Outline of 1 Corinthians: Christ crucified and risen, for a church set apart

Is Christ divided? 1:10–17

Chloe's people report quarrels and party cries; Christ was crucified for them, not Paul, who was sent to preach the gospel.

The message of the cross 1:18–2:5

God's wisdom and power in Christ crucified, shown in the message, in the people He called, and in Paul's weak preaching.

1. 1
   1 Corinthians 1: Christ crucified, the wisdom of God

   A gifted church is splitting over its preachers; Paul answers with the cross, God's power and wisdom.

   To the church of God in Corinth 1:1–3 · God is faithful 1:4–9 · Is Christ divided? 1:10–17 · We preach Christ crucified 1:18–25 · Let him who boasts boast in the Lord 1:26–31

God's wisdom revealed by the Spirit 2:6–16

A hidden wisdom the rulers did not know, revealed by the Spirit and received only by the spiritual.

1. 2
   1 Corinthians 2: Revealed to us by the Spirit

   Paul preached only Christ crucified; God's hidden wisdom is revealed by the Spirit and received by the spiritual.

   Jesus Christ and Him crucified 2:1–5 · The hidden wisdom of God 2:6–9 · We have the mind of Christ 2:10–16

God's field, building and temple 3:1–23

Their factions prove them worldly; preachers are only servants, Christ is the foundation, and the church is God's temple.

1. 3
   1 Corinthians 3: God's field, God's building, God's temple

   Factions show they are worldly; preachers are servants, Christ is the foundation, and the church is God's temple.

   Infants in Christ 3:1–4 · God made it grow 3:5–9 · No other foundation 3:10–15 · You yourselves are God's temple 3:16–17 · All things are yours 3:18–23

Stewards, fools for Christ, and a father 4:1–21

The Lord alone judges His stewards; the proud must learn from the suffering apostles and imitate their father in the gospel.

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   1 Corinthians 4: Servants of Christ and stewards

   Apostles are stewards judged by the Lord alone; the proud must learn from their suffering and imitate their father.

   Stewards of the mysteries of God 4:1–5 · What do you have that you did not receive? 4:6–13 · I became your father 4:14–21

Purge the old leaven 5:1–13

A man has his father's wife; the assembled church must remove him, because Christ our Passover has been sacrificed.

1. 5
   1 Corinthians 5: Christ, our Passover lamb

   A man living with his father's wife must be removed; Christ our Passover is sacrificed, so purge the old leaven.

   Hand this man over to Satan 5:1–5 · Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed 5:6–8 · Expel the wicked man from among you 5:9–13

Brother against brother 6:1–11

Saints who will judge the world must not sue one another before unbelievers; they were washed, sanctified and justified.

The body for the Lord 6:12–20

Against the slogan of freedom: the body belongs to the Lord, will be raised, and is the Spirit's temple; flee immorality.

Married, unmarried, and remaining as called 7:1–24

Husbands and wives owe each other their bodies; no divorce, but peace if an unbeliever leaves; remain where God called you.

About virgins 7:25–40

Marriage is no sin, but in the present distress singleness frees one for undivided devotion; widows may remarry in the Lord.

Knowledge puffs up, love builds up 8:1–13

There is one God and one Lord, and idols are nothing; but liberty that ruins a weak brother sins against Christ.

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   1 Corinthians 8: Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up

   Idols are nothing and there is one God and one Lord, yet love will not wound a weak brother for whom Christ died.

   Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up 8:1–3 · One God and one Lord 8:4–6 · The weak brother, for whom Christ died 8:7–13

Paul's rights given up 9:1–27

Paul has an apostle's right to support but refuses it, becoming all things to all to save some, and runs to win.

1. 9
   1 Corinthians 9: All things to all people

   Paul has an apostle's right to support but gives it up for the gospel, becoming all things to all to save some.

   Have we no right? 9:1–14 · Free of charge 9:15–18 · All things to all people 9:19–23 · An imperishable crown 9:24–27

Israel's warning and the Lord's table 10:1–22

Israel shared every privilege yet fell into idolatry; flee it, for the Lord's table and the table of demons cannot be shared.

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   1 Corinthians 10: That rock was Christ

   Israel's fall warns against idolatry: flee it, for the Lord's table excludes demons; do all to God's glory.

   That rock was Christ 10:1–5 · Written down as warnings for us 10:6–13 · Flee from idolatry 10:14–22 · The earth is the Lord's 10:23–30 · Do it all to the glory of God 10:31–33

All to the glory of God 10:23–11:1

Eat market food freely, but yield for another's conscience; do all to God's glory, seeking the good of many.

Head coverings and headship 11:2–16

Christ is the head of man, man of woman, and God of Christ; men and women pray and prophesy honoring their heads.

The Lord's Supper 11:17–34

Their divided meals are not the Lord's Supper; Paul hands on the Lord's words and calls them to examine themselves.

One Spirit, one body 12:1–31

The Spirit leads to the confession “Jesus is Lord” and gives each believer gifts for the common good; every member is needed.

1. 12
   1 Corinthians 12: One Spirit, one body, many members

   Every gift comes from the one Spirit for the common good, and every member is needed in the one body of Christ.

   Jesus is Lord 12:1–3 · Different gifts, but the same Spirit 12:4–11 · Baptized into one body 12:12–26 · You are the body of Christ 12:27–31

The most excellent way 13:1–13

Without love every gift is nothing; love is patient and kind; gifts are partial and will pass, but love remains.

1. 13
   1 Corinthians 13: The most excellent way

   Without love every gift is nothing; love is patient and kind, and when gifts pass away, love remains.

   But have not love 13:1–3 · Love is patient, love is kind 13:4–7 · Love never fails 13:8–13

Build up the church 14:1–40

Intelligible prophecy builds up more than uninterpreted tongues; when the church gathers, all must be done in order.

1. 14
   1 Corinthians 14: Build up the church

   Prefer prophecy to uninterpreted tongues, for gifts exist to build up the church; let all be done in order.

   He who prophesies edifies the church 14:1–5 · Unless the notes are distinct 14:6–12 · Five coherent words 14:13–19 · God is truly among you 14:20–25 · Not a God of disorder 14:26–33 · As the law says 14:34–35 · In a proper and orderly manner 14:36–40

The gospel of first importance 15:1–11

Christ died for our sins, was buried, rose on the third day by the Scriptures, and was seen by many witnesses, last by Paul.

Christ the firstfruits 15:12–34

Deny the resurrection and Christ is not raised; but He is raised, the firstfruits, and reigns until death is destroyed.

The resurrection body and the victory 15:35–58

Sown perishable, raised imperishable: at the last trumpet the dead rise and the living are changed, and death is swallowed up.

The collection for the saints 16:1–4

On the first day of every week each should set aside a gift, to be carried to Jerusalem by approved men.

Paul, Timothy and Apollos 16:5–12

Paul stays at Ephesus till Pentecost, then comes via Macedonia; receive Timothy; Apollos will come later.

Stand firm; greetings 16:13–24

Stand firm and do all in love; honor those who serve; greetings, Paul's own hand, a curse, a prayer for the Lord's coming, and grace.