Corinthians

Corinth & the Corinthian Letters

Geography:
Corinth: Connecting land on main east/west trade route, place for trade, dry canal
History:
A city with two eras:
1. Classical to the destruction !y the "omans in 1#$ %C
&. "oman from the re!uilding of the city !y 'ulius Caesar in ## %C
- Classical Corinth: not ideal place to !e
- "oman destruction in 1#$ %C
- Roman reconstruction in ## %C
made into a colony (Colonia Laus 'ulia Corinthiensis)
"oman law, Latin as language
"ich & *oor
Could prosper (rich, surface economy), !ut not e+eryone did (ma,ority poor)
-eat of the "oman pro+incial go+t.
Gallio (Acts 1..1&1/)
-uper+ision of the 0sthmian Games (winning crown of glory)
"eligious pluralism (many gods1responding to idolatry)
2andering thru the city
3iol4os
*aul & Corinthians
5ounded on *aul6s &
nd
7' (Acts 1..11.)
Apollos went to the city (Acts 1..&/18.1 & Cor. 9.#$)
*aul6s :first letter; to the church (1 Cor. is not first) / (1 Cor. <.819)
=he report from Chloe6s household & the letter to *aul (1 Cor. 1.11 & 1 Cor. /.1)
1 Corinthians written > as a response

=imothy also sent (1 Cor. #.1/ & 1$.1?11)

17
For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the
Corinthians
Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach
everywhere in every church.
*aul6s :painful +isit; (& Cor. 19.1&@ 1&.1#@ &.1&)
=he :sorrowful letter: (& Cor. &.#@ /..)
=itus6 +isit
=itus: Gentile, *aul6s trou!leshooter
(& Cor. /.<. !rought Asorrowful letter6 > see also &.1&19)
& Corinthians written
*romise of a 9
rd
+isit (& Cor. 1&.1#@ 19.1)
(1 & & Clement written to church B end of 1
st
century A3)
14
I am writing this not to shame you but to warn you as my dear children.
15
Even if you
had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I
became your father through the gosel.
16
Therefore I urge you to imitate me. !" Cor. #."#$
"%&
:3ear Corinthians;
1 Corinthians C response to report & answer to letter
0ntro: Greetings to & =han4sgi+ing for Corinthian church
"eproofs in "esponse to "eports !y the Household of Chloe
"eplies to Duestions "aised in a Letter from the Corinthians
Conclusion
Corinthians in ConteEt
On the divisions (1.1?#.&1)
- (1.1?1/) Division
- (1.1.&8) Cross & Wisdom1*reaching the cross, not wisdom
- Division
On sexual immorality (<.119 & $.1&&?)
*rostitution condoned, not condemned
:Christian Li!erty;:
1. :F+erything is permissi!le;
&. :5ood for the stomach, stomach for the food;
%G= *aul says !ody is for Christ
On lawsuits ($.111)
for re+enge, not ,ustice
!etter to !e wrong than do wrong
*aul wants !elie+ers to settle disputes !etween them
On marriage (/.198)
Corinthians
Gift of singleness, some marriage
change of status
the unmarried
On eating idol meats & Christian liberty (..111.1)
community concerns a!o+e freedom
(sometimes restricting freedom for the !enefit of someone else)
On worship (ch. 111#)
head co+erings (11.#/)
the Lord6s supper (11.1/9#)
social di+ision / Christian unity
the fits of the -pirit (ch. 1&1#)
gifts for the !enefit of others, to !e used in lo+e
On the resurrection (1<.1<.)
denial of resurrection of dead/!elie+er C denial of resurrection of Christ (1 =hs. #.19)
!/c Christ has !een raised, we will rise too
our thoughts a!out death1su!ChristianH
God6s sal+ation eEtends to e+erything we are, including our !odies.
Christ & Culture