1 Corinthians: The More Excellent Way

Paul writes to the Corinthian church after receiving reports of serious problems within the church (1:11) and after receiving questions from the church seeking guidance (7:1). The church is caught in the error of living according to worldly wisdom rather than the way of Christ, resulting in division, factionalism, pride and boasting, moral compromise, and confusion about issues such as freedom, sexuality, marriage, singleness, worship, spiritual gifts, and the resurrection. Paul writes to help the church live consistently with their identity as “saints”, declared holy by God because of their faith in Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection. He roots his response to their problems in their spiritual standing before God as called, sanctified, and sustained by God, who promises to complete His work in them.