1 Corinthians

As we dive into a study of the book of First Corinthians, we are learning about a culture that admired academics, philosophers, and educators. Since the Corinthians loved human teachers so much, a daunting problem bubbled to the surface. A celebrity-preacher fascination led to an unhealthy obsession with human teachers rather than the Great Teacher—Jesus. This preoccupation with people over Christ caused division in the church. Paul wanted to remind them that their divisions and quarrels over human leaders were childish and dangerous.

Corinth had a reputation for being a party town due to its strategic position on Rome’s primary trade port and the Temple of Aphrodite overlooking the city. Travelers would arrive; then, the party would start. Unfortunately, the sinful culture of Corinth began to seep into the church and corrupt the Christians. This led Paul to write the next section of First Corinthians, which is wild to read. The Corinthians needed to get a refresher on their redemption story. They had lost their grasp of the Gospel, and it was showing in their lifestyle. Paul needed them to see that Jesus had set them free so they could show His love, spread His message, and serve His people.

The church in Corinth had a large number of new believers and converts, many of whom were fighting the temptations of the sinful Corinthian culture to maintain their newfound holiness and separate themselves from their past. Meanwhile, mature believers from Jewish backgrounds had a lot more context for how to live a holy lifestyle than the Gentile believers who converted from idol worship. This tension sparked judgment. To prevent these weaker believers from falling into destructive patterns and sinful behaviors, Paul emphasizes the importance of love. By prioritizing love for others above personal freedoms, the Corinthians could avoid becoming stumbling blocks or obstacles to their fellow believers’ growth.

The Corinthian church had allowed self-seeking vanity to get in the way of its worship. Let’s keep this simple. Our worship isn’t about how we look but about who we’re worshipping and how we’re living. Paul argued, “If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:2). He was saying that it didn’t matter if you can preach with power or have faith that moves mountains if you refuse to love your neighbor. Talk about a gut check. He was saying that the Corinthians’ obsession with being the most spiritual made them miss what was pivotal—love.