Bible Study - 2 Corinthians

About The Book Of 2nd Corinthians

The isthmus of Corinth is bordered on two sides by the Corinthian and Saronic gulfs of the Mediteranean Sea. Corinth bridged the mainland of Greece with Peloponnesus, the southern super-size peninsula of Greece. Corinth was a shortcut for shipping and passengers that was safer than navigating around Peloponnesus. This strategic location meant Corinth controlled both overland traffic and shipping between Italy and Asia.

The conquest of Greece began in 280 B.C. and ended in 133 B.C. when the ruler of the last Greek city-state of Mysia gave it to Rome in his will. However, Greece was effectively and politically under Roman control from 146 B.C. after the total destruction of the Greek city-state of Corinth. The entire population was killed, except for a small remnant that was sold into slavery. In 27 B.C. all the former Greek provinces were combined into two Roman provinces, Achaia and Macedonia. Achaia was the southern half and included Delphi, Athens, Sparta, Corinth, and all of Peloponnesus. Macedonia, the northern half, included Apollonia, Berea, Philippi, and Thessalonica.

Corinth was too strategic a location for trade and military support to leave in rubble. In 44 B.C. it was rebuilt as a Roman colony by Julius Ceasar. However, during the conquest of Greece much art and literature had been carried off to Rome which became very Hellenistic, (Greek.) And Rome allowed conquered lands to maintain their culture, philosophy and religion with the addition of Roman aspects. Thus the new Corinth was very Greek in both form and character. It quickly became very prosperous again, which led people to immigrate from all over the world, bringing their culture and religious beliefs with them. The literary and archeological evidence shows that Corinth of the Apostle Paul's time was like Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and New York combined. The Corinthian church was as diverse as the city. Like the city, the Jews were a tiny minority in the church.

The Corinthian church was one of those that was founded by the apostle Paul. Paul stayed in Corinth for about two years sometime between 49 to 52 A.D., establishing the church there. While he lived there and taught he supported himself through manual labor as a tent maker. When that income was inadequate, the churches of Macedonia sent funds to support him. After he left Corinth, the Corinthian church sent him a letter with some questions. He answered with a letter that wasn't scriptural. While in Ephesus, about two years after he left Corinth, Paul wrote a scriptural letter to the Corinthian church, 1st Corinthians. This was in response to more questions and some disturbing reports about the church from reliable sources. During Paul's third missionary journey he visited Corinth a second time and was opposed by an individual while the rest of the church stood by. In response to this, and probably some other issues as well, Paul sent a letter that was a harsh rebuke. This letter was not scriptural but is addressed in this fourth letter, 2nd Corinthians, which is scriptural. This letter deals with the aftermath of that individual, the harsh letter, and the problem of false apostles claiming authority from Jerusalem and attacking Paul.

2 Corinthians Bible Study