The founding of the church in Corinth

Paul’s Second Missionary Journey - Book of Acts chapters 16 to 18 Begins from Jerusalem in 49 A.D.

Paul visits churches he established on his first missionary journey. He plans to go north to preach in Bithynia

Paul is restricted from preaching in Bithynia and in a vision he is urged to cross into Macedonia (Acts 16:6-10)

He establishes churches in Philippi, Thessalonica and Berea in the north...

After a vision from the Lord, Paul spends about 1½ years of this 3 year missionary journey at Corinth (Acts 18:9-11)... before travelling south to establish churches in Athens and finally in Corinth AD In Corinth Paul meets Aquila and Priscilla, Jews expelled from Rome by the Emperor Claudius (Acts 18:1-3)

Paul returns to Caesarea in 52 A.D.

Caesarea - Herod’s Palace

What do we know about Corinth? It was left in ruins by the Romans in 146 BC and remained so for 100 years It was left in ruins by the Romans in 146 BC and remained so for 100 years Julius Caesar re-founded Corinth as a Roman colony in 44 BC Julius Caesar re-founded Corinth as a Roman colony in 44 BC It had a large population mix of Romans, Greeks and Jews It had a large population mix of Romans, Greeks and Jews It was socially, culturally and religiously diverse It was socially, culturally and religiously diverse The inhabitants lived in large, complex households The inhabitants lived in large, complex households Its economy was based on commerce, industry and agriculture Its economy was based on commerce, industry and agriculture Trade had made many wealthy Trade had made many wealthy The massive temple of Aphrodite once overlooked the city The massive temple of Aphrodite once overlooked the city This temple to the goddess of love was home to 1,000 or more prostitutes. This temple to the goddess of love was home to 1,000 or more prostitutes.

What was Corinth like in Paul’s time? It was a beautiful, modern city being about 100 years old It was a beautiful, modern city being about 100 years old It had a population between 500,000 to 700,000 It had a population between 500,000 to 700,000 There was a 14,000 seat amplitheatre There was a 14,000 seat amplitheatre There were many pagan temples and one Pantheon (a temple to all the gods) There were many pagan temples and one Pantheon (a temple to all the gods) Replicas of body parts were hung in the temple to Asklepios, the god of healing Replicas of body parts were hung in the temple to Asklepios, the god of healing The Jews were prominent enough to have a synagogue (Acts 18:1-3) The Jews were prominent enough to have a synagogue (Acts 18:1-3) Crispus was the ruler of the synagogue (Acts 18:8 & 1 Cor 1:14) Crispus was the ruler of the synagogue (Acts 18:8 & 1 Cor 1:14) An important annual event was the Isthmian Games An important annual event was the Isthmian Games It was a sea-faring city and prostitutes plied their trade mostly in the streets It was a sea-faring city and prostitutes plied their trade mostly in the streets The name “Corinth” became synonymous with “immorality” The name “Corinth” became synonymous with “immorality” It had a market (“agora”) which sold slaves and was larger than any in Rome It had a market (“agora”) which sold slaves and was larger than any in Rome

The Corinth that Paul found...

Asklepios - the god of healing and medicine

Paul’s writings set against this backdrop Multi-ethnic and wealthy (1 Cor 1:21-31; 2 Cor 9:6-8) Multi-ethnic and wealthy (1 Cor 1:21-31; 2 Cor 9:6-8) Pagan gods and temples (1 Cor 3:16-17) Pagan gods and temples (1 Cor 3:16-17) Pantheism (many gods) and pagan sacrifice (1 Cor 8:1-6; 10:14-22) Pantheism (many gods) and pagan sacrifice (1 Cor 8:1-6; 10:14-22) The Isthmian Games (1 Cor 9:24-27) The Isthmian Games (1 Cor 9:24-27) Prostitution and sexual sin (1 Cor 6:15-20) Prostitution and sexual sin (1 Cor 6:15-20) Asklepios, the god of healing (1 Cor 12:12-27) Asklepios, the god of healing (1 Cor 12:12-27) Aphrodite, the goddess of love (1 Cor 13) Aphrodite, the goddess of love (1 Cor 13)

Why were the letters written? life-style life-style factions and division factions and division lawsuits lawsuits immorality immorality the Lord’s Supper the Lord’s Supper spiritual gifts spiritual gifts 1st Corinthians.... to address problems and abuses in the church

leadership leadership authority authority conduct conduct character character calling calling 2 nd Corinthians.... to address challenges to

The main topics... division division disorder disorder difficulty difficulty 1st Corinthians credentials credentials character character calling calling collections collections 2 nd Corinthians

The key words... concern (c1 to 4) concern (c1 to 4) condemnation (c5 to 6) condemnation (c5 to 6) counsel (c7 to 16) counsel (c7 to 16) 1 st Corinthians explanation (c1 to 7) explanation (c1 to 7) collection (c8 to 9) collection (c8 to 9) vindication (c10 to 13) vindication (c10 to 13) 2 nd Corinthians

1 st Corinthians provides instruction to correct and combat carnal living... stresses the importance of Jesus being Lord in every area of life

2 nd Corinthians presents Jesus as triumphant, Lord, light, judge, substitute, reconciler, gift, sufficient and powerful

Key themes.... God chooses the foolish and weak to confound the wise and strong God chooses the foolish and weak to confound the wise and strong Every believer’s body is a temple of the Holy Spirit Every believer’s body is a temple of the Holy Spirit The body is one, but made of many parts The body is one, but made of many parts That for love to work it must be constant, consistent and in action That for love to work it must be constant, consistent and in action Right preaching is Christ and Christ alone Right preaching is Christ and Christ alone Those in Christ are made completely new Those in Christ are made completely new God loves cheerful giving God loves cheerful giving Grace is sufficient in all situations Grace is sufficient in all situations

The Letters to the Corinthians... are an antidote to loose living are an antidote to loose living tell us the orderly manner and exercise of gifting in the church tell us the orderly manner and exercise of gifting in the church are a reminder to respect and support godly leaders are a reminder to respect and support godly leaders call us to be active and function within the body call us to be active and function within the body insist all our actions are motivated by love insist all our actions are motivated by love remind us that Christ is all we have and all we need remind us that Christ is all we have and all we need confirm the resurrection is a fact and a great comfort confirm the resurrection is a fact and a great comfort tell us giving is right and that God loves cheerful giving tell us giving is right and that God loves cheerful giving empower us with the knowledge that grace is sufficient in all situations empower us with the knowledge that grace is sufficient in all situations