Sunday, March 11, 2018

Welcome to Corinth!


Corinth was rich in history and culture, famous for its politics, sports, and commerce. It was known for its temples, idolatry, and immorality. Its citizens were hedonistic, competitive, and insubordinate. Could the gospel take hold there and transform these sinners into saints? Let’s take a tour, seeing photos and noting archaeological discoveries.
These are sermon notes, not written in a polished or finished manuscript form. I used some of my own photos, that were taken on our trip to Corinth. I also used slides from a commercial product, the Pictorial Library of Bible Lands.
To see the video of this and other sermons:
To see thumbnails of all posts on this blog:
Acts 18:1-17
The City: Possible to Reach? YES!
We might not think so because …
Paul’s limited response in Athens. No church started.
Idolatry: 12+ heathen temples.
Immorality: to “Corinthianize.”
Greek philosophy and mythology.
Commercialism: all about money.
Isthmian Games every two years.
Slavery: almost two slaves per citizen.
Population: approx. 250,000 (20x that of Athens).
The Apostle: Able to Evangelize? YES!
Acts 18:1-17
Providence – 18:1-4
Pressure – 18:5-6
Progress – 18:7-8
Promise – 18:9-11
Protection – 18:12-17
The Apostle: Able to Evangelize? YES!
From Tent-Making to Testifying - 18:1-5
From Jews to Gentiles - 18:6-7
From Resistance to Re-entry - 18:6-7
From One Man to Many - 18:8
From Fear to Fortitude - 18:9-11
From Accusation to Approval - 18:12-17
The Church: Possible to Correct? YES!
Paul later in Ephesus, about AD 55 (1 Cor 16:8).
We might not think so because …
News from several sources: questions and issues.
Quarreling, jealousy, immaturity, cliques.
Leadership, tolerance of immorality, lawsuits.
Marriage, idolatry, worship.
Women’s role, the Lord’s Supper.
Spiritual gifts, the resurrection, giving.
The Letter: Valuable to Study? YES!
Essential! First, it’s the timely, timeless Word of God.
Second, it will help us to be …
People of gratitude.
People of prevention.
People of understanding.
People of restoration.
People of commitment.
The “Gallio Inscription” (Acts 18:12-17)
Archaeology confirms once again the accuracy and precision of Acts. Gallio served as the proconsul* of Achaia, but only in AD 51-52.
Establishes the time of Paul’s efforts there.
*Governor of a senatorial province in the Roman Empire. Appointed by the Roman senate.
Also in NT: Sergius Paulus (Acts 13:7–8, 12).
The “Erastus Inscription”
Paul wrote Romans from Corinth AD 57-58.
Rom 16:23 “Erastus, [Corinth’s] city treasurer (city manager) (NIV, “director of public works”) (Grk. oikonomos, “house ruler,” “steward”) gre you.”
The “Erastus Inscription” in ancient Corinth may refer to this same man.
The “Erastus Inscription”
The two Latin lines on the inscription:
ERASTVS PRO AEDILIT E
S P STRAVIT
Full translation may be: “Erastus in return for his aedileship laid (the pavement) at his own expense.”
(Aedile - city’s financial manager, usually quite wealthy. The pavement was laid about AD 50.)
Possible hymns:
Send the Light
Shine, Jesus, Shine
Kneel at the Cross
Whiter than Snow

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