Today, I’ll continue our inside look at Paul’s journey to Corinth. The city was home to the famous temple of Apollo, the sun god. Corinth was vibrant in Paul’s day—and remains a bustling, modern city by the water even now. In ancient times, its scale was astonishing: about 700,000 people lived there, making it one of the largest cities of the era. Only Rome was bigger, with around a million inhabitants, so Corinth truly rivaled the great cities of the world.

Corinth’s immense wealth—fueled by its bustling ports and the temple’s influence—created an environment where dreams could be realized, much like the opportunities found in the modern United States. However, this prosperity also fostered a notorious reputation for immorality. Ancient writers compared Corinth’s excesses to a place ten times wilder than Las Vegas. In Roman theater, if a character appeared drunk, audiences would instantly assume he was from Corinth. The reputation was so widespread that if you had a mischievous friend, people might jokingly call him “the Corinthian,” regardless of his origin. That’s the kind of notoriety Corinth carried. It’s no wonder God sent Paul there to build a new community. Scattered across the city are houses where early Christians could have gathered—imagine, any of these could have been the meeting place for the first Corinthian church.

My friend, despite the challenges and the city’s reputation, Paul’s efforts to build a community in Corinth brought hope, unity, and transformation. The church he founded became a beacon of light in a place known for its darkness—proof that even in the most unlikely environments, faith and love can take root and flourish. Paul’s legacy in Corinth reminds us that positive change is always possible, no matter the circumstances.