The major problem Paul addressed was gross immorality — specifically, a case of fornication so severe it was not even named among the Gentiles.
Les Feldick teaches that the Corinthian church was 'beset with gross immorality,' a problem Paul had to confront directly in 1 Corinthians 5 (Clip 1, Clip 4). Corinth was the most lascivious and morally corrupt city in the Roman Empire, and these were recent converts from that pagan background (Clip 2, Clip 4). While the congregation also struggled with divisions, lawsuits, and disorder from tongues, Les singles out the moral problem as serious enough to demand Paul's rebuke (Clip 5, Clip 7).
1 Corinthians 5:1 — This is the passage where Paul directly confronts the gross immorality in the Corinthian church — the major problem.
1 Corinthians 1:11-12 — These verses describe the four-way division in the church, which Les identifies as the first problem Paul dealt with.
Paul's first letter to the Corinthians confronts a congregation compromised by carnality. The most serious offense is gross immorality: 'It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife' (1 Corinthians 5:1). This sin was so scandalous that it was not even named among the pagans. The letter also addresses divisions: 'Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you' (1 Corinthians 1:10). Paul asks, 'Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?' (1 Corinthians 6:1), rebuking lawsuits among believers. He also answers their questions about 'things offered unto idols' (1 Corinthians 8:1) and corrects the disorder connected with speaking in tongues (1 Corinthians 14). The Corinthians themselves wrote to Paul with these questions (1 Corinthians 7:1), and his response was a letter of reproof and instruction.
Les Feldick teaches that the Corinthian church was 'beset with all kinds of problems' and was the most carnal congregation Paul ever dealt with. Because these believers had 'just recently come out of such a pagan background,' they had not grown spiritually and did not become spiritual giants overnight (Clip 2, Clip 3). Les stresses that Corinth itself was 'probably the most lascivious, the most immoral, the most wicked, morally corrupt city in the Roman Empire,' and that moral corruption carried into the church (Clip 4). When answering what Paul addressed, Les lists multiple problems: divisions over leaders, believers suing each other in pagan courts, gross immorality in the church, and the tongues phenomena that upset the local church (Clip 1). The four-way division was the first problem — some said they followed Paul, others Apollos, others Peter, and others Christ (Clip 3, Clip 7). But Les also emphasizes the church had a serious moral problem: gross immorality, which he specifies as the issue in 1 Corinthians chapter 5 (Clip 4, Clip 5). Paul's first letter was 'a constant upbraiding and reproving' of their carnality (Clip 7). Yet when Titus returned, he brought a report that the Corinthians still loved Paul and were speaking well of him, which greatly encouraged the apostle (Clip 0).
Les Feldick lists several problems Paul had to address in 1 Corinthians: divisions over which leader to follow (Paul, Apollos, Peter, or Christ), believers suing one another in pagan courts, and the tongues phenomenon that caused disorder and upset the function of the local church (Clip 1). In addition, the Corinthians had written to Paul asking about things offered to idols (Clip 6) and other questions, which Paul answers one by one (Clip 2).
Les explains that the Corinthians had just recently come out of a deeply pagan background and could not all of a sudden become spiritual giants (Clip 2). Corinth itself was the most lascivious, immoral, and morally corrupt city in the Roman Empire, and that environment shaped the church (Clip 4). Of all the churches Paul started, none was as carnal and as filled with problems as the Corinthian church; they were not a spiritual church like Ephesus or Philippi (Clip 3, Clip 6).
Paul had written a letter to the Corinthians in which he 'dressed them down severely,' and he had heard reports coming from the Corinthian congregation that were against him and condemning him (Clip 0). But when Titus arrived, he brought nothing but good things — the Corinthians were saying good things about Paul and still loved him. Les notes how human Paul was, and how thrilled he was by the Corinthians' continued affection (Clip 0).
Corinthians' Response After Paul's Rebuke
Les shows that despite Paul's severe letter, Titus brought a report that the Corinthians still loved Paul and were speaking well of him, which greatly encouraged the apostle.
Paul's Catalogue of Corinthian Problems
Les lists the problems Paul dealt with: divisions over leaders, believers suing one another in pagan courts, gross immorality in the church, and the tongues phenomenon that disrupted the local church.
Recent Converts Writing With Questions
Les explains the Corinthians had just come out of paganism and wrote Paul a letter with a whole series of questions, which he answers one by one.
A Carnal Church Divided Over Leaders
Les describes the Corinthians as still carnal — unlike the spiritual churches at Ephesus and Philippi — with divisions over following Paul, Apollos, Peter, or Christ.
Corinth's Moral Corruption and Gross Immorality
Les emphasizes that Corinth was the most lascivious, wicked, and morally corrupt city in the Roman Empire, and that the church itself was beset with gross immorality, as seen in 1 Corinthians 5.
Moral Problems Beyond the Divisions
Les shows that divisions were not the Corinthians' only problem — they also had serious moral problems and problems of relationship within the church family.
The Most Carnal Church Paul Dealt With
Les stresses that none of Paul's churches was as carnal and problem-filled as Corinth, including their questions about eating meat offered to idols.
Four Divisions and Paul's Constant Upbraiding
Les describes the four-way split in the small congregation — following Christ, Peter, Apollos, or Paul — and says Paul's first letter was a constant upbraiding of their carnality.
1 Corinthians 5:1: It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.
Paul directly confronts the gross immorality in the Corinthian church — the major problem Les Feldick highlights.
1 Corinthians 1:10: Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
Paul opens his letter by commanding the Corinthians to end their divisions, the first problem Les identifies.
1 Corinthians 1:12: Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
This verse describes the four-way split among the Corinthian believers that Les Feldick emphasizes.
1 Corinthians 6:1: Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?
Paul rebukes the Corinthians for taking disputes between believers into pagan courts.
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 verse shows the Corinthians had written Paul a letter with questions, which he answers point by point.
1 Corinthians 8:1: Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
Paul answers the Corinthians' question about eating meat offered to idols, one of the issues Les mentions.
1 Corinthians 14:33: For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
Paul corrects the disorder connected with the tongues phenomenon that Les says had upset the local church.
According to Les Feldick, the major problem was gross immorality — a fornication so severe that Paul said it was not even named among the Gentiles (1 Corinthians 5:1). The believers at Corinth, recently converted out of the most morally corrupt city in the Roman Empire, brought that carnality into the church.
Yes. Les Feldick lists divisions over leaders (Paul, Apollos, Peter, and Christ), believers suing one another in pagan courts, and the tongues phenomenon causing disorder in the assembly. The Corinthians also wrote to Paul asking about things offered to idols.
Les teaches that the Corinthians had just recently come out of a pagan background and could not suddenly become spiritual giants. Of all the churches Paul started, Corinth was the most carnal and problem-filled, and Paul's first letter was a constant upbraiding of their carnality.
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