BIBL 360
Name:
UNLOCKING THE SCRIPTURES PROJECT: INTERPRETATION TEMPLATE
Chapter Eight:
Instructions: In this exercise, you will be going back to your work in chapter 6 to apply the
principles of interpretation (What does it mean?) to some of the observations and questions you
raised about 1 Corinthians 1:18-31. Your assignment is come up with interpretive questions that
allow you to explore each category: Who, What, When, Where. Using these questions, you will
study through the steps of content, context, comparison, and consultation to arrive at conclusions
regarding 1 Corinthians 1:18-31. Lastly, you will seek to answer the final question: Why? We
must deal with the question of “why” somewhat differently than the questions of “who,” “what,”
“when,” and “where.” When we ask “why” we must draw conclusions about the meaning of the
passage, based on our study up to this point. Answer the following questions about 1 Corinthians
1:18-31 based on your findings and additional research.
Please note three items:
First, in the Comparison sections you will need to demonstrate how other Scriptures support your
interpretive conclusions.
Second, in the Consultation sections you should use other scholarly resources in order to present
support for your interpretive conclusions. The Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Holman
Illustrated Bible Handbook, Holman Concise Bible Commentary and the HCSB Study Bible
notes are included in your course textbooks for this very reason.
Third, material that can be found for free on the internet is typically neither scholarly nor
academic and should not be used for support. Thus, websites like Wikipedia, GotQuestions.org,
BlueLetterBible.org, etc. should not be used for supporting your interpretive conclusions.
BIBL 360
A. Who? (The Characters)
Description: Find out all you can about the author and the recipients, including their identities
and situations. If specific people or groups are mentioned, now is the time to learn more about
them. There are two characters central the letter; the author and the audience. There are also
other characters listed in this passage that you will need to identify. You are not composing a
detailed biography of their lives. You simply want to note what 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 says about
them and how that fits with other Scriptural passages. Your “Who” section should have at least
five (5 “Who” questions. The first two questions have been provided for you.
Question 1: Who is the author of 1 Corinthians?
Initial proposal based on content: The apostle Paul
Context: In 1 Corinthians 1:1 NLT, Paul introduces himself as the author stating, “This letter is
from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from our brother
Sosthenes.”
Comparison: It is written that thirteen books were from Paul, each starts out with him addressing
himself as the author. Romans 1:1 NLT, for example, states, “This letter is from Paul, a slave of
Christ Jesus, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News.” Galatians
1:1 NLT states, “This letter is from Paul, an apostle. I was not appointed by any group of people
or human authority, but by Jesus Christ himself and by God the Father, who raised Jesus from
the dead.”
Consultation: The letter and the church both acknowledge Paul as the author of 1 Corinthians,
mainly without challenge.
1
Paul is also known for writing 13 epistles that make up almost one
fourth of the New Testament, with about sixteen chapters in Acts focusing on his mission work.
2
This makes Paul a large subject in almost one third of the New Testament.
Conclusion: Paul was the author of 1 Corinthians and participated in a large amount of ministry
during his life.
Question 2: Who are the recipients of 1 Corinthians?
Initial proposal based on content: The Church of Corinth
1
David S. Dockery, “The Pauline Letters,” in Holman Concise Bible Commentary, ed. David S. Dockery
(Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1998), 554.
2
Charles L. Quarles, “Paul,” ed. Chad Brand et al., Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville, TN:
Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), 1254.
BIBL 360
Context: In 1 Corinthians 1:2 NLT, Paul states, “I am writing to God’s church in Corinth, to you
who have been called by God to be his own holy people. He made you holy by means of Christ
Jesus, just as he did for all people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
their Lord and ours.” Paul points out specifically that he is referring to the church in Corinth. He
goes on in verses 1:10-17 to mention that he is there to address the divisions among them.
Comparison: Paul is the author of 2 Corinthians as well where he states in 2 Corinthians 1:1 that
he is writing to the church in Corinth, as well as the holy people throughout Greece. The book of
2 Corinthians is a continuation of Paul’s reason for addressing the Corinthian people.
Consultation: Acts 18 tells readers that Christianity first entered Corinth because of the ministry
of Paul, therefore, during the writing of 1 Corinthians, the Church of Corinth was a church full of
young believers.
3
Once Paul had left Corinth, he received word that the church was being
divided by different beliefs, so his letter of 1 Corinthians was to the Church of Corinth to address
these divisions.
4
Conclusion: 1 Corinthians was written to address the divisions in the Church of Corinth
Question 3: Who are “those who are headed for destruction” as is stated in 1 Corinthians 1:18
NLT?
Initial proposal based on content: The people who aren’t saved yet are those who are headed
for destruction.
Context: In 1 Corinthians 1:13-17, Paul reminds readers of the importance of the death of Christ
and how it is through that that people are saved. This leads to Paul’s mention of those headed to
destruction, leading to the belief that it would be those who are not saved.
Comparison: Some Bible translations use the word “perish” which is mentioned many times
throughout the Old and New Testament. Even the famous verse of John 3:16 states, “For this is
how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him
will not perish but have eternal life.” Those who are perishing, or headed for destruction, are
those that have yet to be saved.
Consultation: Paul’s letter was addressed to the people who call on the name of the Lord Jesus
Christ, not addressed to those who are perishing.
5
The word perish means to die or be destroyed,
either physically or spiritually, both of which are not something delegated to believers in Christ.
Conclusion: The ones who are headed for destruction are people who believe that the message of
the cross is foolish, therefore not believing in Christ as well.
3
B&H Editorial Staff, Holman Illustrated Bible Handbook (Holman Bible Publishers, 2012), 373.
4
Ibid., 373.
5
David S. Dockery, Holman Concise Bible Commentary, 553.
BIBL 360
Question 4: Who is more likely to receive God’s power?
Initial proposal based on content: Believers of Christ
Context: Paul tells believers in verse 26 to remember that few of them were wise or powerful in
the world’s eyes before they were saved. This suggests now that their wisdom is coming from
God. He also mentions in verse 24 that those who are called to salvation “Christ is the power of
God and the wisdom of God.”
Comparison: The Bible is filled with Scriptures about God’s divine power and authority over
humanity. Psalms 46:1 NLT states, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in
trouble.” Matthew 19:26 NLT states, “But Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is
impossible, but with God all things are possible.’” This shows that power and strength must
come from the Lord and only believers have access to Him.
Consultation: This passage serves to teach that God’s wisdom and strength is superior to any of
mankind's. It also teaches that God uses the things that mankind views as weak and foolish to
make a change in the world and focus people on Him as the important one.
6
If people aren’t
active believers of Christ than they won’t receive the true wisdom and power that can only come
from Him.
Conclusion: Believers in Christ are the only ones who will receive His wisdom and power,
Question 5: Who are the brothers and sisters?
Initial proposal based on content: The people who have been saved
Context: Paul goes on in verse 26 to say “when God called you” suggesting that the brothers and
sisters must be people who have already been called by God and therefore are saved.
Comparison: The biggest comparison verse for this found in Scripture is Matthew 12:48-50 ESV
which states, “But he replied to the man who told him ‘Who is my mother, and who are my
brothers?’ And stretching out his hand towards his disciples, he said, ‘Here are my mother and
my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and
mother.” Jesus clearly explains that our brothers and sisters are those saved by Him who follow
the will of God.
Consultation: Verse 26 invites the readers to look into their life before Christ. IT refers to the
term “calling” which can consider one’s station in life, but also God’s call for their salvation.
7
It
6
Taylor, Mark. 1 Corinthians : An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture. Nashville:
B&H Publishing Group, 2014. Accessed April 8, 2024. ProQuest Ebook Central.
7
Ibid., lviii.
BIBL 360
is known that Paul is referring to believers in Christ through this passage, so it can be referred
that brothers and sisters are also believers.
Conclusion: People who have made the conscious decision to follow Christ are brothers and
sisters through Him.
B. What? (The Key Truths or Events)
Description: This is the time to investigate important words and ideas in the passage. What is the
tone of the passage - joy, sorrow, disappointment, delight? If it is an action passage, what do the
main actions represent? What are the key truths, events, or relationships mentioned in 1
Corinthians 1:18-31? Explore these first as they appear in this passage and then throughout
Scripture. You should identify at least five (5) “what” questions. The first two have been
provided for you.
Question 1: What is meant by the word “foolishness” in these verses?
Initial proposal based on content: Foolish seems to be a word used to describe something that
is viewed as pointless or irrelevant. In this specific passage, it is referring to nonbelievers seeing
the message of the cross as foolish, as well as believers seeking wisdom in things outside of God.
Context: In the beginning of the passage, Paul mentions how the cross is foolish to those who
don’t believe. To them it would be irrelevant. He goes on to mention how it is foolish preaching
that saves people because humans can’t come to understand the wisdom of God. He also
mentions how the Jews and Greeks are foolish for seeking wisdom from a source outside of God.
God uses things that the world views as foolish to fix peoples’ viewpoint towards the one thing
that does matter and have wisdom to provide: God.
Comparison: Scripture provides numerous examples of foolishness in people coming when they
don’t believe in God. Proverbs 28:26 ESV states, “Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but
he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.” Wisdom can only come from the Father. Those who
believe it can be gained from humanity are foolish. Jesus states in Matthew 7:26 ESV, “And
everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who
built his house on the sand.”
Consultation: The Old and New Testament use fool or a translation of such word approximately
360 times to describe people who are unwise and ungodly.
8
Likewise, people who do not have
wisdom are deemed as fools, and their behavior is deemed as folly. People who believe in Christ
are wise, and people who don’t are foolish.
9
8
Kenneth Craig, “Fool, Foolishness, and Folly,” ed. Chad Brand et al., Holman Illustrated Bible
Dictionary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), 590.
9
Ibid,. 590.
BIBL 360
Conclusion: Foolishness comes from a lack of wisdom and a lack of believe in Christ and His
crucifixion. Throughout this passage, “foolishness” also refers to those who are perishing.
Question 2: What is meant by the word “stumbling block” in these verses?
Initial proposal based on content: A stumbling block is something that trips people up and
takes them away from the word of God.
Context: Paul is stating that the message of the cross is an obstacle to the Jews because they
demand signs to support their beliefs. The Greeks sought after humanly wisdom which also
caused them trouble when trying to believe the message of crucifixion.
Comparison: In other verses of the Bible, stumbling block can also be compared to obstacle.
Romans 14:13 ESV states, “Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but
rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.” IN every
context that “stumbling block” is used, it is to describe something that falls in the way or stops
up another person.
Consultation: The Jews required miraculous signs from God as intervention on behalf of His
people, however, Jesus refused to offer signs to those who asked for it.
10
This Jewish belief put a
blockage in the way for them to reach the Father, due to their stubbornness in belief for how they
needed to hear from Him. God reconciles all things, and the ultimate promise is the crucifixion
of Christ, which is a message the Jews would not listen to.
Conclusion: A stumbling block was standing in the way of the Jews and the Father. In this case,
it happened to be that the Jews required miraculous signs from God which Jesus would not
provide.
Question 3: What does it mean to “boast in the Lord”?
Initial proposal based on content: This is to express the importance that nobody is to brag
about or praise anything but the Lord.
Context: The King James Version mentions in verse 31, “He that glorieth, let him glory in the
Lord.” Earlier in the passage hints that nothing that humanity has done is worthy of boast. In the
same sense, the things that are worthy of adoration were from God. This passage's context leads
to the declaration that anything worthy of praise is to be given to the Father.
Comparison: Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV states, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And
this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
This is very similar to our passage in 1 Corinthians, suggesting that nothing is worthy of boasting
except for the Lord. Other passages in Scripture mention only boasting of things that show
10
Taylor, 1 Corinthians: An Exegetical, lv.
BIBL 360
weakness if someone must boast about themselves, and James 4:16 ESV states, “As it is, you
boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.”
Consultation: Believers receive sanctification, wisdom, redemption and strength through Christ
alone and union with Him because of God. Because of this, believers owe everything to God,
placing the grounds to boast only about Him.
11
Humanity alone is not worthy of such affection
and praise. It is only through the Father that such things should be expressed.
Conclusion: To boast to the Lord is to shout out His goodness and praise. The Father is the only
thing worthy of such adoration.
Question 4: What is Paul trying to accomplish?
Initial proposal based on content: Paul is hoping to unite the church by taking out the
deviations from the Father.
Context: Paul mentions in 1 Corinthians 10 that he wishes for there to be no division among the
church. He goes on to say that he had gotten news of such division in the church and explained
the importance of unity in Christ. Paul is trying to knock down any humanly wisdom or strength
that the church believes they have, to express that those things only come through Christ.
Comparison: Many Scriptures can be found expressing the importance of unity in the church.
Ephesians 4:1-6 ESV states, “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner
worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with
patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of
peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to
your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” One of the most important things in the church is
unity, so when Paul heard that the Church at Corinth was struggling with humanly ways, he
urged them to come back to Christ.
Consultation: Paul left Corinth after establishing a thriving new church of believers. He had
received a message shortly after leaving that described the division in the church and had a
committee show to him requesting answers for questions about the church.
12
Paul’s reason for
writing this letter was to address this division and create unity within the church.
Conclusion: Paul was trying to bring the Church of Corinth back into unity with each other and
with God.
Question 5: What does it mean for humans to be called?
11
Ibid., lix.
12
B&H Editorial Staff, Holman Illustrated Bible Handbook (Holman Bible Publishers, 2012), 373–374.
BIBL 360
Initial proposal based on content: The calling is for humans to be saved by the Father and
called to a life with Him.
Context: In verse 26, Paul mentions how believers were not wise before they were called. It is
known that wisdom comes from God, therefore, to be called must mean to be saved by God. The
passage goes on to mention that God chooses what is foolish and weak to show the world what
matters, and God chose us as a part of our calling.
Comparison: Scripture is filled with endless verses on the callings of the Father. 2 Timothy 1:9
ESV is a great example of this as it states, “who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not
because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus
before the ages began.” Nothing we can do is worthy of the calling, but it is through God’s grace
that we are saved.
Consultation: To be called is for God to choose you for salvation and service.
13
In the Old
Testament, this included to name, to summon, to proclaim, to cry to God for help, and to
choose.
14
When people are called, they are brought into the presence of God for salvation to live
a life guided by Him.
Conclusion: For a human to be called, God has placed a mark on their life for salvation and
purpose.
C. Where? (The Geography and location)
Description: Where are the author and readers at the time of the writing? Are there places in the
passage that need to be identified in geographic placement? Can anything be learned from the
location of the events? Explore these places as they appear in this passage before considering
their significance outside of 1 Corinthians 1:18-31. You should identify at least two (2) “where”
question.
Question 1: Where is Paul while he is writing this letter?
Initial proposal based on content: Paul is writing in a different city.
Context: Paul led three different missionary journeys where during the last, he started hearing of
problems within the Church of Corinth. He is writing this outside of Corinth with Sosthenes as
noted in verse one. Paul had left Corinth and traveled to Ephesus which is where He likely was
when writing this letter.
13
A. J. Smith, “Call, Calling,” ed. Chad Brand et al., Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville, TN:
Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), 254.
14
Ibid., 254.
BIBL 360
Comparison: Before arriving in Ephesus, Paul had spent months in Corinth ministering.
However, though he had left, Paul writes many of his letters while on the road: Philippians,
Ephesians, and Colossians as examples. It is believed that Paul had a desire to return to Corinth
in God’s timing.
Consultation: Paul was on his third missionary journey in the city of Ephesus where he spent
about three years.
15
It is believed he wrote 1 and 2 Corinthians as well as Romans during this
journey.
16
Conclusion: Paul was in Ephesus when he wrote 1 Corinthians.
Question 2: Where is Corinth?
Initial proposal based on content: Corinth is a ways from Ephesus and is somewhere in
Greece with high trade capability.
Context: Corinth was a port city in Greece with a diverse body of young believers. At this time,
Greece was under the Roman empire. It can be assumed that Corinth is a good distance from
Ephesus because Paul chose to write a letter instead of making a brief appearance back to the
church. With this, Paul states in 1 Corinthians 16:5, “I am coming to you after I have been to
Macedonia, for I am planning to travel through Macedonia.” We could guess that Corinth here is
somewhere near Macedonia.
Comparison: Paul has traveled to many places during his ministry. In Acts 18:1, Paul departed
Athens and went to Corinth.
Consultation: Corinth is on the southwest end of the isthmus where the southern part of the
Greek peninsula joined with the mainland to the north.
17
It also was between two sea ports: the
port of Lechaion on the Gulf of Corinth and the port of Cenchreae on the Saronic Gulf.
18
Conclusion: Corinth is a maritime city located on the Greek peninsula that was very important
back in the time period of Paul.
D. When? (The Time Factors)
Description: Determine if there is anything critical related to the element of time in this passage.
Does the message depend at all on certain aspects of the era in the church’s history in which it
was written? Are there lessons to be learned based on the timing of the events? How is this
15
Ibid., 1258.
16
Ibid., 1258.
17
Ibid., 342.
18
Ibid., 342.
BIBL 360
presented first in 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 and then throughout the Scriptures. You should identify
at least one (1) “when” question.
Question 1: When was 1 Corinthians written?
Initial proposal based on content: It was written sometime after the death and resurrection of
Christ.
Context: Verse 18 references the message of the cross which wouldn’t be possible if this was
written before Christ’s crucifixion, which is also referenced in verse 23. There is no reason to
believe that these are mentioned in regard to something that happens in the future, but rather
something that has already happened.
Comparison: 1 Corinthians 1:13 states, “Has Christ been divided into factions? Was I, Paul,
crucified for you? Were any of you baptized in the name of Paul? Of course not!” This verse
continues to signify that Christ had already gone and died on the cross, for He is who believers
receive their strength.
Consultation: 1 Corinthians was written around A.D. 55 towards the end of Paul’s three year
ministry in Ephesus.
19
Conclusion: 1 Corinthians was written after the death and resurrection of Christ in A.D. 55.
E. Why? (The purpose of this passage)
Description: The purpose question is two-sided: there is the need that caused the revelation to be
given, and there is the author’s message that addressed that need. Here you are drawing a
conclusion based on all that you have studied. Examine your work in observation and this
interpretation exercise; what do you believe is the need of the Corinthian believers and then what
is Paul’s message and how does it address that need?
The Need: The church in Corinth had fallen into sinful practices that were causing them to focus
more on the ability of man than the importance of God. Paul came to break these practices and
bring the focus of the church back to the Father. Paul is working to unify the church by
addressing the factions.
The Message: Paul is teaching that wisdom and power only come through Christ and His
crucifixion. No human can compare to God in His strength and intelligence. The Father is also
the only thing worthy of praise.
19
David S. Dockery, Holman Concise Bible Commentary, 552.
BIBL 360
Bibliography
Brand, Chad, Eric Alan Mitchell, Steve Bonds, E Ray Clendenen, Trent C Butler, and Bill Latta.
Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Nashville, Tn: Holman Reference, 2003.
B&H Editorial Staff, Holman Illustrated Bible Handbook (Holman Bible Publishers, 2012)
Dockery, David S, and Broadman & Holman Publishers. Holman Concise Bible Commentary :
Simple, Straightforward Commentary on Every Book of the Bible. Nashville, Tenn.:
Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1998.
Taylor, Mark. 1 Corinthians : An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture.
Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2014. Accessed April 8, 2024. ProQuest Ebook
Central.
