1 Corinthians: Summary & Key Themes

1 Corinthians at a glance, before you read it.

Written by	Paul
Written to	the church in Corinth
Type	Letter
Chapters	16
Position	Book 46 of 66 · book 7 of the New Testament

Summary

Paul answers a divided, troubled church about leaders, sexual morality, marriage, food offered to idols, worship and spiritual gifts. It includes the famous love chapter (13) and the clearest teaching on the resurrection (15).

Main themes

unity
love
the resurrection

Key verse

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

1 Corinthians 13:13 (KJV)

How to read 1 Corinthians

Try one chapter a day: 16 days to finish. Read the whole book quickly once, then slowly. Ask three questions as you go: what did this mean to the first readers, what does it show about God, and what does it ask of me?

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