Daily Thought

Corinth was a distinguished place for it was the principal city in Achaia with a large population. It was located on a major trade route and hosted the Isthmian Games. The city was also divided religiously, for within its boundary there was a Jewish synagogue and several heathen temples. As might be expected from a thriving seaport, Corinth was also debauched; the immorality of the citizens became a byword throughout the region.

From the standpoint of human logic both the message and the messenger were eminently unsuited to effect any change within this huge metropolis. Here was a city that prided itself in its wisdom, so to them the gospel would have seemed utter foolishness. However, writing to the church there some time later the apostle stated, ‘It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe’, 1 Cor. 1. 21. In relation to the messenger Paul appeared as a very poor specimen of masculinity in comparison to the well-honed athletes that came to the games. He could say of himself, ‘I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling’, 2. 3.

Humanly speaking therefore, Paul’s visit to Corinth was bound to fail, but it didn’t. Despite his initial trepidation, the Lord promised to keep Paul safe and, assured by the knowledge of divine protection, he remained preaching and teaching in the city for almost two years. The result of this labour was that ‘many of the Corinthians hearing believed and were baptized’, Acts 18. 8. When Paul eventually moved on he left behind something that had not been there before, something that was distinct from the Jewish synagogue, and from heathen temples: ‘the church of God which is at Corinth’, 1 Cor. 1. 2.

Paul had moved into this conurbation facing the unknown, being unaware of the reception he would get, and uncertain as to what the outcome would be. However, before he started preaching to the Gentiles God had His eye on Corinth and could say, ‘I have much people in this city’, Acts 18. 10. Long before we heard the sweet strains of the gospel God also had his eye on us: with wonder we can reflect on the fact that we were chosen in Christ ‘before the foundation of the world’, Eph. 1. 4.