"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)