Introduction (1:1-9).

I. Disorders imported to Paul by Chloe’s people; Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus; and Apollos (1:10-6:20).

1. Divisions in the church (1:10-4:21).

(1) Fact of division (1:10-17).

(2) Cause of division (1:18-4:13).

i. Wrong concept of wisdom (1:18-3:4).

(i) True and false wisdom contrasted (1:18-2:5).

(ii) True wisdom defined (2:6-13).

(iii) Why so many fail to comprehend spiritual wisdom (2:14-3:4)

ii. Misconception of the ministry (3:5-4:13).

(i) Proper relationship of ministers to each other and to God (3:5-9).

(ii) Conditions for the reward of ministers (3:10-17).

(iii) Warning against boasting about ministers (3:18-23).

(iv) Proper way to regard ministers (4:1-5).

(v) Paul’s example of ministry (4:6-13).

 (3) Appeal and warning to end the division (4:14–21).

2. Failure of the church to discipline an incestuous member (5:1-13).

3. Practice of Christians suing one another in pagan courts   (6:1-8).

4. Sexual immorality and other sins (6:9-20).

II. Questions asked by the Corinthians in their letter to Paul (7:1-16:4).

1. Concerning marriage (7:1-40).

(1) Some general principles (7:1-7).

(2) Advice to the unmarried and widows (7:8-9).

(3) Advice to the married (7:10-11).

(4) Advice concerning mixed marriages (7:12-16).

(5) Principle of contentment (7:17-24, 26-35).

(6) Advice concerning the marriage of virgins (7:25, 36-38).

(7) More advice to widows (7:39-40).

2. Concerning food offered to idols (8:1-11:1).

(1) Nature of idols (8:1-6).

(2) Consideration of Christians with a “weak” conscience (8:7-13).

(3) Personal example of Paul (9:1-27).

(4) Warning against yielding to temptation as the Israelites did (10:1-13).

(5) Warning against profaning the Lord’s Supper by also participating in idol feasts (10:14-22).

(6) Limitations upon Christian freedom (10:23-11:1).

3. Concerning various aspects of public worship (11:2–14:40).

(1) Veiling of women (11:2-16).

(2) Observance of the Lord’s Supper (11:17-34).

(3) Use of spiritual gifts (12:1-14:40).

i. Test for authenticity (12:1-3).

ii. Variety of the gifts (12:4-3la).

(i) As seen in a list which emphasizes the Spirit as their common source (12:4-11).

(ii) As seen in the illustration of the human body (12:12-26).

(iii)As seen in another list (12:27-31a).

 iii. Primacy of love (12:31b-13:13).

Introduction (12:31b).

(i) Its necessity (13:1-3).

(ii) Its characteristics (13:4-7).

(iii) Its permanence (13:8-13).

iv. Superiority of prophecy to tongues (14:1-12).

v. Regulation of tongues and prophecy (14:13–33a).

(Role of women, 14:33b-36.)

Conclusion (14:37-40).

4. Concerning the resurrection (15:1-58).

(1) That of Christ (15:1-11).

i. Its importance (15:1-4).

ii. Evidence for it (15:5-11).

(2) That of Christians (15:12-58).

i. Its importance (15:12-19).

ii. Evidence for it (15:20-34).

iii. Nature of the resurrection body (15:35-50).

iv. Final victory (15:51-57).

v. Practical value (15:58).

5. Concerning the collection (16:1-4).

Conclusion (16:5-24).