Ep 266 – 1 Corirnthians Introduction

This episode begins a new series on the book of 1 Corinthians. Written by the apostle Paul to the believers in the city of Corinth, this letter is one of the pastoral epistles, penned by Paul to an early first-century church whose congregation was struggling with a variety of issues. While a Greek city, Corinth was heavily influenced by the culture of its Roman overlords. It was a city of extremes, with people from all walks of life, nationalities, and every imaginable economic strata. Predominantly pagan, it had a strong Jewish contingent and, the relatively new sect known as The Way was beginning to grow in size and popularity among the city’s populace. Corinth was a bustling commercial crossroads, that had benefited greatly from trade between east and west. It was also a manufacturing hub, producing everything from pottery and lamps to roof tiles and sculptures. Idolatry was a major component of the religious life of Corinth. You could find shrines and temples dedicated to a plethora of gods, including Aphrodite, Isis, Dionysus, Zeus, Hermes, Athena, Apollo and even the mystery god. Paul had helped start the church in Corinth and this letter was written two years after his departure, with the intent of dealing with what appears to be their growing accommodation to the world. Rather than influencing the culture around them with their faith, they were being diluted and distracted by the things of the world. To put it bluntly, Paul was writing in order to address what he considered non-Christian behavior among the people of God. As a result, there is much in his letter that will resonate with the church in 21st-Century culture. I want to encourage you to read each day’s passage in order to get the most out of this study. Now, let’s dig into the book of 1 Corinthians.