In this introduction to 1 Corinthians, we'll take a look at the history of Corinth and Paul's time there teaching the word of God.

The wisdom of the world and the wisdom of God are compared and contrasted. In many cases, the wisdom of God is completely opposite from the common assumptions on how to treat enemies, how to deal with loneliness and how to find meaning in life. The role of the Holy Spirit includes helping us understand the Bible, how to pray and transforming us from the inside out.

Paul explains to the Christians in Corinth the difference between Christians that are infants and those who are spiritually mature, and what characterizes each of them.

Paul addresses the divisiveness and factions that have formed in the church at Corinth and provides them with two metaphors, explaining how they are to work together as one unit so that they will receive a reward from God.

Paul offers a perspective on Christian leadership, which often stands in contrast with how leadership is understood and perceived by people. Christian leaders are to be primarily servants of Christ, careful with the truth and resources with which they've been entrusted. As a leader, Paul knows God's judgement is the only one that matters, and that his purpose is to give his life away in service to both non-Christians and Christians.

In Chapter 5 of 1 Corinthians Paul begins to get into the issues of this group and at the heart of it is the wisdom of the world versus the backward wisdom of God. Specifically, the wisdom of God applied to the area of "tough love".

God's wisdom offers ways to deal with conflict in a healthy way. In this teaching, we'll look at 5 steps to resolving conflict.

People have tried to define love in many different ways, but God's love, as laid out in the Bible, completely transcends all human ideas or expressions of love. Paul's message of the centrality of others-centered love in the Christian life, and what that looks like, is every bit as relevant today as it was to the Corinthian church.

The Corinthian Church's meetings were chaotic and uninviting, with believers talking over one another, eager to exercise their own spiritual gifts. Paul admonishes the church to be orderly and to focus on what is beneficial to everyone, and to use individual gifts to build others up. Though the cultural context is different, the principles Paul sets forth are very much applicable to the church today.

Paul corrects the false teaching going around the Corinthian Church, that Jesus did not rise from the dead. Strong evidence for the resurrection is the basis for the faith and hope of all Christians, from the early church to the present day.

Being immersed in the Greek philosophies of Platonism and dualism, the Corinthian church had serious misconceptions of the afterlife, many of which persist for us today. Paul assures us that Heaven will be a real, physical place and that we will have physical resurrected bodies. It will not be otherworldly, but familiar, retaining all the best things about life here on Earth, including relationships, learning, memories, and travel.

Paul gives the Corinthian church principles for financial giving, in keeping with God's heart for the poor. These same principles may be applied to Christian finances today.