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The Bible Year

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 12, 1916

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 93, No. 51.

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The Bible Year

Assignment for October 15 to 21

To Think About as You Read

October 15: The sacredness of the body temple. October 16: Striving for the mastery. October 17: Love never faileth. October 18: The duty of cheerfulness. 2 Cor. 2:1. October 19: The value of affliction. October 20: The blessing of liberality. October 21: “My grace is sufficient for thee.”

Corinth

This rich, populous, and cosmopolitan city was situated about forty miles west of Athens, on an isthmus separating the Ionian and Ægean Seas. With its favorable geographical location, and its two ports, one on each sea, Corinth increased rapidly in commercial and military importance, and proportionately also in the luxuries and vices that too often follow an abundance of this world’s goods.
In Paul’s day, Corinth was not only one of the most important cities in Greece, but in the world. Through its gates surged the traffic of the East. To this great distributing center came merchants from the ends of the earth, seeking a market for their wares; pleasure lovers were lured thither by the call of the city’s wealth and charm; and the idle and vicious of many lands, drawn then as now to any place where their hopes for personal gain by questionable means may be most easily satisfied, found in this splendid metropolis a rich field for their exploitation.
An unusual and remarkable feature of Corinth was the Acro Corinthus, a great mass of rock rising abruptly to a height of two thousand feet. It is said that a town was once built on the summit of this natural citadel.

The Church in Corinth

Corinth, “corrupt and contented,” with its pleasure-loving population of heathen Greeks and Romans, bitterly prejudiced Jews, and indifferent travelers, might have been looked upon by many as a difficult field for sowing the gospel seed. But Paul, with the faith and fervor of a true soldier of the cross, visiting the city in A. D. 52, on his second missionary journey, saw in it an opportunity for profitable labor. For a year and a half he preached the word of life to Jews and Gentiles in Corinth, supporting himself meanwhile by working at his trade of tent making. During this time he wrote the epistle to the Romans, and other letters. Silas and Timothy visited Paul, and faithfully lent their aid to his effortsto plant the standard of the cross in this influential city. Success attended their labors. Many were converted, among them the chief ruler of the synagogue, with all his house; and a church was organized. Later when Paul had gone to Ephesus, Apollos, an Alexandrian Jew, “mighty in the Scriptures,” visited Corinth, and encouraged and instructed the believers.

First Corinthians

Apollos, who labored for the church at Corinth after Paul’s departure, was a learned and eloquent man. Against his will, and greatly to his sorrow, some of the believers began unduly to exalt him and his labors. Others thought they were best showing their love and loyalty to Paul by giving him first place in their affections and regard. Still others exalted Peter’s position. Divisions came in, and soon the church was about to split into factions. Some were saying, boldly, “I am of Apollos;” and others, “I am of Paul;” still others declared, “I am of Cephas [Peter];” and others, sensing the danger of exalting man, but not knowing how to stem the tide so strongly setting in, said, “I [am] of Christ.” Thus the unity and harmony that should have prevailed, and that were so essential, were destroyed. The church was rent by bitter dissension and strife, and the work of the gospel was accordingly hindered. “Pride, idolatry, and sensualism were steadily increasing among those who had once been zealous in the Christian life.”
Word of this sad condition was brought to Paul at Ephesus, by members of the influential family of Chloe, and also by a letter from the church itself, asking advice. The apostle’s response to this situation was the epistle, so rich in Christian advice and counsel, so eloquent and persuasive and compelling, that bears the name “The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians.” It was written at Ephesus, toward the close of Paul’s stay of nearly three years in that city, about A. D. 57, five years after the establishment of the church at Corinth.

Second Corinthians

“Forced from Ephesus by the riot, Paul went to Macedonia, where Titus found him, and told him of the effect of his first letter to Corinth. In the main his reproofs and injunctions had been heeded, but the Jewish party, reenforced by some high authority, had been attacking him with great violence and malice. Thereupon Paul wrote this sturdy epistle as a defense. It constitutes a magnificent picture of his strenuous life. The date was early in A. D. 58, and the place of writing was probably Philippi.”—Wells.
“Paul was now full of faith and hope. He felt that Satan was not to triumph over the work of God in Corinth, and in words of praise he poured forth the gratitude of his heart. He and his fellow laborers would celebrate their victory over the enemies of Christ and the truth by going forth with new zeal to extend the knowledge of the Saviour. Like incense, the fragrance of the gospel was to be diffused throughout the world.”—Mrs. E. G. White.