1 Corinthians Outline

Christ as Seen in 1 Corinthians:

The centrality of Christ as the essence, source, and means of the Christian life is stated in 1:30, “of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us the wisdom of God: both righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption” (my translation).

Outline:

I. Introduction (1:1-9)

A. The Salutation (1:1-3)

B. The Prayer of Thanks (1:4-9)

II. Divisions in the Church (1:10–4:21)

A. The Report of Divisions (1:10-17)

B. The Reasons for Divisions (1:18–2:16)

1. Misunderstanding of God’s message of the cross (1:18–2:5)

2. Misunderstanding of the Spirit’s ministry (2:6-16)

C. The Result of Divisions (3:1–4:5)

1. Spiritual growth is hampered (3:1-9)

2. Rewards are lost (3:10–4:5)

D. The Design and Example of Paul (4:6-21)

III. Moral Disorders in the Church (5:1–6:20)

A. The Case of Incest (5:1-13)

B. The Problem of Litigation in Heathen Courts (6:1-8)

C. The Warning Against Moral Laxity (6:9-20)

IV. Instructions Concerning Marriage (7:1-40)

A. Marriage and Celibacy (7:1-9)

B. Marriage and Divorce (7:10-24)

C. Marriage and Christian Service (7:25-38)

D. Marriage and Remarriage (7:39-40)

V. Instructions Concerning Food Offered to Idols (8:1–11:1)

A. Question: May a Christian Eat Food Consecrated to a Pagan God? (8:1-13)

B. Example of Paul (9:1-27)

C. Exhortations (10:1–11:1)

VI. Instructions Concerning Public Worship (11:2–14:40)

A. The Covering of Women (11:2-16)

B. The Lord’s Supper (11:17-34)

C. The Use of Spiritual Gifts (12:1–14:40)

1. The varieties of gifts (12:1-11)

2. The purpose of gifts: unity in diversity (12:12-31)

3. The supremacy of love over gifts (13:1-13)

4. The superiority of prophecy over tongues (14:1-25)

5. The regulations for the use of gifts (14:26-40)

VII. The Doctrine of the Resurrection (15:1-58)

A. The Importance of the Resurrection (15:1-11)

B. The Consequences of Denying the Resurrection (15:12-19)

C. The Christian Hope (15:20-34)

D. The Resurrection Body (15:35-50)

E. The Christian’s Victory Through Christ (15:51-58)

VIII. The Collection for Jerusalem (16:1-4)

IX. Conclusion (16:5-24)