The questions are based on the NET Bible.
CH 1:
Q1. Who is the sender and receiver of this letter? And greeting?
– Sender: Paul & Sosthenes
– Receiver: The church in Corinth
– Words of greeting: Grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus
Q2. What was Paul’s reason for thanksgiving? (v4-7)
Their richness of spiritual gifts
Q3. What was the problem of the church in Corinth? (v10-12)
Division. As they focused on human leaders and building up their own group, the church was divided.
Q4. “The message about the cross is ( ) to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved is it ( ).
Foolishness, the power of God
Note that Paul uses ‘power’ instead of ‘wisdom’
Q5. Why did God please save us through the foolishness of preaching? And why did God choose what the world thinks foolish to shame the wise? Two questions are asking the same answer. (Three v19-20, v21, v29)
God wants to destroy the wisdom of the wise
Worldly wisdom cannot know God
No one can boast in God’s presence
Rejecting the Son of God was the most foolish thing of humans. To disclose their foolishness, Jesus was rejected.
Q6. “He ( ) is the reason you have a relationship with Christ Jesus, who became for us ( ) from God, and ( ) and ( ) and ( ).”
God, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, redemption
CH 2:
Q1. What was Paul’s attitude in preaching the gospel? (v1-5)
Not human eloquent words, in weakness and fear, only Jesus crucified on the cross
Q2. Why did the rulers of this world crucify Jesus? (v6-9)
God’s mystery was hidden. They didn’t know it. God’s gift was beyond human imagination.
Q3. How did the author come to know the wisdom of God that had been hidden? (v10-12)
By the Spirit
Q4. Non-Christians don’t know the gift freely given to us by God nor receive it. Why? (v14-16)
It is foolish to them. Nor do they understand it.
CH 3: Immaturity and Self-deception
Q1. Why was Paul’s reason for feeding the Corinthian Christians with milk? (Feeding milk = only talking the words of encouragement and comfort, not the words of disciplining and of mature Christians) (v3-4)
They are still influenced by the flesh. There is jealousy and dissension among them -> this is a sign of immaturity.
(v5 – 23) Division among churches happens when we go after human leaders according to our own appetite. That was caused by their misunderstanding about the gospel and the ministry. Thus Paul
Q2. According to v5 – 9, Paul and Apollos were ( ) belong to God. And ( ) were God’s field, God’s building.
Coworkers, you (Christians in Corinth)
Q3. What are two things that ministers of God should be careful about? (v10 ~11, v12-15)
Be careful to build upon the foundation of Jesus Christ
There will be trial and test on the last day
Q4. When you realize you are God’s temple where God’s Spirit lives, your attitude will change. How? (two, v18-20, v21-23)
You wouldn’t think you are wise and important based on human factors
No boasting or preference on any human leader. You need to focus on your spiritual growth.
CH 4: The Apostle’s Ministry
Q1. What is the proper attitude of the servants of the mysteries of God? (three, v2, v3-4, v5)
Faithful.
Don’t judge anyone, even yourself.
Wait for Jesus’ judgment
Q2. Why do people tend to prefer their favorite leaders over other leaders? (v6, v7-8)
They tend to go beyond what is written
Boasting oneself. They want to satisfy human factors. They are bragging in a sense of belonging to the leader they prefer.
Q3. Contrary to what people expect from their leaders and want to enjoy with them, Paul describes the hardship of his ministry in v9 – 13. What do you think Paul would want to say?
He labors and suffers for the sake of the gospel. How could they enjoy in the name of Jesus? What they are doing is not correct.
Q4. What are Paul’s final words of warning regarding the issue of the division in the church? (v16-17, v18-20)
Imitate me.
I will visit you and check your true faith.
CH 5: Church Discipline
Q1. What was the problem in the Church of Corinth? How did Paul ask the church leadership to deal with this issue? (v1-5)
Sexual immorality. Cast out the sinner from the church
Q2. Why did Paul purge the evil from the church? (v6-7)
The sin will propagate to the whole church
Q3. What was Paul’s exhortation in dealing with ungodly church members? (v9-12)
The ungodly in the world is not the church’s concern, but the one in the church should be removed from the congregation.
CH 6:
Q1. Paul did not want Christians to sue other Christians in the civil court. Why? (v1-3)
Christians are righteous and wise. They will judge the world and the angels.
Q2. When we fail to settle an issue with a fellow Christian in the church, what should we do? (v7)
Be wronged and cheated.
Q3. Why do some Christians keep committing sins like sexual immorality, greediness, or abusive talk? (v9)
They thought they could enter the kingdom of God even if they kept sinning.
Q4. Why is the sexual sin so bad? (find two+ reasons from v13 – 19)
It is a sin in one’s body.
As a member of Jesus, you would join the members of evil.
But the body is God’s temple
Your body is the Lord’s possession. You cannot do whatever you like to do.
Q5. “For you were bought at ( ). Therefore glorify God with ( ).”
A price, your body.
CH 7:
Q1. Why do some people need to marry? (v2, v5, v9)
Lack of self-control
Q2. In what situations does Paul recommend divorce and not-divorce? (v12-15)
If the non-believing spouse wants to divorce, divorce. If not, don’t.
Believers’ couple? Don’t divorce.
Q3. (A real-life question) James decided to believe in Jesus and wanted to go to Sunday service. But his job requires him to work on Sunday, so he cannot come to the Sunday service. Because he According to Paul’s message in v20-24, what would be God’s will for him?
He can find a church that provides services that fit his schedule. Meantime, if he finds another job that he can take off on Sunday, he’d better move.
Q4. Many people are a bit obsessed with accomplishing something they think is important. They tend to adhere to their plan and desire whatsoever happens. However, as you read Paul’s message in chapter 7, he doesn’t care about things in this world: the issue of marriage, circumcision, slavery, family, or wealth. Why? (two, v30-31, v32-35)
The present shape of this world is passing away
Less distraction in serving God.
CH 8:
Q1. “Knowledge ( ), but love ( ).”
Puffs up, builds up.
Q2. What is the knowledge about eating food sacrificed to idols? (v4 – 6)
Idols in the world are nothing. It is ok to eat the food from idol sacrifice.
Q3. Though Paul had a right understanding of food, especially the meat sold in the market and supposedly been offered to idol worship, he didn’t want to eat meat. Why?
Not to make that person sin. When the person who has not such knowledge sees Paul eating the idol sacrifice, he will sin; he would be tempted to eat it without faith or to criticize Paul.
Q4. Paul’s message is this. Do not let your ( ) and ( ) dominate your decision, but ( ). (hint: love, liberty, knowledge)
Knowledge, liberty, love.
Paul said, if your eating some food has made another stumble, you have sinned not because you ate the forbidden food, but because you didn’t love that person.
CH 9: Paul’s Attitude as a Minister
Q1. Paul claims that pastors and ministers deserve financial support from the church. What are the two supporting arguments from the OT for this claim? (v1-14)
V9-10. As God commanded them, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.”
V13. Priests ate the offering as they served at the altar.
Q2. If Paul had the right to get support from the church, why did Paul not use this right? (Two, v12-17)
Not to be any hindrance to the gospel
To get rewards more
Q3. According to chapter 9, what was Paul’s attitude as a gospel minister? (Five, v18-27)
Not using his right as an apostle
Though he was free from all, he bound himself to be like those whom he wanted to evangelize
He did everything to participate in the gospel
He did his best to win the prize
He lived self-denial
CH 10: Learning from Israel’s Failure
Q1. The Israelites had experienced God’s power and His grace. Then, why were they rejected by God and failed to enter Canaan? (v1-10)
Craving for desire, idol worship, immoral, testing the Lord (doubting), complaining
Q2. According to v11-13, could you tell why people fail in trials? (three, v12, v13)
Arrogance: “I won’t fail.”
“The trial is given to me so hard; I cannot win.”
Relying on method
Q3. Why should we not participate in the feast of idol worship? (v16-22)
Participating in a religious feast is to become one body. From this fact, such an act would rouse the Lord’s jealousy.
Q4. In today’s life, what would it be like participating in the feast of idol worship?
Anything you do only to amuse yourself. Ex. club party?
Q5. “Everything is ( ), but not everything is ( ).”
Lawful, beneficial
Q6. When does Paul eat the meat offered to idol worship? When doesn’t he eat?
If an unbeliever invited you, you’d better eat without asking anything.
If someone says it is the meat from idol sacrifice, you’d better not eat.
CH 11: Issue of authority and praise: Women’s head covering, the Lord’s supper
Q1. “Be imitators of ( ), just as I also am of ( ).
Me, Christ
Q2. According to Paul, why should women cover their heads in prayer?
V10. “for this reason, a woman should have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.”
Covering women’s heads implies accepting the rule of authority given by God. And this is closely related to those days’ cultural background. Women were under the authority of men in those days. Covering their head implies renouncing men’s authority, which women’s heads meant, before God.
Q3. Doing the Lord’s supper is to remember and proclaim ( ). The Lord’s supper demonstrated that they were [ ] in Christ. However, in the Lord’s supper, they didn’t share food with the poor, so they intensified [ ] among them. They did the Lord’s supper not for ( ) but for ( ). (see the endnote for the words for [ ] )
The Lord’s death, one body, division, the better, the worse
Q4. What is unworthy manner when you eat the bread and drink the cup of the Lord? (v28-29)
Check yourself if you have done anything against brothers and sisters in the Lord. If you eat the bread, the symbol of the body of Jesus, while you harbor hared and bully against a member of the body, you are self-condemning and eating and drinking your sins.
CH 12: The Spiritual Gifts and One Body
Q1. What is the reason we should accept our fellow believers? (v3)
As one confesses Jesus as the Lord, the Holy Spirit resides in them. Who do you dare to bully such a person?
Q2. Find expressions telling the giver of all different gifts is one.
The same Spirit (v4, 9)
One Spirit (v9)
The same Spirit (v11)
The same Lord (v5)
The same God (v6)
Q3. What is the purpose of distributing all different gifts to everyone?
For the benefit of all. Anything given to us is to serve others.
Q4. “For in ( ) we were baptized into ( ). Whether Jews or Greeks or ( ) or ( ), we were ( ) made to drink of the ( ).”
One Spirit, one body, slaves free, all, one Spirit
Q5. When you have superior talent to others, you might want to be independent of the body of Christ. But, you cannot be separated from the church (v ) unless you are severed from Jesus, the head of the church. Also, you don’t need to envy others’ talent that seems outstanding because all cannot have the same function (v ). Don’t brag or envy the gift given to each one of you. Don’t despise the weaker person. Rather, honor them just as the weaker organ of a body is protected (v ). One of the reasons God did so is to make us one in love (v ).
15-16, 17-20, 21-23, 25-26.
CH 13: The Way of Love
Q1. Even though you are given many talents or have achieved many, you and your achievements are nothing if you don’t have love. What are the four virtues that are compared with love in v1-3?
The good speech, knowledge, faith/power, serving.
A speech without love doesn’t move others’ hearts. Knowledge or faith without love -> you are not mature. Service not motivated by pure love won’t bring any credit to you.
Q2. Love is not an obsession with the worldly things (v ) nor seeking self-satisfaction (v ), but enduring all things (v ) by knowing the truth (v ).
V4, v4-5, v7, v6
Q3. Why will prophecy and knowledge fade away?
In the end, you will know clearly.
Q4. These three things remain: ( ), ( ), and ( ). But the greatest of these is ( ).
Faith, hope, love, love.
CH 14: Prophecy and Tongues
Q1. Why does Pual ask us to seek prophecy rather than tongues? Find supporting verses
Strive to build up the church. V4,v5,v12, v17
Q2. According to v26-40, why do we need to have an order of service?
To build up the church. (v26) not confusion but peace (v33) all things should be in order (v40)
CH 15: Resurrection
Q1. What is the content of Paul’s gospel according to v1-5?
Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures and was raised on the third day according to the scriptures.
Q2. Paul used to persecute the church. How did Paul become an apostle?
The risen Lord appeared to him. By His grace.
Q3. If Christ has not been resurrected, we are more pitiful than anyone. Why? (v12-19, v29-34)
Suffer while we live, but nothing after death.: Laboring in vain. -> because of resurrection in the Lord, our labor is not in vain (v58)
Q4. “Christ has been raised from the dead, ( ) of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through ( ), ( ) also came through a man.”
The first fruits, a man, resurrection
Q5. List four events of resurrections and defeat of death in the order (v22-28)
Resurrection of Jesus
The resurrection of those who belong to Jesus
Reign until the defeat of Satan
Hand over the kingdom to God
Q6. People doubt the resurrection as they see the decay of the dead body. How does the bible assure the resurrection of the body? (three, v36, 37, 38-41)
The body should decay
You will not expect the same shape as that you sow
God gives different bodies accordingly.
Q7. “It is sown ( ), it is raised ( ). … The first man, Adam, became ( ); the last Adam became ( ).”
Natural body, spiritual body, a living person, a life-given spirit.
Q8. “( ) and ( ) cannot inherit the kingdom of God. … In a moment, in the blinking of an eye, at the last ( ), … this ( ) body must put one ( ).”
Flesh, blood, trumpet, mortal, immortality
Q9. “The sting of death is ( ), and the power of sin is ( ). But thanks be to God, who gives us ( ) through ( )! … So then, be firm. Always be ( ) in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not ( ) in the Lord.”
Sin, the law, the victory, our Lord Jesus, outstanding, in vain.
CH 16
Q1. What is Paul’s advice in collecting donations for Jerusalem church in need of help because of the famine?
Collect little by little when you gather.
Q2. Why does Paul want to stay more in Ephesus before he comes to Corinth?
There was a great opportunity for ministry (saving souls) and many opponents.
Q3. “Stay ( ), stand firm in the ( ), show courage, be ( ). Everything you do should be done in ( ).”
Alert, faith, strong, love
Q4. How could Paul have fellowship with the Corinthian church while he was in Ephesus? (v17-18)
Through Stephanus, Fortunatus, and Achaiscus who brought the news and the help from the Corinthian church to Paul in Ephesus.
Q5. Who were the leaders of the church in Ephesus?
Aquila and Prisca.