First Epistle to the Corinthians Facts for Kids

The First Letter to the Corinthians is a long letter written by Paul. He was an important early Christian leader. Paul wrote this letter to the church in Corinth, an ancient city in Greece.

In this letter, Paul gives advice on many topics. He talks about how people should act in marriage and why they should not worship false gods. He also discusses special spiritual gifts, like prophecy. Paul emphasizes the importance of love and asks the church members to work together and be united.

Towards the end of the letter, Paul explains that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is a real event. He also shares his plans to visit the Corinthians soon. Paul mentions that Timothy, who worked with him, will be coming to their church very soon.

When Was the Letter Written?
What Is in the Letter?
- What "Through a Glass, Darkly" Means
- The Resurrection of Jesus
Interesting Facts About the First Letter to the Corinthians
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When Was the Letter Written?

Around the year AD 50, Paul started the church in Corinth. This was during his second missionary journey. After that, he traveled to Ephesus, a city in what is now Turkey. Ephesus was about 290 kilometers by sea from Corinth.

While Paul was in Ephesus, he heard some worrying news from the church in Corinth. There were reports of jealousy, arguments, and people doing wrong things. It also seems the Corinthians had sent Paul a letter. They were asking for clear answers on things like marriage and eating meat that had been offered to idols.

What Is in the Letter?

The foundation of Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11); posted at the Menno-Hof Amish and Mennonite Museum in Shipshewana, Indiana

Paul wrote the First Letter to the Corinthians to help fix problems in the church there. Throughout the letter, he talks about the issues troubling the community. He then offers ways to solve them. Paul says he is writing to "warn" them, like a loving parent warns their children. He expects them to try to be like Jesus and follow His ways. Paul taught these ways in all the churches he started.

A big problem in the Corinthian church was that people were divided. Paul makes sure to talk about these arguments early in the letter. Some old pagan beliefs were still influencing the community. Paul wanted to guide them back to what he believed was the correct teaching. He said that God had given him the chance to be a "skilled builder." His job was to lay the foundation, and others could build upon it.

Paul also wrote about bad behavior in Corinth. He explained how to settle disagreements between people. About marriage, Paul said it was better for Christians to stay unmarried if they could. But if they found it hard to control themselves, it was better to marry than to "burn" (meaning to struggle with strong desires).

This letter contains some famous sayings, like "all things to all men" and "through a glass, darkly." Another well-known quote is:

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

—1 Corinthians 13:11, King James Version.

What "Through a Glass, Darkly" Means

The phrase "through a glass, darkly" comes from 1 Corinthians 13:12. In older Bibles, it was translated as "For now we see through a glass darkly." This phrase has inspired many book and movie titles.

The Greek word used for "glass" can mean either a mirror or a lens. Many modern Bible translations say it means a mirror. This means we see things like a dim image in a mirror. It suggests that we don't see things perfectly clearly right now.

The Resurrection of Jesus

After discussing his thoughts on worshipping idols, Paul finishes the letter by talking about resurrection and the Resurrection of Jesus.

3 For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures 4 and that he was buried and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.

Paul then asks, "If Christ is preached as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?" Chapter 15 explains what the resurrection will be like. It says that at the Last Judgement, dead people will be raised. Both the living and the dead will be changed into "spiritual bodies."

For Christians, the resurrection of Jesus is the most important event in their faith.

Interesting Facts About the First Letter to the Corinthians

Experts believe the letter was written sometime between AD 53 and 57.
Even though it's called the "First" Letter to the Corinthians, it might not be the very first one Paul wrote to them. It's just the first one that became part of the Bible.
The letter includes the saying "evil company corrupts good habits." This saying comes from old Greek writings.
Paul tells Christian women to cover their hair when praying. However, pagan Greek women often prayed without covering their hair.