Paul’s time in Corinth was marked by both turmoil and unusual protection. In this episode on Acts 18, Krisan traces how God plants a church in one of the most decadent cities of the ancient world and prepares us to understand the letters of 1 and 2 Corinthians by first seeing the city, the culture, and the people Paul met there. 

In this week’s episode, we explore:

• Why Corinth’s geography, wealth, and reputation for immorality matter for reading 1 Corinthians
• How Paul meets Aquila and Priscilla, and why their partnership becomes so important for the early church
• The significance of Paul’s tentmaking, financial gifts from Macedonia, and his decision not to “sell” the gospel
• What happens when Paul turns from the synagogue to the Gentiles, and why Crispus and Sosthenes stand out in the story
• Gallio’s ruling in Acts 18 and how it temporarily protects the Christian movement under the legal umbrella of Judaism
• How reports from Chloe’s household shape the Q&A structure of 1 Corinthians
• What the Corinthian church’s struggles reveal about discipleship, temptation, and the slow work of learning righteousness in a corrupt culture

After listening, you’ll have a clearer picture of the world behind 1 and 2 Corinthians: the city Paul walked, the people he loved, and the pressures they faced. You’ll be better equipped to read these letters as pastoral responses to real believers in a hard place—and to see your own ongoing struggle with sin, not as proof you don’t belong to Christ, but as the very arena where God’s Spirit is at work reshaping your desires and your life. 

Series: 1 Corinthians: Pride & Prejudice in the church

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