1 Corinthians

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1 Corinthians
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1 Corinthians

• Written by Paul to Christians in Corinth
• 1 Cor 11-2, Pauland Sosthenesto the church of
  God that is in Corinth
• Corinth, the city
• on the Isthmus of Corinth, a commercial crossroad
  overlooking the two ports of Cenchreae and
  Lechaeum, a place where many shippers going from
  Asia to Italy preferred to take their goods over
  the tiny strip of land separating the Aegean and
  the Gulf of Corinth and the Ionian Sea.
• An important port town, famous for the Isthmian
  games, and athletic contest held every two years
  and second only to the Olympic games in
  importance
• Ancient city had been destroyed in 146 BCE but
  the Romans had re-established the city in 44 BCE
  as a Roman colony
• As many colonists were former slaves, the city
  had a constitution that allowed freed former
  slaves to actually be elected as chief
  magistrates of the city
• Had a reputation for its sexual promiscuity
  (Aristophanes created the verb korinthiazethai
  to fornicate), but in reality was probably much
  like any port city in terms of virtue and vice
• A Greek city, it had a Jewish community of some
  sort, although the size of the Jewish population
  is unknown (excavation at Corinth found an
  inscription, Synagogue of the Hebrews)
• Had some impressive temples to Greek divinities,
  especially Aphrodite (which would have likely
  included temple prostitution), Apollo and
  Asklepios

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1 Corinthians

• Paul first arrived in Corinth circa 49-50 CE and
  stayed there 18 months establishing a Christian
  community (Acts 1811)
• Wrote this letter from Ephesus (1 Cor 168) in
  the spring (before Pentecost), circa 53-55.
• Had written to them previously (59)
• Wishes to visit them, but is deferring his visit
  because he has much to do in Ephesus and wants to
  do more than just pass through when he comes
  (167-9)

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1 Corinthians

• Seems to be writing in response to two events
• 1. A report from Chloes people about
  dissension within the community (1111, 1118)
• Contents of report?
• Factions based on various Christian
  leaders/teachers (112)
• Sex issues Son and Step-mother cohabitate (51)
  and prostitution (615)
• Problems at the Lords supper (1120-21)
• 2. A letter from the Corinthians themselves
  asking Paul for advice (71)
• Contents of their letter?...Questions about,
• Sex within marriage and single virgins
  (definitely 71, 25)
• Food sacrificed to idols (very likely 81)
• Spiritual Gifts (very likely 121)
• Pauls collection of money for fellow Christians
  in Jerusalem (very likely 161)
• The resurrection of Jesus (possibly 151) (could
  also come from Chloes report)

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1 Corinthians

• Nature of Corinthian Congregation
• Likely consisted of a number of house churches
  (typically ancient house structures would limit a
  single congregation to 30-50 people max.) total
  number of Christians is unknown, might have been
  150-200?
• The head of the household where a church met was
  most likely the house-church leader (e.g., Chloe
  of 1 Cor 111)
• Hints at a broad spectrum in terms of
  socio-economic levels
• 126, Not many were powerful, not many were of
  noble birth not many implies some elites, but
  a good number of non-elites such as freed slaves
  and slaves
• 1121, For when the time comes to eat, each of
  you goes ahead with your own supper, and one goes
  hungry and another becomes drunk implies
  dramatic economic disparities between church
  members

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1 Corinthians

• Nature of Corinthian Congregation
• While the church was established by Paul, other
  prominent Christian preachers/teachers seem to
  have passed through their church communities as
  well
• Cephas/Peter? (112 95)
• Apollo (112 35-6)
• Ethnically, while some were Jewish, the majority
  were likely Greeks (and of these likely former
  God-fearers Greeks who had already hung out in
  Jewish synagogues but not fully converted to
  Judaism and out and out Greek pagans)
• Would have likely brought many Greek ideas and
  religious notions and practices into their
  newfound Christian belief system, e.g.,
• emphasis on impressive rhetoric (122 21-5)
• lax sexual mores or relaxed attitude toward
  certain sexual practices (by Jewish standards)
• emphasis on gnosis (knowledge) as ultimate
  religious value
• ecstasy as an expression of divine worship
• Puzzlement over bodily resurrection (vs. soul
  survival)

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1 Corinthians

• Contentsto be done as a class