Paul's first letter to the Corinthians was primarily a letter of reproof and correction, written to a carnal church full of problems and in response to questions the Corinthians had sent him.
Les Feldick explains that the Corinthian church was the most carnal and least spiritual of all the churches under Paul's apostleship. Consequently, Paul had to get hard with them in 1 Corinthians, addressing a church full of problems. The epistle was also prompted by a letter of questions from the congregation, which themselves rested on problems.
1 Corinthians 7:1 — This verse reveals that the Corinthians had written to Paul with questions, showing the immediate occasion for the epistle.
1 Corinthians 8:1 — Another 'now concerning' question, this time about things offered to idols, continues the evidence that Paul was answering the congregation's written questions.
First Corinthians 7:1 begins, 'Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me,' immediately revealing that the epistle was prompted by a letter the Corinthian believers had sent to Paul. Chapter 8, verse 1 opens with another 'now as touching' question, 'things offered unto idols.' This repeated pattern shows that much of 1 Corinthians is Paul's written response to the Corinthians' own questions about practical issues in their assembly.
Les emphasizes that the Corinthian church was unlike any other congregation under Paul's apostleship. It was the most carnal and the least spiritual of all the churches Paul had anything to do with (Clip 5). Because of this, 1 Corinthians was not a letter of commendation; it was a letter of reproof and correction (Clip 1). Paul had to get rather hard with them (Clip 2). The believers were just recently out of paganism, with no Sunday school or catechism background, so they had a whole batch of questions (Clip 7). Those questions, Les says, were what prompted the epistle—First Corinthians 7:1 says 'Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me'—and every question rested on some problem in the church (Clips 4, 5). Les also shows the outcome: within about a year Paul wrote 2 Corinthians, and his attitude was completely different. The first letter had accomplished its work; the Corinthians dealt with the person involved in gross immorality, and Paul could now encourage and boast about them to the other churches (Clips 2, 3).
Les points to First Corinthians 7:1, 'Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me,' as the key clue: the Corinthians had written to Paul with questions. Chapter 8, verse 1 shows another question, this time about meat offered to idols (Clip 4). Les repeatedly says all these questions rested on problems in the church, and the believers were totally ignorant because they had just come out of paganism (Clips 5, 7).
Les calls the Corinthian church 'the most carnal' and 'the least spiritual' of all the churches Paul had anything to do with (Clip 5). He reminds readers that whenever you read the Bible, you must ask to whom a portion of Scripture is addressed; Corinthians was written to a carnal church (Clip 6). These were not mature believers—they were brand-new converts from paganism who did not have Sunday school or catechism training (Clip 7).
Les says that by the time Paul wrote the second letter, the first letter had accomplished its work. The Corinthians dealt with the person involved in gross immorality, and he was evidently back in the fellowship (Clip 2). Paul no longer had to condemn them; instead he encouraged them, exhorted them, and boasted about them to the churches in Achaia and Macedonia (Clip 3).
What Is Truth? Jesus Christ Explained Verse by Verse
now is the accepted time. Behold, now is the day of salvation. You remember back in Acts, I think it was King Agrippa who said, Well, Paul, you know, some other time when it's more convenient, come back and see me again. Well, you see, that is never the teaching of Scripture. The Scripture says, If you hear my voice, harden your heart.
1 Corinthians as Reproof and Correction
Les explicitly states that 1 Corinthians was a letter of reproof and correction, not a letter of commendation, directly identifying its main purpose.
The First Letter Accomplished Its Work
Les says Paul had to be hard with the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians, but by 2 Corinthians the first letter had accomplished its work—the gross immorality had been dealt with.
Second Corinthians Shows the Outcome
Les notes that within about a year Paul wrote 2 Corinthians with a whole different attitude—encouraging, exhorting, and boasting about the Corinthians, showing the first letter achieved its corrective purpose.
The Corinthians' Written Questions
Les shows from 1 Corinthians 7:1 that the Corinthians had written Paul a letter of questions, and those questions gave rise to the epistle.
A Carnal, Unspiritual Church
Les teaches the Corinthian church was the most carnal and least spiritual of Paul's churches, and that every question from the congregation rested on problems.
Remember to Whom the Letter Was Written
Les reminds students to always ask to whom a portion of Scripture is addressed, and he describes the Corinthian congregation as a carnal church.
New Believers Out of Paganism
Les says the letter was prompted by a whole batch of questions from believers who had recently come out of paganism and were 'as ignorant as ignorant could be,' showing why correction and instruction were needed.
1 Corinthians 7:1: Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
This opening verse identifies the Corinthians' written questions as the immediate prompt for Paul's epistle.
1 Corinthians 8:1: Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
This continues the 'now concerning' pattern, showing another question the Corinthians had raised, this time about meat offered to idols.
Les describes 1 Corinthians as a letter of reproof and correction, and notes that by the time Paul wrote 2 Corinthians the congregation had dealt with a person involved in gross immorality. But he also emphasizes the letter was prompted by a list of questions from the Corinthians, so it addressed many problems in the carnal church, not just immorality.
Yes. Les points to 1 Corinthians 7:1—'Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me'—and says the Corinthians sent Paul a letter filled with questions about things popping up in the church. Those questions, Les says, all rested on problems.
Les says within about a year Paul wrote 2 Corinthians, and he was encouraged because the first letter had accomplished its work. The Corinthian church dealt with the gross immorality, and Paul's second letter takes a whole different attitude—encouraging, exhorting, and boasting about them to other churches.
Watch the Teaching: What Is Truth? Jesus Christ Explained Verse by Verse