03/07/2026
๐๐๐๐๐๐ญ๐ก ๐๐๐ก๐จ๐จ๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐จ๐ง ๐๐ฎ๐ฆ๐๐ซ๐ซ๐ฒ
๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐จ๐ง ๐: ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฅโ๐ฌ ๐๐ข๐ง๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐ก
๐๐๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฑ๐ญ: โ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐โ๐ก ๐กโ๐ ๐ฟ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐๐, โ๐ท๐ ๐๐๐ก ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐ข๐ก ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ก ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ก; ๐๐๐ ๐ผ ๐๐ ๐ค๐๐กโ ๐ฆ๐๐ข, ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฆ ๐ โ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐ก๐ โ๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข, ๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ฆ ๐คโ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐๐๐โ (๐๐ฐ๐๐ ๐ญ๐ด:๐ต, ๐ญ๐ฌ, ๐ก๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฉ).
๐๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง: The city of Corinth was a bustling, prosperous, and highly influential commercial hub in the ancient Roman world. However, it was also notorious for its extreme moral corruption, rampant materialism, and pagan idolatry.
When the Apostle Paul arrived in Corinth during his second missionary journey, he faced a spiritually hostile and challenging environment. Paul had many problems to solve in Corinth. His answer to the problems was the Cross (1 Corinthians 2:2). We must solve our church problems the same way, too: with the Cross. As we will learn this quarter, the messages of 1 and 2 Corinthians are for our lives, too.
This lesson explores how Paul relied fully on the power of the Holy Spirit, embraced humility, and adapted his ministry strategies to establish a thriving community of believers amidst intense cultural opposition.
๐๐ฎ๐ง๐๐๐ฒ: ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฅ, ๐ ๐๐จ๐-๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ฉ๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฅ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฌ
โ In addition to the twelve chosen by Jesus, the Bible mentions other apostles such as Matthias ( Acts 1:26), Barnabas ( Acts 14:4), James and Paul (1 Corinthians 15:7-9). How did Paul become an apostle? By Jesus' choice (Gal. 1:1). When was he chosen? From his mother's womb (Gal. 1:15). When was he called? On the road to Damascus ( Acts 22:6-7). To whom was he an apostle? To the Gentiles (Gal. 2:9).
โ From the moment of his calling, Paul's life was centered on Jesus. He thought about Jesus, he spoke about Jesus, he shared Jesus with everyone.
โ Every Sabbath, he went straight to the synagogue to reason, debate, and persuade both Jews and Greeks that Jesus was the Messiah.
๐๐๐ค๐๐๐ฐ๐๐ฒ๐ฌ
๐ฝ๐๐ ๐ข๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐ ๐๐๐ข๐โ๐ ๐๐๐๐. ๐๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐ก ๐ป๐๐. ๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ค๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐ โ๐๐๐ ๐ฝ๐๐ ๐ข๐ ๐ค๐๐กโ ๐กโ๐ ๐โ๐ข๐๐โ ๐ ๐ ๐กโ๐๐ฆ ๐ค๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ค ๐ฝ๐๐ ๐ข๐ , ๐ก๐๐.
๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ฒ: ๐
๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐ก
โ On his second missionary journey, Paul was compelled by the Holy Spirit to go to Europe ( Acts 16:6-10). There he was expelled from Philippi ( Acts 16:12, 38-39), from Thessalonica ( Acts 17:1, 5, 9-10), and from Berea ( Acts 17:13-14).
โ In Athens, after preaching to the Jews in the synagogue and to the Gentiles in the marketplace, he was called to preach at the Areopagus ( Acts 17:16-21). After an eloquent speech, only a few accepted Jesus ( Acts 17:34). Leaving Athens, Paul went to Corinth and joined Aquila and Priscilla, with whom he worked making tents ( Acts 18:1-3).
โ As was his custom, he began preaching to the Jews in the synagogue and then to the Gentiles ( Acts 18:4-8). During his stay in Corinth, and after the โdisappointmentโ of Athens, Paul decided not to use human wisdom, but to preach only โJesus Christ, already crucified โ (1 Corinthians 2:2).
๐๐๐ค๐๐๐ฐ๐๐ฒ๐ฌ
๐
๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ โ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ ๐ก๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐; ๐บ๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ โ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.
๐๐ฎ๐๐ฌ๐๐๐ฒ: ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐จ๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐ก
โ Corinth was razed by Rome in 146 BC. Later, Julius Caesar sent a colony of veterans and free men in 46 BC. Finally, the city fully recovered in 44 BC. By the time Paul visited, it was already an important commercial center.
โ The importance of Corinth lay in its location, on the Isthmus of Corinth, supplied by two important commercial ports: Lechaeum , on the Gulf of Corinth; and Cenchreae , on the Saronic Gulf .
โ His business ventures allowed Paul to work as a tentmaker. But Corinth's wealth (which rivaled that of Athens) had several disadvantages. Idolatry and s*xual immorality filled the city and permeated its culture. Much of Paul's message to the Corinthians attempts to eradicate these problems that were creeping into the church.
๐๐๐ค๐๐๐ฐ๐๐ฒ๐ฌ
๐โ๐๐ ๐บ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ข๐๐ก ๐ก๐๐ ๐, ๐ป๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก, ๐๐ข๐ก ๐ป๐ ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ป๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐๐ข๐โ๐๐ข๐ก ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ก๐๐.
๐๐๐๐ง๐๐ฌ๐๐๐ฒ: โ๐๐๐ง๐ฒ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ฒโ
โ The Jews of Corinth rejected the message, forcing Paul to leave the synagogue and begin meeting with the Gentiles in a house adjacent to the synagogue ( Acts 18:4-7).
โ At that moment, Jesus appeared in a night vision to encourage Paul to continue his work among the Corinthians, assuring him that there were many who would receive the message ( Acts 18:9-10).
โ Strengthened by this vision, Paul remained in Corinth for a year and a half ( Acts 18:11). Finally, the Jews brought Paul before the courts ( Acts 18:12-13). By the time he left Corinth, a large church had been established ( Acts 18:18).
๐๐๐ค๐๐๐ฐ๐๐ฒ๐ฌ
๐ธ๐ฃ๐๐ ๐คโ๐๐ ๐ค๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐ ๐ฆ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐๐, ๐บ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐กโ๐ โ๐๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ข๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ป๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ข๐กโ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐.
๐๐ก๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฒ: ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฅโ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐๐ง๐ฌ
โ ๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐-๐ - Informed by Chloe of several problems existing in the church, Paul admonishes them about: factions; s*xual immorality; strife; and prostitution.
โ ๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐-๐๐ - Chloe's family also brought him a letter with several questions from the church on topics to which Paul responded regarding: marriage; divorce; celibacy; food sacrificed to idols; conduct in worship; the use of spiritual gifts; and the resurrection.
โ ๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐๐ง๐ฌ - This is the second epistle that has been preserved, although Paul wrote several more (perhaps before the two that have survived and/or in the interval between them). He commends the Corinthians for the way they had resolved some problems, but urges them to see the world through the lens of the gospel, avoiding the influence of the surrounding culture.
๐๐๐ค๐๐๐ฐ๐๐ฒ๐ฌ
๐ป๐ ๐โ๐๐ ๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ข๐กโ: "๐ฑ๐๐๐๐ ๐ช๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐
๐ฏ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
."
๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง
Paul's ministry in Corinth serves as a powerful reminder that no community is too spiritually dark or morally corrupt for the light of the Gospel to pe*****te. Despite severe personal anxiety and intense cultural opposition, Paul's absolute surrender to God yielded a thriving church in the heart of a pagan empire. His journey teaches us that true success in ministry does not depend on human strength or clever speech, but on teamwork, divine protection, and an uncompromised focus on the message of the cross.
๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ค ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ง๐๐ฑ๐ญ ๐ฐ๐๐๐ค!!