THE APOSTLE OF THE RECONCILIATION

It appears that the first epistle was written at Ephesus, as may be seen by the following quotation, `The churches

of Asia salute you' (1 Cor. 16:19). Ephesus was the capital, `I will tarry at EPHESUS until Pentecost' (1 Cor. 16:8).

`Aquila and Priscilla salute you much' (1 Cor. 16:19). Paul had first met Aquila and Priscilla at Corinth (Acts

18:1,2). They had been instrumental in the illumination of Apollos, hence would be intimately connected with the

church at Corinth. They salute that church `much in the Lord'. When Paul left Corinth, Aquila and Priscilla

accompanied him (Acts 18:18), and they remained at Ephesus (Acts 18:19,24,26).

Notes of time in these epistles are somewhat vague, yet when pieced together they form a fairly comprehensive

statement. The first epistle was necessarily written after the apostle's visit to Corinth (cf. 1 Cor. 2:1,2, which fixes

the earliest boundary at Acts 18:18). It is also evident that he intended to make a second visit soon after writing the

`... I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will'; `... I will come unto you, when I shall pass through Macedonia';

`... the rest will I set in order when I come' (1 Cor. 4:19; 16:5; 11:34).

The growth of such factions and errors as are indicated in the first epistle presuppose that the apostle had been

absent from them for some time. Upon examining the second epistle we still find the second visit to Corinth spoken

of as future. Chapter 1 indicates a modification of his plans. In 1:15 he speaks of a `second benefit'; in 13:2 he says,

`as if I were present, the second time'. Chapter 13:1, `This is the third time I am coming to you', is explained by

12:14, `Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you'. The apostle had put off his second visit until he saw what

the effect of the epistle would be. Both epistles are to be dated, therefore, after the first visit and before the second

visit to Corinth.

The Acts of the Apostles describes two visits of the apostle to the city. The first is found in Acts 18:1-11, where

he stayed at least a year and six months. After a brief visit to Jerusalem and Galatia, he spent three years at Ephesus:

from Ephesus he journeyed through Macedonia to Corinth, where he stayed for three months (Acts 20:3); from

thence he sailed for Jerusalem.

The fact that the apostle was at liberty to say, `I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost', indicates that the visit of

Acts 19 had not yet taken place. His reference to being delivered from so great a death, and the overwhelming

character of his sufferings, which are found in the opening chapter of 2 Corinthians, suggest that the trouble had by

then broken out. The riot broke out after Paul had purposed in spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia (Acts

19:21). Just before the riot Timothy was sent by the apostle to Macedonia together with Erastus, who was a

Corinthian. He wrote the first epistle to the Corinthians after Timothy had left him, for he says, `Now if Timotheus

come' (1 Cor. 16:10); and, `I sent unto you Timotheus' (1 Cor. 4:17). The first epistle, therefore, was written

between Acts 19:22 and 23; the second soon afterwards.

It had been the intention of the apostle, after having delivered to the elders and apostles at Jerusalem the offering

made by the Gentile churches, `to see Rome' (Acts 19:21). In Romans 15:19-26 he writes that his gospel preaching

had extended as far as Illyricum. Now Illyricum lies next to Macedonia, and Acts 20:1,2 says that he `departed for

to go into Macedonia. And when he had gone over those parts ... he came into Greece'. The apostle had desired to

visit Rome for `many years' (Rom. 15:23), and contemplated visiting Rome as soon after his mission to Jerusalem as

`But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints. For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to

make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem ... When therefore I have performed this,

and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain' (Rom. 15:25-28).

In Romans 16:21-23 the following are mentioned as being with Paul at the time of writing: Timothy, Lucius,

Jason, Sosipater, Tertius, Gaius, Erastus, and Quartus. Acts 20:4 gives the following as accompanying the apostle:

Sopater, Aristarchus, Secundus, Gaius, Timothy, Tychicus, and Trophimus. In Romans 16:23 Erastus is styled `the

chamberlain of the city'. The city is not named, but 2 Timothy 4:20 makes it possible that Erastus was a native of

Corinth. Note the names that occur in the two lists.