Learn more about Corinthian

Introduction to Corinthian

The term “Corinthian” refers to anything related to the ancient city of Corinth, a prominent and wealthy city located in southern Greece. In the Bible, the term is most often used in reference to the inhabitants of Corinth or the two letters of the Apostle Paul addressed to the Christian church there: First Corinthians and Second Corinthians. Corinth was known in the ancient world for its commerce, cultural diversity, and immorality, making it both a strategic and spiritually challenging location for early Christian ministry.

Corinthian Pronunciation

“Corinthian” is pronounced as kuh-RIN-thee-uhn, with the stress on the second syllable.

Corinthian in the Bible

The term “Corinthian” primarily appears in connection with Paul’s missionary work and epistles to the church in Corinth:

• 1 Corinthians: A letter written by Paul around A.D. 53–55 addressing numerous issues in the Corinthian church, including division, immorality, spiritual gifts, resurrection, and proper conduct during worship (1 Corinthians 1–16).
• 2 Corinthians: Paul’s follow-up letter, likely written around A.D. 55–56, expressing his deep affection and pastoral concern for the Corinthians. It includes Paul’s defense of his apostleship and encouragement for generosity in giving (2 Corinthians 1–13).

The people Paul addresses in these letters were part of a church he founded during his second missionary journey (Acts 18:1-18). He stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, working with tentmakers Aquila and Priscilla and establishing a growing congregation composed of both Jews and Gentiles.

Corinth in Biblical History

Corinth was a major urban center in the Roman Empire. It was located on the narrow isthmus connecting mainland Greece with the Peloponnesian Peninsula and controlled two important harbors: Lechaeum on the Corinthian Gulf and Cenchreae on the Saronic Gulf. Its geographical position made it a hub for commerce, travel, and cultural exchange.

The city was infamous for its moral laxity and housed the temple of Aphrodite, which allegedly employed temple prostitutes. This background provides context for the moral and theological challenges faced by the Corinthian church. Paul’s letters to the Corinthians often address behaviors and beliefs that were influenced by the surrounding culture.

Related Themes and Meanings to Corinthian

• Church Unity: Paul appeals to the Corinthians to avoid divisions and to be united in Christ (1 Corinthians 1:10-17).
• Spiritual Gifts: A major theme in 1 Corinthians 12–14, where Paul explains the proper use of spiritual gifts within the body of Christ.
• Love: The famous “love chapter,” 1 Corinthians 13, defines Christian love as patient, kind, and enduring.
• Resurrection: Paul provides a foundational explanation of the resurrection of the dead in 1 Corinthians 15, defending the doctrine as essential to the Christian faith.
• Christian Liberty: Paul discusses how believers should handle issues like food sacrificed to idols, balancing freedom with responsibility (1 Corinthians 8–10).

Trivia and Interesting Facts about Corinthian

• Paul's time in Corinth is recorded in Acts 18, where he faces both opposition and support, notably receiving a vision from the Lord encouraging him to keep preaching.
• The city of Corinth was destroyed by the Romans in 146 B.C. and later rebuilt by Julius Caesar in 44 B.C., quickly regaining prominence by the time of the New Testament.
• The Corinthian correspondence reveals some of the earliest and most detailed teachings of the apostolic church, including insights into church discipline, marriage, and eschatology.
• “To Corinthianize” was a slang term in the ancient world meaning to live in debauchery, a reputation that made the Corinthian church’s transformation even more striking.
• Paul's description of believers as the "temple of the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 6:19) gains deeper meaning against the backdrop of Corinth's many pagan temples.

Legacy of the Corinthians

The letters to the Corinthians continue to play a crucial role in Christian theology, ethics, and ecclesiology. They reveal both the struggles of a young church and the transformative power of the gospel in a morally challenging environment. “Corinthian” thus stands as a powerful example of how faith can flourish even in the midst of a corrupt society.