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Corinthians, First Epistle to the: Was written from Ephesus
(1 Corinthians 16:8) about the time of the Passover
in the third year of the apostle's sojourn there
(Acts 19:10; 20:31)
and when he had formed the purpose to visit Macedonia, and then
return to Corinth (probably A.D. 57) The news which had reached him,
however, from Corinth frustrated his plan. He had heard of the abuses
and contentions that had arisen among them, first from Apollos
(Acts 19:1) and then from a letter they had written him on the
subject, and also from some of the "household of Chloe," and from
Stephanas and his two friends who had visited him
(1 Corinthians 1:11; 16:17)
Paul thereupon wrote this letter, for the purpose of checking the
factious spirit and correcting the erroneous opinions that had sprung
up among them, and remedying the many abuses and disorderly practices
that prevailed. Titus and a brother whose name is not given were
probably the bearers of the letter
(2 Corinthians 2:13; 8:6,16-18) The epistle
may be divided into four parts:
1. The apostle deals with the subject of the lamentable divisions
and party strifes that had arisen among them
(1 Corinthians 1:1-4:21)
2. He next treats of certain cases of immorality that had become
notorious among them. They had apparently set at nought the very
first principles of morality (
(1 Corinthians 5:1-6:20))
3. In the third part he discusses various questions of doctrine and
of Christian ethics in reply to certain communications they had
made to him. He especially rectifies certain flagrant abuses
regarding the celebration of the Lord's supper (
(1 Corinthians 7:1-14:40))
4. The concluding part (
(1 Corinthians 15:1-16:24)) contains an elaborate
defense of the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead, which
had been called in question by some among them, followed by
some general instructions, intimations, and greetings.
This epistle "shows the powerful self-control of the apostle in spite
of his physical weakness, his distressed circumstances, his incessant
troubles, and his emotional nature. It was written, he tells us, in
bitter anguish, 'out of much affliction and pressure of heart and
with streaming eyes'
(2 Corinthians 2:4) yet he restrained the expression of
his feelings, and wrote with a dignity and holy calm which he thought
most calculated to win back his erring children. It gives a vivid
picture of the early church. It entirely dissipates the dream that the
apostolic church was in an exceptional condition of holiness of life or
purity of doctrine." The apostle in this epistle unfolds and applies
great principles fitted to guide the church of all ages in dealing with
the same and kindred evils in whatever form they may appear. This is
one of the epistles the authenticity of which has never been called in
question by critics of any school, so many and so conclusive are the
evidences of its Pauline origin. The subscription to this epistle
states erroneously in the Authorized Version that it was written at
Philippi. This error arose from a mistranslation of
(1 Corinthians 16:5) "For
I do pass through Macedonia," which was interpreted as meaning, "I am
passing through Macedonia." In
(1 Corinthians 16:8) he declares his intention
of remaining some time longer in Ephesus. After that, his purpose is to
"pass through Macedonia."
