Paul and Sosthenes wrote to the church at Corinth after reports from Chloe's household and questions from the believers revealed divisions and practical disputes (1 Corinthians 1:1-17; 7:1). Paul called them to holiness, love, orderly worship, and steadfast hope in the resurrection (1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 12:1-15:58). He wrote while remaining in Ephesus, where the word spread throughout Asia amid significant opposition (1 Corinthians 16:5-24; Acts 19:1-22).
Written while Paul remained in Ephesus before continuing through Macedonia; Scripture gives no calendar year for the letter
1Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, 2To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours: 3Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul quotes Deuteronomy 25:4 while explaining that workers may expect a share of the harvest.
Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.
Deuteronomy 25:4 says not to muzzle an ox while it treads grain. First Corinthians 9:9 quotes the law. The next verse applies it to the plowman and thresher who expect to share in the harvest.
Paul points back to Israel under the cloud and passing through the sea. He says they were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.
And the angel of God, who had gone before the camp of Israel, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from before them and stood behind them, so that it came between the camps of Egypt and Israel. The cloud was there in the darkness, but it lit up the night. So all night long neither camp went near the other. Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove back the sea with a strong east wind that turned it into dry land. So the waters were divided,
Exodus 14 records the cloud between Israel and Egypt and Israel's passage through the sea on dry ground. First Corinthians 10:1-2 names both parts of the account and describes them as baptism into Moses.
God fed Israel with manna in the wilderness. Paul calls the food they ate "spiritual food."
On the fifteenth day of the second month after they had left the land of Egypt, the whole congregation of Israel set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai. And there in the desert they all grumbled against Moses and Aaron. “If only we had died by the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt!” they said. “There we sat by pots of meat and ate our fill of bread, but you have brought us into this desert to starve this whole assembly to death!”
Exodus 16 records the bread that God gave Israel in the wilderness. First Corinthians 10:3 says that Israel ate the same spiritual food.
God gave Israel water from the rock in the wilderness. Paul says the spiritual Rock that went with them was Christ.
Then the whole congregation of Israel left the Desert of Sin, moving from place to place as the LORD commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. So the people contended with Moses, “Give us water to drink.” “Why do you contend with me?” Moses replied. “Why do you test the LORD?” But the people thirsted for water there, and they grumbled against Moses: “Why have you brought us out of Egypt—to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?”
Exodus 17 records water coming from the rock at Horeb. First Corinthians 10:4 recalls Israel's spiritual drink and says, "that rock was Christ."
Paul quotes the golden-calf account as a warning against idolatry.
So the next day they arose, offered burnt offerings, and presented peace offerings. And the people sat down to eat and drink, and got up to indulge in revelry.
Exodus 32:6 says that the people ate and drank and then rose to revel. First Corinthians 10:7 repeats these words after warning, "Do not be idolaters."
Paul quotes Genesis 2:7 about Adam becoming a living being. He then calls Christ the last Adam and a life-giving spirit.
Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.
Genesis 2:7 says that God breathed life into the man and he became a living being. First Corinthians 15:45 introduces those words with, "So it is written," before speaking of the last Adam.
Paul quotes Genesis 2:24 when he explains that joining two bodies makes them one flesh.
For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
Genesis 2:24 says that a man is united to his wife and they become one flesh. First Corinthians 6:16 repeats, "The two will become one flesh."
Paul uses Hosea's challenge to Death and asks, "Where, O Death, is your sting?"
I will ransom them from the power of Sheol; I will redeem them from Death. Where, O Death, are your plagues? Where, O Sheol, is your sting? Compassion is hidden from My eyes.
Hosea 13:14 asks Death about its plagues and Sheol about its sting. First Corinthians 15:55 addresses both questions to Death and asks about its victory and sting.
Paul repeats Isaiah's words, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die." He uses them to show what life would mean if the dead were not raised.
On that day the Lord GOD of Hosts called for weeping and wailing, for shaven heads and the wearing of sackcloth. But look, there is joy and gladness, butchering of cattle and slaughtering of sheep, eating of meat and drinking of wine: “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!” The LORD of Hosts has revealed in my hearing: “Until your dying day, this sin of yours will never be atoned for,” says the Lord GOD of Hosts.
Isaiah 22:13 records feasting instead of the mourning God called for. First Corinthians 15:32 repeats the sentence while asking what Paul would gain if the dead were not raised.
Paul says Isaiah's promise will come true when the dead are raised and the mortal put on immortality. Death will be swallowed up in victory.
On this mountain the LORD of Hosts will prepare a banquet for all the peoples, a feast of aged wine, of choice meat, of finely aged wine. On this mountain He will swallow up the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; He will swallow up death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from every face and remove the disgrace of His people from the whole earth. For the LORD has spoken.
Isaiah 25:8 says that the Lord GOD will swallow up death forever. First Corinthians 15:54 says that this written promise will come to pass when the mortal has been clothed with immortality.
Paul quotes Isaiah's warning that God would speak through strange tongues and foreign lips, yet the people would not listen.
Indeed, with mocking lips and foreign tongues, He will speak to this people to whom He has said: “This is the place of rest, let the weary rest; this is the place of repose.” But they would not listen.
Isaiah 28:11-12 says that God will speak to the people with foreign tongues, but they will not listen. First Corinthians 14:21 introduces the same warning with the words, "It is written in the Law."
Paul quotes Isaiah's warning that God will bring human wisdom to nothing.
Therefore I will again confound these people with wonder upon wonder. The wisdom of the wise will vanish, and the intelligence of the intelligent will be hidden.”
Isaiah 29:14 says that the wisdom of the wise will vanish and the intelligence of the intelligent will be hidden. In 1 Corinthians 1:19, Paul introduces the same warning with the words, "For it is written."
Paul quotes Isaiah's question about who has known the mind of the Lord or can instruct Him.
Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, or informed Him as His counselor?
Isaiah 40:13 asks who has directed the Spirit of the LORD or informed Him as His counselor. First Corinthians 2:16 asks, "Who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to instruct Him?"
Paul uses the language of Isaiah 64:4 for what God has prepared and revealed by His Spirit.
From ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides You, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.
Isaiah 64:4 says that no ear has heard and no eye has seen any God besides the One who acts for those who wait for Him. First Corinthians 2:9 begins, "As it is written," and uses the same language about what God has prepared for those who love Him. The wording is a paraphrase, not a word-for-word quotation.
Paul quotes Jeremiah's call to boast in the Lord instead of human wisdom, strength, or wealth.
This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength, nor the wealthy man in his riches. But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, who exercises loving devotion, justice and righteousness on the earth— for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.
Jeremiah 9:23-24 tells the wise, strong, and wealthy not to boast in themselves. It says that the one who boasts should boast in knowing the LORD. First Corinthians 1:31 says, "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."
Paul quotes Job 5:13 to show that human wisdom is foolishness before God.
He catches the wise in their craftiness, and sweeps away the plans of the cunning.
Job 5:13 says, "He catches the wise in their craftiness." First Corinthians 3:19 repeats these words after saying that the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight.
Paul recalls the Israelites who tested Christ and were killed by snakes.
Then they set out from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, in order to bypass the land of Edom. But the people grew impatient on the journey and spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you led us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread or water, and we detest this wretched food!” So the LORD sent venomous snakes among the people, and many of the Israelites were bitten and died.
Numbers 21 records that Israel spoke against God and Moses, and the LORD sent venomous snakes among them. First Corinthians 10:9 warns against testing Christ as they did and says they were killed by snakes.
Paul echoes Psalm 110:1 as he says Christ must reign until every enemy is under His feet.
A Psalm of David. The LORD said to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”
Psalm 110:1 says that the Lord will sit at God's right hand until His enemies become a footstool for His feet. First Corinthians 15:25 says Christ must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.
Paul quotes Psalm 24:1 while telling believers they may eat food sold in the market without questioning its history.
A Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof, the world and all who dwell therein.
Psalm 24:1 says that the earth and everything in it belong to the LORD. First Corinthians 10:25-26 gives a practical instruction and then quotes the psalm as its reason.
Paul quotes Psalm 8:6 and says that God has put everything under Christ's feet.
You made him ruler of the works of Your hands; You have placed everything under his feet:
Psalm 8:6 says, "You have placed everything under his feet." First Corinthians 15:27 repeats these words and then explains that God Himself is not included among the things placed under Christ.
Paul uses Psalm 94:11 to show that the Lord knows the thoughts of the wise are futile.
The LORD knows the thoughts of man, that they are futile.
Psalm 94:11 says that the LORD knows the thoughts of man are futile. First Corinthians 3:20 applies the same words to the thoughts of the wise.
