Corinth.
During the first century of the Christian Era, Corinth was one of the leading cities, not only of Greece, but of the world.Greeks, Jews, and Romans, with travelers from every land, thronged its streets, eagerly intent on business and pleasure.A great commercial center, situated within easy access of all parts of the Roman Empire, it was an important place in which to establish memorials for God and His truth.
Among the Jews who had taken up their residence in Corinth were Aquila and Priscilla, who afterward became distinguished as earnest workers for Christ.
Becoming acquainted with the character of these persons, Paul "abode with them."At the very beginning of his labors in this thoroughfare of travel, Paul saw on every hand serious obstacles to the progress of his work.The city was almost wholly given up to idolatry.Venus was the favorite goddess, and with the worship of Venus were connected many demoralizing rites and ceremonies.The Corinthians had become conspicuous, even among the heathen, for their gross immorality.They seemed to have little thought or care beyond the pleasures and gaieties of the hour.
In preaching the gospel in Corinth, the apostle followed a course different from that which had marked his labors at Athens.While in the latter place, he had sought to adapt his style to the character of his audience; he had met logic with logic, science with science, philosophy with philosophy.As he thought of the time thus spent, and realized that his teaching in Athens had been productive of but little fruit, he decided to follow another plan of labor in Corinth in his efforts to arrest the attention of the careless and the indifferent.He determined to avoid elaborate arguments and discussions, and "not to know anything" among the Corinthians "save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified." He would preach to them "not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power."1 Corinthians 2:2, 4.
Jesus, whom Paul was about to present before the Greeks in Corinth as the Christ, was a Jew of lowly origin, reared in a town proverbial for its wickedness.He had been rejected by His own nation and at last crucified as a malefactor.The Greeks believed that there was need of elevating the human race, but they regarded the study of philosophy and science as the only means of attaining to true elevation and honor.Could Paul lead them to believe that faith in the power of this obscure Jew would uplift and ennoble every power of the being?
To the minds of multitudes living at the present time, the cross of Calvary is surrounded by sacred memories.Hallowed associations are connected with the scenes of the crucifixion.But in Paul's day the cross was regarded with feelings of repulsion and horror.To uphold as the Saviour of mankind one who had met death on the cross, would naturally call forth ridicule and opposition.
Paul well knew how his message would be regarded by both the Jews and the Greeks of Corinth."We preach Christ crucified," he admitted, "unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness." 1 Corinthians 1:23.
Among his Jewish hearers there were many who would be angered by the message he was about to proclaim.In the estimation of the Greeks his words would be absurd folly.He would be looked upon as weak-minded for attempting to show how the cross could have any connection with the elevation of the race or the salvation of mankind.
But to Paul the cross was the one object of supreme interest.Ever since he had been arrested in his career of persecution against the followers of the crucified Nazarene he had never ceased to glory in the cross.At that time there had been given him a revelation of the infinite love of God, as revealed in the death of Christ; and a marvelous transformation had been wrought in his life, bringing all his plans and purposes into harmony with heaven.From that hour he had been a new man in Christ.He knew by personal experience that when a sinner once beholds the love of the Father, as seen in the sacrifice of His Son, and yields to the divine influence, a change of heart takes place, and henceforth Christ is all and in all.
At the time of his conversion, Paul was inspired with a longing desire to help his fellow men to behold Jesus of Nazareth as the Son of the living God, mighty to transform and to save.Henceforth his life was wholly devoted to an effort to portray the love and power of the Crucified One.His great heart of sympathy took in all classes."I am debtor," he declared, "both to the Greeks, and to the barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise."Romans 1:14.Love for the Lord of glory, whom he had so relentlessly persecuted in the person of His saints, was the actuating principle of his conduct, his motive power.If ever his ardor in the path of duty flagged, one glance at the cross and the amazing love there revealed, was enough to cause him to gird up the loins of his mind and press forward in the path of self-denial.
Behold the apostle preaching in the synagogue at Corinth, reasoning from the writings of Moses and the prophets, and bringing his hearers down to the advent of the promised Messiah.Listen as he makes plain the work of the Redeemer as the great high priest of mankind--the One who through the sacrifice of His own life was to make atonement for sin once for all, and was then to take up His ministry in the heavenly sanctuary.Paul's hearers were made to understand that the Messiah for whose advent they had been longing, had already come; that His death was the antitype of all the sacrificial offerings, and that His ministry in the sanctuary in heaven was the great object that cast its shadow backward and made clear the ministry of the Jewish priesthood.
