advice concerning marriage and celibacy without binding the conscience (having "no commandment
of the Lord," 7:25); discusses the question of meat sacrificed to idols, on which Jewish and Gentile
Christians, scrupulous and liberal brethren, were divided; enjoins the temporal support of the
ministry as a Christian duty of gratitude for greater spiritual mercies received; guards against
improprieties of dress; explains the design and corrects the abuses of the Lord’s Supper; and gives
the fullest exposition of the doctrine of the resurrection on the basis of the resurrection of Christ
and his personal manifestations to the disciples, and last, to himself at his conversion. Dean Stanley
says of this Epistle that it "gives a clearer insight than any other portion of the New Testament into
the institutions, feelings and opinions of the church of the earlier period of the apostolic age. It is
in every sense the earliest chapter of the history of the Christian church." The last, however, is not
quite correct. The Corinthian chapter was preceded by the Jerusalem and Antioch chapters.
Leading Thoughts: Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you (1 Cor. 1:13)? It was
God’s pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching [not through foolish preaching] to save
them that believe (1:21). We preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto
Gentiles foolishness, but unto them that are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God,
and the wisdom of God (1:24). I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus, and him
crucified (2:2). The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God (2:14). Other foundation
can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ (3:11). Know ye not that ye are a
temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man destroy the temple of God,
him shall God destroy (3:16, 17). Let a man so account of ourselves as of ministers of Christ, and
stewards of the mysteries of God (4:1). The kingdom of God is not in word, but in power (4:20).
Purge out the old leaven (5:7). All things are lawful for me; but not all things are expedient (6:12).
Know ye not that your bodies are members of Christ (6:15)? Flee fornication (6:18). Glorify God
in your body (6:20). Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but the keeping of
the commandments of God (7:19). Let each man abide in that calling wherein he was called (7:20).
Ye were bought with a price; become not bondservants of men (7:23). Take heed lest this liberty
of yours become a stumbling block to the weak (8:9). If meat [or wine] maketh my brother to
stumble, I will eat no flesh [and drink no wine] for evermore, that I make not my brother to stumble
(8:13). They who proclaim the gospel shall live of the gospel (9:14). Woe is unto me if I preach
not the gospel (9:16). I am become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some (9:22).
Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall (10:12). All things are lawful, but all things
are not expedient. Let no man seek his own, but each his neighbor’s good (10:23). Whosoever shall
eat the bread or drink the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and
the blood of the Lord ... He that eateth and drinketh eateth and drinketh judgment unto himself if
he discern (discriminate) not the body (11:27–29). There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit
(12:4). Now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love (13:13). Follow
after love (14:1). Let all things be done unto edifying (14:26). By the grace of God I am what I am
(15:9). If Christ hath not been raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins (15:17). As in Adam
all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive (15:22). God shall be all in all (15:28). If there is a
natural body, there is also a spiritual body (15:44). This corruptible must put on incorruption, and
this mortal must put on immortality (15:54). Be ye steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the
work of the Lord (15:58). Upon the first day in the week let each one of you lay by him in store,
as he may prosper (16:2). Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Let all that
ye do be done in love (16:13, 14.).A.D. 1-100.