Session 1 – Introduction and 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
Summary: 1 Corinthians is a letter written by the Apostle Paul to the church in Corinth,
Greece. This church was well-known and loved deeply, but it becomes clear
through this letter that this church had a lot of issues. Division, immorality, lack
of love, disorder, and false teachings all characterized this new Christian
community. Out of his love and concern for these brothers and sisters in Christ,
Paul writes a challenging and thorough letter to urge the Corinthian believers to
live a holy life.
Corinth was a diverse and prosperous city. The issues the Corinthian believers were
dealing with could have been influenced by their cultural environment and their human
nature needing to be transformed.
Despite all the problems the church in Corinth had, Paul begins his letter with a
celebration of God’ s grace.
Clues to later themes found in 1 Corinthians:
● Verse 5 -
● Verse 6 -
● Verse 7 -
● Verse 8 -
A core idea in Paul’s introduction that sets the stage for the whole letter: made holy to
live holy.
Out of what God has done in saving us in Christ, we live dedicated to him.
Questions for Reflection/Discussion:
-What comes to your mind when you hear the word “holy
”?
-What does it mean that, regardless of our behavior, in Christ we have been made
holy?
-What are some ways you can live a more holy life?
