Overview of the Problems the Corinthians Faced

Considerable: Pauls Message, Jesus as the crucified Christ

Ephesus another large urban area - evidently wester portio n of asia minor modern day turkey - from there he wrote 1 corin (16:8 ) Timothy & Silvanus had apparently departed form him already , forgo her worte the letter not with them but wth Sosthenes who is otherwise mentions in the new testament as the ruler of the Jesus syn in Corin and a converter to Paul's Gospel

Problems in the Corinthian church forced Paul to write letters addressing the issues within the church that he thought to be incorrect. The people that Paul wrote to in his letters had personal conflicts with themselves, ethical issues, claimed speak prophecies, make proclamations in languages that they didn't even understand (show divinity), and during their community meals members of the community were rude, sexually promiscuous and seemed to have forgotten their beliefs. These issues can be divided into six parts: (1:1-9), Thanksgiving, Division in Corinth (1:10-4:21), Immorality in Corinth (5:1- 6:20), Difficulties in Corinth (7:1- 14:40), Doctrine of Resurrection (15:1- 58) and the Closing (16:1-24).

Preacher John from Corinth, to God's chosen Apostle Paul. I pray for the people of Corinth, your physical condition, good fortune and prosperity to your selected destinations. I'm hoping that God our father and the Lord send you peace and tranquility for the duration of your long travels. The places that you journey through have been chosen by God for you to aid because "he made you holy by means of Christ Jesus, just as he did for all people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor 1: 3-7). The community does not need proof of a new belief forgot the teachings that it was established upon As a chosen Apostle of Christ and the founder of three successful communities I am very confident that you will address the problems need the most voice.

Problems in the community: 228

1. Riddled with problems involving interpersonal conflicts and ethical improprieties

2. Some of his members were at each others throats claiming spiritual superiority over one another and trying to establish it through ecstatic acts during the course of worship services

3. Different members of the community would speak prophecies and make proclamations in languages that no one else (including themselves) knew, trying to surpass one another in demonstrating their abilities to speak in divinely inspired tongues.

4. One-upmanship had evidently manifested itself outside the worship service as well

Some people had grown embittered enough to take others to court (over what, we are not told).

5. In addition, the personal conduct of community members was not at all what Paul had in mine when he led them away from what he viewed as their degenerate pasts into the church of Christ.

6. Periodic community meals: some of the men in the congregation had been frequenting prostitutes and didn't see why this should be a problem & one of them was sleeping with his stepmother (This was the community that Paul addressed as the "saints who are in Corinth" 1:2 One who wonders what the Corinthian sinners looked like

· Converts

o A majority of them were from the lower class, as he himself reminds them 1:26

o Different socio-economic levels. If we can assume that the upper class-es and

o that this led to some differences of opinion in community

The epistle may be divided into six parts:^[3]

1. Salutation (1:1-9)
   1. Paul addresses the issue regarding challenges to his apostleship and defends the issue by claiming that it was given to him through a revelation from Christ. The salutation acts as reinforcement the legitimacy of Paul's apostolic claim.
2. Thanksgiving
   1. The thanksgiving part of the letter is often used Hellenistic letter writing in which the writer thanks God for health, a safe journey, deliverance from danger, or good fortune.
   2. In this letter, the thanksgiving "introduces charismata and gnosis, topics to which Paul will return and that he will discuss at greater length later in the letter" (Roetzel, 1999).
3. Division in Corinth (1:10-4:21)
   1. Facts of division
   2. Causes of division
   3. Cure for division
4. Immorality in Corinth (5:1-6:20)
   1. Discipline an Immoral Brother
   2. Resolving personal disputes
   3. Sexual purity
5. Difficulties in Corinth (7:1-14:40)
   1. Marriage
   2. Christian liberty
   3. Worship
6. Doctrine of Resurrection (15:1-58)
7. Closing (16:1-24)
   1. Paul's closing remarks in his letters usually contain his intentions and efforts to improve the community. He would first conclude with his paraenesis and wish them peace by including a prayer request, greet them with his name and his friends with a holy kiss, and offer final grace and benediction:

"Now concerning the contribution for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia... All the brethren send greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss... I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. If any one has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen." (1 Cor. 16:1-24).

Works Cited

The New Oxford Annotated Bible:With the

Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books, New Revised Standard Version.

Michael D. Coogan, editor. New York: Oxford UP, 2001.