1 Corinthians is a book loaded with instructions. It was written to address some problems Paul heard about from "the house of Chloe" (1:11) concerning division in the church. There were apparently some in the church that had become quite "puffed up" ^*(Grk. phusioo, appearing 6 out of the 7 times it’s used in 1 Corinthians). It is not surprising that this would happen among a group of people that, "come behind in no gift" (1:4-7; gifts also addressed in chapters 12 and 14).

After his opening, Paul sets out to address this problem stating, "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment," (1:10). This great desire for unity was not first instituted by Paul, but Christ in John 17, "...that they may be one, even as we are one," (17:22). However, it was a major part of the gospel: Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 2:11ff, 4:3ff; Phil 1:27, 2:2-4; and many more. The only way that these two (Jew and Gentile) could become one is in Christ and His cross (Eph. 2:16; Col. 1:20-23).

Knowing this, Paul goes on to elaborate on the message of the cross throughout the rest of chapter one. It was a message that was a great stumbling block to the Jews (because they thought they were God’s only people), and foolishness to the Greeks (1:24). However, to us Christ’s cross is the power of God, and wisdom of God (1:24, 18). This message of the cross was not some great thing of man’s wisdom. In fact, Paul says he didn’t preach the gospel in wisdom of words (1:17, 2:1-5, 15:3), because he didn’t want their minds to be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ (2 Cor. 1:12, 11:3). They were Greeks seeking after wisdom (1:22), but this wasn’t a message of wisdom...but of power. That’s why Paul goes on to show how God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound these wise, puffed up Corinthians (1:25-31). In the ladder half of chapter 2 Paul does go on to say that there is a message of wisdom (2:6-16)...but these guys aren’t ready for that (3:1).

So the very milk of the word has to do with the cross, and Christ’s bringing together all into one, but these guys couldn’t even handle that. They were going against the very simplest of things and bringing division between brethren. How? Well, beginning in chapter one, and here again in chapter 3 we see the conflict (1:12-13, 3:3-5). "Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided?" Paul begins to stress to them in chapter 3 and even into chapter 4 that he and these other guys (Apollos and Cephas (or Peter)) are just laborers WITH God.

In 3:6-8 Paul describes how the Corinthians are God's husbandry and then 3:10-15 goes on to describe how they are God's building (3:9). One important thing to recognize is something Paul elaborates on in chapter 4. These guys had ten thousand instructors in Christ, but Paul was the one that had begotten them through the gospel (4:15). Paul planted, but Apollos just watered what was planted (3:6). Paul laid the foundation, but others (Apollos and Cephas) built upon it (3:10).

After describing these relationships Paul goes on to say, THEREFORE..."let no man glory in men!" Why? Because they are yours (3:21-23). They are just ministers of God through which we came to believe (3:5). God has given them for us. That's why Paul starts chapter 4 saying just look at us as "the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God." Don't judge us beyond what we are and praise us for it. When the Lord comes and brings to light the hidden things of darkness, and makes manifest the counsels of the hearts: THEN shall [each one] (the same each ones dealt with all the way up until now: Paul, Apollos, and Cephas) have praise of God (not men!) (4:3-5). (Throughout chapters 3 and 4 the phrases "every man" and "a man" are used (3:8,10,13, 4:2,5); however, a more accurate translation, and one that follows the context more specifically would be "each one". This is because Paul isn't talking about "every man", but these specific ones that the Corinthians are boasting in.)

Beginning in 4:6 Paul begins to warn the Corinthians (4:14) about how they are living. I think that Rotherham has the best translation of 4:6 as far as what Paul says in the very last part of the verse, "that ye do not puff yourselves up, individually, for this one against that." This is exactly what they were doing, as we have seen before, in saying I'm of Paul, I'm of Apollos, and they were causing division, lifting themselves up above another because who taught them. Paul addresses this in vs. 7, "For who maketh thee to differ from another?" Then, in 4:8-13 Paul goes on to compare them, and him. They have boasted in saying I'm of him, but Paul lays out how his life is and shows that theirs isn't matching. Therefore he pleads with them to, "be ye followers of me" (4:16). He isn't complementing them in any way, but showing them as "rich and increased with goods," but this isn't the pattern that he had modeled for them.

In closing chapter 4 Paul tells them that he is going to send Timotheus to REMIND them how they are suppose to be in Christ. Not as Mr. Popular Christian loved by all, but as Paul was and Christ was; "despised and rejected of men." In 4:17 Paul says that this life-hood of rejection by men is something that he taught everywhere, which is clear to see (Acts 14:22, Phil. 2:29, 1 Thes. 3:2-4). In fact, "all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution," (2 Tim. 3:12).

Throughout the rest of the book we see the Corinthians pride in their wisdom and gifts addressed, and have great verses like 8:1, and of course the great "love chapter" (13). There is also lots of instruction about how to do things when they come together (beginning in 11:17). And, finally, in chapter 15, we end with the resurrection. Begin with the cross, end with the resurrection. Good stuff!