Just as Protestants are now split into countless denominations, the Corinthian church was marred, albeit on a smaller scale, by factions and discord. It fell to Paul to reconcile the church to itself in the face of convictions alike only in the strength that their adherents clung to them with. Subjects like eating habits, doctrine, marriage, lawsuits, and worship threatened to tear apart the budding church. Paul takes the opportunity to present a different vision of diversity, where diverse people can come together under the same name, as the same body, for the same reason: to love Christ. This picture of unity is vital in today’s world, which is characterized by an extreme individualism in the name of diversity.

Throughout his commentary, Craig L. Blomberg explores the subjects Paul writes about in detail, examining each one adeptly. The self-serving individualism of the world is compared with the selfless love of God and His purpose for us. In this volume of the NIV Application Commentary you’ll read about how ancient audiences read 1 Corinthians and how we can practically apply its message to our lives.

Many Bible commentaries offer us an exciting tour through the ancient world of Biblical times. They give us cultural backdrop and add new, wonderful layers of meaning to familiar stories and passages. But when the time comes to return to normal, everyday life, we are left disconnected from the memories of our trip—without the knowledge of practical, real-life application. This is where the NIV Application Commentary series picks up the task. It merges the original, ancient context with right now, showing us both how ancient readers would have read the Bible and how we can connect to this living word of God from a modern context. Most importantly, however, it helps us begin the life-changing process of true application, showing how God’s word can continue to have a powerful voice in our lives today.

The NIV Application Commentary uses a highly accessible, three-tiered method of bringing readers to a fuller understanding of each Biblical book. Original Meaning will explore a book’s meaning in light of its historical and cultural context. Bridging Contexts, as its name implies, will help the reader link the text’s original meaning to its Contemporary Significance—the final tier that helps you apply the Bible to everyday life.

“This series promises to become an indispensable tool for every pastor and teacher who seeks to make the Bible's timeless message speak to this generation.”

-Billy Graham

“It takes more than interpretation of God's Word to change lives, it takes application.

Application is the bottom line in preaching and teaching. Without it, we've missed the point of the Bible. The NIV Application Commentary is an outstanding resource for pastors and anyone else who is serious about developing ‘doers of the Word.’”

-Rick Warren, Pastor of Saddleback Valley Community Church