Corinth: Strategic Location and Culture
Corinth was located in a strategically important place. Key land and sea trade routes passed through it. This made the city wealthy, cosmopolitan, and very influential. But along with wealth came moral corruption. The city was known for its luxury and debauchery.
Corinth was a religious-pluralistic center. Philosophy, rhetoric, entertainment, and pagan cults flourished here. Society was strictly divided by wealth, status, and origin. The Greeks were famous for their love of rhetoric and wisdom. This also influenced the church, which began to admire “eloquence” and human wisdom more than the simplicity of the Gospel.
Even by pagan standards, the culture of Corinth was considered so corrupt that the city’s name became synonymous with debauchery. The verb “to corinthianize” meant “to drink and engage in licentiousness.” Corinth was especially famous for the temple of Aphrodite, where, according to ancient authors, as many as a thousand temple prostitutes served.
Introduction to the Letter
The First Epistle to the Corinthians, written by the Apostle Paul around 55 AD, is addressed to a church that was struggling for faithfulness to Christ in this morally corrupt city. Paul writes to rebuke divisions, impurity, disorder in worship, and the incorrect use of Christian freedom, calling the church to unity, holiness, and steadfastness in the Gospel.
Main themes of the letter:
- Unity of the Church — rebuking factions and attachment to individual leaders.
- Moral Purity — a call to holiness, understanding that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit.
- Marriage, Divorce, and Singleness — guidance for various life situations.
- Christian Freedom — the balance between freedom and love for one’s neighbor.
- Spiritual Gifts — their correct use for the edification of the whole church.
- The Primacy of Love — as a measure of spiritual maturity.
- The Resurrection of Christ and Believers — as the foundation of our faith.
Let’s begin to read the text of this wonderful letter.
Paul’s Greeting
“Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 1:1-3).
This is a typical Pauline greeting. Notice a few important details:
- Paul emphasizes that he became an Apostle not by his own will, but by the will of God. This was important because in Corinth many questioned his authority, saying: “What kind of apostle are you? Peter and John — they were with Christ, but who are you?”
- Despite all the problems of this church, Paul calls them “sanctified in Christ Jesus” and “called to be saints.” He knows that true holiness comes from God through Christ. If we are in Christ, we are holy before God, and nothing else can make us so.
Gratitude to God
“I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge… who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Cor. 1:4-9).
Paul thanks God that the Corinthians, living in such a corrupt environment, came to the Lord. This is a reminder to us too: if we want to thank anyone for our salvation, it is first and foremost God. Not because we were so smart or good, but only by His mercy was grace given to us.
Paul is confident not only that God gave them grace and gifts, but also that God will sustain them to the end. Because He is faithful, even when we are unfaithful.
Rebuke of Divisions
After the greeting, Paul immediately moves to a rebuke. And the first thing he addresses is the question of divisions in the church. It might surprise us why he starts with this, and not with the question of debauchery or idolatry. But for Paul, division in the Body of Christ is so critical that he puts it in first place.
“I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ”” (1 Cor. 1:10-12).
In Corinth, it was fashionable to follow famous teachers to increase one’s own status. Unfortunately, this worldly culture had penetrated the church.
- “I follow Paul” — said those who considered Paul the founder and only authority.
- “I follow Apollos” — Apollos was an eloquent and learned man. People who loved rhetoric and intellect exalted him above Paul.
- “I follow Cephas” — others recognized only Peter (Cephas) because he was with Christ Himself during His earthly ministry.
- “I follow Christ” — likely this was a group that rejected the authority of all apostles, claiming they didn’t need teachers since they had Christ. Но even they used this name for division, setting themselves above the rest.
Do we see ourselves in this mindset? Unfortunately, yes. We often divide based on the names of theologians, on the traditions of our fathers, on personal liking for pastors. We say: “Our pastor is a real servant, while those in the other place — they haven’t seen life.”
But is this right? We should never follow a human being 100%. We must follow the Word of God. If a person, even the most respected, diverges from Scripture, we must choose Scripture. Your conscience must be under the authority of God, not human authority.
Is Christ Divided?
“Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?.. For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power” (1 Cor. 1:13-17).
Paul asks a rhetorical question that strikes at the very heart. The answer is obvious: no, Christ is not divided. You do not follow a man. You follow Christ, who was crucified for you. Not Paul, not Apollos, not Peter gave their lives for your sins. Only Christ is worthy of being the center of our worship and faithfulness.
Paul specifically emphasizes that he preached not in “eloquent wisdom.” He did not want to gather fans of his eloquence around him. His goal was the simple Gospel, where Jesus Christ plays the main role.
Conclusion
May God grant that in our church, Christ always plays the leading role, not our abilities, nationality, or eloquence. Only to Him belongs all the glory, because only He died for us and gave us a new life.
To the question “Is Christ divided?” we must always answer unequivocally: no!
Amen.