What kind of letter was 1 Corinthians?

Paul's first letter to the Corinthians was a letter of reproof and correction, not a letter of commendation for the most part. It addressed grief-causing issues in the assembly, such as the situation in chapter 5, and served to correct the church rather than praise it.

Les explains that in Corinthians, Paul is following up his first letter, which was a letter of reproof and correction, not a letter of commendation for the most part. Les notes that 2 Corinthians is a follow-up letter, and Paul is first and foremost defending his apostleship because of snide remarks coming out of Corinth that attacked the apostles. Les also points back to the gentleman who caused so much grief in 1 Corinthians chapter 5. He reminds the audience to determine to whom a portion of Scripture is written, what the circumstances are, and who is writing it.

What is the overall subject of the book of 1 Corinthians?

First Corinthians deals basically with the problems that were besetting the Corinthian church. These included their practice of the Lord's Table, eating meats offered to idols, and believers going to law against one another in pagan courts. Paul addresses these congregational issues throughout the letter.