Keys to First Corinthians (Paul)

Summary of Keys to First Corinthians by Jerome Murphy-O’Connor:

Keys to First Corinthians is a scholarly and accessible guide to understanding Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. Written by renowned New Testament scholar Jerome Murphy-O’Connor, this work offers deep exegetical insights while being geared toward students, pastors, and serious Bible readers.

Key Features:

• Historical Context: The book begins by reconstructing the social, political, and religious life of Corinth, explaining the challenges faced by the Christian community there.

• Thematic Organization: Rather than following the epistle verse-by-verse, Murphy-O’Connor organizes his study around key themes such as divisions in the church, sexual ethics, lawsuits, the Lord’s Supper, resurrection, and spiritual gifts.

• Paul’s Pastoral Strategy: Highlights how Paul’s responses are shaped not just by theology but by a pastoral concern for unity, holiness, and love within the church.

• Cultural Analysis: Draws on archaeological, sociological, and historical data to illuminate Paul’s language and rhetorical strategies, showing how they would have resonated with or challenged his audience.

• Balanced Interpretation: Offers critical yet respectful engagement with the text, integrating modern scholarship with traditional exegesis.

This book is a valuable resource for those seeking to grasp the complexity of 1 Corinthians and the practical theology Paul presents for a divided and morally confused congregation.