When they heard about the
resurrection of the dead, some of them
sneered (32)
1 Corinthians 15:12-13
ResponseResponseinin
AthensAthens
• Very little response• Some sneered• Some wanted to hear more• Dionysius (a member of the
Areopagus) and a woman named Damaris responded and others
The City of Corinth
• 50 miles west of Athens
• Gateway between Asia & Europe
• “Master of 2 Harbors”
• Isthmus of Corinth – 3 ½ Miles
The City of Corinth• 146 B.C. – Destroyed by Romans• 44 B.C. – Rebuilt as a Roman Colony
by Julius Caesar• 1,000 sacred prostitutes of Aphrodite
were in pre-Roman Corinth• Population – 145,000 in 1st Century
(McRay, p. 164)
Corinth was the “New York,
Los Angeles, and Las Vegas of
the ancient world.”(Gordon Fee, quoted by
McRay, p. 166)
……because Claudius had because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to ordered all the Jews to
leave Rome. leave Rome. (18:2)(18:2)
In A.D. 49, the Roman Emperor Claudius expelled the Jews from
the city of Rome.
……because Claudius had because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to ordered all the Jews to
leave Rome. leave Rome. (18:2)(18:2)
Resulted from a controversy among the Jews regarding
“Chrestus.” (Suetonius)
Corinthian MinistryCorinthian Ministry
• Large Jewish community• Every Sabbath reasoned in the
synagogue…Jews and Greeks.
This is the setting for 1 & 2 Thessalonians
Written from Corinth in A.D. 50
Perhaps written in reverse order
1 & 2 Thessalonians1 & 2 Thessalonians
• Paul, Silas, and Timothy – 1:1
• Faith, hope and love (refrain)
• Love of mother/father (2:7, 11-12)
• Occasioned by quick departure (2:17-3:6)
1 & 2 Thessalonians1 & 2 Thessalonians
• …do this more and more (4:1).
• …lead a quiet life…. (4:11-12)
• 2nd Coming Issues (2 Thess. 3)
Ministry in CorinthMinistry in Corinth
• Jesus is Christ!
• Jews/abusive (6)
• Next door to the house of Titius Justus/God-fearer
Ministry in CorinthMinistry in Corinth
• Crispus the synagogue ruler believed in Christ
• (Vision) Do not be afraid…. (9)
Headed HomeHeaded Home• Accompanied by
Aquila & Priscilla to Ephesus
• Cuts hair in Cenchrea for a vow – still very much a Jew
When he landed in Caesarea, he went up (to Jerusalem) and greeted the church and then
went down to Antioch.
(18:22)
UpUp
DownDown
Meanwhile…Meanwhile…• Apollos arrived in Ephesus• From Alexandria, Egypt• He was a powerful Jewish
preacher• Knew about Jesus• Knew only baptism of John
Meanwhile…Meanwhile…• Priscilla & Aquila invited him to
their home “and explained to him the way of God more adequately.” (18:26)
• Goes to Corinth (1 Cor. 3:6)
• Jesus was the Christ (18:5)