Corinthians in Biblical History

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Who are the Corinthians?
CORINTHIANS
, PAUL'S EPISTLES TO THE. They exhibit the trials and temptations, the virtues and vices, of a Greek congregation in apostolic times, and the wisdom and love, the trials and patience, of Paul in dealing with some of the most difficult practical and doctrinal questions which arise again and again in the history of every church. They are so full of individuality and local adaptation that their Pauline origin has never been disputed. 1. The First Epistle was written at Ephesus, toward the close of the apostle's three years' residence there, in the spring of a.d. 57. It was sent to the church by Stephanas, Fortunatus, Achaicus, and Timotheus, according to the superscription. Its immediate cause was the painful news which had reached Paul that there were dissensions in the church between the different elements -converted Jews, proselytes, and Gentiles- which composed it. Some of the members declared themselves Pauline, while others were Petrine; others were of Apollos, and others of Christ -Christians in a sectarian and exclusive sense, Rom 16:1-4. This state of things is explicable. The Corinthian church was founded by the apostle while upon his second missionary journey. Acts 18:1, sq., during his eighteen months' residence in Corinth. Not long after he left, Apollos came. Acts 19:1, who by his eloquence won followers. Judaizers also from Jerusalem came to the city, who misrepresented Paul as a dangerous radical, denied his apostolic authority, and obliged him to defend himself. Thus the church was sadly rent. Those who styled themselves "of Christ" may have at first attempted reconciliation by going back of all human authority to Christ, but would seem finally to have added a fourth to the existing factions. Another trouble which demanded decisive action was a lax state of sexual morals. This gives Paul opportunity to express his views upon marriage and the relation of the sexes generally, chs.Acts 19:5-7. From these specific cases of overt act he passes to the consideration of several matters of Christian practice -eating meats offered to idols, chs.Acts 19:8-9; the proper observance of the Lord's Supper and its true nature, ch.1 Kgs 16:10; the proprieties of worship, ch.Rev 1:11; the gifts of the Spirit, chs. Acts 19:12-14, In ch. 2 Sam 20:15 he treats of the resurrection in a strain of marvellous eloquence. 2. The Second Epistle was written from Macedonia, Acts 7:5 Neh 8:1; 2 Cor 9:2, in the same year, a few months later than the First- i.e. in the summer or autumn of A,D. 57. The contents seem to have been determined by the accounts the apostle had received from Titus, and perhaps, also, from Timothy, of the effect of his previous Epistle. This was upon the whole favorable; still, many denied Paul's right to the apostleship. Accordingly, in this Epistle he first of all gives an account of his ministry and opens his heart toward his converts, Acts 1-7; next, exhorts them to give liberally to the support of the church in Jerusalem, probably because this proof of Christian brotherhood would cure their local jealousies, chs. Acts 19:8-9; and lastly, he defends his apostolical character, chs. Acts 1:10-13. It has been generally supposed, from 1 Cor 5:9, that there were more epistles to this church than these two, but how many cannot be determined. The two Epistles are singularly affectionate, although this church was sadly removed from the ideal.

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Schaff, Philip, Dr. "Biblical Definition for 'corinthians' in Schaffs Bible Dictionary".
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