Greetings, ST, ‘Ettes, ‘Sieurs, and All!

Our exploration of St. Paul’s own growth in faith through his epistles/letters brings us this time to Corinth, in southern Greece about 50 miles from Athens. It offered access for trade through two major harbors, controlling trade routes to both Italy and Asia. This prosperity might seem to be the perfect seedbed for virtue. In Paul’s time, however, it had a cosmopolitan air and a reputation for a free-wheeling attitude toward accepted social/moral norms. Paul’s visits to Corinth – at least 3 of them – during his second missionary journey are mapped out by his sometime physician-companion, Luke in his Acts of the Apostles [15:36-18:22].

Paul had successfully founded two churches in Corinth, in tandem with his fellow evangelists (and tentmakers) Prisca/Priscilla and Aquila. Leaving the faith communities there in the capable hands of this committed believing couple, and a gifted Alexandrian convert in…