The ancient city of Corinth plays an important role in the Bible, both in the Old and New Testaments. Located on the isthmus connecting mainland Greece to the Peloponnese, Corinth was a major urban center in the ancient world. Here are some key ways Corinth features in the biblical narrative:
Old Testament
In the Old Testament, Corinth is mentioned a few times:
- Isaiah 23:12 refers to the merchants of Tarshish who traded with Corinth.
- 2 Chronicles 2:13 mentions that Hiram king of Tyre had a worker from Corinth who was skilled in engraving and metalwork.
- Corinth is listed in Psalms 87 among the lands and cities that acknowledge God.
So in the Old Testament, Corinth is presented as a wealthy trading city with skilled craftsmen, and one that will ultimately come to acknowledge the true God.
New Testament
In the New Testament, Corinth plays a much bigger role as a key location in the missionary travels of the Apostle Paul:
Paul’s visits to Corinth
On his second missionary journey, Paul established the church at Corinth around 50-51 AD, staying there for 18 months (Acts 18:1-18). This was towards the end of his approximately 3-year stay in Ephesus. Corinth was a strategic city to reach, given its commercial importance and extensive networks across the Roman Empire.
Paul later returned to Corinth on his third missionary journey, staying there for 3 months (Acts 20:2-3). At this time, he wrote his epistle to the Romans from Corinth (Romans 16:23).
Paul’s letters to the Corinthians
Paul wrote at least two letters to the Christians in Corinth that are included in the New Testament canon. These letters reveal some of the issues and challenges facing the early church:
- 1 Corinthians – Written around 54-55 AD during Paul’s time in Ephesus, this letter responds to various problems reported to Paul, including divisions, immorality, marriage, food sacrificed to idols, worship practices, spiritual gifts, and the resurrection.
- 2 Corinthians – Likely written a year or so after 1 Corinthians when Paul was in Macedonia, this follow-up letter continues to address concerns over Paul’s authority and defends his integrity as an apostle of Christ.
These two letters reveal Paul’s pastoral heart for the Corinthian church. He tries hard to correct errors in doctrine and practice while maintaining Christian love.
Other Corinthian letters
Paul apparently wrote at least two other letters to Corinth that have not been preserved in the Bible (1 Corinthians 5:9; 2 Corinthians 2:3-4). We can only speculate on the content of these “lost” letters.
Opposition from Corinth
When Paul was in Ephesus on his third journey, he faced opposition from Corinth. Some false teachers had infiltrated the church and sought to undermine Paul’s authority. First Corinthians aims to rebut these “super-apostles” (2 Corinthians 11:5). Paul also had to defend himself against criticisms of his speaking skills and physical appearance (2 Corinthians 10:10).
Apollos and Cephas in Corinth
Other early Christian leaders also ministered in Corinth either before, alongside, or after Paul’s time there:
- Apollos – A Jewish convert from Alexandria, Apollos visited Corinth between Paul’s first and second visits, ministering there with Paul’s blessing (Acts 18:24-28).
- Peter (Cephas) – Peter also seems to have passed through Corinth for a short time, as Paul mentions Cephas having associated with some Corinthian believers (1 Corinthians 1:12).
So Corinth provided a strategic hub for multiple apostolic workers in the early spread of the gospel.
Key Themes about Corinth in the New Testament
Drawing on Paul’s Corinthian correspondence and the book of Acts, here are some key themes that emerge about Corinth in early church history:
A cosmopolitan and pagan environment
As a major city in the Roman Empire, Corinth bustled with commerce, ideas, and immorality. The Corinthians had to resist temptations like idolatry, drunkenness, and sexual vice (1 Corinthians 5-6).
Church divisions and quarrels
The Corinthian church suffered from factionalism, with members dividing allegiance between Paul, Apollos, Cephas, and Christ (1 Corinthians 1:11-12). Paul rebukes their disunity.
Mixture of faith and immoral culture
The Corinthian Christians struggled to disentangle their new faith from the immoral culture around them. Paul cautions them against blending in too much with Corinthian social norms.
Gifted but immature believers
The Corinthian church was endowed with many spiritual gifts but was lacking in Christian maturity and sound doctrine (1 Corinthians 3:1-3).
Display of status and eloquence
A spirit of status-seeking and desire for elaborate rhetoric had infected the Corinthian church. Paul rejects lofty speech and focuses on the cross of Christ alone (1 Corinthians 1:17, 2:1-5).
Women in ministry
Women were actively involved in ministry in the early Corinthian church. Paul mentions women prophesying and praying in the Corinthian assembly (1 Corinthians 11:5).
Confusion about death and resurrection
Some Corinthians rejected the future bodily resurrection, prompting Paul’s extensive teaching on the subject (1 Corinthians 15).
Disorderly public worship
The Corinthians needed guidance on orderly exercise of spiritual gifts and the Lord’s Supper during their corporate gatherings (1 Corinthians 12-14).
Generous giving
The Corinthian church gave generously towards the collection for the church in Jerusalem, despite Paul’s other corrections (2 Corinthians 8-9).
In summary, while the Corinthian church was exemplary in some ways, it also displayed many weaknesses characteristic of an immature faith heavily influenced by surrounding culture. Paul’s pastoral guidance helped steer them in a more faithful direction.
Significance of Corinth for Understanding Paul’s Mission
Paul’s association with Corinth gives insight into his apostolic calling and the challenges facing the early church:
Paul’s adaptability and cultural awareness
Paul’s extended stays in Corinth demonstrate his ability to adapt his message to a Greek cultural context different from the Jewish milieu of much of his prior ministry.
Paul’s discouragements and perseverance
The difficulties at Corinth would have discouraged many, but Paul patiently worked through the problems through his letters and visits. He was committed to nurturing the church despite opposition.
Paul’s pastoral heart and theological depth
Paul’s insightful diagnosis of Corinthian issues reveals his pastoral wisdom and theological understanding. He engages gently but clearly on problems of doctrine and practice.
Social diversity in the early church
The social and cultural mix at Corinth illustrates how the gospel impacted people across the societal spectrum, from wealthy patrons to slave classes.
Challenges of living the Christian life
The Corinthian correspondence is very relevant to Christians today who seek to live out their faith in a secular and pleasure-loving culture.
In many ways, Corinth was a microcosm of issues facing the early church more broadly as the faith spread into new cultural settings in the Greco-Roman world.
Major Theological Themes in Corinthians
Paul’s letters to the Corinthians touch on many important theological themes, including:
Divisions in the church
Paul condemns the fractures over human leaders and calls the Corinthians to unity under Christ their common Lord and Savior.
Sexual immorality
Paul repeatedly warns against sexual sin and calls the Corinthians to honor God with their bodies.
Marriage roles and singleness
Paul answers various questions about marriage, celibacy, divorce, and related matters.
Food sacrificed to idols
Paul gives guidelines for how to handle situations involving food that had been ritually offered to pagan deities.
Public worship
Paul regulates the exercise of spiritual gifts like tongues and prophecy to promote orderly corporate gatherings.
The Lord’s Supper
Paul corrects abuse of the Lord’s Table and explains the meaning of Communion.
The resurrection
Paul affirms the future bodily resurrection and responds to skepticism about the idea among some Corinthians.
Giving
Paul encourages generous giving towards meeting real needs of Christians, emphasizing cheerfulness.
Use of spiritual gifts
Paul promotes the proper exercise of gifts like prophecy, tongues, teaching, administration, etc. for others’ benefit.
Theological basis of the gospel
Paul summarizes core doctrines like Christ’s death for sins, resurrection, and appearances to witnesses (1 Corinthians 15:1-11).
Paul tackles many pressing issues for the Corinthians, providing authoritative apostolic teaching on Christian doctrine and practice.
Imagery and Examples Paul Draws from Corinth
Being familiar with Corinth’s culture and surroundings, Paul skillfully utilizes imagery and examples from the city to teach spiritual truths:
Isthmian Games
Paul compares the Christian life to rigorous training of an athlete striving to win these sacred games held biennially near Corinth (1 Corinthians 9:24-27).
Building construction
Drawing on Corinth’s temples, Paul portrays the church metaphorically as a building founded on Christ with individual believers as living stones (1 Corinthians 3:9-17).
Gladiator fights
To portray spiritual warfare, Paul depicts himself as a gladiator in the arena impressing spectators rather than God (1 Corinthians 4:9).
Sacrificed food market
Addressing food sacrificed to idols, Paul uses the example of buying meat without asking its origin (1 Corinthians 10:25-26).
Temple prostitution
Paul warns sternly against sexual immorality by alluding to the thousands of temple prostitutes in Corinth (1 Corinthians 6:15-18).
Paul’s mastery of relevant cultural references helped communicate theological truth in ways understandable to the Corinthians.
Key Individuals Associated with Corinth in the New Testament
Along with Paul, many other important biblical figures are connected to the Corinthian church:
Apollos
This eloquent Alexandrian Jew visited Corinth between Paul’s missionary trips, further instructing believers there (Acts 18:24-28).
Aquila and Priscilla
This Jewish Christian couple met Paul in Corinth and later mentored Apollos in the faith (Acts 18:1-3; 18:24-28).
Crispus
He was synagogue ruler in Corinth who believed in Jesus along with his household (Acts 18:8).
Erastus
The city treasurer of Corinth, he was converted under Paul’s ministry (Romans 16:23).
Fortunatus and Achaicus
These men likely delivered the Corinthians’ letter to Paul inquiring about various issues (1 Corinthians 16:17).
Gaius
He was Paul’s host while in Corinth and was baptized by him there (1 Corinthians 1:14).
Sosthenes
A Jewish leader in Corinth, he was seized and beaten by Greeks there but later joined Paul (Acts 18:17; 1 Corinthians 1:1).
This circle of partners helped establish Christianity in this important Greek city.
Church Traditions Linking Other New Testament Figures to Corinth
Beyond clear biblical references, church tradition connects other New Testament persons to Corinth, though the traditions may be historically uncertain:
Peter
Some traditions say Peter visited Corinth in the 50s AD prior to Paul, founding the church there before Paul’s arrival.
Silas
As Paul’s traveling companion on the second journey when Corinth was evangelized, Silas may have assisted significantly there.
Luke
It is possible Luke first joined Paul’s company at Corinth on the second journey and contributed to the church.
Barnabas
Along with Paul and Silas, Barnabas may have initially preached at Corinth before returning to Syria.
Timothy
Timothy could have visited Corinth on Paul’s behalf while Paul was at Ephesus, though this is unverified.
So beyond those clearly documented in Scripture, other New Testament figures may have had ties to Corinth.
Archaeological Finds at Corinth Relating to Paul and Early Christianity
Some significant archaeological artifacts found at the site of ancient Corinth include:
- Erastus Inscription – A pavement inscription to Erastus, possibly the city treasurer converted by Paul (Romans 16:23). Dated 50-100 AD.
- Temple of Apollo – The imposing temple, whose extant columns still stand, highlights the pagan context of Corinth Paul encountered.
- Bema – The large speaker’s platform where Paul was brought before Gallio portrayed in Acts 18:12-17.
- Lechaion Road – The stone-paved road connecting Corinth to its western port seen by Paul.
- Fountain of Peirene – An ancient spring that provided water to Corinth where Paul drank.
- Meat market – The remains of the macellum where Paul may have encountered sacrificial food sold.
These and other ruins help visualize aspects of Paul’s ministry in the bustling city.
Summary of Corinth’s Place in Biblical History
In summary, some key facts about Corinth in the Bible:
- Strategic Greek trade city with much vice and idolatry.
- Paul established an influential church there ~51 AD.
- Paul wrote at least 2 canonical letters to the Corinthians.
- The Corinthian correspondence tackles many early church issues.
- Imagery and individuals associated with Corinth illustrate its role.
- Archaeology enriches understanding of early Christian Corinth.
So the ancient city of Corinth holds great significance in early church history and theology based on its association with Paul and place in his missionary journeys. The Corinthian letters provide a fascinating window into issues faced by early Christians living in a cosmopolitan environment of Greco-Roman culture and idolatry.