Paul’s itinerary

Let’s review the context. (1) Paul’s ministry in the province of Macedonia concluded, and as he visited Athens, his ministry in the province of Achaia began. During his stay in Athens, Silas and Timothy arrived later from Berea. Silas was then sent to encourage the Philippian church, and Timothy was sent to the Thessalonian church (Paul was anxious about the Thessalonian church, concerned of how they were faring under persecution). (2) Paul evangelized alone in Athens, but with limited success, he soon left for Corinth. At this time, Paul experienced feelings of fear and anxiety (ref. 1 Cor. 2:3, Acts 18:9).

The city of Corinth

(1) Corinth is a city located about 50 miles (80 km) west of Athens. Traveling from Athens to Corinth is like going from the university town of Boston to the gambling city of Las Vegas. (2) Corinth was the fourth largest city in the Roman Empire, with an estimated population of 200,000 to 500,000 (about 20 times that of Athens). It likely had a significant population of Jews expelled from Rome. (3) In 146 BC, the Roman army destroyed the city of Corinth, but in 46 BC, Julius Caesar rebuilt it as a colony. It became the capital of the province of Achaia and had two ports serving east-west trade routes. (a) Lechaion was the port on the Corinthian Gulf, connecting to the Adriatic Sea. (b) Cenchreae faced the Aegean Sea. The two ports were only about 4 miles (6 km) apart, so ships were transported on carts across this stretch, which was much more convenient than a 250-miles (400 km) detour around the Peloponnese. In the late 19th century, a canal was constructed by the Turkish government. Corinth was a commercial hub linking Asia and Europe. (4) Corinth was a morally corrupt city. The verb “korinthiazomai” (translated to English as “Corinthianize”), meaning “to engage in immoral behavior,” originated in the 5th century BC. The term “Corinthian girl” was a euphemism for a prostitute. Corinth was also a center of idol worship, with a temple dedicated to the Greek goddess Aphrodite on the summit of Acrocorinth, a 1,870-foot (570 m) high hill. Aphrodite, the goddess of love, beauty, and sexuality, corresponded to Venus in Roman mythology. The temple of Aphrodite housed 1,000 temple prostitutes (ref. 1 Cor. 6:15-17). Other temples in Corinth included those dedicated to Melqart (the god of sailors), Apollo (the god of music and poetry), and Asclepius (the god of healing and son of Apollo). Even to such a deeply corrupt city, God’s love was delivered. God desires that all people return to Him. His love is poured out upon us as well.