Corinthians

Unlike the general epistle to the Romans, I and II Corinthians were written to address specific problems within a specific city. Yet the advice Paul gives to the Corinthians is as salient and poignant today as it was nearly 2000 years ago. For many of the problems that assailed the early church in Corinth assail us today.

Corinth was a cosmopolitan city at one of the trade crossroads of the ancient world. It was reputed to be the fifth largest city in the Roman Empire with around 400,000 souls. It's bustling nature made it naturally rambunctious and divisive. Paul had Evangelized the city for 18 months and subsequently returned to Ephesus (an early headquarters for his ministry). While embarked upon other work he was bombarded by letters from Corinth informing him of divisions over doctrine and asking for his advice.

Paul felt personally the problems of Corinth. Thus he addressed them point by point in his Epistles to the Corinthians and spelled out for us today the answers to many perplexing moral questions regarding sex and marriage, questions on church order, the roll of women in the church, the need for unity, and much more.

These two books are essential for inclusion in a general study of the bible, for not only do they achieve the purpose of applying the Word of God and the Life of Jesus to our daily lives; they also lend insight to one of the greatest of the early evangelists. This book allows us to see Paul faced with adversity, then rising above strife and envy to reestablish Christ's authority in Corinth.

I and II Corinthians, by William Barclay is great both as an in-depth study for a group and as a daily guide for individuals. Visit our page on Barclay for more information on how to use Barclay's works in a Bible study.