Resources: First and Second Corinthians

Sections from the Catechism on Sunday's main topics

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On the Church: #748-975
On the Cross & Resurrection: #595-658
On the Eucharist: #1322-1419

Overviews on the Epistles

Steve Ray on the background 1 Corinthians, the city of Corinth, and what Paul walked into and on 2 Corinthians (both links open up a Word document)

Catholic Encyclopedia (1908 edition) article, "Epistles to the Corinthians"

FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) has a free PDF Bible Study of 1 Corinthians

Catholic News Agency's Introduction to the Bible series, 1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians

Catholic Answers on both letters to the Corinthians

Audio/Podcasts

On an episode of "The Coming Home Network", former Lutheran pastor (now Catholic priest) Fr. Leonard Klein discusses 1 Corinthians and how it describes the sacramental life of the Church.

Al Kresta ("Kresta in the Afternoon" show on Catholic radio) hosts Scripture professor Dr. Mary Healy on "Where do I start with 1st Corinthians?" and Scripture professor Dr. Peter Williamson on "Where do I start with 2nd Corinthians?"

Bishop Barron gave a series of 3 homilies on St. Paul in 2004: "St. Paul the Apostle", "Being in Christ", and "Paul's Basic Message".  Also available as podcasts.

St. Paul Center's series of audio lessons, "Lessons from the Early Church" (requires creating a free account)

Apologetic Questions

Catholic Answers Q&A: Does 2 Cor 5:8 disprove Purgatory? 

Both letters to the Corinthians include some passages that Mormons misinterpret on the afterlife, 1 Cor 15:40-41 and 2 Cor 12:1-4.  Here is a two-part series from the Catholic Answers magazine archives on the issues with Mormonism, part 1 and part 2.


Commentaries and Sources

St. John Chrysostum's commentary on...
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians

Pope St. Clement I's Epistle to the Corinthians, written toward the latter part of the 1st century A.D.  According to some of the early Church Fathers, St. Clement was ordained by St. Peter himself and was the one mentioned in Phil 4:3... "Yes, and I ask thee, who shares the yoke so loyally, to take part with them; they have worked for the gospel at my side, as much as Clement and those other fellow laborers of mine, whose names are recorded in the book of life."  He was the fourth pope, and is mentioned in Eucharistic Prayer 2.

St. Thomas Aquinas' commentary on 1 Corinthians

Maps of St. Paul's Missionary Journeys

All images from Bible Mapper.


First missionary journey



Second missionary journey



Third missionary journey