Introduction to 1 Corinthians

Pic credit https://bible.fandom.com/wiki/Corinth?file=Map_of_Corinth.jpg

Hi All,

I will be walking through the book of 1 Corinthians in my personal study and will be sharing snippets of it on the blog. As I share what I learn, I hope it will encourage and bless you all too.

1 Corinthians was written by Paul. It is the longest letter in the New Testament (16 chapters). It is a letter of Pastoral exhortation and correction. Paul’s address to the Corinthians in the letter is straightforward and firm but with a kindness which is reflective of his pastoral heart towards them.

The Church in Corinth was established by Paul in his second missionary journey, the details of which can be read in Acts 18. He spent about 1.5 yrs there. Approximately 2yrs later when he was in Ephesus, he got word that the church was having problems and he writes to address those issues, to instruct and correct.

Historical Background

In 146B.C the Romans decimated the city of Corinth. It stayed that way for about a hundred years. In 46B.C, Julius Ceasar gives the edict to rebuild the city as a Roman colony. When Paul arrives in Corinth in 51AD, the city was about a hundred years old. The scholars estimate the population to have been about 100,000. Corinth was a centre for trade, commerce and manufacturing. Its geographic location proving very ideal for the same. The place was a melting pot of Romans, Greeks, Jews, Asians and people from around the mediterranean.

Snippet into the Religious practices of the place

The city had quite a few temples dedicated to Roman and Greek gods like Apollo, Aphrodite and Asclepius and there were said to be many shrines dedicated to other gods. As the place also had a Jewish diaspora, a synagogue too was present.

The Culture

Corinth was synonymous with sexual immorality, the temple of Aphrodite at one point had about thousand temple prostitutes. This culture did not just remain withing the temples but spilled out as norm into the city. There was this term “to Corinthainize which meant to live a promiscuous, self-indulgent life. This was the culture of Corinth.

With an insight into the culture at the time in Corinth, we get a perception of what those who put their faith in Jesus came out of. They were learning a new way of life. There were no bibles for them to read, there were no other older churches around for them to pattern or model themselves after and therefore it is not difficult to understand an infiltration into the church of the culture that surrounded them. Changing one’s ways are never easy, it takes intention, a lot of hard work and power from the Spirit to set aside old ways, to sacrifice the flesh and be a disciple of Christ.

In this letter Paul addresses division in the Church, sexual immorality, inappropriate worship, consumption of food sacrificed to idols and incorrect teaching about the resurrection of Christ. With the various topics that Paul specifically addresses, the concept of progressive sanctification is consistent through this book.

For us today, we know that the church can be influenced by culture causing compromise and false beliefs. Also, may we not frown upon the Corinthian Christians but remember that they were young in faith. We all were lost in our sin and dead in our trespasses and in Christ we are made new. Sanctification and spiritual growth is a process. While Paul was firm in his instruction and did not have any room for compromise, he also addresses them with genuine concern and care reflecting a very grace filled approach, something we too should reflect as we deal with each other.

God takes imperfect people out of far from perfect backgrounds and then puts us in a community of people called the church, and uses it to help us grow, support each other and build a kingdom people that is more than just a singular influence but a collective movement that brings people to God and is a sanctuary for those who believe.

As we delve into this book may the Holy Spirit lead, guide, teach and correct our hearts. For as long as we are willing, God is working in us to be who He created us to be.

God Bless.