First Corinthians is Paul's masterly pastoral letter to a church, which he founded five years earlier, but which in the meantime has lost its way. In Ephesus Paul was visited by various groups from Corinth bringing disturbing reports of recent developments, but also a list of questions. A little sleuthing helps us recover an idea of the problems in Corinth as well as the questions to which they wanted answers. A less imaginative person may have simply addressed the problems and replied to the questions, but not Paul.

There are 5 underlying issues dealt with here;-

1. True Wisdom : Ch 1-4
2. Sexual Holiness : Ch 5-7
3. Temple Attendance : Ch 8-10
4. Behaviour at Church Meetings : Ch. 11-14
5. Resurrection Hope : Ch15

Paul Barnett makes this letter as relevant for us as it was for the Corinthians. The letter continues to challenge us as the principles are applied to us in an increasingly unstable and hostile world as Corinth was.