1 Corinthians

Lore & Background

There is a consensus among historians and theologians that Paul is the author, except that 1 Corinthians 14:34–35 is 'widely believed' to be a later addition, and the authorship of 1 Corinthians 10:1–22 is challenged by some scholars. The precise role of Sosthenes (mentioned at the beginning of the letter) is uncertain. Scholars believe that Sosthenes was the amanuensis who wrote down the text of the letter at Paul's direction. The letter is composed in a form of Koine Greek. By comparing Acts of the Apostles 18:1–17 and the references to Ephesus in the Corinthian correspondence, scholars suggest that the letter was written during Paul's stay in Ephesus, which is usually dated as being in the range of 53–57 CE. Anthony C. Thiselton suggests that it is possible that 1 Corinthians was written during Paul's first (brief) stay in Ephesus, at the end of his second journey, usually dated to early 54 CE. However, it is more likely that it was written during his extended stay in Ephesus, where he refers to sending Timothy to them. 1 Corinthians is the second known letter of four from Paul to the church in Corinth, as evidenced by Paul's mention of his previous letter in 1 Corinthians 5:9. The other two being what is called the Second Epistle to the Corinthians and a 'tearful, severe' letter mentioned in 2 Corinthians 2:3–4. The apocryphal Third Epistle to the Corinthians is generally not believed by scholars to have been written by Paul.

Reader's Guide

The letter is quoted or mentioned by the earliest of sources and is included in every ancient canon, including that of Marcion of Sinope. Some scholars point to the epistle's potentially embarrassing references to the existence of sexual immorality in the church as strengthening the case for the authenticity of the letter. The original manuscript is lost, and the text of surviving manuscripts varies. The oldest manuscripts containing some or all of the text include Papyrus 46 (AD 175–225), Codex Vaticanus (AD 325–350), Codex Sinaiticus (330–360), Papyrus 123 (4th century), Codex Alexandrinus (400–440), Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus (~450), Codex Freerianus (~450), Codex Claromontanus (~550), Codex Coislinianus (~550), Papyrus 14 (6th century), and Papyrus 11 (7th century). The majority of early manuscripts end chapter 6 with the words 'therefore glorify God in your body'. The Textus Receptus adds 'and in your spirit, which are God's', which the New King James Version translates accordingly. J. J. Lias notes that these words are not found in many of the best manuscripts and versions. The most discussed textual integrity question concerns 1 Corinthians 14:34–35. The verses appear in every extant Greek manuscript, but a group of Western manuscripts places them after verse 40 instead. Joseph Fitzmyer reports that most commentators today treat them as a post-Pauline interpolation. Others defend the verses as Pauline. Some scholars have held that 1 Corinthians combines material from more than one letter; no manuscript attests any such division. Most commentators defend the letter's unity.

Did You Know?

• Despite the title '1 Corinthians', this letter was not the first written by Paul to the church in Corinth, only the first canonical letter.
• The precise role of Sosthenes, mentioned at the beginning of the letter, is uncertain, but scholars believe he was the amanuensis who wrote down the text at Paul's direction.
• The oldest surviving manuscript containing some or all of the text is Papyrus 46, dated to AD 175–225.
• The most discussed textual integrity question in the letter concerns 1 Corinthians 14:34–35, which is 'widely believed' to be a later addition.