1 and 2 Corinthians

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The Ruins of Corinth:

Corinth is a city of ancient Greece, near the southern extremity of the Isthmus of Corinth, southwest of the modern city of Corinth. Discoveries of pre-Mycenaean pottery in Corinth indicate the existence of a settlement there in ancient times. The city flourished under the   Dorians, who conquered it before 1000 B.C. With harbors on both the Gulfs of Corinth and Saronikos, it was well situated for trading and by about 650 B.C. was the chief commercial center of Greece. Among the many colonies founded by Corinth during this period were Corcyra (or Corfu) and Syracuse in the 8 ^th century and Potidaea in the 7^th century.

With the rise of Athens as a rival commercial and naval power, Corinth joined   Sparta against Athens in the Peloponnesian War (431-404 B.C.). In 338 B.C., Corinth was occupied by Macedonians. The city joined the Achaean League in 224 B.C., soon becoming the leading member. In 146 B.C., following absorption of the league by the Romans, the Roman army destroyed Corinth.   Julius Caesar rebuilt the city about 44 B.C., and it afterward became capital of the Roman province of Achaea. Corinth was ravaged by the Goths in A.D. 395. In the following centuries, it was successively captured by the Turks (1458), by the Venetians (1687), and again by the Turks (1715), who held it until Greek insurgents recaptured it in 1822. In 1858 the city was completely destroyed by an earthquake. Since 1896, numerous archaeological discoveries have been made among the ruins of Corinth, including Greek and Roman sculpture and remnants of some of the principal Greek and Roman buildings, including the Greek temple of Apollo and a Roman amphitheater.

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City of Corinth, Setting for the Letters to Corinth

1. The southern part of Greece is very nearly an island with a small isthmus about four miles across joining the two parts of Greece together. (See Map page 6)
2. Its position made it one of the greatest trading and commercial centers of the ancient world.
3. It was necessary that all the north to south traffic of Greece should pass through Corinth.

1. All traffic from Athens and from the north of Greece to Sparta and the Peloponnese had to be rerouted through Corinth.
2. It was the quickest and safest route.

  4.  The far greater part of the east to west traffic of the Mediterranean passed        through her.

1. The southern tip of Greece was known as Cape Malea, and it was very dangerous.
2. There were Greek sayings related to this; "Let him who sails round Malea forget his home," and "Let him who sails round Malea first make his will."
3. Small ships would sail to the isthmus and have their ships dragged out of the water and set on rollers so the ship could be hauled to the other side and lowered in the water.
4. If the ship were too large, the cargo was taken off and carried to another ship on the other side of the isthmus.
5. This four mile trip across the isthmus saved a journey of two hundred and two miles round Cape Malea.

                     Manna Bible Maps ©
                    Today's canal through the Isthmus of Corinth

    5.  It can be seen from these facts how Corinth became a great commercial city.
    6.  She was known as the "Vanity Fair" of the ancient world.
    7.  She was also known as "The Bride of Greece" and the "Lounge of Greece."
    8.  The Isthmian Games were also held here and they were second only to the Olympic          Games in the ancient world.
    9.  Her commercial prosperity brought on another side to Corinth wickedness.

1. To live like a Corinthian meant to live with drunken and immoral debauchery.
2. If a Corinthian was shown upon the stage in a Greek play, he was shown drunk.
3. On the hill of the Acropolis stood the great temple of Aphrodite, the goddess of love. (See map of the city, p. 6)

(1)   It had one thousand priestesses who were sacred prostitutes.
(2)   They plied their trade in the streets of Corinth.

   10.  Corinth has a very interesting history.

1. The early Greek battleships were built here, and they were fierce fighters.
2. Corinth was the leader of the opposition against the invasion of Rome, but she could not stand against the disciplined Romans and in 146 B.C. Lucius Mummius, the Roman general, captured Corinth and sacked her and devastated her so completely that he left her a desolate heap of ruins.
3. Because of its geographical location Corinth did not remain a devastation.
4. Julius Caesar rebuilt Corinth and it became a Roman colony.
5. It became the capital city of the province of Achaea.

               f.   Her population became a mixture of all kinds of people---"Without traditions and without well-established
                   "citizens."       

   11.  Its name became synonymous for wealth and luxury, for drunkenness and immorality and vice, for nameless and
          shameful practices (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).
   12.  In this hotbed of vice, in the most unlikely place in all the Greek world, some of the greatest work of Paul was done, and             some of the mightiest triumphs of Christianity were won.
   13.  Paul stayed longer in Corinth than in any other city with the single exception of Ephesus (18 Months).
   14.  The story is told in Acts 18:1-17.
   15.  He took up residence with Aquila and Prisca (Pricilla) and then with one Justus who lived next door to the synagogue.
   16.  Though there was opposition, he was helped by Gallio, the new Roman governor.

1. The Jews brought Paul to trial.
2. Gallio, using the impartial justice of Rome, refused to have anything to do with the case.

   17.  Paul completed his work in Corinth and moved on to Syria

A.  PAUL’S FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY:

1. Paul left Antioch of Syria with Barnabas and established churches in Galatia and Celicia.
2. Paul then returned to Antioch of Syria.

B.  PAUL’S SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEY: 

1. Paul left Antioch of Syria with Silas to revisit the churches in Syria and Celicia where Timothy’s conversion is related, Acts 15:-16:5.
2. Paul, Silas, and Timothy go through Phrygia and Galatia to Troas where they received the call to come into Macedonia (Europe), Acts 16:6-10.
3. Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke (see Acts 16:10, "we" includes the author of Acts, who was Luke) sailed to Samothrace and then traveled through Neapolis and Philippi, Acts 16:11-40.
4. Paul, Silas, and Timothy (see Acts 16:40-17:1, "they") went through Thessalonica and Berea (Acts 17:12).
5. Silas and Timothy remained in Berea while Paul was escorted under protection to Athens where he preached on Mars Hill and converted others elsewhere in the city, Acts 17:13-34.
6. Paul sent word to Silas and Timothy to join him in Athens, but he left for Corinth before they arrived, Acts 17:14; 18:1, 5).
7. In Corinth he met Aquila and Priscilla and persuaded both Jews and Greeks with the word of God for eighteen months.

NOTE: It should be mentioned that although Titus’ name is not mentioned in Acts he was with Paul on the first and second missionary journeys as mentioned in other letters (Galatians 2:3; 2 Cor. 2:12; 7:6, 7, 13-15).

8. Paul then sailed to Ephesus with Aquila and Priscilla and was there only a brief time, Acts 18:18-22.
9. Paul sailed to Caesarea and then to Antioch of Syria to report the results, Acts 18: 22-23.

1. Paul went through Galatia and Phrygia encouraging the disciples, Acts 18:22-23.
2. Mention is made of the fact that Apollos came to Ephesus and was mighty in the scriptures, and then he went to Corinth where he helped them much and confuted the Jews, Acts 18:24-28.
3. While Apollos was at Corinth Paul passed through the upper part of Asia Minor and came to Ephesus where he persuaded many, Act 19:1-20.
4. While at Ephesus he purposed to go through Macedonia and Achaia (Corinth), then on to Jerusalem and later to Rome, Acts 19:1-20.

NOTE: It is believed that Paul wrote a letter to Corinth at this time which was not preserved for the New Testament.

5. Before leaving Ephesus, Paul sent Timothy and Erastus to Macedonia while he remained awhile in Asia (Province of Asia, Ephesus being its chief city), Acts 19:22.

NOTE: It is believed that Paul wrote 1 Corinthians at this time as the result of bad news from Apollos and the house of Choloe, 1 Cor. 16:2. They also sent Paul a number of questions which Paul answers in this letter. It is possible Titus took this letter to Corinth, 2 Cor. 2:13; 7:6, 7, 13-15.

6. Paul is in Ephesus for two years.
7. Paul then proceeded on to Macedonia but is disappointed in not meeting Titus in Troas, Acts 20:1; 2 Cor. 2:13.
8. Titus joins Paul in Macedonia but is sent back to Corinth in company with other disciples, 2 Cor. 7:6, 7, 13-15.

NOTE: It is believed that Paul wrote 2 Corinthians in Macedonia and had Titus take it to Corinth with the earnest request that he would attend to the collection being taken for the poor saints of Judea (2 Cor. 8:16-17). The "brethren" who took the first epistle to Corinth (1 Cor. 16:11, 12) were doubtless Titus and his companion, whoever he may have been.

9. Paul went into Greece and spent three months there, Acts 20:2.

  10. Paul then retraced his route back to Caesarea.

I.  Introduction:

1. This epistle gives us the best picture of the life and problems of a primitive local church.
2. It shows us that factions, moral laxity, want of reverence, abuses of spiritual gifts, and various doctrinal opposition had already come into the church.
3. The epistle gives us Paul’s inspired instructions as to the method of dealing with these and other problems.

II. Background and Destination:

1. The founding of the church in Corinth is found in Acts 18:1-8.
2. He made his home with Aquila and Priscilla, lately come from Italy.
3. On the Sabbaths he preached to Jews and Greeks in the synagogue.
4. A gift from Philippi (2 Cor. 11:9), enabled Paul to devote his full time to preaching the word ("held himself to the word," Acts 18:5).
5. The Jews, however, opposed him and he withdrew to the house of Justus, adjoining the synagogue.
6. The Lord appeared to him in a vision and assured him that He had "much" people in the city.
7. After 18 months the Jews brought Paul before Gallio (proconsul of Achaia), but Gallio refused to interfere in a matter that he regarded as Jewish.
8. Afterwards Paul continued many days at Corinth and then left for Ephesus and then to Syria.
9. It appears that nearly all of Paul’s converts were Gentiles.

1. Most were from humbler ranks.
2. Some of nobler class were converted, but few 1:26-31.
3. There were marked social and economic differences, 7:20-24; 11:21-34.
4. Some were steeped in pagan vices 6:9-11.
5. Some prided themselves on intellectualism, 2:1-5.
6. They had to deal with gross immorality.

1. Leaving Greece with Aquila and Priscilla, Paul stopped briefly at Ephesus.
2. He left the two in that city and sailed on to Caesarea, Jerusalem, and Antioch of Syria, Acts 18:19-23.
3. While at Ephesus Aquila and Priscilla taught Apollos the correct baptism, Acts 18:24-26.
4. Apollos then went to Corinth and preached where he was very successful but a party grew around him so he withdrew to Ephesus, Acts 18:27-28; 1 Cor. 1:12; 16:12.
5. Paul, now on his third missionary journey, went through Galatia and Phrygia and returned to Ephesus before Apollos got back, Acts 18:23; 19:1.
6. While at Ephesus Paul wrote a letter to Corinth that was not preserved for the New Testament, 1 Cor. 5:9-13.
7. Bad news came to Paul through the household of Chloe, 1:11, and Apollos, 16:2.
8. Paul sent Timothy and Erastus to Macedonia, Acts 19:22, and Timothy to Corinth, 1 Cor. 4:17.
9. A letter from Corinth reaches Paul and he wrote what we call 1 Corinthians, which he assumes will reach Corinth before Timothy gets to the city, 16:10.
10. The letter is thus occasioned by the reports of serious evils at Corinth and must have been written in the latter half of Paul’s three-year ministry in Ephesus, Acts 20:31, in the spring of A. D. 54 or 55.

IV. Purpose and Plan:

1. Paul wrote this letter to rebuke the party spirit.
2. >  to tell them not to be proud of immorality among them.
3. >  to reprove them for not settling their differences.
4. >  to answer their questions about marriage.
5. >  to give instructions regarding eating food offered to idols.
6. >  to correct disorders in the behavior of the women.
7. >  to give instructions on the exercise of spiritual gifts.
8. > to instruct on the truth of the resurrection of the dead.
9. > to urge their participation in helping the poor in Judea.
10. > to commend certain of his fellow-workers to them.