Corinth

CORINTH, a celebrated City, the Capital of Achaia seated on the Isthmus which separates the Peloponnesus from Attica. S Paul came to preach at Corinth Acts xviii. 1, 2, & seq.in the year of J. C. 52. This City was one of the best peopled, and most wealthy of all Greece. Its situation between two Seas drew thither the Trade of both the East and West from all parts. Its Riches produced Pride, Ostentation, Effeminacy, and all manner of Vices, which are the consequences of too great Plenty. Lasciviousness particularly was not only tolerated there, but in some sort consecrated, by the worship of Venus, and the publick prostitution of those who were devoted to her. The Corinthians as well as other Greeks, pretended to Philosophy, Politeness and Learning. Such was the condition of Corinth, when S. Paul arrived there: These were the Monsters which he was to encounter.

He lodged there with one Aquila and his Wife Priscilla, who, as well as he, made Tents; thus he got a Livelihood by the labour of his own hands, to prevent his being burdensome to any one. He preached every Saturday in the Jewish Synagogues, and converted some who heard him. From Corinth he wrote his two Epistles to the Thessalonians in the year of J. C. 52. Some time after, observing, that the Jews of Corinth, instead of being benefited by his Instructions, opposed him with very blasphemous language; he shook his Raiment, and said, Your Blood be upon your own heads, I am clean; from henceforth I will go unto the Acts xviii. 6, 7, 8.Gentiles. He went therefore and lodged with Justus sirnamed Titus, who was a Gentile indeed, but one who feared God: And many of the Gentiles afterwards embraced the Faith. S. Paul suffered a great deal at Corinth, but Jesus Christ appeared one night to him, and said, Be not afraid, for I have much People in this City. Encouraged by these words, he continued eighteen Months at Corinth, or in the Acts xviii. 11.neighbouring places.

He departed from thence in the fifty fourth year of J. C. and went to Jerusalem. About two years after, that is to say, in the year of J. C. 56. He wrote his first Epistle to the Corinthians from Ephesus, where he was at that time. Herein the Apostle reproves some particular Persons, who disturbed the Peace of this Church, and, upon pretence that there were different Sects and Parties in the Church, as well as among the Philosophers, called themselves the followers of Paul, of Peter or Cephas, and of Apollos, according to their different affections. He complains likewise that there were some disorders in their Assemblies, that there were Law-suits among them, and that a Christian had committed Incest with his Mother-in-law his Father’s Wife. This Letter was sent by Stephanus, Fortunatus and Achaicus. It had all the Success S. Paul could hope for, since it produced a saving sorrow, great vigilance against the vices wherewith he had reproached them, and a very beneficial dread of God’s anger. They repaired the scandal which had been given, and expressed abundance of zeal against the Crime of the incestuous person.

2 Cor. vii. 9, 10, 11.S. Paul having understood the good effects which his first Letter had produced among the Corinthians, wrote a second to them, in the year of J. C. 57. He wrote from Macedonia, and probably from the City of Philippi. He expressed his satisfaction at the Conduct they had observed with regard to the incestuous person; justified himself in those particulars, which the false Apostles had objected to him, and exalted the Gospel Ministry above that of Moses. He glories in the Labours and Persecutions which he had suffered; and lastly, exhorts the Corinthians to prepare their Alms which they designed to send to the Faithful in Judæa. This second Epistle was carried by Titus, and another Brother, whom the Churches had associated with him, in order to col lect the Charity of the Faithful. Some think this Brother to have been S. Luke, others Barnabas. There is a great deal of probability, that S. Paul came himself to Corinth, towards the end of this fifty seventh year¹.

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