Was written from Ephesus #1Co 16:8 about the time of the Passover in the third year of the apostle’s sojourn there #Ac 19:10 20:31 and when he had formed the purpose to visit Macedonia, and then return to Corinth (probably A.D. 57) The news which had reached him, however, from Corinth frustrated his plan. He had heard of the abuses and contentions that had arisen among them, first from Apollos #Ac 19:1 and then from a letter they had written him on the subject, and also from some of the "household of Chloe," and from Stephanas and his two friends who had visited him #1Co 1:11 16:17 Paul thereupon wrote this letter, for the purpose of checking the factious spirit and correcting the erroneous opinions that had sprung up among them, and remedying the many abuses and disorderly practices that prevailed. Titus and a brother whose name is not given were probably the bearers of the letter #2Co 2:13 8:6,16-18 The epistle may be divided into four parts:

1. The apostle deals with the subject of the lamentable divisions and party strifes that had arisen among them #1Co 1:1-4:21

2. He next treats of certain cases of immorality that had become notorious among them. They had apparently set at nought the very first principles of morality (#1Co 5:1-6:20)

3. In the third part he discusses various questions of doctrine and of Christian ethics in reply to certain communications they had made to him. He especially rectifies certain flagrant abuses regarding the celebration of the Lord’s supper (#1Co 7:1-14:40)

4. The concluding part (#1Co 15:1-16:24) contains an elaborate defense of the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead, which had been called in question by some among them, followed by some general instructions, intimations, and greetings.

This epistle "shows the powerful self-control of the apostle in spite of his physical weakness, his distressed circumstances, his incessant troubles, and his emotional nature. It was written, he tells us, in bitter anguish, ‘out of much affliction and pressure of heart and with streaming eyes’ #2Co 2:4 yet he restrained the expression of his feelings, and wrote with a dignity and holy calm which he thought most calculated to win back his erring children. It gives a vivid picture of the early church. It entirely dissipates the dream that the apostolic church was in an exceptional condition of holiness of life or purity of doctrine." The apostle in this epistle unfolds and applies great principles fitted to guide the church of all ages in dealing with the same and kindred evils in whatever form they may appear. This is one of the epistles the authenticity of which has never been called in question by critics of any school, so many and so conclusive are the evidences of its Pauline origin. The subscription to this epistle states erroneously in the Authorized Version that it was written at Philippi. This error arose from a mistranslation of #1Co 16:5 "For I do pass through Macedonia," which was interpreted as meaning, "I am passing through Macedonia." In #1Co 16:8 he declares his intention of remaining some time longer in Ephesus. After that, his purpose is to "pass through Macedonia."

A Grecian city, on the isthmus which joins the Peloponnesus to the mainland of Greece. It is about 48 miles west of Athens. The ancient city was destroyed by the Romans (B.C. 146) and that mentioned in the New Testament was quite a new city, having been rebuilt about a century afterwards and peopled by a colony of freedmen from Rome. It became under the Romans the seat of government for Southern Greece or Achaia #Ac 18:12-16 It was noted for its wealth, and for the luxurious and immoral and vicious habits of the people. It had a large mixed population of Romans, Greeks, and Jews. When Paul first visited the city (A.D. 51 or 52) Gallio, the brother of Seneca, was proconsul. Here Paul resided for eighteen months #Ac 18:1-18 Here he first became aquainted with Aquila and Priscilla, and soon after his departure Apollos came to it from Ephesus. After an interval he visited it a second time, and remained for three months #Ac 20:3 During this second visit his Epistle to the Romans was written (probably A.D. 55) Although there were many Jewish converts at Corinth, yet the Gentile element prevailed in the church there. Some have argued from #2Co 12:14 13:1 that Paul visited Corinth a third time (i.e., that on some unrecorded occasion he visited the city between what are usually called the first and second visits). But the passages referred to only indicate Paul’s intention to visit Corinth (comp.) #1Co 16:5 where the Greek present tense denotes an intention), an intention which was in some way frustrated. We can hardly suppose that such a visit could have been made by the apostle without more distinct reference to it.