The founding of the church The founding of the church in Corinthin Corinth

Paul’s Second Missionary Journey - Book of Acts chapters 16 to 18Paul’s Second Missionary Journey - Book of Acts chapters 16 to 18

Begins fromBegins fromJerusalemJerusalemin 49 A.D.in 49 A.D.

Paul visits churches hePaul visits churches heestablished on his firstestablished on his firstmissionary journey.missionary journey.He plans to go north to He plans to go north to preach in Bithyniapreach in Bithynia

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

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

After a vision from the Lord, Paul spends about 1½ years of After a vision from the Lord, Paul spends about 1½ years of this 3 year missionary journey at Corinth (Acts 18:9-11)this 3 year missionary journey at Corinth (Acts 18:9-11)

. . . before travelling south to establish churches in . . . before travelling south to establish churches in Athens and finally in Corinth AD 49 - 50Athens and finally in Corinth AD 49 - 50

In Corinth Paul meets Aquila and Priscilla, Jews expelled In Corinth Paul meets Aquila and Priscilla, Jews expelled from Rome by the Emperor Claudius (Acts 18:1-3)from Rome by the Emperor Claudius (Acts 18:1-3)

Paul returns to Caesarea in 52 A.D.Paul returns to Caesarea in 52 A.D.

Caesarea - Caesarea - Herod’s PalaceHerod’s Palace

What do we know about Corinth?What do we know about Corinth?

• It was left in ruins by the Romans in 146 BC and remained so for 100 yearsIt 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 BCJulius Caesar re-founded Corinth as a Roman colony in 44 BC

• It had a large population mix of Romans, Greeks and JewsIt had a large population mix of Romans, Greeks and Jews

• It was socially, culturally and religiously diverseIt was socially, culturally and religiously diverse

• The inhabitants lived in large, complex householdsThe inhabitants lived in large, complex households

• Its economy was based on commerce, industry and agricultureIts economy was based on commerce, industry and agriculture

• Trade had made many wealthyTrade had made many wealthy

• The massive temple of Aphrodite once overlooked the cityThe 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?What was Corinth like in Paul’s time?

• It was a beautiful, modern city being about 100 years oldIt was a beautiful, modern city being about 100 years old

• It had a population between 500,000 to 700,000It had a population between 500,000 to 700,000

• There was a 14,000 seat amplitheatreThere 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 GamesAn important annual event was the Isthmian Games

• It was a sea-faring city and prostitutes plied their trade mostly in the streetsIt 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 RomeIt had a market (“agora”) which sold slaves and was larger than any in Rome

The Corinth that Paul found . . .The Corinth that Paul found . . .

Asklepios - the god of healing and medicineAsklepios - the god of healing and medicine

Paul’s writings set against this backdropPaul’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?Why were the letters written?

• life-stylelife-style

• factions and divisionfactions and division

• lawsuitslawsuits

• immoralityimmorality

• the Lord’s Supperthe Lord’s Supper

• spiritual giftsspiritual gifts

1st Corinthians . . . . to address problems and abuses in the church1st Corinthians . . . . to address problems and abuses in the church

• leadershipleadership

• authorityauthority

• conductconduct

• charactercharacter

• callingcalling

22ndnd Corinthians . . . . to address challenges to Corinthians . . . . to address challenges to

The main topics . . .The main topics . . .

• divisiondivision

• disorderdisorder

• difficultydifficulty

1st Corinthians1st Corinthians

• credentialscredentials

• charactercharacter

• callingcalling

• collectionscollections

22ndnd Corinthians Corinthians

The key words . . .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)

11stst Corinthians 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)

22ndnd Corinthians Corinthians

11stst Corinthians . . . . Corinthians . . . .

. . . provides instruction to correct and. . . provides instruction to correct andcombat carnal livingcombat carnal living

. . . stresses the importance of Jesus being . . . stresses the importance of Jesus being Lord in every area of lifeLord in every area of life

22ndnd Corinthians . . . . Corinthians . . . .

. . . presents Jesus as triumphant, Lord, light, . . . presents Jesus as triumphant, Lord, light, judge, substitute, reconciler, gift, sufficient and judge, substitute, reconciler, gift, sufficient and powerfulpowerful

Key themes . . . .Key themes . . . .

• God chooses the foolish and weak to confound the wise and strongGod chooses the foolish and weak to confound the wise and strong

• Every believer’s body is a temple of the Holy SpiritEvery believer’s body is a temple of the Holy Spirit

• The body is one, but made of many partsThe body is one, but made of many parts

• That for love to work it must be constant, consistent and in actionThat for love to work it must be constant, consistent and in action

• Right preaching is Christ and Christ aloneRight preaching is Christ and Christ alone

• Those in Christ are made completely newThose in Christ are made completely new

• God loves cheerful givingGod loves cheerful giving

• Grace is sufficient in all situationsGrace is sufficient in all situations

The Letters to the Corinthians . . .The Letters to the Corinthians . . .

• are an antidote to loose livingare an antidote to loose living

• tell us the orderly manner and exercise of gifting in the churchtell us the orderly manner and exercise of gifting in the church

• are a reminder to respect and support godly leadersare a reminder to respect and support godly leaders

• call us to be active and function within the bodycall us to be active and function within the body

• insist all our actions are motivated by loveinsist all our actions are motivated by love

• remind us that Christ is all we have and all we needremind us that Christ is all we have and all we need

• confirm the resurrection is a fact and a great comfortconfirm the resurrection is a fact and a great comfort

• tell us giving is right and that God loves cheerful givingtell us giving is right and that God loves cheerful giving

• empower us with the knowledge that grace is sufficient in all situationsempower us with the knowledge that grace is sufficient in all situations