• Paul established the church in Corinth in AD 50 and stayed there for about a 1.5 years (Acts 18).
  
• He left there and went to Ephesus, where he stayed with Aquila and Priscilla - two Jews who had been expelled from Rome. 
• While at Ephesus, Paul wrote his letter to the Corinthian church. Though we don’t have a copy of his first letter, Paul mentioned it in 1 Cor 5:9: “I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people.”

• The Corinthian Christians responded to Paul’s letter with several questions (1 Cor 1:11).
  
• They probably sent it to him through Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus, who were returning to Ephesus (1 Cor 16:17). 
• Paul’s reply to that letter is what we call 1 Corinthians.
  - 1 Cor 16:8-9 tell us he was writing from Ephesus.
  - He answered the questions from their letter
  - He focused on teaching them how to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, living lives marked by peace, love, humility and holiness.
  - His letter evidently didn’t accomplish everything he wished it would. Some of the believers seemed to have reacted badly to it. 

• In 2 Cor 2:1 and 2 Cor 13:2 we learn that Paul had previously made another visit to Corinth, which he describes as “sorrowful.” 
• Also, in 2 Cor 12:14 Paul wrote “Here for this third time I am ready to come to you,” and in 2 Cor 13:1-2 he wrote “This is the third time I am coming to you... I have previously said when present the second time…that if I come again I will not spare anyone.”
• We don’t know how long that third visit lasted, but it didn’t accomplish Paul’s purpose and produced negative reaction among some brethren. 

• So when Paul went back to Ephesus, he had Titus deliver another letter to the Corinthian church to see if he could help them (2 Cor 7:14).
  - We don’t have a copy of this third letter, either.
  - Titus was gone a long time, and Paul (still waiting in Ephesus) became anxious to hear what was happening in that church there. 
• He left Ephesus and traveled to Troas, then went up to Macedonia to meet Titus.
  - While he was in Macedonia (probably in the city of Philippi), Titus met him.
  - Titus gave a much more encouraging report about the church at Corinth.  

John - Yes, the modern United States shares much with ancient Greek culture, and even with the Roman culture that was influenced by it. We are probably not as deep in it as they were, but we appear to be heading that way unless the soldiers of Christ arise and put their armor on, taking on the enemy (which is Satan, not the world that God loves).

Besides the similarities I mentioned in my post, ancient Corinth was the hub of philosophy... MANY competing philosophies... and included in its diverse culture such things as agnosticism, worship of a multitude of gods, legalized abortion, open homosexuality for both women and men, cross-dressing, accepted forms of pedophilia (called pederasty) between men and boys (think NAMBLA), and more. And, you probably guessed it from that list, its culture was one that celebrated diversity, tolerance, and inclusion.

All of this influenced the thinking of the believers to whom Paul wrote, not just the world around them.

Early Christianity had a profound effect on transforming this culture, but distracted modern Christianity failed to keep it in check over the centuries.

Lord strengthen us to face the corruption in the world around us with boldness, in the power of Your Holy Spirit, keeping us from the distractions of our desires and temptations!