Totally Free Bible Version Outline Display

Note on Outline

The main theme of this letter is just what it means to be spiritual. How do you know who is truly spiritual? How do spiritual people behave? What can we expect in the present world? This outline emphasizes that focus.

I. Introduction (1 Corinthians 1:1 - 9)

II. Divisions over Spirituality (1 Corinthians 1:10 - 15:58)

As you will notice, this block includes the bulk of the book. Paul is clearly concerned over what he has heard about the spiritual life of the church in Corinth, and he spends his time dealing with the problems one by one. Each time someone might say that spirituality is defined by a particular, identifiable thing, we move on. Finally, in chapter 15, we learn that we will all truly be spiritual when we rise to new life.

A. Word vs. Power--seeing wisdom, appearance, words as key (1 Corinthians 1:10 - 4:31)

1. Divisions (1 Corinthians 1:10 - 17)

2. The Solution (1 Corinthians 1:18 - 4:21)

i. The Message (1 Corinthians 1:18 - 2:13)

a. Nature of the cross (1 Corinthians 1:18 - 25)

b. Calling and Boasting (1 Corinthians 1:26 - 31)

c. Proclamation with Power (1 Corinthians 2:1 - 5)

d. Divine vs. Human Wisdom (1 Corinthians 2:6 - 13)

ii. Establishing a Community (1 Corinthians 2:14 - 3:23)

a. Spiritual and physical discerning (1 Corinthians 2:14 - 16)

b. Teamwork of the church planters (1 Corinthians 3:1 - 9)

c. Care and method of building (1 Corinthians 3:10 - 17)

d. What or who is the key (1 Corinthians 3:18 - 23)

iii. Guarding and Stewarding the Message (1 Corinthians 4:1 - 21)

a. God is judge (1 Corinthians 4:1 - 5)

b. Planting and the congregation (1 Corinthians 4:6 - 13)

c. Determination of Paul to guide the Corinthian church (1 Corinthians 4:14 - 21)

B. How do we relate to moral behavior? (1 Corinthians 5:1 - 9:27)

1. Immorality (1 Corinthians 5:1 - 13)

2. Trust in secular authority/refusal of Christian authority (1 Corinthians 6:1 - 11)

3. Principles for eating, drinking, and sexual behavior (1 Corinthians 6:12 - 20)

4. Sex, marriage, and divorce (1 Corinthians 7:1 - 40)

5. Food offered to idols (1 Corinthians 8:1 - 13)

6. The true principles of a free person in Christ (1 Corinthians 9:1 - 27)

C. Public Worship and Communion (1 Corinthians 10:1 - 11:34)

1. Foundational principles (1 Corinthians 10:1 - 11:1)

2. Public prayer (1 Corinthians 11:2 - 16)

3. Communion (1 Corinthians 11:17 - 34)

D. Spiritual matters (1 Corinthians 12:1 - 14:40)

1. Gifts and the body (1 Corinthians 12:1 - 31)

2. The true test - love (1 Corinthians 13:1 - 13)

3. Applying the test - gifts and worship (1 Corinthians 14:1 - 40)

E. Real Spirituality - raised incorruptible (1 Corinthians 15:1 - 58)

III. Practical Matters (1 Corinthians 16:1 - 18)

While this turn to practical matters breaks the flow of the main section and clearly is a change in thought, nonetheless Paul's discussion of the offering to be received is clearly a demonstration of what he believes about spirituality.

A. Offering (1 Corinthians 16:1 - 4)

B. Travel plans (1 Corinthians 16:5 - 13)

C. Final advice about leadership (1 Corinthians 16:14 - 18)

IV. Final Greetings (1 Corinthians 16:18 - 24)