Treasures from Paul Corinthians II

The chief pride of Corinth was the great hill-top temple of Aphrodite, with its 1000 temple courtesans. The licentious worship of Aphrodite (along with numerous other deities from many nations), mixed with the varied cultures of many ethnic groups, led to a moral laxity that was scandalous even to the decadent Romans. The expression “to live like a Corinthian” entered the Greek language as an epithet for drunken or debauched behaviour.

Paul’s work at Corinth was mostly among the lower classes, with only a handful of disciples from the upper echelons of society (1 Co 1:26-31). His converts would have been mostly working class people, both slaves and freedmen, artisans, clerks, shop-keepers, dock hands, sailors, housewives, school teachers, and the like.

The church in Corinth had its roots in the arrival of Priscilla and Aquila (Ac 18:2, c. 49 A.D.). Paul arrived about a year later, on his second missionary journey, and remained there 18 months (Ac 18:1-11, 18a). Our letter was written from Ephesus some 2½ years later. In between, Paul wrote another letter, but no trace of it remains (1 Co 5:9).

Called

From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God that is in Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia. (2 Co 1:1)

Preface

What an adventure we are about to begin! Sadly, Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians is not so well known as some of his other letters, hence many Christian people live their entire lives without realising what treasure they have missed! But we are about to explore at least some of those amazing riches. I wish I could present them all to you; but that would make this book too unwieldy.

Of course, nothing prevents you from reading the letter yourself, and praying over it, and around it, and through it, until its delights become embedded in your soul, enhancing you spiritually for ever. Yet, I still pray that what you read in these pages will add to your joy, and give you cause to praise the Lord even more heartily!

Introduction

For a Christian, there can be only one definition of success: find the will of God and do it. Yet people often ask: “How can I find the will of God? How can I be sure that I’m doing the right thing?” Those questions raise some others –

• Does God even have a purpose for my life?
• Can I get guidance day by day?
• Is guidance available for particular situations, or only in general matters?