Corinth was one of the most influential and morally corrupt cities in the Roman Empire. Yet it became home to a growing church. In this episode, we study Acts 18 to explain how and why Paul founded a church in Corinth, what made Corinth strategic, and how God used unexpected partnerships to advance the gospel.

In this week’s episode, we explore:

• Why Corinth’s geography made it a powerful economic and military hub
• The city’s cultural identity and its reputation for immorality
• How Paul met and worked with Priscilla and Aquila
• What prompted Paul to stay in Corinth for 18 months
• How Roman politics gave Paul legal protection for ministry

By listening, you’ll gain insight into the unique challenges and opportunities Paul faced in Corinth and how God used those circumstances to lay the foundation for one of the New Testament’s most complex and important churches.

Founding the Church in Corinth (Acts 18)

Corinth was a city of wealth, power, and moral decay—an unlikely place for a thriving church.

Corinth’s Strategic Significance

• Corinth was located on an isthmus between the Adriatic and Aegean Seas, allowing ships to cross land and avoid dangerous sea routes.
• The city functioned like an ancient version of the Panama Canal, with a road to haul small ships across the land bridge.
• Corinth served as both a commercial hub and a military outpost due to its geography and harbors.
• It was the second most important city in the Roman Empire and a vacation spot for the imperial family.
• The city was known for extreme wealth and sexual immorality; “to Corinthianize” became slang for engaging in immorality.
• Corinth had been destroyed by the Romans and later rebuilt by Julius Caesar around 46 BC.
• The rebuilt city became a place for freed slaves, with a population of 200,000 free citizens and 500,000 slaves.
• The patron god was Poseidon, but Corinth also hosted a major temple to Aphrodite with thousands of cult prostitutes.
• The culture was highly sophisticated and morally corrupt.

City of Corinth Isthmus Map Bible Atlas: Corinth Map of NT Greece Paul’s Ministry in Corinth

• Paul arrived in Corinth during his second missionary journey around 50 AD.
• He met Aquila and Priscilla, Jews recently expelled from Rome by Claudius’s edict.
• Paul lived and worked with them as a tentmaker.
• It’s unclear if Aquila and Priscilla were believers when they met Paul, but they were by the end of his stay.

Priscilla and Aquila

• Priscilla’s name often appears before Aquila’s, which was unusual for the time.
• The order may reflect her closer relationship with Paul, her reputation, or her role as a teacher.
• When Paul later traveled to Ephesus, Priscilla and Aquila went with him and led a house church.
• They later instructed Apollos, and Priscilla may have taken the lead in correcting his theology.

MAP: Paul’s 2nd Journey – visits Corinth on this trip Paul’s Teaching and Opposition

• Paul reasoned in the synagogue each Sabbath, persuading Jews and Greeks (likely Gentile “God-fearers”).
• When Silas and Timothy arrived with financial support from Macedonia, Paul began preaching full time.
• Paul followed rabbinic tradition by not accepting money for teaching, but he did accept gifts so he could focus on ministry.
• When the Jews opposed Paul, Paul turned to the Gentiles.
• He moved his teaching to the home of Titius Justus, a Gentile worshiper.
• Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his household believed and were baptized.

God’s Assurance and Paul’s Extended Stay

• Paul received a vision from the Lord telling him not to fear but to continue speaking in Corinth.
• God assured Paul that many in Corinth were His people.
• Paul stayed in Corinth for 18 months teaching the word of God.

Legal Protection from Gallio

• Eventually, the Jews brought Paul before Gallio, the proconsul of Achaia, accusing him of illegal teaching.
• Gallio refused to judge matters concerning Jewish law, dismissing the case.
• His ruling set a precedent that allowed Christianity to enjoy legal protection as a sect of Judaism for about a decade.
• After Gallio dismissed the case, the crowd beat Sosthenes, the new synagogue leader and a convert.

The Corinthian Church and Paul’s Letters

• After this event, Paul left Corinth, along with Priscilla and Aquila, and traveled to Ephesus.
• He wrote 1 Corinthians from Ephesus and 2 Corinthians about a year later from Macedonia.
• Paul later received a letter from the Corinthians along with a verbal report from Chloe’s household.
• These prompted Paul to write 1 Corinthians to address their questions and problems.

Key Takeaways

• Corinth was a challenging but strategic location for planting a church.
• Paul’s ministry thrived despite opposition because of God’s providence and encouragement.
• The Corinthian church’s struggles were rooted in the tension between faith and a corrupt culture.
• Paul’s example reminds us that ministry often involves suffering, but the Spirit empowers transformation.
• Believers are defined not by the absence of temptation but by their response to it through repentance and faith.

Please listen to the podcast for more detail and explanation. Next: 01 Suffering, Comfort & Prayer: What Paul Teaches about Ministry (2 Corinthians 1:1-11) Series: 2 Corinthians: When Church Hurts Resources to help you study: 2 Corinthians Related Series: 1 Corinthians: Pride & Prejudice in the church Resources to help you study: 1 Corinthians

Photo by Musab Al Rawahi on Unsplash

Season 26, bonus episode 1