8) First Epistle to the Corinthians The Italians have a saying: “Four Greeks equals five bosses!” This Epistle proves the truth of that maxim. It is also one of the most valuable of St. Paul’s epistles for us today, especially because of the vivid picture it presents us with the actual life of a local church in the middle of the first century. Misunderstandings, dissentions, divisions, scandals. No, they were not all walking about with halos over their heads. Not yet, at least. No doubt, St. Paul was thinking to himself: Do I need this? As we know from many sources, ancient Corinth was a world-class “sin city,” famous for its devotion to prodigality and luxury. St. Paul and the Christians there would have much to contend with. Establishing a church in Corinth was much like the Allied forces in World War II establishing a beachhead in Normandy on D Day. It finally happened, but only after many sacrifices and casualties. Truly, as any Christian might put it, “If it weren’t for our sins, we’d be perfect.” This, too, was Corinth. In fact, when St. Paul first came to Corinth, he was considering his missionary work and observing the paltry results of his preaching there so far. Further, as he discerned the malevolence of the local Jewish leaders toward him, he was overcome by a certain hesitancy, and began to wonder whether he should remain in that populous and decadent city. At precisely that time, our Lord appeared to him in a vision and told him, “Be not afraid, but speak and keep not silent. For I am with thee, and no man shall set upon thee to hurt thee, for I have many people in this city” (Acts 18:9–10). From that moment, the Apostle pressed forward with his work with even greater zeal and he beheld, indeed, “many people” in that city converting to the Faith of Christ and increasing His flock in Corinth. St. Paul formed a bond with these people and visited them repeatedly; even from afar, he watched over their progress and sent his fellow-laborers to strengthen them. Yet, despite the many gifts they had received from God, there were serious disorders among them after the Apostle’s departure from their city. While in Ephesus, St. Paul learned about these troubles from the household members of one Chloe, a Christian woman of Corinth (I Cor. 1:11), and also from the faithful themselves and their emissaries, Fortunatus and Achaicus (I Cor. 16:17). He was informed that there were schisms and serious moral lapses among the Christians in Corinth, who had become divided into groups: some saying they belonged to Paul, some that they were Peter’s disciples, others Apollo’s, and others Christ’s. There were too many bosses in Corinth! Further, St. Paul learned about the scandal surrounding one serious moral lapse, about the matter regarding things sacrificed to idols, and about some of the believers’ recourse to pagan judges, and other matters. Because of this, he wrote his first Epistle to the Corinthians, wherein he censures their foolish and destructive divisions and the matter of the moral lapse; he consuls them on their behavior, teaches them about the virtue of love and, finally, makes an appeal for their brethren in Jerusalem who were suffering from the famine. He wrote this Epistle in Ephesus (see 16:8) around the beginning of the year A.D. 57, and sent it to Corinth most likely by means of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus (all celebrated on June 15th). 9) The Second Epistle to the Corinthians After he sent his First Epistle to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul continued his missionary work in Ephesus. At the same time, he wanted to learn how his letter had been received among the Corinthians. During those days, St. Timothy returned to Ephesus from Corinth. It is not clear whether Timothy was in Corinth when St. Paul’s letter arrived there, or whether he had brought back any news about the condition of the Church in Corinth. In any case, the fact is that St. Paul was in doubt. This is why he sent a letter by means of St. Titus in order to learn about conditions in Corinth, and he asked Titus to return quickly. Titus, however, was delayed, and so, in his desire to meet him the sooner, St. Paul travelled to Troas, hoping to meet him there as Titus was on his way back from Corinth. Though “a door was opened” to St. Paul to proclaim the Gospel in Troas, nonetheless he “found no rest” in his spirit, because he did not find Titus his brother (II Cor. 2:12–13), and so he hastened on to Macedonia. There the holy Apostle met Titus and learned that matters in Corinth had calmed down and that his Epistle had had a good effect, and that his counsels and observations had been taken to heart. This encouraged the Apostle, who still had “fightings without and fears within” (II Cor. 7:5). Nonetheless, St. Titus was obliged to inform him that, in Corinth also, false teachers had appeared who were seeking to undermine the Apostle Paul’s work and to exploit other men’s labors. On learning all this news, St. Paul wrote his Second Epistle to the Corinthians. In this Epistle, he demonstrates and emphasizes his credentials as an Apostle of Christ, he criticizes the false teachers, he expresses joy over the good news that St. Titus brought him concerning the state of the Church of Corinth, he counsels them yet again, and reminds them once more about the needs of the Christians in Judea, and tells them about his plans to visit them. It is probable he wrote this Epistle from Philippi, a few months after he sent the First Epistle, and that he had it delivered to them by means of Titus.
Posted on: Mon, 08 Sep 2014 17:23:01 +0000
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