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The Acts of the Apostles
and erelong these began to bring forth their evil fruit. This was a time
of severe trial to the Corinthian church. The apostle was no longer
with them to quicken their zeal and aid them in their endeavors to
live in harmony with God, and little by little many became careless
and indifferent, and allowed natural tastes and inclinations to control
them. He who had so often urged them to high ideals of purity and
uprightness was no longer with them, and not a few who, at the time
of their conversion, had put away their evil habits, returned to the
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debasing sins of heathenism.
Paul had written briefly to the church, admonishing them “not to
company” with members who should persist in profligacy; but many
of the believers perverted the apostle’s meaning, quibbled over his
words, and excused themselves for disregarding his instruction.
A letter was sent to Paul by the church, asking for counsel concern-
ing various matters, but saying nothing of the grievous sins existing
among them. The apostle was, however, forcibly impressed by the
Holy Spirit that the true state of the church had been concealed and
that this letter was an attempt to draw from him statements which the
writers could construe to serve their own purposes.
About this time there came to Ephesus members of the household
of Chloe, a Christian family of high repute in Corinth. Paul asked
them regarding the condition of things, and they told him that the
church was rent by divisions. The dissensions that had prevailed at
the time of Apollos’s visit had greatly increased. False teachers were
leading the members to despise the instructions of Paul. The doctrines
and ordinances of the gospel had been perverted. Pride, idolatry, and
sensualism, were steadily increasing among those who had once been
zealous in the Christian life.
As this picture was presented before him, Paul saw that his worst
fears were more than realized. But he did not because of this give
way to the thought that his work had been a failure. With “anguish
of heart” and with “many tears” he sought counsel from God. Gladly
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would he have visited Corinth at once, had this been the wisest course
to pursue. But he knew that in their present condition the believers
would not profit by his labors, and therefore he sent Titus to prepare the
way for a visit from himself later on. Then, putting aside all personal
feelings over the course of those whose conduct revealed such strange
perverseness, and keeping his soul stayed upon God, the apostle wrote