Then Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.
Acts 18:1
So Paul stayed there for the next year and a half, teaching the word of God.
Acts 18:11
Paul stayed in Corinth for some time after that, then said good-bye to the brothers and sisters and went to nearby Cenchrea. There he shaved his head according to Jewish custom, marking the end of a vow.
Acts 18:18
Here are the standard conclusions we can put together from the evidence we have thus far of the contact between Paul and the Corinthians face to face and through letters.
Paul visits Corinth for the first time, spending about 18 months there (Acts 18:11). He then leaves Corinth and spends about 3 years in Ephesus (AD 53 to 57). There is regular contact between Paul and the people from Corinth: Chloe’s homegroup, Timothy and Apollos visited the Corinthians. Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus came to Paul among others. Paul writes the “warning letter”, probably from Ephesus. The Corinthians send a letter to Paul. (1Co 7:1) Now regarding the questions you asked in your letter.) Paul writes 1 Corinthians from Ephesus. Paul makes a “painful visit” to the Corinthian church as he indicated he would in 1 Corinthians 16:6. This is probably still during his 3 years based in Ephesus. Paul writes the “letter of tears”. Paul writes 2 Corinthians, indicating his desire to visit the Corinthian church a third time (2 Cor 12:14, 2 Cor 13:1). The letter doesn’t indicate where he is writing from, but it is usually dated by the scholars after Paul left Ephesus for Macedonia (Acts 20), from either Philippi or Thessalonica in Macedonia. Paul presumably made the third visit after writing 2 Corinthians, because Acts 20:2-3 indicates he spent 3 months in Greece. In his letter to the Romans, written at this time, he sent salutations from some of the key members of the church to the Romans.
While we don’t have the warning letter Paul wrote, neither do we have the Corinthians response, we can determine the topics they wanted to talk about. See if you can work out for yourself what was in the Corinthians letter to Paul. What were the questions the Corinthians asked Paul. Note: We can’t reconstruct the actual questions but we can determine each topic that arose from their questions. It is easier than you think it may be.
Try it first for yourself. My input will come in the next Gem.
All the issues that Paul has dealt with thus far in 1 Corinthians have been matters arising from what people have told him. Remember Paul is not very far away in Ephesus and so he is kept in touch with what is going on in Corinth. Up until now he has been addressing issues he is aware of in the church he planted back in Corinth. How is Paul able to keep up with the news. For some members of Chloe’s household have told me about your quarrels, my dear brothers and sisters. (1 Cor 1:11) It is clear that Chloe’s group, be they a home church or a real Greek household (extended family and servants ), have been concerned with what is happening in Corinth and relaying the news to Paul. So he is very up to date with the news. Clearly the movement of people between Corinth and Ephesus is substantial and frequent.
Paul also sent Timothy to keep an eye on things and report back to him, as Paul also planned to do with Apollos.
That’s why I have sent Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of how I follow Christ Jesus, just as I teach in all the churches wherever I go.
1 Corinthians 4:17
Now about our brother Apollos—I urged him to visit you with the other believers, but he was not willing to go right now. He will see you later when he has the opportunity.
1 Corinthians 16:12
The other source Paul has is the visit by Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus from Corinth to him in Ephesus. It is little wonder that Paul is right up with the play. I am sure it is a blow by blow account of what is happening that is being fed back to Paul.
I am very glad that Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus have come here. They have been providing the help you weren’t here to give me.
1 Corinthians 16:17
We have seen already the main issues Paul comments on are
- Dissension and disunity
- Escalating sexual sin
- Court cases against believers.
It is these three big issues that have been reported to Paul and so he takes up 6 entire chapters dealing with these issues. By far the biggest of the three is that of dissension and disunity. Paul majors on this one spending most of his time on this topic. The way Paul has written his letter clearly sets each segment apart where he marks the beginning of each response he makes to their letter to him. See if you can find them.
It is harder to do self-correction than to correct others.
Jeffrey Rachmat
Telling the truth will cost you something, but not telling it will cost you everything.
Ian Vail
The more perfect our friendship with God becomes the simpler our lives will be.
A. W. Tozer
Too many of us have a Christian vocabulary rather than a Christian experience.
Charles Banning
Life Is Not About Understanding Your Practices But Practicing Your Understandings.
Robb Thompson