressed was the importance of love and proper conduct within the Christian community. He urged believers to exercise spiritual gifts not for personal glorification but for building up the body of Christ. In his discourse on love, Paul taught that every noble deed springs from a heart aligned with Christlike compassion, culminating in his profound statement, “But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13).

Finally, 1 Corinthians tackles the doctrine of the resurrection. Paul emphasized that the resurrection of Jesus Christ forms the very foundation of Christian hope, assuring believers both of God’s power and of life beyond death. He taught that Christ’s victory over death guarantees a future resurrection for all who belong to Him, encouraging the church to stand firm in their faith: “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57). Overall, 1 Corinthians stands as a timeless appeal for believers to pursue unity, holiness, and unwavering devotion to the gospel of Christ.