1 Corinthians: Living Together in a Church Divided

Paul writes a letter to a church routinely in disagreement with Paul’s vision for how to live as a Christian in Corinth (a Roman city). The Corinthians were daily challenged to pursue Romanitas, or the social, cultural, and religious life of the elites in the Roman world, and thus the Corinthians were pursuing too much prestige and status and honor. Various factions, or divisions, had formed among the house churches. Paul addresses a series of church problems presenting themselves in Corinth that need to be understood and corrected so the believers of Corinth can walk in the way of Christ more consistently.

Scot McKnight provides scholarly insights with a pastoral heart for all the books of the New Testament. The NIV is used as the primary Bible text but McKnight also includes insights from his own translation of the entire New Testament. Each Bible study features a short, compact, clear exposition that both summarizes the whole and gives the reader a clear focus for what is central to the passage.

McKnight also offers some historical context; connects the passage to the larger story of the Bible; provides an illustration, a metaphor, or an image that brings the passage alive; and provides a list of 2-3 resources for further reading or study. The series is suitable for group study, personal study, or daily reading.