1 Corinthians Introduction

Introduction

The book of Acts tells us how Paul preached the good news about Jesus the Messiah in northern Greece. But Paul had to leave that area quickly because it wasn’t safe. So he went to Achaia which is an area in southern Greece. Paul went to the city of Corinth where he would be safe. Corinth was a center for trade and business. It was a very wealthy city. While he was there, Paul began preaching the good news about Jesus. Many people became believers. So Paul stayed for one and a half years to teach them.

After he left, the people of Corinth wrote Paul a letter. We do not have that letter now. But we do know some of the questions that were in it. The people of Corinth had accepted a common Greek idea that physical things are bad. They thought that only things of the spirit or soul were good. They wanted to free the human spirit from the body. This idea affected the way the people of Corinth thought and behaved. It affected the way they thought about marriage. It affected how they thought about taking part in special meals offered to false gods. It even affected the way they thought about the resurrection of Jesus. Paul speaks about all of these things in his first letter to the Corinthians. Paul also answers questions about the true worship of God.

Paul tells the people of Corinth that this form of the world is passing away. He tells them to spend their time working for the Lord. Paul tells them that a new world is coming. They will rise from the dead. All this will make their work for the Lord worthwhile.

Paul’s advice to the people of Corinth is also helpful for us. Paul’s words can be used to guide us. They are useful as we daily seek to follow Jesus today.

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1 Corinthians Introduction: NIrV

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