CCEA A-Level Religious Studies 4610
An Introduction to the Gospel of LukeAS unit
An Introduction to the Acts of the ApostlesAS unit
An Introduction to Themes in the Old TestamentAS unit
The Origins and Development of the Early Christian Church to AD 325AS unit
The Celtic Church in Ireland in the Fifth, Sixth and Seventh CenturiesAS unit
An Introduction to IslamAS unit
Foundations of Ethics with Special Reference to Issues in Medical EthicsAS unit
An Introduction to the Philosophy of ReligionAS unit
Themes in the Synoptic GospelsA2 unit
Themes in Selected Letters of St PaulA2 unit
Themes in the Old TestamentA2 unit
Themes in the Early Church and the Church TodayA2 unit
Themes in the Celtic Church, Reformation and Post-Reformation ChurchA2 unit
Islam in a Contemporary ContextA2 unit
Global EthicsA2 unit
Themes in the Philosophy of ReligionA2 unit
Themes in Selected Letters of St Paul
Unity and the wisdom of the cross (1 Corinthians 1:1–4:21)
- 3 things to know
- A2
Overview
The parties at Corinth, the folly of the cross against Greek wisdom, and Paul's picture of the apostolic ministry.
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
What does Paul mean by “the word of the cross” in 1 Corinthians 1:18?
What kind of wisdom does Paul say he does impart, in 1 Corinthians 2:6–16?
Questions from this subtopic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
What appeal does Paul make in 1 Corinthians 1:10?
Model answer
Paul appeals to the Corinthians by the name of the Lord Jesus Christ that all of them agree and that there be no divisions among them. Paul asks that they be united in the same mind and the same judgement.
- 2
What four slogans were circulating in Corinth according to 1 Corinthians 1:12?
Model answer
Members were saying “I belong to Paul”, “I belong to Apollos”, “I belong to Cephas” and “I belong to Christ”. Paul reports the slogans without endorsing any of them, including the last.
- 3
How does Paul answer the party slogans in 1 Corinthians 1:13?
Model answer
Paul asks three questions: whether Christ is divided, whether Paul was crucified for them, and whether they were baptised in Paul's name. Each question shows that loyalty belongs to the crucified Christ and not to the preacher through whom they heard of him.
- 4
Why should the Corinthian parties not be identified too confidently with distinct theologies?
Model answer
Paul gives only the slogans and never describes the doctrines of each group, and Apollos is treated throughout as a fellow worker rather than a rival. Reconstructions of a Petrine or a Christ party therefore rest on inference, and scholars differ over whether the groups were theological factions or personality followings.
- 5
What does Paul mean by “the word of the cross” in 1 Corinthians 1:18?
Model answer
Paul means the message of a crucified Messiah. Paul says it is folly to those who are perishing but the power of God to those being saved, so the message divides its hearers by their response rather than by their education.
- 6
How does Paul contrast Jewish and Greek expectations in 1 Corinthians 1:22–23?
Model answer
Paul says that Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, while he preaches Christ crucified. Crucifixion was a scandal to the first group and foolishness to the second, so the gospel offends both sets of expectations.
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