Corinth and the Corinthian Church

Corinth and the Corinthian Church
Corinth was one of the most important port cities of the known world at the time of Paul’s writing. It boasted of some of the greatest trade goods that the world had to offer, the temple to the goddess of love, Aphrodite, and some of the vilest debauchery the world had known. On top of a hill overlooking the great city, was the temple to Aphrodite which boasted over a thousand priestesses who were no more than glorified prostitutes. At night the priestess of Aphrodite would converge on the city. In a historical sense of the depiction of the average Corinthian, plays showed the citizens as drunkards or just plain morally depraved human beings.
Corinth was “refurbished” under Julius Caesar and had a pronounced Roman influence. Several gods were worshipped here. Poseidon was the chief god, Isis was revered amongst women, Demeter, Dionysus, and Aphrodite was most revered due to her worshippers licentious and debauched practices.
Initially, a military town, Corinth became a center later for commercial trade due to its strategic location within the isthmus of Greece. This is the backdrop for the Church at Corinth. A church composed of many of the converts of that region: Tradesmen, slaves, poor. Paul writes this letter (I Corinthians) to address issues in the church and to break up the divisions and advocate the unity of Christ.

Introducing the Apostle Paul

Apostle Paul
The first occurrence of Paul in scripture is in Acts 7:58.

And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.
(Acts 7:58)

Saul is the initial name of Paul before God changes his name due to a change in his known purpose, that is the one that God originally put in him. Our first presentation of Paul is of a man that allows a mob of people to kill an innocent man. Acts 8:1 confirms the consent of Paul to the death of the innocent Stephen.

And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
(Acts 8:1)

Paul (here Saul since it is prior to his conversion) is identified as an accomplice to murder and as we find later is also a murderer himself as he seeks out permission to harm members of the early church.
Further information is gained from Philippians 3:4-6 as far as a more formal background of Paul and his accolades.

Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
(Philippians 3:4-6)

Summarizing Paul’s statements, I see Paul was of the tribes of Israel circumcised as the law dictated and was a prestigious Hebrew within the tribe of Benjamin. This information is important since it places Paul in a distinct class. The tribe of Benjamin produced the first king of Israel, Saul, thus his name initially before given the name Paul (small in Latin). Paul also states as touching the law or his conduct in accordance with the law was under the Pharisaic principles. This tells us a lot about Paul in itself. In order to be a Pharisee, he would be at least 30 years old, married, would strictly adhere to 613 laws , and as he dictates it, he was without blame as it related to his background.
In Acts 21 and 22, Paul discloses yet more information about himself.

And as Paul was to be led into the castle, he said unto the chief captain, May I speak unto thee? Who said, Canst thou speak Greek? Art not thou that Egyptian, which before these days madest an uproar, and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers? But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people. And when he had given him license, Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand unto the people. And when there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying,
(Acts 21:37-40)

Based on the passage, Paul may have spoken Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and possibly Aramaic. He is also a Roman citizen. Further insight is gained from Acts 22:3.

I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.
(Acts 22:3)

Gamaliel was a teacher of teachers and is identified as a rabbin. In Acts 5:34 we get a glimpse of the influence of Gamaliel in addressing theological issues.

Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;
(Acts 5:34)

Gamaliel was a renowned teacher in Jerusalem where Paul had studied at one time.
In summary, Paul was a Jew, a Pharisee taught under Gamaliel. He was a Roman citizen and spoke at least three languages. Paul was also a well-known Jew of the tribe of Benjamin.