Ancient Corinth, Apostle Paul, then and now

Korinthos, Greece -- only has around 50,000 inhabitants today, but has more history than most major cities in the world. What was once the "jewel" of the Roman Empire, today is a regular seaside town that is experiencing revitalization in some areas, and degradation in others. Having recently visited this city for the first time, I was quite surprised by its historical attractiveness, while at the same time, I was surprised that it was not as "popular" as nearby Athens (which was simply overrun with tourists). 

With the name of Corinth, in the history of the ancient world, there are two cities that existed in the same place, one after the other. The first Corinth served as the center of the Doric republic. 


Corinth was destroyed by the Roman commander Mummius (146 B.C.). This happened half a century after Flaminicus declared the independence of Hellas in Corinth in 196 BC, following the defeat of Philip in Cynocephalae. Rome, enslaving Greece. For a hundred years, Corinth lay in ruins, until its extremely convenient terrain was taken advantage of by the Roman colonizers. 




Julius Caesar noticed the importance of the position taken by Corinth, and on its ruins he built a new city, which, in addition to the ancient name, was also called Julius Caesaris' Kolosha (Colonia Julii Caesaris).


The city was gradually destroyed by time and war, but new generations continued to build on ancient Roman ruins. In 1858, a strong earthquake struck the city, after which those who survived began to rebuild the city closer to the Gulf of Corinth. 


This new city was also destroyed by an earthquake in 1928 and rebuilt. Ancient Corinth is located about five kilometers from it. Approaching this place, the pilgrim sees two natural terraces rising from the sea. On the upper terrace there is an ancient city. Above its ruins rises a majestic mountain (about seven hundred meters high) called Acrocorinth




Before visiting Corinth, Apostle Paul visited Galatia and Macedonia. Of all the New Testament sacred writers, this Apostle Paul labored the most in terms of written explanation of Christian teaching as he wrote fourteen epistles. In terms of the importance of their content, they are rightly called by some the "second Gospel" and have always attracted the attention of both the Holy Fathers of the Church and the enemies of Christianity. 


Compelled to recall his exploits for the edification of the Corinthians, he wrote: 

"I have been much more in labors, immeasurably in wounds, more in prisons, and many times near death. From the Jews five times I was given forty stripes without one; three times I was beaten with sticks, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent night and day in the depths of the sea; many times have I been on journeys, in dangers on the rivers, in dangers from robbers, in dangers from fellow countrymen, in dangers from the Gentiles, in dangers in the city, in dangers in the wilderness, in dangers at sea, in dangers among false brethren, in toil and in weariness, often in vigil, in hunger and thirst, often in fasting, in cold, and in nakedness" (2 Corinthians 11:23-27). 

Comparing himself to the other Apostles and humbly calling himself the "least" of them, St. Paul could nevertheless justly declare: "But I have labored more than all of them: not I, however, but the grace of God, which is with me" (1 Corinthians 15:10).


Subsequent to establishing Christian communities in the Philippines, Thessalonica, and Berea, he came to Achaea and found himself in Corinth after Athens. Proud, incapable of perceiving the truth, Athens did not attract the Apostle to her, and he considered it in vain for himself to work in Athens, knowing that he still had much work to do in the world, and there was too little time for this work. He rushed to Corinth. Here, too, hard work awaited him, but with a richer result than in Athens. Here he had to spend almost two years. Exhausted by bodily infirmities, but meek in spirit, Paul did not get lost in the noise of the city and, with wisdom he drew up a plan of action. Not wanting to eat bread for nothing (2 Thess. 3:8), menacingly denouncing parasitism (-10-11), the Apostle took care to acquire food for himself. 


Knowing the craft of building tents, he began to engage -- in his own words, "working night and day, so as not to burden anyone (1 Thess. 2:9). Seeking shelter and permanent work, Paul found a virtuous Jewish couple, Aquila and Priscilla, and settled in their house. Aquila was a native of Pontus (the Black Sea coast), lived in Rome, but was expelled from there by decree of Claudius (52 B.C. approx.), by which the Jews were expelled from the capital. During Paul's stay in Ephesus, Aquila was also there, and Paul worked in his workshop, as he did in Corinth.


Being the center of the peoples of all the countries of the East and West, Corinth served as a gathering point for vices which he perceived acquired monstrous forms. This ended up distinguishing Corinth from the most dissolute pagan cities. In short, even for that time, Corinth was too corrupt. It was not easy to struggle with the corrupt nature of the Corinthians. Paul's preaching was simple, artless, and had an effect on the hearts of his hearers with its clarity and persuasiveness. As he himself testified, the Corinthians had to be preached very carefully. Unbridled in temper, they were very prone to ridicule. That is why he preached to them "in fear and great trembling" (1 Corinthians 2:3), knowing also that he did not possess a handsome appearance and health (2 Corinthians 10:10), and therefore could not please capricious listeners. In accordance with this, Paul chose the path not of the eloquence of human wisdom, but of the power of God (1 Corinthians 2:5).


With Paul's departure from Corinth, the term of his vow ended. Paul went to Jerusalem, where, among other things, he was to complete his vow as a Nazarite. But above all, he had to visit the apostolic center, the first community that had laid the foundation for all the others. moral guidance, and community-building strategies. One of the central themes in Paul's message is the importance of unity within the church. Paul addressed divisions among Corinthian believers and addressed moral issues. In 1 Corinthians 6, Paul admonished the church to uphold sexual purity -- as bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Paul also delivered an exposition on the resurrection of Jesus Christ and theorized its implications for future resurrection. He also spoke extensively about the hardships he has endured and the sufficiency of God’s grace, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). His letters continue to be a vital source of instruction today.