I made it out of Rome! I'm now in Corinth. Well, 1st Corinthians. I reached Chapter 12 today. I wasn't able to read for the last two days because life and fatigue got in the way.
This book is easier in some ways, but I'm still referring to the Amplified Bible a lot. The Corinthians were a mess, I think. Apparently, disunity, immorality, and false teaching were problems for the Corinthian Church. Paul had to step in and re-school them. It did not go well.
When reading Corinthians, you need to keep in mind that this congregation would not have been Jewish members only. Paul stayed in the city for a year and a half preaching to Greeks and Jews, and likely anyone else who passed through. The founding of this church is in Acts 18, and from the start, Paul had trouble with the Jews there.
In Acts 18:6 you find Paul reaching the end of his tether.
" And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles. "
Based on my research, Corinth was a cosmopolitan city located west of Athens on an isthmus. The location made it a perfect spot for commercial and transportation endeavors in the region. Think about modern port cities with people from all over the known world going in and out, bringing their habits and beliefs with them. This environment would have exposed citizens to more materialist and immoral influences. Paul had his work cut out for him.
I haven't read 2nd Corinthians yet, but since we have two letters, I suspect the problems didn't go away. I'll let you know.
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