Note: revised.

A. trials in the wilderness
10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

B. 5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

C. 6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

D. i. 7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

ii. 8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

iii. 9  Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

iv. 10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

C’.11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

B’. 12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

A’. trials in life
13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 

Concerning feasting in the pagan temples

A. 14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.

B. 15 I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.18 Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? 

C. 19 What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?

B. 20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. 21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of  devils.

A’. 22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

Concerning eating meats outside the temples

A. 23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. 24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.

B. 25 Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake: 26 For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof.

B’. 27 If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.28 But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof: 29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience? 30 For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?

A’. 31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: 33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

 

A. Paul is a true apostle evidenced by the Corinthians
9:1 Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord? 2 If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.

B. He has a right to expect material support
3 Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,

a.4 Have we not power to eat and to drink?
b. 5 Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as  the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
c. 6 Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?

a. 7 Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges?
b. who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof?
c. or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?

a. 8 Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?
b. 9 For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn.
a’. Doth God take care for oxen? 10 Or saith he it altogether for our sakes?
b’. For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.

B’. But Paul has declined that prerogative to avoid misunderstandings
a.11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? 12 If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.

b. 13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? 14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

c. 15 But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.

b’. 16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! 17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.

a’. 18 What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.

A’. Paul’s strategy as an apostle – to save others and to be self disciplined
i.19 For though I be free from all men,
ii. yet have I made myself servant unto all,
iii. that I might gain the more.

i. 20 And unto the Jews
ii. I became as a Jew,
iii. that I might gain the Jews;

i. 21 to them that are under the law,
ii.  as under the law,
iii.  that I might gain them that are under the law;

i. 21 To them that are without law,
ii. as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,)
iii. that I might gain them that are without law.

i. 22 To the weak
ii. became I as weak,
iii. that I might gain the weak:

i. I am made all things
ii. to all men,
iii. that I might by all means save some.

23 And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

a. 24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
b. 25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things.
c. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

a’. 2 6 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly;
b’. so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
c’. 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

The structure of 1 Corinthians is challenging. Here is a suggestion for starters  trying to follow the train of thought through chapters 4-6. It seems to me that there is a lot of stepwise parallelism rather than chiasmus. SRP

A: THE ECCLESIA SHOULD DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM OR PAUL WOULD HAVE TO.

A. 4:18 Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you.

B.4:19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will,

C1. 4:19 and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but  the power.

C2. 4:20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

A’. 4:21 What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the  spirit of meekness?

Part 2: THE SPECIFICS OF THE CASE OF IMMORALITY.

2A. 5:1-2 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you,  and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles,  that one should have his father’s wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.

2B. 5:3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as  though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,

2C. 5:4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,

2A’. 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Note: 2A/2B/2C/2A’ above appear to run in parallel as a set with A/B/C/A’ which focus on – the puffed up attitude of the Corinthians, the presence of Paul physically or in spirit, the power of the Lord, and the judgment that will be made.

3A.5:6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven
leaveneth the whole lump?

3B. 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven,

3C. 5:7 that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened.

3D 5:7 For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

3B’. 5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness;

3C’. 5:8 but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

4A. 5:9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:

4B. 5:10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.

4C. 5:11 if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

4B1′. 5:12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without?

4C’. 5:12 do not ye judge them that are within?

4B2’. 5:13 But them that are without  God judgeth.

4A’. 5:13 Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

Note; in this section 4A,B, and C repeat the nature of the sin that had come into the ecclesia from the world.  4B’C’B’ and A’ emphasise  judgment and who would bring it about. 

 

ESV

A.(9)For we are God’s fellow workers.
You are God’s field,
God’s building.
(10) According to the grace of God given to me,
like a skilled master builder
I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it.
Let each one take care how he builds upon it.
11) For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid,
which is Jesus Christ.

B. (12) Now if anyone builds on the foundation
with gold, silver, precious stones,
wood, hay, straw –
(13) each one’s work will become manifest,

C. for the Day will disclose it,
because it will be revealed by fire,
and the fire will test
what sort of work each one has done.

B’. (14) If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives,
he will receive a reward.
15  If any man’s work shall be burned,
he shall suffer loss:
but he himself shall be saved;
yet so as by fire.

A’. 16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God,
and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
17 If any man defile the temple of God,
him shall God destroy;
for the temple of God is holy,
which temple ye are.

Note: edited from  K.E. Bailey in “Literary Structure and Rhetorical Strategies in the Hebrew Bible”, eds. de Regt, de Waard, Fokkelman, 1996, Van Gorcum & Comp, Assen. The Netherlands. 

B. – gold, sliver, precious stones B’ – “saved”

B.- wood, hay, straw  B’ – “burned up”

 

A. 29 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead,

B. if the dead rise not at all?

A’. why are they then baptized for the dead?

2A. 30 And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?

2B. 31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord,

2A’. I die daily.

3A. 32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me,

3B. if the dead rise not?

3A’. let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.

4A. 33 Be not deceived:

4B. evil communications corrupt good manners.

4B’. 34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not;

4A’. for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

5A. (35-44)(the resurrection body)

(a) But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.

(b) All flesh is not the same flesh:

(c) but there is one (G243) kind of flesh of men, another (G243) flesh of beasts, another (G243) of fishes, and another (G243) of birds.

(d) There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.

(c’) There is one (G243) glory of the sun, and another (G243) glory of the moon, and another (G243) glory of the stars:

(b’) for one star differeth from another star in glory.

(a’) So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body.

5B. (44b) There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

5C.(45) And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

5D. (46) Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.

5C’.(47) The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.

5B’.(48-49) As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

5A’.(50-54)(the resurrection body)

(a) Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

(b) Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

(c) In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible,

(b’) and we shall be changed.

(a’) For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

6A. O death, where is thy sting?

6B. O grave, where is thy victory?

6A’. 56The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

6B’. 57But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

A  (26b)  Let all things be done unto edifying.

B  (27)  If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.

C  (28-30)  But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the ecclesia; and let him speak to himself, and to God. Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.

D  (31-32)  For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.

E  (33a)  For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace,

D’  (33b)  as in all ecclesia  of the saints.

C’  (34-35)  Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the ecclesia.

B’  (36-39)  What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant. Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

A’  (40)  Let all things be done decently and in order.

A. 1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

B. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

C. 5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:

D. 6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

C’. 7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.

B’. 8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

A’. 11 Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.

2A. (12) Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead,how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?   (13) But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 

2B. And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

2C.(15) Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God;  because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ:

2D. whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.

2C’. (16) For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:

2B’. And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.(18) Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

2A/3A. (20) But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

3B. 21 For since by man came death,

3C. by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

3B’. 22 For as in Adam all die,

3C’. even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

3A’. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.

(Ruth)

A (v24) Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father;

B (v24b) when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

C (v25) For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.

D (v26) The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

C’ (v 27) For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.

B (v28) And when all things shall be subdued unto him,

A (v28b) then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

A. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.  (19) For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

B. (20) Where is the wise?where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

C. (21) For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

D. (22) For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

E. (23a) But we preach Christ crucified,

D’. (23b) unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; (24) But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

C’ (25) Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

B’ (26) For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: (27) But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28. And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

A’.  30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

 

8:1 Now as touching things offered unto idols,

A. knowledge

a. we know that we all have knowledge.

b. Knowledge puffeth up,

c, but charity edifieth.

a’. 2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing,

b’. he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

c’. 3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.

B.  4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols,  we know that an idol is nothing in the world,

C. and that there is none other God but one. B.5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)

C’. 6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things,and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

B. 7 Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.

A’. knowledge

a. 8 But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.

b. 9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.

c. 10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;

c’.  11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?

b’. 12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.

a’.13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.