IN CORINTH
IN CORINTH
ACTS 18:1-4
Some oppose the gospel, especially if it contradicts their views or disrupts their lives. This is why suffering was so much a part of the early church.
When he later reflected on his ministry in this part of southern Greece, Paul later wrote of “the household of Stephanas” as the first converts in Achaia (1 Corinthians 16:15)—and Stephanas was a Corinthian. This suggests that no church—certainly no thriving community—was left in Athens after his departure.
Some scholars infer that, on reflection, Paul regretted the philosophical and cultural approach which he made to the Athenians, and that 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 was written out of a new resolve henceforth to focus his preaching on “Jesus Christ and him crucified.” We may doubt this inference, but it does seem clear that, in direct contrast to a somewhat barren ministry in Athens, the initial response at Corinth was a tremendous encouragement to him. In fact, from his letters, the evidence is that the church at Corinth turned out to be his main pastoral concern.
The exigencies of the situation at Corinth also may have contributed to his desire to proclaim the “simple gospel” in full reliance on the Holy Spirit. For Corinth was a flourishing seaport, notorious for its moral laxity and crude ways, the “Vanity Fair” of the Roman empire. The verb in Greek “to corinthianize” means “to go to the dogs”!
In such an unpromising setting Paul directed his ministry to both Jews and Greeks (18:4), and found support in two friends, husband and wife, who had been forced out of Italy by an imperial edict aimed at the Jews (c. AD 49–50). Jewish rabbis were taught a trade, so it is not surprising to read this reference to Paul’s craftsmanship (18:3).
Notes 18:2: these two Christians play a significant, if secondary, rôle in the New Testament literature. Paul was later to owe much to them (Romans 16:3-4; cf. 1 Corinthians 16:19; 2 Timothy 4:19). The decree of Claudius is that mentioned by the historian Suetonius. 18:3: the trade was that of leather-working. Paul’s occupation to support his ministry is well attested (cf. 20:34; 1 Corinthians 9:12,15; 2 Corinthians 11:7ff.; 1 Thessalonians 2:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:8).