In writing 1 Corinthians, Paul faced the challenge of a church established in the truth but rife with disunity and sin, influenced by a decadent pagan culture in its city. As he encourages the faithful, confronts the wayward, and answers pressing questions, Paul gives us some of the most beloved passages in the New Testament alongside some of the most challenging. It is a letter that deserves our careful study.
In volume one of this series, Alistair Begg introduces the letter and examines the problem of disunity and factionalism in the church. The Corinthians attached themselves to particular figureheads, and some were exalting themselves above others. But as Alistair explains, the firm foundation of the church is not the strength or wisdom of its leaders but the apparent weakness and folly of the cross of Jesus Christ. Our unity as believers is founded on our shared participation in the Lord.