Presented as part of the Classics Seminar Series

The paper analyses Paul’s letters written in Corinth and to Corinth, drawing on recent historical and archaeological research by Laura Nasrallah and Samuel Vollenweider.

Paul lived in Corinth between A.D. 51 and 52, wrote to Corinth from Ephesus, and returned to Corinth between A.D. 56 and 57, and wrote to Christians in Rome.

Most Corinthians had come from a world of war, slavery, exile, poverty, hunger and early death. Few attained worldly success. Succour and comfort for such migrants of diverse backgrounds was sought and cherished. Yet Corinth was also a place of potential social mobility, and of reversals of fortune.

Paul preached a new ethic of idealistic love of God and neighbour brought about through dedicating one’s life to agapê, the selfless love of God towards creation that results in brotherly and sisterly love and the Kingdom of God.

The promise of eternal love and the practice of mutual support were most welcome; they explain part of Paul’s theology and success.