Corinthians, the seventh book of the New
Testament, was written by Paul to get across that Jesus is
alive (15:3-18) and that we will be resurrected (15:35-38),
among other things. Today there is no dispute that Paul is
the author of I Corinthians. "Both external and the internal
evidence for the Pauline authorship are so strong that those
who attempt to show the apostle was not the writer
succeed chiefly in proving their own incompetence as
critics."1 As internal evidence, Paul identifies himself as the
author in 1 Corinthians 1:1 and 16:21. External evidence of
Paul writing this letter is supported by people such as
Clement of Rome (c. 95-97) and Augustine (c. 400). The
letter was written to the people of Corinth. Corinth was a
strategically located Roman city on the main land route
between East and West and was the crossroads for several
sea routes. Corinth was famous for its intellectual and
material prosperity and was honored with being the capitol
of Ancaia. It also became famous for its corruption. Paul
began his ministry there on his second missionary journey.
He converted many influential people in Corinth, thus he
stayed for a year and a half. Most likely, Paul left Corinth in
the fall of AD 51. Paul returned to Corinth on his third trip
to Asia, c. fall, AD 52. Paul then wrote this letter from
Ephesus while on his third trip to Asia. Paul wrote the letter
several years after his initial departure from Corinth in the
fall of AD 51-52. The letter was written before the
beginning of the summer since Paul intended to leave
Ephesus after Pentecost. It was also written before winter
since Paul wanted to come to them and spend the winter.
Paul wrote the letter four or five years af ...