![]() In old Corinth the temple maintained a thousand priestesses who amounted to no more than common prostitutes. The worship of this goddess was not Greek in origin but Oriental it had been imported from the Phoenician cult of Astarte. On the summit of this steep mountain stood the temple of Aphrodite, a symbol of the lust which pervaded the mind of the city. The most prominent site was the Acrocorinth, a sharp projection which rose to a height of 1,800 feet. Both the old city and the Roman colony were known far and wide for their sexual looseness. Perhaps the most significant of the factors which comprised the atmosphere of Corinth was gross, unashamed immorality. Many of the problems of the church found their basis in the life of the city. The church in Corinth existed in a grossly sinful atmosphere which continued to make its mark on the church. But those redeemed ones who comprise a church are taken from the world whose influence is so often evil, and this influence continues to be felt after conversion. The redemptive fellowship known as a New Testament church possesses a dimension unknown to the world consequently, the church must not be conformed to its environment. This reflection need not necessarily be in direct proportion indeed, it dare not be. The Atmosphere in Which the Church ExistedĪ church will inevitably reflect to some extent the society in which it exists. The First Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians (“The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries” Grand Rapids: Wm. Leon Morris has described this important city as intellectually alert, materially prosperous, and morally corrupt. Any movement which gained a footing here could be assured of a hearing in surrounding districts. It was a hub whose spokes radiated in every direction. ![]() Athletes from distant parts were attracted to these games, which were conducted even during the century that the city lay in ruins.Ĭorinth was strategically located. Just outside the city the Isthmian Games were conducted every two years. It was a teeming city made up of permanent residents of many nationalities in addition there were always present large numbers of sailors and merchants from all over the Roman Empire.Ĭorinth never became the intellectual center that Athens was, but it had distinguishing characteristics of its own. The exact population cannot be determined estimates run from 100,000 to 600,000. Hunter has described the city as “a compound of Newmarket, Chicago and Paris with perhaps a bit of Port Said thrown in.” Introducing the New Testament (London: SCM Press, Ltd., 1957), p. Enough Jews were present to justify a synagogue. Commercial prosperity had attracted Orientals in considerable numbers, and the city was truly cosmopolitan. Greeks had been slow to return, but by the time of Paul’s contact with the city they were present in large numbers. The new city was a Roman colony and its inhabitants were Romans, both veterans and freedmen. The larger vessels which could not be handled in this manner were unloaded, and the merchandise was transferred to other ships across the isthmus. Harry, “Corinth,” The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, ed. Smaller ships were taken across the isthmus “by means of a ship tramway with wooden rails.” J. Merchant seamen preferred to send their cargoes across the isthmus to making the long and perilous journey around the tip of Greece. The city lay on a narrow strip of land between the Corinthian Gulf and the Saronic Gulf, and this strategic location insured the commercial prosperity of the city. A century passed before it was finally rebuilt, probably under the direction of Julius Caesar. This city was completely destroyed by the Roman L. A thorough knowledge of the circumstances which preceded and called forth this book is essential to its interpretation.Īncient Corinth had headed the Achaean League during the Hellenistic period. He had led in its establishment, had kept in close touch with it, and was now writing in the face of pressing needs. However, Paul was intimately involved with the church in Corinth. ![]() As a result, the teaching here is the closest thing that Paul ever wrote to a summary of Christian doctrine, and there is less reference to local problems. In Romans Paul is writing to a church which he did not establish and which he had not visited at the time of writing. Romans is one of those books where an understanding of historical background is essential, but not to the extent that it is in others. Consequently, this factor plays a larger role in the interpretation of some books of the New Testament than it does in others. The degree of significance is determined by the extent to which the document deals with the specific problems of a particular situation. ![]() An understanding of historical background is essential in the interpretation of any document, biblical or otherwise.
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