CORINTH

#1: Planting a Church in Sin City: Corinth

We begin our tour of ancient Corinth with a general geographic and historical survey of its place in the Roman Empire. You might be surprised by its importance in the ancient world. Like the earthen vessels it produced, it was glorious, but it was not unbreakable. This video will help us make sense of the verses we will study in this series.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:5-11.

#2 Christians and Pagans in Corinth

Paganism was everywhere in Corinth, from grand temples to coins and commerce to where a person could find a drink of water. Paul was surrounded by paganism. But in the midst of all of that, the Holy Spirit founded His own temple, and it must have boggled the minds of not a few Corinthian observers!

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:16-17.

#3 How to Learn Discernment

Paul spent considerable time training the Corinthians, many of whom were Gentile converts, how to make Christian decisions in a pagan world. What is okay and not okay for us to do, and why? One area he tackled was the question of meat and idols. This is one perspective on that question, offered in the light of historical context.

Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 8:4-13; 1 Corinthians 10:14-22; and 1 Corinthians 10:23-33

#4 Racing for the Crown: Games in Corinth

Within the Corinthian orbit of influence was the town of Isthmia next-door. Isthmia hosted Olympic-level games. You may be surprised at what prize they sought. Paul used that context to teach something beautiful about the Christian life and eternal reward.

Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; 1 Corinthians 14:7-8 and 13:1; and 2 Corinthians 5:1-4

#5 Looking Into the Corinthian Glass

This is a glimpse into what Paul was referring to when he taught the Corinthians a hopeful—if at times painful—truth about how the Spirit and the Word transform us into the image of Christ.

Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 13:12; and 2 Corinthians 3:18

#6 How (Not) to Think About Communion

When newly converted Gentile Christians first heard about Christian communion, did they imagine a debauched pagan worship feast? There’s reason to believe they did, and that they brought that worldly practice into the church. Paul corrected this horrible misunderstanding and mistake in his letter to the church.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:20-34

#7 Rich Christians in a Poor Church

Sound familiar? Paul challenged the Corinthians to give of their wealth in order that other poor Christians would have enough. The principle behind his teaching may be tough to swallow.

Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 8:1-2 and 13-15; and 1 Corinthians 16:1-4

#8 For Such Were Some of You

Paul’s letters to the Corinthians are probably famous as evidence of sexual immorality in the church there. We might read these accounts and gasp, “why did they think that was okay?” Here is why.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; also relevant are 1 Corinthians 5-7.

#9 So What’s the Point?

This video concludes our series with some suggestions for how we might apply the Corinthian context to our own. Are we Corinthians? If so, are we asking the right questions?

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:31.