NL 243: Church at Corinth

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Acts 18:1-4

(supplemental reading: 1 Corinthians 1:10-18)

Acts 18:1-4

Initial Thoughts

  • Not a lot of “meat on the bones” in this passage.

  • If you stick to this reading, focus will probably be on 1 Corinthians

  • Consider expanding to v. 11, and maybe even to v. 18 to complete his time in Corinth

  • Great commentaries from:

Bible Study

  • Historical context

    • Background about Corinth:

      • Heavily populated, wealthy city

      • Trade between Rome and Asia passed through the isthmus of Corinth

      • Destroyed by Rome in 146 BCE, rebuilt in 44 BCE.

    • There is extra-Biblical evidence of Claudius expelling the Jews from Rome.

      • Wikipedia article (I know, wikipedia, right?)

      • Claudius was emperor from 41-54 CE. 

      • Expulsion occured in 49 CE, but was rescinded by Nero in 54 CE (which explains how Aquila and Priscilla are later in Rome)

      • According to Historical Background Study Bible: “What provoked the expulsion order was conflict in the Jewish community over one ‘Chrestus,’ usually thought to be debates about Jesus as the Christ. Jewish Roman citizens probably would not have left, however, and probably many others remained; given the controversy, however, leaders of the Jesus movement were probably among those forced to leave.”

  • Paul, Priscilla, and Aquila

    • Common for husband and wife to work together in same trade.

    • Common for those of the same trade to live and work together in the same neighborhood.

    • More than a typical hospitality offering, this was a business arrangement as well. One might say that they created the “Tent District” 

    • Priscilla is named in letters by Paul sometimes as the more formal “Prisca.”

      • At the end of 1 Corinthians, Aquila and Prisca are named as a part of the church in Asia and “greet you warmly in the Lord, together with the church that meets in their house.”

    • Traditionally the name of the husband would always be first, but out of the 6 times the couple is mentioned, 3 of those times Priscilla is named first

    • Priscilla is seen as a partner and equal in ministry to Aquila and to Paul - in direct opposition to 1 Timothy’s arguing that women should be silent

  • While in Acts the narrative is familiar - Paul, Aquila and Priscilla are opposed by the synagogue, 1 Cortinthains shows the conflict to be as much internal (if not more) than external

Thoughts and Questions

  • Once again, notice the pattern of evangelism. He brings relationship, not simply Jesus. He teaches on the Sabbath, but is a part of the community, not just going door-to-door, or asking people “Do you know Jesus?” At the same time, he does engage them with Jesus. He doesn’t simply “let his life testify.”

1 Corinthians 1:10-18

  • Great reading to introduce Prayer for Christian Unity or the Letter from a Birmingham Jail

  • Divisions in the church

    • Immediate concern of Church in Corinth

      • These divisions are not historical but are used to make a point

        • i.e. There is no evidence of an Apollos or Cephas faction

    • counters the “if only we could be more like the early church” claims

    • division often leads to hierarchy

      • to separate as “better than”

      • Ex: Baseball:

        • Not enough to be a Yankees fan- you need to hate the Red Sox

        • It is about loving the game

    • How does this translate to the push for denominational identity?

      • “I belong to the UCC”, “I belong to the UMC”, “I belong to the Catholic church”

      • “In essentials unity, in non-essentials diversity, in all things charity”

      • Evangelicals vs Progressives, Biblical faithfulness vs Social Justice, etc

    • The focus is Christ and God

  • Theology of the Cross

    • “The gospel is given in the cross as self-sacrifice, giving oneself up in response to and care for the other, the cross as bearing the burdens of others—not as self-denial and resignation, but in joy and thanksgiving. To claim anything else empties the cross of Christ of its power.” - Timothy Sedgwick, Feasting on the Word: Year A, Volume 1: Advent through Transfiguration.

    • Contrasted with “eloquent wisdom”

      • Not orthodoxy

      • Not orthopraxis

      • Christian faith is a way of life

  • Can we be united in a way of life?

    • What are the essentials that bind us together?

  • v. 16 - awesome- way to backtrack Paul

  • v. 17 - separates Baptism from the Good News

    • Do our rituals mean anything is devoid of the Good News?

    • How do we ensure that our worship, our practices, our sacraments are tools to communicate the good news?

Thoughts and Questions

  • When caught up in church conflict and division do we remember that all are still our “brothers and sisters”/ siblings?

  • What is the unifying essential which bind your local church or regional or global Christianity together?

    • How do we live that essential unity out?

  • How do we overcome pastor-worship, issue-worship, program-worship?

  • Do our worship, programs, budget, rituals communicate the good news?

    • What is the good news? Think back to Peter’s sermon in Acts 10

  • How do we share the Good News which seem increasingly foolish to our culture? (evidence being the increasing number of nones)

Year 2Eric FistlerActs, 1 CorinthiansComment