Chapter 15—Paul to the Corinthians
The First Epistle to the Corinthians was written by the apostle Paul
during the latter part of his stay in Ephesus. For no church had he felt
a deeper interest or put forth more earnest effort than for the believers
at Corinth. The good seed sown by him had seemed to promise an
abundant harvest; but tares were planted by the enemy among the
wheat, and ere long these sprung up, and brought forth their evil fruit.
The period of Paul’s absence was a time of severe temptation to the
Corinthian church. They were surrounded by idolatry and sensualism
under the gayest and most alluring aspect. While the apostle was with
them, these influences had little power. With his firm faith, his fervent
prayers, and words of instruction, and, above all, his own example to
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inspire and encourage, they could gladly choose to suffer affliction
for Christ’s sake, rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin. But when
Paul departed, natural tastes and inclinations would assert control. It is
not in a day that the education and habits of a life are to be overcome.
Little by little, many departed from the faith.
For three years the voice which had urged them Heavenward had
been silent. Like the children of Israel when Moses was hid from view
by the clouds of Sinai, they sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to
play. Not a few returned to the debasing sins of heathenism, as though
they had never heard the heavenly message; some practiced iniquity
in secret, others openly, and with a spirit of bravado, perverting the
Scriptures to justify their course.
Paul had written briefly to the church, announcing a plan which
he for a time cherished, of visiting them immediately upon leaving
Ephesus, and again upon his return from Macedonia. In the same letter
he had admonished them to cease all communication with members
who should persist in their profligacy. But the Corinthians perverted the
apostle’s meaning, quibbled over his words, and excused themselves
for disregarding his instructions.
A letter was sent to Paul by the church, revealing nothing of the
enormous sins that existed among them, but in a self-complacent
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