I Corinthians

Outline of 1 Corinthians

I. Introduction (1:1–9)

• Greeting (1:1–3)
• Thanksgiving for the Church (1:4–9)

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

• Call for Unity (1:10–17)

• The Wisdom of God vs. the Wisdom of the World (1:18–2:16)

  • The message of the cross
  • Spiritual wisdom revealed by the Spirit

• Servants of Christ and God's Field/Building (3:1–23)

  • Church as God’s temple

• The Role of Apostles (4:1–21)

  • Paul’s defense of his apostleship

III. Moral and Ethical Issues (5:1–6:20)

• Sexual Immorality in the Church (5:1–13)

  • Instructions on church discipline

• Lawsuits Among Believers (6:1–11)

• Fleeing Sexual Immorality (6:12–20)

  • The body as a temple of the Holy Spirit

IV. Marriage and Christian Freedom (7:1–11:1)

• Principles of Marriage (7:1–40)

  • Celibacy, marriage, divorce, and remarriage

• Food Offered to Idols (8:1–11:1)

  • Conscience and Christian liberty
  • Paul's example of self-denial (ch. 9)
  • Warning from Israel’s history (ch. 10)

V. Worship and Church Order (11:2–14:40)

• Head Coverings and Gender Roles (11:2–16)

• The Lord’s Supper (11:17–34)

  • Warnings against abuse of the practice

• Spiritual Gifts and Unity (12:1–31)

• The Way of Love (Chapter 13)

• Orderly Worship and Speaking in Tongues (14:1–40)

VI. The Resurrection (15:1–58)

• The Resurrection of Christ (15:1–11)
• The Resurrection of the Dead (15:12–34)
• The Nature of the Resurrection Body (15:35–49)
• Victory Over Death (15:50–58)

VII. Final Instructions and Closing (16:1–24)

• Collection for the Saints (16:1–4)
• Plans and Greetings (16:5–24)