First Epistle to the Corinthians
The First Epistle to the Corinthians is a letter in the New Testament. It is written in Greek and is attributed to Paul the Apostle, with Sosthenes as his helper who likely wrote down the letter at Paul’s direction. The letter is sent to the Christian church in Corinth, a city in Greece, to address problems that had risen among Christians there.
Who wrote it and when
Scholars agree that Paul wrote 1 Corinthians, with Sosthenes helping as a co-author or amanuensis. The letter was probably written while Paul was staying in Ephesus, between AD 53 and 57, as he heard about divisions, rivalries, and immoral behavior in the Corinthian church. Although it’s called “1 Corinthians,” it was not the first letter Paul sent to that church. It is the first surviving letter in what we now call the two (or more) Corinthian letters.
What the letter is about
Paul writes to correct misunderstandings and to urge unity and right teaching. He reminds the Corinthians that they belong to Christ and should live in a way that shows God’s wisdom and love. He uses the idea of building on a foundation: Christ is the foundation, and others should build wisely on it.
Key topics and issues
- Divisions and living for Christ: Paul urges them to think the same way and avoid divisions (so that there is harmony in beliefs and practice).
- Moral and ethical concerns: The letter contains strong calls against certain sins and immoral behavior that had crept into the community. Paul also discusses matters like how to deal with disputes among believers and how to live pure lives.
- Food sacrificed to idols and freedom: He talks about what Christians may eat or drink and how to balance personal freedom with concern for the conscience of others.
- Marriage and singleness: Paul gives guidance about marriage, loneliness, and when it is best to marry. He emphasizes self-control and faithfulness in relationships.
- Worship and order in the church: The letter covers how people should pray and prophesy in church, how men and women should behave in worship, and how to conduct gatherings so they are orderly and respectful.
- Head coverings and women in worship (1 Corinthians 11): There is discussion about women covering their heads and men covering or uncovering theirs during prayer. This has been interpreted in different ways over the centuries. Some manuscripts and scholars see a later addition (an interpolation) in a verse that tells women to be silent in churches, while others argue it fits the broader argument Paul is making about order and propriety in worship.
- The “love chapter” (1 Corinthians 13): Paul defines love (agape) as patient and kind, and explains that love is the most important virtue, stronger than any gift or achievement.
- Worship during meals (agape feasts): He critiques careless behavior during shared meals and urges love and consideration for others.
- The resurrection and what Christians believe about life after death (1 Corinthians 15): Paul presents the core gospel he received—that Christ died for sins, was buried, and was raised on the third day, and that he appeared to many witnesses. He explains what the resurrection means for believers and why it matters for Christian faith. Some passages here have sparked scholarly debate about whether they reflect an early creed or a later addition.
Notable phrases and passages
- “All things to all people” and “through a glass, darkly” (and the famous line “When I was a child, I spoke like a child… that is, when I became a man, I put away childish things”). These phrases come from 1 Corinthians and have influenced many works over the centuries.
- 11:2–16 discusses the practices of head coverings and how men and women should present themselves in worship. This text has generated much discussion about cultural norms in the early church.
- 13: love as the supreme virtue.
- 15:3–7 contains a concise summary of the gospel: Christ died for our sins in keeping with the Scriptures, he was buried, and he was raised on the third day, and he appeared to several people.
How the letter fits in the larger story
1 Corinthians is part of a larger set of Paul’s letters to the church in Corinth. It is the first complete, surviving letter to that church, but not the first letter Paul wrote to them. The problems Paul addresses include jealousy, faction, sexual immorality, and questions about marriage, worship, and the resurrection. He writes to urge unity, to correct misunderstandings, and to teach basic Christian beliefs and practices that would shape how the Corinthian church lived and worshiped.
Ending and purpose
Paul ends with greetings, practical instructions, and blessings. He often closes with prayers for peace, grace, and love to be with all the believers. Throughout, his goal is to help the Corinthian Christians imitate Christ and live out their faith in everyday life, in every church and in every generation.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 21:35 (CET).