Paul's Relationship With Corinth

Acts 18-20

Paul's first visit to the city of Corinth was an 18 month visit at the end of his second missionary journey from 50 AD to early 52 AD. Upon arriving he found a certain Jewish couple, Aquila and Priscilla, who had recently been expelled from Rome by Claudius the Roman Emperor (Acts 18:2). They, like Paul, were tent-makers who soon were saved and thoroughly discipled by Paul. A short while later Silas and Timothy arrived from Berea and Thessalonica where Paul had left them (Acts 18:5). Their coming greatly encouraged Paul who then began to witness aggressively; first in the synagogue and then in a house next door. (18:5)

Many began to be saved and baptized, including Crispus the leader of the synagogue (18:8). The opposition was heating up and the Lord Himself encouraged Paul in a night vision to keep witnessing because He had many people to be saved in that city (18:9-10). After more than a year Paul was dragged before Gallio, the Roman proconsul of Achaia, and accused by the Jews. The event turned against the Jews themselves and Paul was delivered and continued ministering effectively.

[He wrote 1 & 2Thessalonians during this period.]

After a year and a half in Corinth, Paul left Timothy and Silas to minister in Corinth while he, along with Aquila and Priscilla, departed for Ephesus. Paul began preaching in the synagogue where people appear to have been very receptive. However Paul left Aquila and Priscilla in Ephesus and headed for Jerusalem to keep a Jewish vow and feast; promising to return "if God wills" (18:18-21).

After the feast, Paul quickly left Jerusalem and headed back for Ephesus passing through Galatia and Phrygia strengthening churches he had previously begun. During Paul's absence from Ephesus Aquila and Priscilla had found and discipled a brilliant Jewish preacher named Apollos who greatly helped them with the ministry in Ephesus while Paul was gone. Just before Paul arrived, Apollos left Ephesus and went to Corinth to strengthen the church there. (18:22-28)

Paul's ministry in Ephesus became very fruitful from the first. God saved multitudes of people allowing Paul to work great miracles of healing and exorcism (19:1-20). By now Timothy (and probably Silas) had left Corinth and joined Paul in Ephesus. Paul's ministry in Ephesus continued for 2 years and 3 months.

Toward the end of this time (early 55 AD), Paul received some distressing news from Corinth that the church there was having a great deal of trouble. People were divided over personalities, spiritual gifts, sinful practices, doctrinal problems and were exhibiting childish and carnal behavior in general.

Paul's desire was to finish his work there in Ephesus then to go personally to Corinth after passing through Macedonia (Philippi, Thessalonica and Berea) hoping to go from there to Rome. At this time he wrote the letter of 1 Corinthians and probably sent it with Timothy and Erastus, whom he dispatched to Corinth to help calm things down until he could get there (19:21-22). He tried to encourage Apollos to go with them but he had other plans.

About this time (mid-55 AD) Paul's ministry in Ephesus ran into great opposition from Demetrius and the silver workers who stirred the whole city against them (19:23-41). After the uproar Paul left Ephesus heading for Corinth but first traveling through Macedonia (Philippi, Thessalonica and Berea) (20:1-2).

While in Macedonia, news got back to Paul that his letter had had a mixed reception at Corinth. The situation was little if any better. In addition to the problems that he had known before, now others had come to the surface. Apparently some super-apostles (false apostles 2Co 11:15-17) had been working to undermine Paul's authority. Paul wrote Second Corinthians in an attempt to "hold things together", to dispel malicious rumors about his own integrity, add an element of accountability (ie. he was coming shortly) and to encourage them to continue to prepare the offering for the suffering Christians in Judea.

After finishing his work in Macedonia he left for Corinth where he spent three months in late 55 A.D. (Acts 20:3). This period must have been difficult for Paul because of the sensitive and personal nature of the problems in Corinth. During this short stay in Corinth Paul wrote Romans. In Roman's 15:22-29, Paul indicates that things seem to be in order at Corinth. The offering had been collected as had been hoped. It seems that he felt that a longer stay would not be necessary. He avoided any mention of the problems of Corinth to the Romans. He greeted the Romans saying that Gaius (1Co 1:14) was sending his greeting along with Timothy, Sosipater, and others (Ro 16:21-23). He told the Romans that he hoped to see them after his visit to Jerusalem during which he would deliver the offering. It was his desire to stay awhile at Rome but then move on into Spain (Ro 15:22-29).

Besides the problems in the church at Corinth, he had also stirred up the Jews against him (Acts 20:3). A plot was discovered against his life by the Jews while preparing to leave Corinth for Syria with his disciples (Sopater of Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus of Thessalonica, Gaius of Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia) (Acts 20:4). To foil the plot he decided to redirect his path and return by land through Macedonia instead of directly by sea to Syria.

After this 3 month stay, Paul never again set foot in the city of Corinth. However his concern for the people and his influence on the church continued.