The City of Corinth
In Acts 18:1 Luke provides an itinerary for Paul by writing "after these things (the events of Chapter 17) he left Athens, and went to Corinth." (All Scripture references are New American Standard Bible unless other wise noted). The cities of Athens and Corinth were only 50 miles apart but quite different. Athens was a city of culture and learning, Corinth was known for its commerce and profligacy. Corinth was located just south of the narrow isthmus which joined the peninsula called Peloponnesus to Achaia to the north. Land trade moving north and south went through Corinth as did sea trade going east and west. Corinth possessed two seaport cities—Lechaeum two miles to the west on the Gulf of Corinth which opened to the Adriatic Sea, and Cenchrea, seven miles to the southeast which brought trade from the Aegean Sea. At the southern tip of the …show more content…
Burdick alluding to excavation activity says, "since 1952, archaeologists have unearthed the foundations of the temple of Poseidon (in whose honor the games were held), a theater, and two stadiums — one ancient and one from Paul’s time." Many scholars believe the athletic terms and phrases of 1 Cor9:24–27 would have been clearly understood and appreciated by the Corinthians. Burdick continues "Every two years in A.D. 51, for instance, when Paul was in Corinth — when The Isthmian Games were held featuring musical, equestrian, and athletic competition." All of Greece came to Corinth to witness The Isthmus Games which featured competitive events of foot races, horse races, chariot contests, jumping, wrestling, boxing, and throwing the discus and javelin. Founded in 776 B.C the Games were the chief athletic contest in Greece and held every four years. I find no documented record of how many days the original games were but after almost three hundred years the Isthmus games were held in five days in 472
In Acts 18:1 Luke provides an itinerary for Paul by writing "after these things (the events of Chapter 17) he left Athens, and went to Corinth." (All Scripture references are New American Standard Bible unless other wise noted). The cities of Athens and Corinth were only 50 miles apart but quite different. Athens was a city of culture and learning, Corinth was known for its commerce and profligacy. Corinth was located just south of the narrow isthmus which joined the peninsula called Peloponnesus to Achaia to the north. Land trade moving north and south went through Corinth as did sea trade going east and west. Corinth possessed two seaport cities—Lechaeum two miles to the west on the Gulf of Corinth which opened to the Adriatic Sea, and Cenchrea, seven miles to the southeast which brought trade from the Aegean Sea. At the southern tip of the …show more content…
Burdick alluding to excavation activity says, "since 1952, archaeologists have unearthed the foundations of the temple of Poseidon (in whose honor the games were held), a theater, and two stadiums — one ancient and one from Paul’s time." Many scholars believe the athletic terms and phrases of 1 Cor9:24–27 would have been clearly understood and appreciated by the Corinthians. Burdick continues "Every two years in A.D. 51, for instance, when Paul was in Corinth — when The Isthmian Games were held featuring musical, equestrian, and athletic competition." All of Greece came to Corinth to witness The Isthmus Games which featured competitive events of foot races, horse races, chariot contests, jumping, wrestling, boxing, and throwing the discus and javelin. Founded in 776 B.C the Games were the chief athletic contest in Greece and held every four years. I find no documented record of how many days the original games were but after almost three hundred years the Isthmus games were held in five days in 472