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First Corinthians is a single, whole document written by Paul in the early
50’s C.E. The letter was written in Ephesus, and intended for the members of a
church that had been newly built in Corinth, Greece. Paul focused the
correspondences, to the church, on some issues that were plaguing the citizens
of Corinth. The issues included sex, Christian unity, behavior in the church,
and resurrection. Through each correspondence, Paul gives rules and directions
for the people of Corinth to follow. Paul’s letters to Corinth were the most
extensive correspondences to any one church or city in the entire New Testament.
Paul converted to Christianity from Judaism because of a revelation of Jesus
Christ. Now, Paul was traveling around northern Greece to churches in Phillipi,
Thessalonica, and Beroea. Paul briefly stopped in Athens before taking a trip to
Corinth. The fact that Paul was able to make this long trip shows the strength,
stamina, and the deeply felt beliefs that carried Paul along the way. Paul
stayed in the city of Corinth for about a year and a half, before sailing to
Ephesus. It is from this city that Paul wrote the letters to the church in
Corinth. The people of Corinth were by no means saints or angels. The Emperor,
Augustus, made the city of Corinth the most luxurious and richest city in all of
Greece, as well as the most inhabited.
In fact, the city was the Greek capital in 27 C.E. By the time Paul arrived
in 50 C.E., the city had a reputation for prosperity, trade and materialism.
Corinth was also a large and very busy seaport that had many sailors, which
would visit from all across Europe. These sailors were notorious for hanging
around the legions of prostitutes that inhabited the city. The patron goddess
was Aphrodite, and it was no surprise that many citizens of Corinth were
engaging in sexual acts that they should not. It is for this very reason that
Paul wrote two letters, setting forth the principles of sexual ethics that the
people should follow. Also, the first letter to Corinth shows that early
Christians were from different backgrounds, both rich and poor, not just the
poor. It is this socioeconomic diversity that promotes different views and
practices in the church. These different views and practices are what threatened
the unity of the church in Corinth. This city was in dire need of the letters
from Paul, to help show them the correct way to live their lives.
The first thing that Paul wanted to do, was to end all the rivalries and
problems among the Corinthians that were causing a division among the masses. As
stated in 1 Corinthians 8-10, he wanted the people of Corinth to work together
in a cooperative way that would be mutually beneficial to all. Now there were
not that many in the congregation, maybe 50 or 100, but the group was divide
into several cliques. It was the cliques that Paul wished to end. Differences in
social, economic, and educational backgrounds were a big part of the reason why
there was any division at all. These differences led to a competitive nature
because of some groups thinking they were better, and more superior to other
groups. Paul’s belief was this, there was no difference if you were black,
white, Greek or Roman, and each person is one in Jesus Christ. He was trying to
show the people of Corinth that in the new faith, there was no place for either
competitiveness or individual pride. In fact it was the pride, or boastfulness
that Paul aimed at the most.
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