Paul wrote the Corinthian letters in response to questions and problems that the Corinthian believers had sent him in a letter.
In 1 Corinthians 7:1 and 8:1, Paul explicitly refers to "the things whereof ye wrote unto me" and "things offered unto idols," showing the letters answered the Corinthians' questions. Les Feldick teaches that these questions came from a congregation recently out of paganism that was the most carnal and least spiritual of all Paul's churches.
1 Corinthians 7:1 — Paul says, "Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me," directly identifying the letter as a response to what the Corinthians had written.
1 Corinthians 8:1 — Paul begins another topic with "Now as touching things offered unto idols," showing the Corinthians had asked about meat offered to idols.
First Corinthians points to its own occasion. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 7:1, "Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman." Then in 1 Corinthians 8:1 he says, "Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth." These verses show that Paul was answering specific matters the Corinthian congregation had raised in writing. Scripture also describes the people Paul was addressing. In 1 Corinthians 1:2 he writes to "the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints" and in 1 Corinthians 3:1 he says, "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ." The Bible itself therefore presents the Corinthians as saved saints who were still carnal.
Les Feldick teaches that Paul wrote the Corinthian letters because the Corinthian congregation sent him a letter full of questions. They had recently come out of paganism, had no background in Scripture, and were "as ignorant as ignorant could be," so they had a whole batch of questions about how to live as believers. Paul answers them one by one. Les repeatedly stresses the kind of congregation Paul was writing to: the most carnal, least spiritual of all the churches Paul had anything to do with. They were weak, carnal, fleshly believers, but they were still believers—saints in the Body of Christ. The letters must be read in that light. Paul also had to correct them for personality factions, lawsuits in pagan courts, and their questions about marriage and meat offered to idols.
In 1 Corinthians 7:1 and 8:1, Paul says "now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me" and "as touching things offered unto idols." Les Feldick explains that the Corinthian congregation sent Paul a letter listing a whole series of questions, and Paul answered them one by one. The questions came from believers recently out of paganism who had no Sunday school or catechism training and were often ignorant of basic spiritual matters.
Les Feldick stresses that Paul was not writing only to a select group of especially spiritual people. In 1 Corinthians 1:2 Paul addresses the church of God at Corinth, "them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints." Despite their hang-ups, shortcomings, and failures, the Corinthians were believers in the Body of Christ. Paul calls them carnal, babes in Christ in 1 Corinthians 3:1, but they were still believers.
Les says the Corinthian church was the most carnal and least spiritual of all the churches Paul had anything to do with. Among their problems were personality factions—some followed Paul, some Apollos—and believers taking each other to pagan courts. Paul also had to answer their questions about the marriage relationship and about meat offered to idols. Because the human race does not change, Les adds that the same problems still show up in churches and personal lives today.
Believers with Hang-Ups
Les shows that although the Corinthians were immature and had many shortcomings, Paul was writing to believers—"them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints."
A Letter of Questions
Les points to 1 Corinthians 7:1—"now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me"—as the proof that Paul's letter was prompted by a batch of questions from new believers just out of paganism.
Questions Answered One by One
Les explains that the Corinthian congregation actually wrote Paul a letter with a whole series of questions, and Paul spent the letter answering them one by one.
Most Carnal Church
Les says the entire first letter was a response to the congregation's questions and emphasizes that Corinth was the most carnal, least spiritual church Paul worked with.
Same Problems Today
Les notes that Paul was responding to the Corinthians' letter and that the same problems still exist today; he also observes from 1 Corinthians 5:9 that Paul evidently wrote more than just the two letters we have.
Chapters 7 and 8 Show Why Paul Wrote
Les uses 1 Corinthians 7:1 and 8:1 as the cause or reason for the Corinthian letters—questions about marriage relationships and meat offered to idols.
Carnal Yet Believers
Les says 1 Corinthians must be read as a letter to weak, carnal, fleshly believers who were nonetheless believers; Paul had to correct their personality factions and their use of pagan courts.
Meat Offered to Idols and Carnality
Les identifies the meat offered to idols as one of the Corinthians' written questions and again underscores that Corinth was the most problem-filled, carnal church of all.
1 Corinthians 7:1: Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
Paul explicitly identifies the occasion of his letter: the Corinthians had written to him.
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 second "now concerning" shows the Corinthians also asked about meat offered to idols.
1 Corinthians 1:2: Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
Paul's greeting confirms he was addressing believers who were sanctified in Christ and called saints.
1 Corinthians 3:1: And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
Paul tells the Corinthians they were carnal babes in Christ, needing milk rather than meat.
1 Corinthians 5:9: I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
Paul references an earlier epistle, which Les says indicates he wrote more letters than the two that survive.
Yes. First Corinthians 7:1 says, "Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me," and 1 Corinthians 8:1 shows another question about meat offered to idols. Les Feldick explains the Corinthian congregation sent Paul a letter with a whole series of questions, and Paul answered them one by one.
Yes. In 1 Corinthians 1:2 Paul addresses them as "them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints." Les Feldick stresses that even though they had hang-ups, shortcomings, and failures, they were still in the Body of Christ and were His own.
Les Feldick says the Corinthians had recently come out of paganism and had no Sunday school or catechism training. He describes them as the most carnal and least spiritual of all the churches Paul dealt with, which is why Paul wrote to them as babes in Christ who were not ready for the meat of the Word.
Watch the Teaching: Why Unbelievers Can't Understand the Bible — 1 Corinthians 2 Explained