What is the main theme of 1 Corinthians?
The main theme of 1 Corinthians is correction. The Apostle Paul writes to the congregation in the wicked, immoral, pagan, idolatrous city of Corinth, not to commend them but to correct their many problems. He addresses a congregation of weak, carnal, fleshly believers who nevertheless are believers.
Les teaches that the whole theme of 1 Corinthians is to correct problems. Paul writes to the congregation in Corinth, a wicked, immoral, pagan, idolatrous city, not to commend them but to correct them. They had many problems. He has to write to them as carnal babes, not ready for the meat of the word, because they were weak, carnal, fleshly believers—yet still believers. Among their problems, they picked personalities, saying they followed Peter or Apollos, and some said they would not go by Paul but by Jesus. They also went to pagan courts and sued one another, so Paul corrected them. Les emphasizes that knowing this background makes all the difference in understanding.