Of the size of the church that was first organized there, and of the general character of the converts, we have no other knowledge than that which is contained in the epistle. There is reason to think that Sosthenes, who was the principal agent of the Jews in arraigning Paul before Gallio, was converted, (see i Cor. i. 1,) and perhaps some other persons of distinction; but it is evident that the church was chiefly composed of those who were in the more humble walks of life. See Notes on 1 Cor. i. 26—29. It was a signal illustration of the grace of God, and the power of the gospel, that a church was organized in that city of gayety, fashion, luxury, and licentiousness; and it shows that the gospel is adapted to meet and overcome all forms of wickedness, and to subdue all classes of people to itself. If a church was established in the gay and dissolute capital of Achaia, then there is not now a city on earth so gay and so profligate that the same gospel may not meet its corruptions, and subdue it to the cross of Christ. Paul subsequently visited Corinth about A. D. 58, or six years after the establishment of the church there. He passed the winter in Greece-doubtless in Corinth and its neighbourhood, on his journey from Macedonia to Jerusalem, the fifth time in which he visited the latter city. During this stay at Corinth, he wrote the cpistle to the Romans. See the Introduction to the Epistle to the Romans.

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$ 3. The Time and Place of Writing the First Epistle to the Corinthians.

It has been uniformly supposed that this epistle was written at Ephesus. The circumstances which are mentioned incidentally in the epistle itself, place this beyond a doubt. The epistle purports to have been written, not like that to the Romans, without having been at the place to which it was written, but after Paul had been at Corinth. “I, brethren, when I came unto you, came not with excellency of speech,”-&c. ch. ii. 1. It also purports to have been written when he was about to make another visit to that church. Ch. iv. 19, “ But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will." Ch. xvi. 5, “Now I will come to you when I pass through Macedonia, for I do pass through Macedonia.". Now the history in the Acts of the Apostles informs us, that Paul did in fact visit Achaia, and doubtless Corinth twice. See Acts xvü. 1, &c. and xx. 1-3. The same history also informs us that it was from Ephesus that Paul went into Greece; and as the epistle purports to have been written a short time before that journey, it follows, to be consistent with the history, that the epistle must have been written while he was at Ephesus. The narrative in the Acts also informs us, that. Paul had passed two years in Ephesus before he set out on his second journey into Greece.

With this supposition, all the circumstances relating to the place where the apostle then was which are mentioned in this epistle agree. “If after the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not ?" ch. xv. 32. It is true, as Dr. Paley remarks, (Hora Paulinæ,) that the apostle might say this wherever he was ; but it was much more natural, and much more to the purpose to say it, if he was at Ephesus at the time, and in the midst of those conflicts to which the expression relates. “ The churches of Asia salute you,” ch. xvi. 19. It is evident from this, that Paul was near those churches, and that he had intercourse with them. But Asia, throughout the Acts of the Apostles, and in the epistles of Paul, does not mean commonly the whole of Asia, nor the whole of Asia Minor, but a district in the interior of Asia Minor, of which Ephesus was the capital. See Note, Acts ii. 9, also Acts vi. 9, xvi. 6, xx. 16. Aquila and Priscilla salute you," ch. xvi. 19. Aquila and Priscilla were at Ephesus during the time in which I shall endeavour to show this epistle was written, Acts xviii. 26. It is evident, if this were so, that the epistle was written at Ephesus. “But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost,"

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ch. xvi. 8. This is almost an express declaration that he was at Ephesus when the epistle was written. “A great and effectual door is opened to me, and there are many adversaries,” ch. xvi. 9. How well this agrees with the history, may be seen by comparing it with the account in Acts, when Paul was at Ephesus. Acts xix. 20, “So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.” That there

many adversaries," may be seen from the account of the same period in Acts xix. 9, “ But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples.” Comp. Acts xix. 23–41. From these circumstances, it is put beyond controversy, that the epistle was written from Ephesus. These circumstantial, and undesigned coincidences, between a letter written by Paul and an independent history by Luke, is one of those strong evidences so common in genuine writings, which go to show that neither is a forgery. An impostor in forging a history like that of the Acts, and then writing an epistle, would not have thought of these coincidences, or introduced them in the manner in which they occur here. It is perfectly manifest that the notes of the time, and place, and circum. stances in the history, and in the epistle, were not introduced to correspond with each other, but have every appearance of genuineness and truth. See Paley's Horæ Paulinæ, on this epistle.

The circumstances which have been referred to in regard to the place where this epistle was written, serve also to fix the date of its composition. It is evident, from ch. 8, that Paul purposed to tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost. But this must have been written and sent away before the riot which was raised by Demetrius (Acts xix. 23–41), for immediately after that Paul left Ephesus and went to Macedonia. Acts xx. 1, 2. The reason why Paul purposed to remain in Ephesus until Pentecost, was, the success which he had met with in preaching the gospel. Ch. xvi. 9. But after the riot excited by Demetrius, this hope was in a measure defeated, and he soon left the city. These circumstances serve to fix the time when this epistle was written to the interval which elapsed between what is recorded in Acts xix. 22 and 23. This occurred about A. D. '56 or 57. Pearson and Mill place the date in the year 57.; Lardner, in the spring of the year 56.

It has never been doubted that Paul was the author of this epistle. It bears his name; has internal evidence of having been written by him, and is ascribed to him by the unanimous voice of antiquity. It has been made a question, how. ever, whether this was the first letter which Paul wrote to them; or whether he had previously written an epistle to them which is now lost. This inquiry has been caused by what Paul says in 1 Cor. v. 9, “ I wrote unto you in an epistle," &c. Whether he there refers to another epistle, which he wrote to them before this, and which they had disregarded ; or whether to the previous chapters of this epistle ; or whether to a letter to some other church which they had been expected to read, has been made a question. This question will be considered in the note on that verse.

8.4. The Occasion on which this Epistle was written. It is evident that this epistle was written in reply to one which had been addressed by the church at Corinth to Paul; 1 Cor. vii. 1, "Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me,” &c. That letter had been sent to Paul while at Ephesus by the hands of Stephanas, and Fortunatus, and Achaicus, who had come to consult with him respecting the state of the church at Corinth. i Cor. xvi. 17, 18. In addition to this, Paul had heard various reports of certain disorders which had been introduced into the church at Corinth, and which required his attention and correction. Those disorders, it seems, as was natural, had not been mentioned in the letter which they sent to him, but he had heard of them incidentally by some members of the family of Chloe. 1 Cor. i. 11. They pertained to the following subjects. (1.) The divisions which had arisen in the church by the popularity of a teacher who had excited great disturbance. (1 Cor. i. 12, 13.) Probably this teacher was a Jew by birth, and not improbably of the sect of the Sadducees (2 Cor. xi. 22), and his teaching might have been the occasion why in the epistle Paul entered so largely into the proof of the doctrine of the resurrection from the dead. 1 Cor. xv, (2.) The Corinthians, like all other Greeks, were greatly in danger of being deluded, and carried away by a subtle philosophy, and by a dazzling eloquence, and it is not improbable that the false teacher there had taken advantage of this, and made it the occasion of ex. citing parties, and of creating a prejudice against Paul, and of undervaluing his authority because he had made no pretensions to these endowments. It was of importance, therefore, for Paul to show the true nature and value of their philosophy, and the spirit which should prevail in receiving the gospel. Ch. i. 18– 31. ii. iii. (3.) Paul's authority had been called in question as an apostle, and not improbably by the false teacher, or teachers, that had caused the parties which had been originated there. It became necessary, therefore, for him to vindicate his aytharity, and show by what right he had acted in organizing the church, and in the directions which he had given for its discipline and purity. Ch. iv. ix. (4.) A case of incest had occurred in the church which had not been made the subject of discipline. Ch. v. This case was a flagrant violation of the gospel ; and yet it is not improbable that it had been palliated, or vindicated by the false teachers; and it is certain that it excited no shame in the church itself. Such cases were not regarded by the dissolute Corinthians as criminal. In a city dedicated to Venus, the crimes of licentiousness had been openly indulged, and this was one of the sins to which they were particularly exposed. It became necessary, therefore, for Paul to exert his apostolic authority, and to remove the offender in this case from the communion of the church, and to make him an example of the severity of Christian discipline. (5.) The Corinthians had evinced a litigious spirit, a fondness for going to law, and for bringing their causes before heathen tribunals, to the great scandal of religion, instead of endeavouring to settle their difficulties among themselves. Of this the apostle had been informed, and this called also for his authoritative interposition, ch. vi. 1–8. (6.) Erroneous views and practices had arisen, perhaps, under the influence of the false teachers, on the subject of temperance, chastity, &c. To the vices of intemperance, licentiousness, and gluttony, the Corinthian Christians from their former habits, and from the customs of their countrymen, were particularly exposed. Those vices had been judged harmless, and had been freely indulged in, and it is not improbable that the views of the apostle had been ridiculed as unnecessarily stern, and severe, and rigid. It became necessary, therefore, to correct their views, and to state the true nature of the Christian requirements. Ch. vi. 8—20. (7.) The apostle having thus discussed those things of which he had incidentally heard, proceeds to notice particularly the things respecting which they had consulted him by letter. Those were, (a.) Marriage, and the duties in regard to it in their circumstances, ch. vii. (6.) The eating of things offered to idols, ch. viii. In order to enforce his views of what he had said on the duty of abstaining from the use of certain food, if it was the occasion of giving offence, he shows them (ch. ix.) that it was the great principle on which he had acted in his ministry; that he was not imposing on them any thing which he did not observe himself; that though he had full authority as an apostle to insist on a support in preaching, yet for the sake of peace, and the prosperity of the church, he had voluntarily relinquished his rights, and endeavoured by all means to save some. Ch. ix. By this example, he seeks to persuade them to

ing all the opinions and practices that prevailed among them, it was proper to place the great argument for the truth of the religion which they all professed on a permanent foundation, and to close the epistle by reminding them, and proving to them that the religion which they professed, and which they had so much abused, was from heaven. The proof of this was the resurrection of the Saviour from the dead. It was indispensable to hold that in its obvious sense, and holding that, the truth of their own resurrection was demonstrated, and the error of those who denied it was apparent. (9.) Having finished this demonstration, the apostle closes the epistle (ch. xvi.) with some miscellaneous directions and salutations.

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§ 5. Divisions of the Epistle. The divisions of this epistle, as of the other books of the Bible, into chapters and verses, is arbitrary, and often not happily made. See the Introduction to the Notes on the Gospels. Various divisions of the epistle have been proposed in order to present a proper analysis to the mind. The division which is submitted here is one that arises from the previous statement of the scope and design of the epistle, and will furnish the basis of my analysis. According to this view, the body of this epistle may be divided into three parts, viz.1. The discussion of irregularities and abuses prevailing in the church at

Corinth, of which the apostle had incidentally learned by report, ch.

i.-vi. II. The discussion of various subjects which had been submitted to him in a

letter from the church, and of points which grew out of those inqui

ries, ch. vii.-xiv. III. The discussion of the great doctrine of the resurrection of Christ—the

foundation of the hope of man--and the demonstration arising from that that the Christian religion is true, and the hopes of Christians well founded, ch. xv, (See the “ Analysis” prefixed to the Notes.)

§ 6. The Messengers by whom this Epistle was sent to the Church at Corinth,

and its success. It is evident that Paul felt the deepest solicitude in regard to the state of things in the church at Corinth. Apparently as soon as he had heard of their irregularities and disorders through the members of the family of Chloe (ch. i. ii.), he had sent Timothy to them, if possible, to repress the growing dissensions and irregularities. 1 Cor. iv. 17. In the mean time the church at Corinth wrote to him to ascertain his views on certain matters submitted to him (1 Cor. vii. 1), and the reception of this letter gave him occasion to enter at length into the subject of their disorders and difficulties. Yet he wrote the letter under the deepest solicitude about the manner of its reception, and its effect on the church, 2 Cor. ii. 4, “For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears," &c. Paul had another object in view which was dear to his heart, and which he was labouring with all diligence to promote, which was the collection which proposed to take up the poor and afflicted saints at Jerusalem. See Notes, Rom. xv. 25, 26. This object he wished to press at this time on the church at Corinth. 1 Cor. xvi. 1-4. In order, therefore, to ensure the success of his letter, and to facilitate the collection, he sent Titus with the letter to the church at Corinth, with instructions to have the collection ready. 2 Cor. vii. 7, 8. 13. 15. This collection, Titus was requested to finish. 2 Cor. viii. 6. With Titus, Paul sent another brother, perhaps a member of the church at Ephesus (2 Cor. xii. 8), a man whose praise, Paul says, was in all the