Corinth (Κορινθος, Korinthos), a city located on the isthmus between mainland Greece and Peloponnese (known as the Isthmus of Corinth), was well situated for land and sea trade. This made it a very important ancient city. Today, it is a medium but busy metropolis stretched along the Gulf of Corinth. The ancient ruins lie about four and one half miles (seven kilometers) to the southwest of the modern city. Ancient Corinth was one of the oldest, largest, wealthiest, and most powerful cities of the ancient world. In those times, it was a much larger city that today. In the second century, it was home to about 300,000 residents. In AD 52, when Paul visited Corinth, it was the capital city of Roman Achaia. It boasted temples, fountains, shops, porticoes, baths and other monuments. Not only was Corinth known for its monuments, but also for its licentiousness. There are many recently excavated taverns, bars, and nightclubs, in the ancient ruins. These attracted prostitution, homosexuality, and all sorts of debauchery. Corinth was a large, wealthy, powerful and wicked population center, just like many large modern cities. Its attractions included its trade, wealth, and beauty, and a reputation for depravity. The city flaunted its sexual sins and many came to Corinth to take part in that depravity. It is amazing that such depraved sexuality is so attractive. Yet, it definitely is very attractive to the world. Additionally, bunko and confidence games were a staple. These confidence men fleeced many tourists to Corinth. Several cities in the world today have the same reputation. It was in this environment that Paul began the infant church at Corinth. He discussed much of the base nature of the city in his two epistles.

Venus was the main deity of Corinth. Of course, we know her as Aphrodite, Ishtar, Astoreth, Semerimus, etc. She was the goddess of love, sexual relations, and fertility. This added to the air of licentiousness and dissolution that pervaded the city. It was a depraved place, sunk to the very deepest depths of human wantonness. The worst that the world had to offer could be found at Corinth. Even among its business acumen and its splendor and its reputation for military and naval prowess, it was still one of the most depraved spots in the Roman Empire.

It was from within this decadence that God placed a church. This was proof that the power and grace of God and His Gospel can and does overcome the world. That a church could be started and could prosper in this environment is proof that there is not place in the world where a church cannot thrive. There is no city depraved enough, no country too pagan, or no government too powerful to overcome the Church of God in Christ. The gates of hell will not prevail against His church.

Apparently, Paul wrote this Epistle at Ephesus. That is the broad consensus, and it agrees with the account of Paul's movements written in the Acts of the Apostles. Chapter sixteen and verse 8 completely confirm that Paul was at Ephesus when he wrote the letter: "But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost."

Paul wrote the Epistle response to a letter the church wrote to him. The letter evidently had some questions, which he answered in this letter. 1 Corinthians 7:1a, "Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me …" That it was from the whole church, or at least a majority of them is proven by Paul's use of the second person plural of the word rendered 'ye wrote', which is expressed in English by the pronoun 'ye', (the plural of 'you'). Paul addressed many of the things they asked him. He also addressed many of the things going on in the city around them. We need not summarize them here. Let us comment on these things as we come to them in the Scriptures. Let us begin.

Click to view the expository studies of the Epistles to the Corinthians, beginning with First Corinthians Chapter One.