2/15/2021

"A-B-A" pattern in 1 Corinthians

  • First A section: general theological perspective.
    • B section: explanatory digression of some kind, yet crucial to the argument as a whole.
  • Second A section: very specific response to the matter at hand.
  • A 1 Cor 7:15-28 [single/unmarried]
    • B 1 Cor 7:29-35 [Paul's reasons for singleness]
  • A 1 Cor 7:36-40 [mariage is no sin]
  • A 1 Cor 8:1-13 [food sacrificed to idols]
    • B 1 Cor 9:1-27 [Paul's defense]
  • A 1 Cor 10:1-22 [no going to temples]
  • A 1 Cor 12 [speaking in tongues]
    • B 1 Cor 13 [love]
  • A 1 Cor 14 [intelligibility]
  • A 1 Cor 1:10-2:5 [division and the gospel]
    • B 1 Cor 2:6-16
  • A 1 Cor 3:1-23 [correcting division]
A Church Divided -- Internally and against Paul (1:10-4:21)
  1. The Problem -- Division over Leaders in the Name of Wisdom (1:10-17)
  2. The Gospel -- A Contradiction to Human Wisdom (1:18-2:5)
    1. God's Folly -- A Crucified Messiah (1:18-25)
    2. God's Folly -- The Corinthian Believers (1:26-31)
    3. God's Folly -- Paul's Preaching (2:1-5)
  3. God's Wisdom -- Revealed by the Spirit (2:6-16)
  4. On Having the Spirit and Being Divided (3:1-4)
  5. Correcting a False View of Church and Ministry (3:5-17)
    1. Leaders are Merely Servants (3:5-9)
    2. The Church must be Built with Care (3:10-15)
    3. Warning to Those who would Destroy the Church, God's Temple (3:16-17)
  6. Conclusion of the Matter -- All are Christ's (3:18-23)

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