![]() He spent three winter months in Corinth (A.D. 16:7 + 2 Cor 12:14 + 2Cor 13:1 +, where he speaks of an intended third journey to Corinth which coincides with that in Acts 20:2 +. 54–57, not mentioned specifically in Acts but implied in 1 Cor. He paid Corinth a short second visit during the period A.D. There is, however, a modern city of Corinth, a few miles away, with about twenty thousand inhabitants. Archaeologists have also discovered a broken lintel (part of a door) bearing the Greek description "synagogue of Hebrews." Corinth's pottery, brass and marble for building columns were famous throughout the world. The city is now desolate with just a little village near the ancient Corinth. Corinth had an extensive commerce, like all the large towns on the Mediterranean Sea, and became celebrated for its wealth, magnificence, and learning. In the picture below note the agora which was the city's marketplace and the Bema which was the judgment seat. ![]() Strabo wrote that "All the people of Corinth gorge themselves." It was even customary in stage plays for actors to come on stage drunk. Corinth was noted for everything sinful." (Charles Ryrie) Every shop in the city had a deep, spring-fed well in which to cool containers of wine. The city boasted an outdoor theater that accommodated 20,000 people (See reconstruction of Corinth circa A D 100 - map similar to one below but more place names), athletic games second only to the Olympics, a Greek, Roman, and Oriental population.There were taverns on the south side of the marketplace, and many drinking vessels have been dug up from those liquor lockers. ![]() "Ships wanting to avoid the dangerous trip around the southern tip of Greece were dragged across that isthmus. The immoral condition of Corinth is vividly seen in the fact that the Greek term (coined by Aristophanes) Korinthiazomai (lit., to act the Corinthian) came to mean "to practice fornication." Aleiphro wrote "I did not enter Corinth after all, for I learned in a short time the sordidness of the rich there and the misery of the poor." It is even recorded that the sandals of these notorious priestesses of Aphrodite were studded with an imprint that spelled our " Follow me" in the dust of the street (What a contrast with Jesus' call to "Follow Me" - Mt 4:19)! One cannot help but think of similar seductive pictures found on the internet even on seemingly innocent sites such as news pages! Clearly this illicit "worship" was a great temptation to the Christians at Corinth (just as is the internet to Christian's today!) as evidenced by Paul's exhortations and warnings in this first letter (1 Cor 5:1, 9,10, 11 +, 1 Cor 6:9-11, 12-17, 18, 19, 20 +). And remember that Paul also associated idolatry with covetousness writing that " greed.amounts to idolatry." (Col 3:5 +, Eph 5:5 +) Worship at the temple involved sexual encounters with these "priestesses" and this attracted "worshipers" from all across the Roman world. As an aside it is notable that Scripture often associates sexual immorality ( porneia) with idolatry ( eidololatreia) (cf 1 Cor 5:11 +, 1 Cor 6:9 +, Eph 5:5 +, Rev 2:20 +, Rev 21:8 +). The Temple of Aphrodite (Roman = Venus) was located on the Acrocorinth and housed the 1000 "priestesses" employed as hierodouloi (from hieros = consecrated to deity + doulos = bondservants) who served as temple prostitutes to facilitate idolatrous "worship" (cf " sacred prostitution"). Corinth was located between the Aegean and Adriatic Seas ( see map below) and was a port city about five miles in circumference just south of the sharply rising 2000 foot Acrocorinth ( see picture and see map "G") from which Athens could be seen on a clear day. DAVID MALICK - An Introduction To Second CorinthiansĬITY OF CORINTH - Corinth was the capital of Achaia and located 40 miles west of Athens on the narrow isthmus connecting Peloponnese (on the south) with northern mainland of Greece (all uses of "Corinth" - Acts 18:1 + Acts 19:1 + 1 Cor.DAN WALLACE - 2 Corinthians: Introduction, Argument, and Outline.J VERNON MCGEE - 2 Corinthians Introduction.MARK SEIFRID - The Message of Second Corinthians: 2 Corinthians as the Legitimation of the Apostle.CHARLES SWINDOLL - 2 Corinthians Overview.JAMES VAN DINE 2 Corinthians - Author, Purpose, Outline, Argument.JOHN MACARTHUR 2 Corinthians Introduction - same as in the Study Bible.IRVING JENSEN - Introduction and study tips - excellent preliminary resource - scroll to page 1877 (Notes on both 1-2 Cor begin on p 1829).Macedonia: Preparation for Visit to CorinthĢCorinthians written ~ 56-57AD - see Chronological Table of Paul's Life and MinistryĪdapted & modified from Jensen's Survey of the New Testament (Highly Recommended Resource) & Wilkinson's Talk Thru the Bible Commentaries, Sermons, Illustrations, DevotionalsĢ CORINTHIANS - PAUL'S MINISTRY IN THE LIGHT OF THE INDESCRIBABLE GIFTĬharts from Jensen's Survey of the NT - used by permissionĪpostle's Conciliation, Ministry & Exhortations
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