1 Corinthians

Identify the historical context of the 1 Corinthians letter and explore its cultural background to understand the wisdom that this letter offers us today.

Explore the central themes in 1 Corinthians, the life of Paul as a letter writer, and the structure of 1 Corinthians as a conversation.

Examine Paul’s focus on Christ and the Spirit in the early chapters of 1 Corinthians.

What does it mean to be a mature follower of Jesus? Study chapters 3 and 4 as Paul admonishes the Corinthians and encourages them to grow in maturity.

How does Paul frame sexual relations, sexual immorality, and the body? Trace Paul's argument to see how he builds a sexual ethic for Jesus followers.

Explore Paul’s teaching on the body to understand why what we do with our physical bodies matters.

Take a closer look at Paul’s teaching on marriage, singleness, and slavery as he responds to previous questions by the Corinthians.

How does Paul respond to the Corinthians' question about whether or not they can eat meat sacrificed to idols? Take a look!

Take a closer look at Paul’s teaching on personal rights and learn how the remembrance of God's past work can also be an act of participating in Christ.

What do love and justice have to do with the Lord’s Supper? Examine 1 Corinthians 11 to see how Paul links ritual with compassion.

Explore the diversity of gifts amongst followers of Jesus and the Spirit uniting them all.

Paul designed 1 Corinthians 12 and 13 to be read together, but chapter 13 is often read on its own. See how Paul makes love the center of his argument.

How does Paul address the use of tongues and prophecy in weekly gatherings? See how Paul builds on the foundation of love to guide the church.

Dig into a notoriously tricky passage about the spiritual gift of tongues in chapter 14 and examine how scholars have attempted to understand it.

Does the Bible command all women to be silent in church? Dig into Paul’s teaching on public worship and see how Christians interpret this passage.

Work through the complexities involved with translating and interpreting 1 Corinthians 11:2-16.

Map the possible solutions that scholars offer for the problems raised by 1 Corinthians 11:2-16.

Consider the personal stories of students as they share their own experiences involving the use of texts like 1 Corinthians 11:2-16.

Chapter 15 marks a crescendo in Paul’s thought. Study how Paul brings together all the themes of his letter in this chapter.

Why does the resurrection matter for Jesus followers? Examine Paul’s argument to uncover the surprising connection between the resurrection and creation.

What does it mean that God put everything under Christ’s feet? Explore this and other Trinitarian concepts.

Dive deeper into the implications of Jesus’ resurrection and what it means for creation and our physical bodies.

Listen in as the students share their reflections and takeaways from the class.