Pauls First Letter to the Corinthians. (1 Corinthians 1: 1-3)

Jul 14, 2025

Delve into the Apostle Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, a pivotal guide for today's chaotic world. Discover how this ancient message tackles issues of division and moral struggles, reminding us of the grace that saves and transforms. Explore the context of Corinth—a city rich in culture yet rife with challenges—and how Paul addressed these with compassion. This insightful journey encourages living a Christ-focused life and highlights the importance of community and unity among believers.

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INSIGHT

Gospel Relevance for Today's Church

1 Corinthians speaks into the disorder of a church and a fractured world today.
Paul points the church back to Christ crucified, risen, and glorified as central.

INSIGHT

Practical Theology in 1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians bridges theological depth and personal, practical church life.
It addresses divisions, pride, sexuality, worship, and more amid everyday church realities.

INSIGHT

Grace Reaches Messy Places

Corinth was a corrupt, cosmopolitan city known for moral laxity.
Yet God planted a church there, showing no place is too far gone for grace.

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Series: 1 Corinthians — A Letter for Our Time

Welcome to The Bible Project Daily Podcast. I’m Jeremy McCandless, and today we launch a brand new season as we begin our study through the Apostle Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians—chapter by chapter, verse by verse.

Corinth was a messy church in a broken world. Sound familiar? That’s why this letter matters so much—because it speaks directly into the kind of cultural confusion and spiritual compromise we face today.

Over the next approx 40 episodes, we’ll explore what it means to live a cross-shaped life, how to pursue unity in a divided age, and why the resurrection changes everything.

Let’s begin this journey—together—to Corinth.

📌 Episode Notes

Title: Introduction and Overview
Text: 1 Corinthians 1:1–3
Theme: The Gospel Brings Order to a Disordered Church

Episode Summary:
In this opening episode, we set the stage for our new study in 1 Corinthians. Corinth was a city of wealth, culture, and corruption—and the church Paul planted there mirrored many of its problems. But Paul doesn’t give up on them. Instead, he writes a bold and pastoral letter calling them (and us) back to Christ.

We explore:

Why Paul wrote this letter and when
The moral and spiritual challenges facing the Corinthian church
The message, structure, and purpose of the letter
Why this epistle is especially vital for the modern church

Key Message:
The grace that saves us must also shape us.

Key Verse:

“To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people…” — 1 Corinthians 1:2

Outline of the Letter (Preview):

Divisions and Unity (Ch. 1–4)
Church Discipline and Moral Issues (Ch. 5–6)
Marriage and Singleness (Ch. 7)
Christian Freedom and Conscience (Ch. 8–10)
Worship and the Lord’s Supper (Ch. 11)
Spiritual Gifts and Church Order (Ch. 12–14)
The Resurrection (Ch. 15)
Final Instructions (Ch. 16)

Application:
As we journey through 1 Corinthians, we’ll see that gospel transformation doesn’t just change what we believe—it reshapes how we live together as God’s people.

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