As we read the Bible, some of the most beneficial Scriptures are ones which were written in response to questions, doubts, and errors. Paul the Apostle wrote 1 Corinthians around 56 A.D. After starting the church in Corinth as told in Acts 18, Paul left and wrote the letter while in Ephesus. The letter of 1 Corinthians gives us valuable and practical instruction. Paul corrects a lot of the abuses and errors by laying out the truth in a simple, practical, and concise fashion. 

Corinth was a large city. It had two major sea ports and was an epicenter for commerce in Greece. It was an immoral and sinful city. The temple of Aphrodite was there, which was a house of prostitution, and evil sexual immorality.

The church was in the midst of a horrendous place of sin. The church had numerous difficulties. Like today, they encountered the temptations of sin and compromise. They were tempted of allowing the world to conform them into living a sinful lifestyle.

Paul received a letter from Chloe’s household which informed him of the sinful activity within the church. In response, Paul wrote the Corinthians to correct their sinful actions. The church was famous for divisions. Certain people began to idolize the Apostles and didn’t worship Christ correctly. There was little to no unity. Immorality ran rapid among the church. Sin and evil began to be worshiped and tolerated. They rejected Biblical spiritual purity. The Lord’s supper was misused and abused, as they used it as a time to get drunk and neglect the poor. People lacked spiritual discipline. The people misunderstood the resurrection of Jesus and the future resurrection of Christians. They were gifted people, yet they also abused the spiritual gifts God gave them. They exercised the spiritual gifts without restraint, self-control, and without love.

As we read this letter we will quickly see the church of today and the Corinthian church having similarities. They had immoral situations, false doctrines, and division. These things can cause the church of today to become powerless and ineffective for Christ to this lost world. This letter as well as the entire Bible is very practical, relevant, and applicable. It challenges every Christian to live a pure faith and to walk in the love of Jesus Christ.