City
Corinth
KOR-inth · Modern Ancient Corinth, Greece
Corinth is a city of the biblical world, known today as Ancient Corinth, Greece.
What is known
- Paul lived and worked there roughly 18 months, supporting himself as a tentmaker alongside Priscilla and Aquila
- Home to the biennial Isthmian Games, a major Panhellenic athletic festival
- Recipient of Paul's two New Testament letters, 1 and 2 Corinthians, addressing a fractious and morally struggling church
History
- Founded
- An ancient Greek city destroyed by Rome in 146 BC, refounded as a Roman colony by Julius Caesar in 44 BC
- Population
- A major commercial hub, estimated at 100,000 or more including the surrounding area
- Industry
- Major shipping and trade center due to its position on the narrow isthmus between two seas, plus bronze work
- Coordinates
- 37.9061° N, 22.8792° E
Rulers and powers
Archaeology
A Latin inscription discovered near the theater of ancient Corinth in 1929 reads "Erastus, in return for his aedileship, laid this pavement at his own expense," and its mid-1st-century dating has led many scholars to identify this Erastus with the city official named in Romans 16:23 — though the identification remains debated since Erastus was not an uncommon name. The Bema, a raised marble platform in the Roman forum, is traditionally identified as the judgment seat where Paul was brought before proconsul Gallio in Acts 18:12-17, based on its prominence in the forum and Gallio's documented tenure, though no inscription confirms the specific event occurred there.
Scripture references
- Acts 18:1
- Acts 18:8
- Acts 18:11
- Acts 18:18
- 1 Corinthians 1:2
- 2 Corinthians 1:1
On a modern map
Further reading
Reflect
In messy, divided Corinth, Paul was told, 'I have many people in this city' — where do you assume God isn't at work?
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