Corinth was a busy centre for trade, so it was a good place for the gospel to spread. Merchants and travellers would hear the message and take it with them. There were many different people in Corinth viz. Romans, Greeks and Jews from Asia and many slaves.
There was the temple of Aphrodite, the Greek female god of love and thousands of prostitutes lived in the city. Many of them belonged to this Aphrodite temple. Corinth became well-known for prostitution. To live ‘like a Corinthian’ meant to become a drunk often or to visit prostitutes.The Isthmian Games took place near Corinth. The were famous and only second in importance to the Olympic Games.
Isthamus route (aerial view)
Isthamus harbours connected
Background:
Paul arrived in Corinth on his second Missionary from Athens (Acts 18:1-17). He had very little success in Athens and he did not stay there for very long. But he stayed in Corinth for 18-months which was longer than in any other city apart from Ephesus. He stayed with Aquila and Priscilla, who were tent makers like himself. He preached first in the synagogue. When the Jews opposed him, he used the home of Titius Justus. Titius Justus lived next door to the synagogue. Paul preached very successfully. Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, became a Christian. When a new Roman ruler arrived, the Jews took Paul to him. They said that Paul was teaching ‘against the law.’ But the ruler refused to listen to the Jews. This happened in about AD 51. Paul later went to Syria.
Paul’s letters and visits to Corinth:
First visit: (Acts 18:1-17): Paul came to Corinth first time alone having faced opposition in Thessalonica, Berea and Athens. He met Aquila and Priscilla who had been thrown out of Rome by Claudius. He also found some believing Jews. He preached in synagogues and the ministry was continued later by Timothy and Silas who came from Philippi with the gift of money to send to Jerusalem believers. Paul was eventually expelled from the synagogue and he moved to the next door to the home of Titius Justus. In a dream God assured him that there would be many people who would come to faith, so he continued his work. The synagogue ruler Crispus and his family members were the first converts. Paul stayed for 18-month and established the church.
First letter: (1cor.5:9-11):
Paul went from Corinth to Ephesus. From Ephesus he went to Jerusalem and then to Antioch. On his return to Ephesus, he learned that the Corinthian church has backslidden and involved in debauchery and sexual immorality, idolatry, eating food sacrificed to idols etc. Then he sent a hasty strong letter to Corinth to put things straight, but it has backfired as a messenger from Chloe’s household came and told him. This letter could be (2 Cor. 6:14-7:1) because it sounds so direct, or it may have been lost or the Holy Spirit has not allowed to put it in the Cannon.
Second letter:
Paul sent another letter (which is actually the First Epistle to Corinthians which is in our Bible) through Timothy. Timothy was an young man but he was timid. Paul was intending to go Macedonia after spending some time in Ephesus as the ministry in Ephesus was quite fruitful. But Timothy sent a report that despite Paul’s letter (First Epistle to Corinthians) the Corinthians were behaving worse.