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Literary structure (chiasmus, chiasm) of First Epistle to the Corinthians

Chiasmus and Concentric Structure of divided by 5


5-1

1 Salutation (1:1-9)
  2 Divisions in the church (1:10-17)
    3 Christ the power and wisdom of God (1:18-31)
  4 Proclaiming Christ crucified (2:1-16)
5 On divisions in the Corinthian church (3:1-23)
Former halfRelationLatter half
1 Salutation (1:1-9)
I give thanks to my God always on your account for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus, (1:4)
The grace of God by Christ5 On divisions in the Corinthian church (3:1-23)
3:10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it. But each one must be careful how he builds upon it, 3:11for no one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there, namely, Jesus Christ. (3:10-11)
2 Divisions in the church (1:10-17)
For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with the wisdom of human eloquence, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its meaning. (1:17)
Proclaiming the crucified Christ without wisdom of human4 Proclaiming Christ crucified (2:1-16)
2:1 When I came to you, brothers, proclaiming the mystery of God, I did not come with sublimity of words or of wisdom. 2:2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. (2:1-2)

5-1-1

1 Salutation (1:1-9)
  2 Divisions in the church (1:10-17)
3 Christ the power and wisdom of God (1:18-31)
Former halfRelationLatter half
1 Salutation (1:1-9)
to the church of God that is in Corinth, to you who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be holy, with all those everywhere who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours. (1:2)
Sanctification in Christ3 Christ the power and wisdom of God (1:18-31)
It is due to him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, as well as righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, (1:30)

5-1-2

3 Christ the power and wisdom of God (1:18-31)
  4 Proclaiming Christ crucified (2:1-16)
5 On divisions in the Corinthian church (3:1-23)
Former halfRelationLatter half
3 Christ the power and wisdom of God (1:18-31)
see 4-1
see 4-15 On divisions in the Corinthian church (3:1-23)
see 4-1

5-2

6 The ministry of the apostles (4:1-21)
  7 Sexual immorality (5:1-13)
    8 Glorify God in body and spirit (6:1-20)
  9 Directions concerning marriage (7:1-16)
10 The life that the Lord has assigned (7:17-24)
Former halfRelationLatter half
6 The ministry of the apostles (4:1-21)
4:3 It does not concern me in the least that I be judged by you or any human tribunal; I do not even pass judgment on myself; (4:3)
Do not become slaves to human beings10 The life that the Lord has assigned (7:17-24)
7:23 You have been purchased at a price. Do not become slaves to human beings. (7:23)
7 Sexual immorality (5:1-13)
5:1 It is widely reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of a kind not found even among pagans--a man living with his father's wife.(5:1)
Adultery9 Directions concerning marriage (7:1-16)
7:2 but because of cases of immorality every man should have his own wife, and every woman her own husband. (7:2)

5-2-1

6 The ministry of the apostles (4:1-21)
  7 Sexual immorality (5:1-13)
8 Glorify God in body and spirit (6:1-20)
Former halfRelationLatter half
6 The ministry of the apostles (4:1-21)
see 1-1-1
see 1-1-18 Glorify God in body and spirit (6:1-20)
see 1-1-1

5-2-2

8 Glorify God in body and spirit (6:1-20)
  9 Directions concerning marriage (7:1-16)
10 The life that the Lord has assigned (7:17-24)
Former halfRelationLatter half
8 Glorify God in body and spirit (6:1-20)
Do you not know that the unjust will not inherit the kingdom of God? (6:9)
Keeping God's commandments10 The life that the Lord has assigned (7:17-24)
Circumcision means nothing, and uncircumcision means nothing; what matters is keeping God's commandments. (7:19)

5-3

11 The unmarried and the widows (7:25-40)
  12 Food offered to idols (8:1-13)
    13 The rights of an apostles (9:1-27)
  14 Warnings against idolatry (10:1-22)
15 Do all to the glory of the LORD (10:23-33_11:1)
Former halfRelationLatter half
11 The unmarried and the widows (7:25-40)
see 1-1
see 1-115 Do all to the glory of the LORD (10:23-33_11:1)
see 1-1
12 Food offered to idols (8:1-13)
see 1-1
see 1-114 Warnings against idolatry (10:1-22)
see 1-1

5-3-1

11 The unmarried and the widows (7:25-40)
  12 Food offered to idols (8:1-13)
13 The rights of an apostles (9:1-27)
Former halfRelationLatter half
11 The unmarried and the widows (7:25-40)
She is more blessed, though, in my opinion, if she remains as she is, (7:40)
Blessed / woe13 The rights of an apostles (9:1-27)
woe to me if I do not preach it! (9:16)

5-3-2

13 The rights of an apostles (9:1-27)
  14 Warnings against idolatry (10:1-22)
15 Do all to the glory of the LORD (10:23-33_11:1)
Former halfRelationLatter half
13 The rights of an apostles (9:1-27)
9:20 To the Jews I became like a Jew to win over Jews; to those under the law I became like one under the law--though I myself am not under the law--to win over those under the law. (9:20)
Jews15 Do all to the glory of the LORD (10:23-33_11:1)
10:32 Avoid giving offense, whether to Jews or Greeks or the church of God,(10:32)

5-4

16 Head coverings (11:2-16)
  17 The Lord's supper (11:17-34)
    18 Spiritual gifts (12:1-31a)
  19 The gift of love (12:31b-13:13)
20 Gifts of prophecy and tongues (14:1-25)
Former halfRelationLatter half
16 Head coverings (11:2-16)
11:4 Any man who prays or prophesies with his head covered brings shame upon his head.(11:4)
Prophesy20 Gifts of prophecy and tongues (14:1-25)
14:1 Pursue love, but strive eagerly for the spiritual gifts, above all that you may prophesy.(14:1)
17 The Lord's supper (11:17-34)
For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes. (11:26)
Arrival of the Lord19 The gift of love (12:31b-13:13)
At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. At present I know partially; then I shall know fully, as I am fully known. (13:12)

5-4-1

16 Head coverings (11:2-16)
  17 The Lord's supper (11:17-34)
18 Spiritual gifts (12:1-31a)
Former halfRelationLatter half
16 Head coverings (11:2-16)
Woman is not independent of man or man of woman in the Lord. (11:11)
Mutual dependence18 Spiritual gifts (12:1-31a)
To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit. (12:7)

5-4-2

18 Spiritual gifts (12:1-31a)
  19 The gift of love (12:31b-13:13)
20 Gifts of prophecy and tongues (14:1-25)
Former halfRelationLatter half
18 Spiritual gifts (12:1-31a)
see 1-1-2
see 1-1-220 Gifts of prophecy and tongues (14:1-25)
see 1-1-2

5-5

21 Order of meeting (14:26-40)
  22 The resurrection of Christ (15:1-11)
    23 The resurrection of dead (15:12-30)
  24 The body of resurrection (15:31-58)
25 Final messages and greetings (16:1-24)
Former halfRelationLatter half
21 Order of meeting (14:26-40)
14:37 If anyone thinks that he is a prophet or a spiritual person, he should recognize that what I am writing to you is a commandment of the Lord. (14:37)
Writing down25 Final messages and greetings (16:1-24)
16:21 I, Paul, write you this greeting in my own hand. (16:21)
22 The resurrection of Christ (15:1-11)
15:4 that he was buried; that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures; (15:4)
Resurrection24 The body of resurrection (15:31-58)
15:35 But someone may say, "How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come back?"(15:35)

5-5-1

21 Order of meeting (14:26-40)
  22 The resurrection of Christ (15:1-11)
23 The resurrection of dead (15:12-30)
Former halfRelationLatter half
21 Order of meeting (14:26-40)
see 4-4
see 4-423 The resurrection of dead (15:12-30)
see 4-4

5-5-2

23 The resurrection of dead (15:12-30)
  24 The body of resurrection (15:31-58)
25 Final messages and greetings (16:1-24)
Former halfRelationLatter half
23 The resurrection of dead (15:12-30)
15:14 And if Christ has not been raised, then empty (too) is our preaching; empty, too, your faith. (15:14)
Faith25 Final messages and greetings (16:1-24)
16:13 Be on your guard, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong. (16:13)

Citations of the Bible are from New American Bible, New Revised Standard Version and New Jerusalem Bible.

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Literary Structure of the Bible by Hajime Murai is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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