Overview of the Book of Corinthians
The book of Corinthians is located in the New Testament section of the Bible. It is composed of Paul’s first and second letters to the Church in Corinth.
Despite writing four letters to this church, only the two that were included in the New Testament survived. This is because Paul wrote a letter preceding what we know and refer to as 1 Corinthians (5:9).
Thereafter, he wrote another tearful, severe letter mentioned in 2 Corinthians 2:3-4. This is the letter that preceded 2 Corinthians.
Consequently, Paul’s two letters to the Corinthians are the seventh and eighth books of the New Testament. And scholars opine that Paul’s most extensive correspondence with the New Testament churches was with the church in Corinth.
Nevertheless, Paul wrote his first letter, during his third missionary journey from Ephesus in the mid-50s (1 Corinthians 16:8 and 19). His letter was in response to the issues that plagued the church and had been raised by its members well after he had departed from them. These issues included but were not limited to: coalescing around teachers, sexual immorality, improper conduct at fellowships, and the resurrection of the dead.
Thereafter, and as a result of a report from Titus, Paul wrote his second letter from Macedonia a year after writing his first. This letter contained the defense of his ministry, expression of thanksgiving, and encouragement to complete the Jerusalem collection, among other issues.
Paul, therefore, aimed to restore the members of the church of Corinth to their foundation, Jesus Christ.
Background
Corinth was an important port city during Paul’s day. It lay on a narrow strip of land located between the Corinthian Gulf and the Saronic Gulf.
Consequently, due to its strategic location in southern Greece, it was the capital of the Roman province Achaia and formed part of an important ancient trade route. It, therefore, ensured the commercial prosperity of Corinth.
Not only was this Roman colony wealthy (some scholars have suggested that it was the most prosperous city in all of Greece), but it also brought together different people from different backgrounds – it attracted people from throughout the Roman Empire. And hailing from the surrounding world, the people of Corinth brought their different customs to the city.
Therefore, cosmopolitan Corinth was the home of Romans, Greeks, Orientals, and a sufficient number of Jews. These, under the trade that thrived, made Corinth a center of materialism, intellectualism, religious diversity, and sexual immorality.
Consequently, the church that Paul planted in Corinth (Acts 18) existed under the aforementioned influences. And these influences affected the church that Paul had planted in his second missionary journey through his Sabbath-day preaching in the synagogue.
The church reflects the society
Normally, a church reflects some extent of the society in which it exists. This is because believers come from the same.
Therefore, many of the problems that the church in Corinth faced and reported to Paul, had their origins in the life of the city of Corinth. For example, sexual looseness which manifested as gross, unashamed immorality, was considered normal in city life. That is, strict morality was new to the Gentiles in the city. To them, immorality was a virtue, not sin.
Moreover, idolatry was closely linked to immorality. The worship of many gods in equally many temples involved ceremonies where sexual rites were practiced.
Idols were significant in the economic and social lives of the people of Corinth. It is therefore no wonder that meat from the animals sacrificed to these idols was not only consumed by the priests but was also sold in markets and eaten during feasts in the temples.
In addition, some Christians had instituted lawsuits against their fellow Christians. And their Grecian outlook affected their view of resurrection and the holiness of their bodies.
Nevertheless, Paul remained in Corinth for a year and a half, during which he enjoyed a fruitful ministry while supporting himself through tentmaking. And when he left, he concluded his second missionary journey.
Summary
In summary, the Book of Corinthians
