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Introduction
- Corinth.
- Cosmopolitan city on 4 mile wide isthmus with two ports and trade between Adriatic and Agean seas. Area settled for 4,000 years before
new Roman foundation 44 BC replaced Greek city destroyed 146 BC. Included many freed slaves - Greek, Syrian, Jew, Egyptian,
worshipping Greek, Roman and Egyptian deities. Little cultural tradition. Large 1st C AD Jewish colony, with own administration,
possibly augmented by Jews expelled from Rome by Claudius AD 49. "corinth" used by Greeks as slang for various forms of sexual
licence, both hetero- and homosexual. (‘Testament’ is from Greek diatheke = legal arrangement or will; Alexandrian 70 scholars chose this
word to translate from the Hebrew berith =covenant, ie the covenant between God and man, for which there was no Greek word).
- AD 50/51.
- Good opportunities for trade for tent and leather goods: so for Paul, and also for Aquila and Priscilla, also tent-makers (from goat hair),
who were here when Paul arrived "in fear and trembling" (1 Cor 2:3), and probably depressed. Stayed 18 months. 1 Cor 2:4-5 suggests
Paul was less philosophical/learned in his approach than in Athens.
- After Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul moved to house of Jason, a God-fearer (ie Gentile sympathetic to Judaism).
Converts from both Jews and Gentiles, mainly ex-slaves and artisans but also some rich. Paul lived as celibate, working for his living,
worked signs and wonders, spoke in tongues, and appeared to preach in a strongly eschatological way, expecting the second coming soon.
During his stay Paul was hauled before the proconsul Gallio, but Gallio released Paul and Sosthenes, the synagogue ruler, was beaten (Acts
18:12-17).
- AD 52-56?
- Paul left Corinth AD 52 with Aquila and Priscilla (Acts 18:18). Other missionaries came including Apollos.
- 1 Cor 5:9 refers to a letter written by Paul, now lost (although some say it is preserved in 2 Cor 6:14-7:1)
- AD 56
- While in Ephesus Paul wrote 1 Cor, possibly in 2 stages, in response to (a) reports from "those of Chloe" (we know nothing about Chloe);
(b) a letter from the Corinthians, perhaps in reply to his earlier (lost) letter, brought by Stephanus, Fortunatus and Achaicus, who probably
added verbal reports.
- Outline of 1 Cor
- Almost 4 chapters (1:10 - 4:21) address the problem of factions or divisions. We are so used to being divided today, we are less surprised,
except perhaps at the speed with which it occurred. Paul's response is not to defend those who support him, but to upbraid them for
allowing such divisions.
- Chaps 5 - 11 discuss various problems of behaviour and questions he has been asked, including sex and marriage (5 - 7), food laws (8),
Paul's example as an apostle (9), community worship and the eucharist (10 - 11).
- Chaps 12 & 14 deal with charisms, sandwiching the hymn to love (13). 15 draws out the meaning of the resurrection.
- Chap 16 outlines Paul's plan and requests the collection for Jerusalem, and ends with warm greetings, including from Aquila and Priscilla,
but with a stern but loving ending in his own hand, including the Aramaic Maran atha, was clearly familiar to them.
- Suggested sequence of events (Prior):
- (i) “Previous letter” (1 Cor 5:9), which may relate to 2 Cor 6:14-7:1. NB 6:13 runs smoothly into 7:2.
- (ii) “Chloe’s people” (1 Cor 1:11) bring to Paul at Ephesus news of division at Corinth.
- (iii) 1 Cor 1-4 written in reply, to be taken by Timothy (1 Cor 4:17).
- (iv) Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrive with more news and a letter from Corinth. Paul writes 1 Cor 5-17, and whole letter taken
by Timothy to Corinth.
- (v) Situation worsens; Paul makes disastrous visit to Corinth; things get even more painful (2 Cor 2:1).
- (vi) Paul send the ‘severe letter’ (2 Cor 10-13) by Titus (2 Cor 2:13; 7:13)
- (vii) Paul so worried, does not wait for Titus to return but sets out to meet him in Macedonia (2 Cor 7:5-13); then writes the ‘letter of
reconciliation’ 2 Cor 1-9.