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New Testament Survey:
Epistles — Paul's Letters to the Churches

 


In this Section:
The Book of Romans  |  1 Corinthians  |  2 Corinthians

 

Survey of the Book of Romans

Introduction
While the four Gospels present the words and works of Jesus Christ, the book of Romans explores the significance of His sacrificial death and resurrection. Paul uses a question-and-answer format to put forth the most systematic presentation of doctrine in the Bible.

Romans is more than a book of theology; it is also a book of practical exhortation. The good news of Jesus Christ is more than mere facts to be believed; it is also a life to be lived — a life of righteousness befitting the person "justified freely by grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (3:24).

Paul presents Jesus Christ as the "Second Adam" whose righteousness and substitutionary death have provided justification for all who place their faith in Him. Christ offers His righteousness as a gracious gift to sinful mankind, having received in Himself God's condemnation and wrath for our sinfulness. His death and resurrection are the basis for our redemption, justification, reconciliation, salvation, and glorification.

The theme of Romans is the complete righteousness of God. Paul writes this letter to...

  • reveal God's sovereign plan of salvation to meet the requirements of that righteousness (chapters 1-8);

  • to show how both Jews and Gentiles fit into that plan (9-11); and

  • to inspire believers to live righteous and harmonious lives (12-16).

In his presentation of God's plan of salvation, Paul moves from condemnation to glorification and from positional truth [when we accept Christ as Savior, positionally, we are the righteousness of Christ] to practical truth [as we allow God to sanctify us, we begin to demonstrate the righteousness of Christ in our everyday lives].

Because of this letter's majestic declaration of the divine plan of salvation, Martin Luther wrote, "This epistle is the chief part of the New Testament and the very purest gospel. . . . It can never be read or pondered too much, and the more it is dealt with, the more precious it becomes, and the better it tastes."

Key words, such as righteousness, faith, law, and sin each appear at least 60 times in this letter.

AUTHOR: Paul
TO WHOM: Believers in Rome.
PURPOSE: To present the meaning of the Gospel in relation to Law, prophecy, and the universal need of man for justification by faith.
KEY VERSES: 1:16-17— "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, 'The righteous shall live by faith.'"
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: The just shall live by faith.
MAIN CHARACTERS: Paul, Adam, Abraham, Isaac (See also list of names in chapter 16).

Outline

Part One: The Revelation of the Righteousness of God: 1:1-8:39

  1. The Need for Righteousness Because of Universal Sin: 1:18-3:20
    1. Condemnation of the Gentile world: _________________
      1. The wrath of God against sin: _________________
      2. Reasons for the wrath of God: _________________
      3. The wrath of God: 1:24-32
    2. The condemnation of the Jew: _________________
      1. The principle of divine judgment: _________________
      2. The Jews' moral failure:_________________
      3. The Jews' objections:_________________
    3. Condemnation of the whole world:_________________
      1. The charge that all__________________________________: 3:9
      2. The proof of universal sin from Scripture:_________________
      3. The application to the Jew who has the Law:_________________

  2. The Righteousness of God in Justification: 3:21-5:21
    1. Justification by faith:_________________
      1. It is the manifestation of the righteousness of God:_________________
      2. The description of justification by faith:_________________
    2. Summary of the doctrine of justification:_________________
      1. It excludes personal merit:_________________
      2. The presentation of God's character:_________________
      3. The establishment of the Law:_________________
    3. The proof of justification______________________ from Scripture: 4:1-25
      1. Abraham's justification:_________________
      2. Justification by faith apart from circumcision:_________________
      3. The promise achieved by faith:_________________
      4. The example of the faith of_________________: 4:17-25
    4. The permanency of justification:_________________
      1. The present results of justification: _________________
      2. The inability of trials to destroy this hope:_________________
      3. The love of God_________________ confirms this hope: 5:6-11
    5. The foundation of righteousness:_________________
      1. Two representative men:_________________
      2. The differences between Adam and Christ:_________________
      3. The similarities of Adam and Christ:_________________

  3. The Righteousness of God in Sanctification: 6:1-8:39
    1. The believer's relationship to sin:_________________
      1. Death to the principle of sin:_________________
      2. The believer's death to the practice of sin:_________________
    2. The believer's relationship to the Law:_________________
      1. Dead to the law but alive_________________: 7:1-6
      2. The inability of the Law to deliver from sin:_________________
    3. The believer's victory through the Spirit:_________________
      1. Deliverance from the power of the flesh by the Spirit:_________________
      2. The life of sonship through the Spirit:_________________
      3. Glorification in present suffering:_________________
      4. The assurance of the believer's victory:_________________

Part Two: The Vindication/Defense of the Righteousness of God: 9:1-11:36

  1. Paul's Sorrow Because of Israel's Rejection: 9:1-5
    1. His feeling:_________________
    2. The intensity of his feeling:_________________
    3. The basis for his feeling:_________________

  2. The Rejection of Israel and God's Sovereignty: 9:6-29
    1. The rejection of Israel and God's promise:_________________
      1. The denial of the failure of God's Word:_________________
      2. Proof that the promise is not based on physical descent:_________________
    2. The rejection of Israel and God's justice:_________________
      1. The justice of God in the manifestation of His will:_________________
      2. The sovereign power of God:_________________

  3. The Rejection of Israel: 9:30-10:21
    1. The failure of Israel to achieve righteousness:_________________
    2. The refusal by Israel to accept God's righteousness:_________________
      1. The cause for Israel's rejection:_________________
      2. The nature of righteousness by_________________: 10:5-11
    3. The neglect by Israel of the universal Gospel:_________________
      1. The fact of a universal_________________: 10:12-13
      2. The proclamation of the universal Gospel:_________________
      3. The reaction of Israel to this universal Gospel:_________________

  4. The Rejection of Israel and God's Purpose for Their Future: 11:1-32
    1. The rejection of Israel left a remnant:_________________
      1. The denial that God has cut off His people:_________________
      2. The proof of a remaining remnant:_________________
    2. The rejection of Israel is not permanent:_________________
      1. Israel's condition:_________________
      2. The warning to the_________________: 11:17-24
      3. The argument for the restoration of Israel: 11:23-24
      4. The prophecy concerning Israel's future restoration:_________________

  5. The Benediction in Praise of God: 11:33-36

Part Three: The Application of the Righteousness of God: 12:1-16:27

  1. The Believer in Relation to God: 12:1-2

  2. The Believer in Relation to the Church: 12:3-13
    1. The use of spiritual gifts with humility:_________________
      1. The need for_________________: 12:3
      2. The relation of the members to each other in the Body:_________________
      3. The expression of humility in service:_________________
    2. The practice of love to members in the church:_________________

  3. The Believer in Relation to Mankind: 12:14-21
    1. Love your_________________: 12:14
    2. Love towards the interest of others:_________________
    3. Love towards a sinful world:_________________

  4. The Believer in Relation to Government: 13:1-14
    1. The believer's duties to the government:
      1. The duty of______________________ the government: 13:1
      2. The reason for obeying the government:_________________
      3. Refusing to obey the government:_________________
      4. The motives for obeying the government:_________________
    2. The believer's duties to fellow citizens:_________________
    3. The believer's motivation in the hope of the return of Jesus:_________________
      1. An appeal to remaining alert:_________________
      2. The reason for remaining alert:_________________

  5. The Believer in Relation to a Weaker Brother: 14:1-15:13
    1. The warning against judging a brother:_________________
      1. The proper attitude toward the___________________________: 14:1
      2. The areas of difficulty:_________________
      3. Making the adjustment:_________________
      4. The motivation:_________________
      5. The rebuke for judging a brother:_________________
      6. Violating a brother's conscience:_________________
    2. The effort toward unity by following Christ's example:_________________
      1. The obligation of a strong brother:_________________
      2. The appeal for unity from Christ's example:_________________
      3. The request of the Apostle:_________________
      4. The command to receive one another:_________________
      5. The illustration from Christ's relation to Jew and Gentile:_________________
      6. The Apostolic prayer:_________________

Part Four: Conclusion: 15:14-16:20

  1. Personal Matters: 15:14-33
    1. Paul's explanation for writing:_________________
      1. His_________________ in writing: 15:14-16
      2. His_________________ for writing: 15:17-21
    2. His personal plans at the time of writing:_________________
      1. Unfulfilled plans:_________________
      2. His immediate plans:_________________
      3. His plans for the future:_________________
    3. His request for their_________________: 15:30-33

  2. Friendship Matters: 16:1-23

  3. The concluding benediction: 16:25-27

Further Study
Romans provides the most detailed record of God's hatred of sexual perversion: 1:18-32.

Romans gives the most detailed explanation of the dealings of God with the nation of Israel in the past, present, and future: 9-11.

Romans contains five benedictions or blessings which close portions of the book:

  • "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (8:37-39)

  • "Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 'For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?' 'Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen." (11:33-36)

  • "I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company. May the God of peace be with you all. Amen." (15:30-33)

  • "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you." (16:20)

  • "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith--to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen." (16:24-27)

4. Romans 5:1-11 lists seven results of justification by faith. Being justified by faith means we:













There are three deaths spoken of in the book of Romans. We are:





[Back to Top...]

Survey of the Book of 1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians
Corinth was the most important city in ancient Greece. It was a bustling hub of global commerce, a total degraded and disgraceful culture, and idol worship. That's where Paul planted a church as recorded in Acts 18:1-17.

This letter reveals the problems, pressures, and struggles of a church borne out of a pagan society. Paul writes about a variety of problems: factions [small dissenting groups], lawsuits among believers, immorality, questionable practices, abuse of the Lord's Supper [Communion], and spiritual gifts.

The basic theme of this epistle is to apply solid Christian principles of conduct to the carnality that was being tolerated in individuals as well as in the church. The Gospel of Christ is a message designed to transform the lives of believers and make them different from the surrounding world. However, the Corinthian believers were destroying their Christian testimony because of immorality and lack of unity among them.

AUTHOR: Paul
TO WHOM: Believers at Corinth
PURPOSE: Paul deals with problems which have been brought to his attention and questions which some of the Corinthian believers have asked.
KEY VERSES:
6:19-20— "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body."
10:12-13— "Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."
13:13— "So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love."
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: Love is the greatest spiritual key to effective Christian life and ministry.
MAIN CHARACTERS: Paul, Timothy, Apollos, Stephanas

Outline

Part One: In Answer to Chloe's Report of Divisions: 1:1-4:21

  1. Introduction: 1:1-9
    1. Greetings of grace:_________________
    2. Prayer of thanksgiving:_________________

  2. Church divisions: 1:10-4:21
    1. Reaction to the report of their divisions:_________________
      1. An appeal for unity:_________________
      2. The source, nature and questions about their divisions:_________________
      3. Their divisions not due to his ministry: 1:14-17
    2. References and concerns about church divisions: 1:18-4:21
      1. Division is inconsistent with the Gospel:_________________
      2. Description of true ministers:_________________
      3. Misunderstanding Paul's ministry:_________________

Part Two: Answer to Reports of Immorality: 5:1-6:20

  1. Immorality: 5:1-13
    1. Discipline of the incestuous person:_________________
    2. _________________ yourselves from immoral believers: 5:9-13

  2. The Evil of Lawsuits before Worldly Courts: 6:1-11
    1. The question of such litigations:_________________
    2. The reasons for settling problems in the church:_________________
    3. The warning against___________________________: 6:9-11

  3. Warning against Sexual Immorality:_________________
    1. The limitation on Christian liberty:_________________
    2. The nature of the believer's body [as a part of Christ's body] forbids fornication [sex outside of marriqage]:_________________
    3. A contrast between two forbidden unions:_________________
    4. The nature of and response to fornication:_________________
    5. The proper use of the body:_________________

Part Three: Answer to Previous Questions: 7:1-16:24

  1. Counsel Concerning Marriage: 7:1-40
    1. Principles for_________________ life: 7:1-9
    2. Principles for the married believer:_________________
    3. Principle of abiding in God's call:_________________
    4. Principles for the_________________: 7:25-38
    5. Principles for remarriage:_________________

  2. Counsel Concerning Christian Love: 8:1-11:1
    1. Counsel concerning things offered to_________________: 8:1-8
    2. The relationship of love to knowledge:_________________
      1. The need for love with knowledge:_________________
      2. The claim to liberty through knowledge:_________________
      3. Warning against causing a weaker brother to sin:_________________
    3. Paul's example of_________________ restriction of liberties: 9:1-27
      1. His_________________ as an apostle: 9:1-3
      2. His_________________ as an apostle: 9:4-12
      3. His reasons for waiving these rights:_________________
      4. An appeal for them to follow his_________________: 9:24-27
    4. Warning against forfeiting [losing] their liberty:_________________
      1. The reminder of Israel's history:_________________
      2. Warnings from the history of Israel:_________________
    5. Use liberty to_________________ God: 10:14-11:1

  3. Counsel Concerning _________________ Worship: 11:2-14:40
    1. Principles of_________________ prayer: 11:2-16
    2. Disorders connected with _____________________________: 11:17-34
      1. Corinthian disorders at the Lord's Supper:_________________
      2. Counsel about the Lord's Supper:_________________
      3. Consequences of disorderly participation:_________________
    3. Principles of exercising spiritual gifts in the Church: 12:1-14:40
      1. Test of the Spirit's control:_________________
      2. The diversity of gifts:_________________
      3. Importance of __________ gifts: 12:12-31
      4. Exercise gifts with ___________: 13:1-13
      5. The proper __________ of spiritual gifts: 14:1-40

  4. Counsel Concerning the Resurrection: 15:1-58
    1. The __________ of Christ's resurrection: 15:1-11
    2. The importance or necessity of Christ's resurrection:_________________
      1. The necessity of His resurrection for_________________: 15:12-19
      2. Historic necessity of the resurrection:_________________
      3. The necessity of Christ's resurrection for Christian conduct: 15:29-34
      4. The prospect of the Christian's___________________________: 15:35-58

  5. Counsel Concerning Practical and Personal Matters: 16:1-24
    1. The collection for Jerusalem:_________________
    2. Planned visits to Corinth: 16:5-12
      1. _________________'s visit: 16:5-9
      2. _________________'s visit: 16:10-11
      3. _________________'s visit: 16:12
    3. Concluding admonitions to the Corinthians:_________________
    4. Acknowledgment of the representatives from Corinth:_________________
    5. Concluding greetings:_________________

[Back to Top...]

Survey of the Book of 2 Corinthians
In the interim between Paul's first letter and this one, the Corinthian church had been swayed by false teachers who stirred the people against Paul. They claimed he was fickle, proud, unimpressive, dishonest, and unqualified as a Apostle of Jesus Christ.

Paul sent Titus to Corinth to deal with these difficulties, and upon Titus' return, Paul rejoiced to hear of the change of heart among most of the Corinthian believers. Paul wrote this letter to express thanksgiving for the repentant majority and to appeal to the remaining members to accept his authority. Throughout this letter, Paul defends his conduct, character, and calling as an Apostle of Jesus Christ.

In this letter, Christ is presented as the believer's comfort (1:5), triumph (2:14), Lord (4:5), light (4:6), judge (5:10), reconciliation (5:19), substitute (5:21), gift (9:15), owner (10:7), and power (12:9).

The main theme of this letter is Paul's defense of his Apostolic credentials and authority. Certain false apostles had mounted an effective campaign against Paul in the church at Corinth, and Paul was forced to take a number of steps to overcome the opposition. He expresses his pure joy over the triumph of the true Gospel and acknowledges the godly sorrow and repentance of the majority of the believers.

AUTHOR: Paul
TO WHOM: Believers at Corinth.
PURPOSE: To reestablish Paul's Apostolic authority and also to deal with additional important issues (cf. 8:10).

KEY VERSES:
4:5-6— "For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."
5:17-19— "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation."
12:9— "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: Human weakness provides opportunity for manifestation of the power of God.
MAIN CHARACTERS: Paul, Timothy, Titus

Outline

Part One: Paul's Explanation of His Ministry: 1:1-7:16

  1. Introduction: 1:1-11
    1. Greeting:_________________
      1. From:_________________ and_________________: 1:1
      2. To:__________________________________________________________: 1:1
      3. Grace and peace from God and Jesus:_________________
    2. Suffering: 1:3-11
      1. Praise to God for suffering:_________________
      2. Value of suffering:_________________
      3. An example of suffering: Paul in Asia:_________________

  2. Paul's Explanation of His Change of Plans: 1:12-2:13
    1. Paul's original plan:_________________
    2. Change of plans:_________________

  3. Paul's Philosophy of Ministry: 2:14-6:10
    1. Christ causes us to_________________: 2:14-17
    2. Changed lives prove the ministry:_________________
    3. New Covenant is the basis of ministry:_________________
      1. It is empowered by_________________: 3:4-6
      2. It is a glorious ministry:_________________
      3. It is a_________________ ministry: 3:12
      4. It is an open, revealed ministry:_________________
      5. It is a ministry of_________________: 3:17
      6. It is a ministry that changes lives into________________________________: 3:18
    4. Christ is the theme of ministry:_________________
      1. Sincerity of the ministers:_________________
      2. Spiritual blindness of the_________________: 4:3-4
      3. _________________ opposition to the ministry: 4:4
      4. Light of the Gospel penetrates_________________: 4:5-6
      5. The treasure of this ministry in_________________ vessels: 4:7
    5. There are_________________ in ministry: 4:8-15
      1. Description of suffering:_________________
      2. Purpose of suffering:_________________
      3. Victory in suffering:_________________
    6. Motivation in the ministry: 4:16-5:21
      1. _________________ in this life: 4:16-18
      2. _________________ hope in Christ: 5:1-10
      3. Motivation of future_________________: 5:9,10
      4. Motivation of the love of_________________: 5:11-16
    7. The message of reconciliation: 5:17-21
      1. The ministers are_________________ to God: 5:18
      2. The ministry and plea of the ministers is_________________: 5:18-19
      3. The basis for the message:_________________
    8. Giving no_________________ in the ministry: 6:1-10
      1. Ministers are_________________ together with Him: 6:1
      2. Plea of the ministers:_________________
      3. Conduct of the ministers:_________________

  4. Paul's Exhortations to the Corinthians: 6:11-7:16
    1. Paul's appeal for reconciliation:_________________
    2. Paul's appeal for separation from_________________: 6:14-7:1
      1. The command for separation:_________________
      2. Arguments for separation:_________________
      3. The results of separation:_________________
    3. Paul's meeting with Titus:_________________
    4. Corinthians' response to Paul's letter:_________________

Part Two: A Plea Concerning the Collection: 8:1-9:15

  1. Example of the Macedonians: _________________
    1. The _________________ concerning their giving: 8:1
    2. The _________________ of their giving: 8:2
    3. The manner of their giving: _________________
    4. The _________________ of their giving: 8:6

  2. Exhortation: The Appeal for Christian Giving: 8:7-9:15
    1. Example of Christ: _________________
    2. The purpose of giving: _________________
      1. _________________: 8:8
      2. Example of __________________________________: 8:9
      3. Willingness: _________________
    3. Principles of equality in giving: _________________

  3. The Messengers to Corinth: 8:16-9:5
    1. Policies in giving: _________________
      1. The coming of _________________ to Corinth: 8:16-17
      2. _________________ accompanying Titus to Corinth: 8:18-22
      3. Recommendation of the messengers: _________________
      4. Request to receive them properly: _________________
    2. Readiness in giving: _________________

  4. The Blessings of Liberal Giving: 9:6-15
    1. The basic _________________ of giving: 9:6
    2. The right _________________ for giving: 9:7
    3. The results of liberal giving: _________________
      1. All grace from _________________: 9:8
      2. Material and spiritual _________________: 9:10
      3. Increase in fruits of _________________: 9:10
      4. Enriched in _________________: 9:11
      5. Reaction of those _________________ the gift: 9:11-14
        1. _________________ to God: 9:11-13
        2. _________________ for the givers: 9:14
    4. The basis of the blessings of _________________: 9:15

Part Three: Paul's Vindication of His Apostleship: 101-13:14

  1. Paul Answers His Accusers: 10:1-18
    1. The charge of cowardice: _________________
    2. The charge of walking in the flesh: _________________
      1. The spiritual _________________ of his warfare: 10:3
      2. The spiritual _________________ of his warfare: 10:4
      3. The _________________ in the warfare: 10:5-6
    3. The answer to a misled member: _________________
    4. The charge of personal weakness: _________________
      1. The boasting of _________________ teachers: 10:12
      2. Justified boasting: _________________
        1. The standard of measurement: _________________
        2. The achievement to be measured: _________________

  2. Paul Defends His _________________: 11:1-12:13
    1. Paul's declaration of his apostleship: _________________
      1. Statement of the _________________: 11:1
      2. Reasons for the request: _________________
      3. Refuting personal inferiority: _________________
    2. Paul's _________________ support his apostleship: 11:16-33
      1. The preparation for boasting: _________________
      2. The first boasting: _________________
    3. Paul's _________________ support his apostleship: 12:1-10
      1. Vision of _________________: 12:1-6
      2. _________________ in the flesh: 12:7-10
    4. Paul's signs support his apostleship: _________________

  3. Paul Announces Upcoming Visit to Corinth: 12:14-13:10
    1. Paul's concern not to be a _________________ burden: 12:14-18
      1. Paul is willing to give _________________ for them: 12:15
      2. Paul refutes _________________ against him: 12:16-18
    2. Paul's concern about their spiritual condition upon his arrival: ________________
      1. Correction of false impressions: _________________
      2. His concerns about them and himself when he goes to them:_____________
    3. Paul warns that they should _________________ themselves: 13:1-10
      1. The investigation he will make: _________________
      2. The proof that will be given to them: _________________
      3. A final appeal to the Corinthian believers to _________________: 13:5-10

  4. Conclusion: 13:11-14
    1. The command to restore, comfort, and live in love and in peace:_____________
    2. The benediction: _________________

Further Study
In 1 Corinthians [write the chapter & verse]_________________, Paul instructs the church to remove an unrepentant sinful member. In 2 Corinthians [write the chapter & verse]_________________, he instructs the church to receive back that one who had repented.

In 2 Corinthians, study what Paul writes about individuals and the work of Satan. Write a summary of each.

  • 2:10-11—







  • 4:4—







  • 11:3 & 13-15—







  • 12:7—







In 2 Corinthians, Paul mentions at least four names/attributes for believers:

  • Living epistles: 3:2-3
  • A sweet savor of Christ: 2:15;
  • Treasure carried in earthen vessels: 4:7
  • Ambassadors of Christ: 5:20

One of the most important reasons God allows a believer to suffer is explained in 2 Corinthians [write the chapter & verse] ________________.

Paul told the Corinthian believers: "...be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. (1 Corinthians 4:16 and 11:1) In the blanks below, match the following verses from 1 Corinthians with the examples.
Verses: 2:1-5; 4:1-6; 9:19-23; 15:9-10; 3:10-23; 6:12; 9:27; 4:9-16; 9:12-18; 14:18-20
As imitators of Paul, believers should be...

  • ________________ humble

  • ________________ good builders

  • ________________ self-disciplined

  • ________________ endure tribulations for Jesus

  • ________________ considerate of weaker brethren

  • ________________ trustees of the truth of the Gospel

  • ________________ willing to relinquished personal rights

  • ________________ loyal in message, method, and motive

  • ________________ deny themselves in order to reach souls

  • ________________ demonstrate proper restraint in public assemblies

 

1 Corinthians 15 is the longest passage in the Bible concerning the future resurrection of believers. Study the changes that will occur and write the appropriate verse(s):

  • ________________ The body is sown [dies] in corruption and raised in incorruption.

  • ________________ The body is sown in dishonor and raised in glory.

  • ________________ The body is sown in weakness and raised in power.

  • ________________ The body is sown a physical body and raised a heavenly body.

  • ________________ The body is sown as flesh-and-blood but raised a changed body.

  • ________________ The body is sown a mortal body and raised an immortal body.

 

According to 2 Corinthians 7:10, Godly sorrow produces ________________ and worldly sorrow produces ________________.

Read about the founding and history of the church at Corinth in Acts 18:1-18, 19:1-22, and 20:3,31.

According to 2 Corinthians 3:3, is God still writing "epistles" or letters? Write the verse here:









Concerning spiritual gifts...
According to 1 Corinthians, chapter 12, the Holy Spirit divides or distributes these gifts among believers as He will. Write the verse(s) that match the text:

  • There are many gifts, but one Spirit: ________________

  • There are many members, but one body: ________________

  • There are many ways to serve, but one Church: ________________

 

According to chapter 13, the gifts have no value unless they are used with love. Write the verse(s) that match the text:

  • Spiritual gifts are not effective without love: ________________

  • The characteristics of love: ________________

  • Love is the greatest gift of all: ________________

 

According to chapter 14, the most desirable gift is the gift of prophecy so long as it:

  • edifies the church: ________________;

  • convinces outsiders (the unsaved): ________________; and

  • is used properly: ________________

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