Paul wrote 1 Corinthians to address divisions that had formed in the church at Corinth. Some members were claiming allegiance to Paul or other Christian leaders rather than Christ alone. Paul urges unity and reminds them that Christ, not any human leader, was crucified for them. He seeks to correct false teachings and immoral practices that had arisen in the congregation. The letter exhibits Paul's balanced approach, rebuking errors but also encouraging and building up believers with grace, truth and wisdom.

1. Pastor and theologian for a divided church:
Saint Paul

2. 1 Corinthians 1:10-17
Divisions in the Church
10 Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of
you should be in agreement and that there should be no divisions among you, but that
you should be united in the same mind and the same purpose.
11 Forit has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there are quarrels among you, my
brothers and sisters.
12 What I mean is that each of you says, ‘I belong to Paul’, or ‘I belong to Apollos’, or ‘I
belong to Cephas’, or ‘I belong to Christ.’
13 Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name
of Paul?
14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,
15 so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name.
16 (I
did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I
baptized anyone else.)
17 ForChrist did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent
wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power.

3. Paul’ Second Journey

4. Chronology of Paul in Corinth
AD49 Aquila & Priscilla expelled from Rome, go to Corinth.
AD50 Paul’s first visit (Acts 18:1–18). Ecclesia begins.
AD51 Paul writes 1&2 Thessalonians from Corinth.
AD52 Paul, Aquila and Priscilla leave Corinth and go to Ephesus.
AD52–53 Paul goes home to Antioch then leaves again on 3rd journey
(Acts 18:23).
AD53 Paul’s first letter to Corinth? (1 Cor 5:9).
AD54 1 Corinthians written while Paul in Ephesus (1 Cor 16:5–9).
AD55 Paul’s “painful visit” to Corinth (1 Cor 4:19; 16:5–8; 2 Cor 2:1). [Riot Acts 19]
AD56 2 Corinthians written while Paul in Macedonia (2 Cor 7:5–9).
AD57 Paul’s third visit (2 Cor 12:14; 13:1; Acts 20:2–3). Wrote letter to Romans
while there.

5. Corinth:
St. Paul’s
Marketplace

6. Paul’s Corinth
• Arrives Corinth after being hounded out of Macedonia and
being isolated in Athens
• Corinth is capital of a Roman province and major transportation
hub
• Corinth home to bi-annual Isthmian Games--second to ancient
Olympic Games
• Multi-cultural Greek-speaking city with Romans, Greeks, large
Jewish population, and ethnic representatives from across the
Empire
 large number of transient sailors, business men, and travelers
• Location of Temple of Aphrodite and cult of prostitution (Strabo
states there were 1,000 priestess-prostitutes), Corinth was
known as a decadent city
 Sexual immorality so prevalent verb “Corinthianize” coined as
synonym for immoral acts

7. 1st Corinthians
In its general character the epistle is a strenuous
writing, masterly in its restraint in dealing with
opposition, firm in its grasp of ethical and spiritual
principles, and wise and faithful in their application. It is
calm, full of reasoning, clear and balanced in judgment;
very varied in its lights and shadows, in its kindness, its
gravity, its irony. It moves with firm tread among the
commonest themes, but also rises easily into the loftiest
spheres of thought and vision, breaking again and again
into passages of glowing and rhythmical eloquence. It
rebukes error, exposes and condemns sin, solves
doubts, upholds and encourages faith, and all in a spirit of
the utmost tenderness and love, full of grace and truth. It
is broad in its outlook, penetrating in its insight, unending
in its interest and application. (ISBE Dictionary)

8. Ephesus:
Theater
Riot from ACTS