Background: Sent from Ephesus to the saints in Corinth, summer 57 AD
Contention and Division in the Church
READ 1 Corinthians 1:10-13
What is happening in the Corinthian
church?
How do a group of people become joined in
the same mind and all speak the same thing?
Who are Paul, Apollos, and Cephas
(Peter)?
What does it mean to be “of Paul” or “of
Peter”?
READ D&C 76:98-101
What happens to those who say they are
“of” the prophets?
READ TPJS 266:2
“President Joseph Smith read the 14th
chapter of Ezekiel—said the Lord had declared by the Prophet, that the people
should each one stand for himself, and depend on no man or men in that state of
corruption of the Jewish church—that righteous persons could only deliver their
own souls —applied it to the present state of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints—said if the people departed from the Lord, they must fall—that
they were depending on the Prophet, hence were darkened in their minds, in
consequence of neglecting the duties devolving upon themselves, envious towards
the innocent, while they afflict the virtuous with their shafts of envy.”
What happens if the people depend on the
prophet?
Who is the only one that can “deliver”
your soul to be saved?
The World’s Wisdom
READ 1 Corinthians 1:18-20 and 26-28
(include JST)
Why does God choose the weak of the
earth?
How will God destroy the wisdom of the
wise?
READ 1 Corinthians 2:3-5
Remember, Paul was a Diaspora Jew, born
and educated in Hellenized Turkey before going to Jerusalem to learn at the
feet of the greatest Pharisees of Israel, where he became their greatest
student.
Why does Paul fear to teach these
Greeks? Why does he not use enticing
words or rational arguments with them – surely he could out debate them (as he
used to do with the Jewish scholars)?
READ 1 Corinthians 2:7-11
What is the wisdom of God that is hidden
in a mystery?
READ 1 Corinthians 2:14
Why does the natural man think these
things are foolishness?
READ 1 Corinthians 3:18-23
Why is man’s wisdom foolishness?
You Are the Temple of God
READ 1 Corinthians 3:1-3
Why can’t Paul speak “unto spiritual”
things with the Corinthian saints?
READ 1 Corinthians 3:13-15
What is the test of this life?
What does it mean that even if our life’s
work shall be burned that we will “suffer loss” but shall be saved?
READ 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, 1 Corinthians
6:19-20, and 2 Corinthians 6:16
What is a temple?
What does it mean that our bodies are the
Temple of God?
What does it mean that we are not “our
own”?
Under what conditions does the Spirit of
God dwell in us?
READ 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Who will not inherit the Kingdom of God?
What words of hope does Paul give us?
