As the gospel spreads to the far corners of the earth, the apostle Paul is under mounting pressure to provide doctrinal direction to maturing churches before they go astray.  The Corinthian church in particular refused to separate themselves from their old, pagan ways, and their worldliness was affecting the corrective letter to the church in Corinth, that gives Christians black-and-white boundaries in a gray world.  As he explains doctrinal truths directly relating to sin and righteousness, he outlines a foundation for godly behavior.  Paul's letter is a valuable tool of correction and encouragement for believers-then and now-to be alert, firm, mature, strong, and loving.