King James Version
1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians in the King James Version (1769), public domain in the United States.
Background and History
The chapters above are the King James text. This essay is the setting of 1 Corinthians: who is said to have written it, when and where, what happens in it, and how the text has been copied.
At a Glance
| Author | Paul, with Sosthenes named in the greeting. Paul writes the closing greeting in his own hand. Scholars of every school accept Paul as the author. |
|---|---|
| Date | About AD 53–54 in one survey, during Paul’s stay at Ephesus. |
| Place written | Ephesus, near modern Selçuk, İzmir Province, Turkey. The letter says Paul will stay at Ephesus until Pentecost. |
| Genre | A pastoral letter answering reports and questions from a church. |
| Chapters | 16 |
| Verses | 437 in the King James Version |
| Key verse | 1 Corinthians 15:3–41 Corinthians 15:3 · King James VersionFor I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;1 Corinthians 15:3 · King James VersionOpen the Source |
Who Wrote It
The letter names its sender in 1 Corinthians 1:11 Corinthians 1:1 · King James VersionPaul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
1 Corinthians 1:1 · King James VersionOpen the Source (1): Paul, called to be an apostle, and Sosthenes our brother. 1 Corinthians 16:211 Corinthians 16:21 · King James VersionThe salutation of me Paul with mine own hand.
1 Corinthians 16:21 · King James VersionOpen the Source says the salutation is by Paul’s own hand, which implies a scribe wrote the rest. Sosthenes is a co-sender, not the author of the argument, which runs in Paul’s first person.
Eusebius, in Church History 3.3.5, says Paul’s fourteen epistles are well known and undisputed. (2) The Muratorian fragment lists letters to the Corinthians first among Paul’s letters to churches. (3) Athanasius lists two letters to the Corinthians in Festal Letter 39. (4) Clement of Rome, writing to the same church near the end of the first century, refers to a letter of the blessed apostle Paul to them. This page did not check that text and does not quote it. Modern scholarship, critical and conservative, treats 1 Corinthians as an undisputed letter of Paul.
Who It Is Not
Sosthenes is not the author, though he is named. The letter mentions an earlier letter in 1 Corinthians 5:91 Corinthians 5:9 · King James VersionI wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
1 Corinthians 5:9 · King James VersionOpen the Source that has not survived. Third Corinthians, a later work in the Acts of Paul, is not this letter and is outside the Protestant canon.
When and Where
1 Corinthians 16:81 Corinthians 16:8 · King James VersionBut I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost.
1 Corinthians 16:8 · King James VersionOpen the Source (1) says Paul will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost. Acts 19 describes a long stay in Ephesus on the third journey. Bible Gateway’s survey gives AD 53–54. (5) The date depends on the Acts chronology, and this page prints the survey’s range rather than a single year.
Audience and Setting
The church at Corinth, which Paul founded according to Acts 18:1–11Acts 18:1–11 · King James Version18:1 After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;
18:2 And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.
18:3 And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.
18:4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.
18:5 And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.
18:6 And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.
18:7 And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man’s house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue.
18:8 And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.
18:9 Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:
18:10 For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.
18:11 And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
Acts 18:1–11 · King James VersionOpen the Source, was a mixed congregation in a Roman colony and trade city. Reports from Chloe’s household in 1 Corinthians 1:111 Corinthians 1:11 · King James VersionFor it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
1 Corinthians 1:11 · King James VersionOpen the Source and a letter from the church in 1 Corinthians 7:11 Corinthians 7:1 · King James VersionNow concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
1 Corinthians 7:1 · King James VersionOpen the Source prompted the reply. The purpose is to correct divisions, moral failures, and disorder in worship, and to answer questions about marriage, food offered to idols, spiritual gifts, and the resurrection.
Rulers at the Time
The letter names no emperor, governor, or king. This page does not add one. Acts places Paul before Gallio at Corinth on an earlier visit, which is outside this letter.
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Founding visit | Paul stays at Corinth a year and six months. Acts 18:11Acts 18:11 · King James VersionAnd he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.Acts 18:11 · King James VersionOpen the Source |
| Reports reach Paul | Chloe’s people and the Corinthians’ own letter. 1 Corinthians 1:111 Corinthians 1:11 · King James VersionFor it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.1 Corinthians 1:11 · King James VersionOpen the Source, 1 Corinthians 7:11 Corinthians 7:1 · King James Version Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.1 Corinthians 7:1 · King James VersionOpen the Source |
| The letter | About AD 53–54 at Ephesus, before Pentecost. (5) 1 Corinthians 16:81 Corinthians 16:8 · King James VersionBut I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost.1 Corinthians 16:8 · King James VersionOpen the Source |
Places in This Book
| Ancient name | Modern-day location | References |
|---|---|---|
| Corinth | Ancient Corinth, near modern Corinth, Peloponnese, Greece. | 1 Corinthians 1:21 Corinthians 1:2 · King James VersionUnto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:1 Corinthians 1:2 · King James VersionOpen the Source |
| Ephesus | Ruins near Selçuk, İzmir Province, Turkey. | 1 Corinthians 16:81 Corinthians 16:8 · King James VersionBut I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost.1 Corinthians 16:8 · King James VersionOpen the Source |
| Macedonia | The Roman province in northern Greece and North Macedonia. | 1 Corinthians 16:51 Corinthians 16:5 · King James VersionNow I will come unto you, when I shall pass through Macedonia: for I do pass through Macedonia.1 Corinthians 16:5 · King James VersionOpen the Source |
What Is Happening
1 Corinthians 1–4 address factions loyal to Paul, Apollos, and Cephas, and set the wisdom of the cross against worldly wisdom. 1 Corinthians 5–6 deal with sexual immorality and lawsuits. 1 Corinthians 7 answers questions about marriage. 1 Corinthians 8–10 treat food offered to idols and Christian freedom. 1 Corinthians 11–14 concern worship, the Lord’s Supper, spiritual gifts, and love in 1 Corinthians 13. 1 Corinthians 15 defends the bodily resurrection. 1 Corinthians 16 is the collection and travel plans.
Key Themes
1 Corinthians 1:231 Corinthians 1:23 · King James VersionBut we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
1 Corinthians 1:23 · King James VersionOpen the Source makes Christ crucified the center of Paul’s preaching. The church is one body in 1 Corinthians 12:12–271 Corinthians 12:12–27 · King James Version12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
12:14 For the body is not one member, but many.
12:15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
12:16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
12:17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
12:18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
12:19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?
12:20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.
12:21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
12:22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
12:23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
12:24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:
12:25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
12:26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
1 Corinthians 12:12–27 · King James VersionOpen the Source. Love is the greatest gift in 1 Corinthians 13:131 Corinthians 13:13 · King James VersionAnd now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
1 Corinthians 13:13 · King James VersionOpen the Source. The resurrection of Christ is the ground of hope in 1 Corinthians 15:17–201 Corinthians 15:17–20 · King James Version15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
15:18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
1 Corinthians 15:17–20 · King James VersionOpen the Source.
Apologetics Questions
1 Corinthians 15:3–81 Corinthians 15:3–8 · King James Version15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
15:5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
15:6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
15:7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
15:8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
1 Corinthians 15:3–8 · King James VersionOpen the Source (1) is the most cited passage in arguments for the resurrection. Paul says he delivered what he also received: that Christ died for our sins, was buried, rose the third day, and appeared to Cephas, the Twelve, more than five hundred, James, and Paul. Most scholars, including skeptical ones, date that tradition very early, within a few years of the crucifixion, because Paul says he received it. The letter is among the earliest Christian writings, so it is a primary witness. Readers also debate 1 Corinthians 14:34–351 Corinthians 14:34–35 · King James Version14:34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.
14:35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
1 Corinthians 14:34–35 · King James VersionOpen the Source on women speaking in church, where churches that confess the Trinity read the verses differently.
How the Book Points to Christ
1 Corinthians 8:61 Corinthians 8:6 · King James VersionBut to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
1 Corinthians 8:6 · King James VersionOpen the Source places Jesus inside the confession of one God: one God, the Father, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things. 1 Corinthians 10:41 Corinthians 10:4 · King James VersionAnd did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
1 Corinthians 10:4 · King James VersionOpen the Source identifies Christ with the rock that followed Israel. 1 Corinthians 2:81 Corinthians 2:8 · King James VersionWhich none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
1 Corinthians 2:8 · King James VersionOpen the Source calls him the Lord of glory. Jesus is God. What Is the Deity of Christ? gathers these lines.
Text and Manuscripts
Codex Sinaiticus, from the fourth century, contains the letter. (6) The verse pages show where this site’s Greek text differs from the King James. This page does not describe early papyri of Paul’s letters, because a museum page for them was not checked for this essay.
Canon Reception
1 Corinthians was received without dispute. Eusebius counts Paul’s letters among the undisputed books. (2) The Muratorian fragment and Athanasius list it. (3) (4)
Further Reading
What Is the Resurrection of Jesus? develops 1 Corinthians 15. Who Wrote the Bible? covers the human authors. There is no separate article on this site yet about who wrote 1 Corinthians.
References
- First Letter to the Corinthians, 1:1–2; 15:3–8; 16:8; 16:211 Corinthians 1:1–2 · King James Version1:1
Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
1:2Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
1 Corinthians 1:1–2 · King James VersionOpen the Source. King James Version - Church History, Book 3, 3.3.5; 3.25Papias, in Eusebius, Church History 3.39.15 · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, New Advent
Mark, having become the interpreter of Peter, wrote down accurately, though not in order, whatsoever he remembered of the things said or done by Christ. For he neither heard the Lord nor followed him, but afterward, as I said, he followed Peter, who adapted his teaching to the needs of his hearers, but with no intention of giving a connected account of the Lord's discourses, so that Mark committed no error while he thus wrote some things as he remembered them. For he was careful of one thing, not to omit any of the things which he had heard, and not to state any of them falsely.
Papias, in Eusebius, Church History 3.39.15 · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, New AdventOpen the Source (Eusebius, Church History 3.3, 3.24–25, and 3.39, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, second series, vol. 1, on New Advent. Chapter 25 sorts books into acknowledged, disputed, and rejected. Chapter 39 reports Papias on Mark and Matthew.) - Muratorian fragment, 1 CorinthiansMuratorian fragment, on Acts · Roberts-Donaldson, Ante-Nicene Fathers 5
Moreover, the Acts of all the Apostles are comprised by Luke in one book, and addressed to the most excellent Theophilus, because these different events took place when he was present himself; and he shows this clearly-i.e., that the principle on which he wrote was, to give only what fell under his own notice-by the omission of the passion of Peter, and also of the journey of Paul, when he went from the city-Rome-to Spain.
Muratorian fragment, on Acts · Roberts-Donaldson, Ante-Nicene Fathers 5Open the Source (Roberts-Donaldson translation, Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 5. The Latin is damaged and the English follows restorations. The fragment lists the books read in the church and those rejected.) - Festal Letter 39, 39.4–5 (Athanasius of Alexandria, AD 367, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, second series, vol. 4, on New Advent. The letter lists twenty-two Old Testament books and the twenty-seven books of the New Testament, and places Esther among books to be read rather than in the canon.)
- When Was Each Book of the Bible Written?, 1 Corinthians (Jacob Edson, Bible Gateway, 16 September 2024. The survey gives 1 Corinthians as AD 53–54. It is one editor’s approximation, not a manuscript date.)
- Codex Sinaiticus, About the manuscriptCodex Sinaiticus: content · Codex Sinaiticus Project
Codex Sinaiticus, a manuscript of the Christian Bible written in the middle of the fourth century, contains the earliest complete copy of the Christian New Testament.
Codex Sinaiticus: content · Codex Sinaiticus ProjectOpen the Source (The Codex Sinaiticus project’s description of the manuscript, a fourth-century Greek Bible with the earliest complete copy of the New Testament.)
The King James Version (1769) is in the public domain in the United States.