Day 327 Reading Schedule: 1 Corinthians 1-4 

1 Corinthians 1: The Way of the Cross, the Power of Salvation 

[Overview] 

This chapter corresponds to the introduction of this book, and includes the sender's name, the recipient's name, and greetings to the recipient. In addition, it records the reason why the Apostle Paul thanks God for the Corinthians and the lessons he gives them. If we divide this chapter into three parts, it can be divided into the part where Paul's greetings and words of thanks are recorded for the Corinthian church that was experiencing spiritual confusion and conflict (verses 1-9), the part that deals with the conflicts of the Corinthian church that were formed by following a specific leader (verses 10-17), and the part that introduces the way of the cross, which is fundamentally different from the wisdom of the world and brings God's power and salvation, in order to point out the errors of the Corinthians (verses 18-31). 

1 Corinthians 2: Human Wisdom and God’s Wisdom

[Summary]

This chapter repeatedly emphasizes the Holy Spirit as God’s wisdom for salvation. However, since the work of the Holy Spirit always appears harmoniously within the Trinitarian structure of two persons, namely God the Father and Christ the Son, the theme that Paul concretizes in this chapter is the close relationship between the Holy Spirit and the cross. In other words, God’s wisdom was revealed in Jesus Christ and the event of His crucifixion, and this wisdom is revealed and conveyed as essential meaning and testimony through the work of the Holy Spirit. This chapter consists of the part where the evangelism done by the power of the Holy Spirit (verses 1-5), God’s wisdom that can discern spiritual things (verses 6-13), and the part where it is revealed that those who have the mind of Christ are spiritual (verses 14-16). Through this chapter, we can realize that the issue of salvation should never be dealt with from a human perspective, but is possible through God’s wisdom that transcends our wisdom. We also discover that God’s wisdom can only be obtained through the Bible and the illumination of the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 3: The Saints Who Must Look Only to God

[Overview]

This chapter mentions the specific problems of the Corinthian church and reveals that the conflict in the Corinthian church was caused by the immaturity of faith and human arrogance that boasted of worldly wisdom. In addition, it earnestly urges the unity of the Corinthian church members by clearly revealing the work of God and the work of man, and the relationship between evangelists and believers. In addition, the content of this chapter is appropriately arranged with Paul's rebuke, instruction, encouragement, and appeal to the Corinthian church, giving them inspiration and emotion, and clearly showing Paul's deep affection for the Corinthian church members. This chapter consists of the part that points out that the conflict in the Corinthian church stemmed from spiritual immaturity (verses 1-9), the part that emphasizes the active faith attitude that believers who have the Holy Spirit of God must maintain a life of service, loyalty, and holiness while living on this earth (verses 10-17), and the part that emphasizes that human wisdom is false and that the fear of God is the foundation of wisdom (verses 18-23). ​​

1 Corinthians 4: Teachings of Paul, the Apostle of Christ

[Summary]

In this chapter, Paul says that he, Apollos, and all other leaders are merely 'servants of Christ' and 'stewards of the mysteries of God', and teaches that when this goes too far, jealousy and conflict will arise in the church. At this time, the one who entrusts the work demands nothing less than loyalty from the one entrusted with the work. He also clearly states that Christians must remember that there is no one else but the Lord who can judge them, thereby ending the discussion on the factional strife in the Corinthian church. This chapter is written with an authoritative tone, proclaiming the Lord as judge and rewarder (verses 1-5), a satirical tone, rebuking the pride of the Corinthians (verses 6-13), and a warm and earnest tone, loving admonition like a father to his children (verses 14-21). Through this chapter, Paul teaches that humans are just equal workers before God and must be humble, thereby suggesting a way to solve the problems of the church.