Growing in Grace
The First Epistle to the Corinthians, or 1 Corinthians, is a New Testament book written by the Apostle Paul to address a myriad of moral, ethical, and doctrinal issues in the Christian community of ancient Corinth. Central to this epistle are themes of unity within the church, moral conduct, the proper use of spiritual gifts, and the doctrine of the resurrection. Paul decries divisions within the community, urging unity through shared faith in Jesus Christ. He also delves into ethical living, emphasizing that genuine faith should naturally result in ethical behavior, particularly in a society dominated by pagan customs.
Perhaps one of the most famous portions of this epistle is Chapter 13, often referred to as the “Love Chapter,” where Paul extols the virtues of love over all other spiritual gifts. In doing so, he unifies his varied ethical and doctrinal teachings under the umbrella of love as the highest Christian virtue.
