Any self-respecting layman sooner or later gets to know the scriptures. Fortunately, today this book is available in all languages of the world and in almost every house, although, in different respects, is a collection of small books - the Bible. And one of them, which is part of this historical and inspired bestseller, is the first epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Corinthians. What is useful in this publication for a modern person? What is its content and why can you trust it?
What was life like in Corinth
To answer the above questions, first you need to understand the circumstances under which the first epistle of the holy Apostle Paul to the Corinthians was written.
That time is very similar to ours. They said of Corinth that it was "a city in which all the vices of the east and the west converged." In this rich city, approximately 400 thousand people lived. More than Corinth were only Rome, Alexandria and Antioch. Due to its good location, it was a shopping center. The map below clearly shows that Corinth is located on a narrow isthmus between the Peloponnese and mainland Greece. This allowed him to control the road to the mainland.
At that time it was said that wealth, licentiousness and immorality literally permeated the city.
The Corinthians worshiped Aphrodite, and this further aggravated their vices. This means that religion did not make them better, because the named goddess of love and passion prompted the latter and their fans.
The first Christians appeared in such a city, to whom the first epistle of the holy Apostle Paul to the Corinthians was addressed.
Why did Paul write a letter to the Corinthians
The apostle Paul was not so long ago in Corinth and spread Christianity there among the Greeks. As a result, a Christian congregation of proselytes was formed. A few years later, this congregation began to fade in its devotion to God, which caused alarm and prompted the holy Apostle Paul to write the first epistle to the Corinthians.
What so worried the apostle from what was happening among the Corinthian Christians? First of all, these are disagreements, sectarianism, leaders appeared who led the students away. He was also very upset that family foundations were undermined, and even immorality reigned. It was simply unthinkable! And this is not all the problems that Saint Apostle Paul addresses in the first Epistle to the Corinthians.
Summary of the message
The content of this book helps to briefly see what Christians have come across. “Paul, by the will of God, the called apostle of Jesus Christ” - this is exactly how Paul begins his letter, indicating that he is not addressing them from himself, but that the Lord Jesus Christ himself is interested in their well-being. From him comes loving guidance and edifying advice. For Christians, this was a particularly relevant reminder. Indeed, among them, divisions began. The Corinthians chose leaders for themselves, some honored Apollos, others followed Paul. But who are Apollos and Paul? They are just ministers, thanks to whom the Corinthians became believers.
Further, from the 5th chapter, Paul is indignant at the fact that there is such a sin among Christians that it is even embarrassing to talk about. One man lives with his father’s wife. Therefore, Paul tells the congregation that they must cast out such a vice from their midst:
“Run away from fornication. Because you are purchased for a fee. So glorify God in your body! ”(6:18, 20).
In order not to fall into fornication, Paul advises strengthening family ties: for those who are not married - to join, so as not to incite oneself; those who are already a family man - to save a family. In Corinthians chapter 8–9, Paul advises us to focus on ministry in order to spread the good news. He says:
“Woe to me if I do not proclaim the good news!”
In chapter 10, Paul warns Christians against idolatry by citing an example from the past with Moses. Chapter 11 gives the principle of supremacy:
“The head of a woman is a man, the head of a man is Christ, the head of Christ is God”
It also goes back to the divisions, but already associated with the Supper.
In chapters 12, 13, and 14, Paul lists spiritual gifts, love, and longing for it.
In general, chapter 13 is known today for its description of love. It is that love that should be among Christians, and not corrupted and vicious. For the sake of this description, it is worth reading at least chapter 13 from the first epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Corinthians. The content of the 15th and 16th chapters conveys strong evidence of the hope of the resurrection proposed by Paul. The apostle recalls the example of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which appeared immediately to more than five hundred brothers. And, reasoning in such a way with them, he says, if there was no resurrection, then all their faith is in vain, and he himself is suffering in vain for the sake of the good news. Indeed, the Christian faith is based on the hope of resurrection!
At the end of the letter, Paul advises helping the poor brothers from Jerusalem, warns of his imminent arrival and sends greetings from Asia, assuring them of his love. That was such an edifying and warning message. But why can those who want to be called Christian today trust this message?
Could there be doubts?
Justin Martyr, Athenagoras, Irenaeus of Lyons and Tertullian quoted him in their writings. Historical works say that the first epistle of Clement, written in 95 AD, contains six references to the Epistle to the Corinthians.
If the Letter is confirmed by several other sources, then doubts may not arise in its reliability. In our case, the first letter to the Corinthians themselves was introduced by the first century Christians into the canonical writings, which means they did not accept it as a human word, but as the word of God.
Christians today
Those who consider themselves Christians today do not question this message. Moreover, they are guided by his advice in their lives, showing the same incomparable love for each other, as in the thirteenth chapter of the Corinthians. This is love that will never pass, and it is from it that you can recognize a true Christian who is ready to bear his cross of Christ upon himself, following in his footsteps.