The Corinthian Church: The Good, the Bad, and the Hope

We’ve been looking into Clement of Rome’s lengthy epistle to the late 1st century Corinthian church, known as 1st Clement. There is still much to examine in later blogs, and I plan to revisit this epistle from time to time. But for now, we’re going to wrap up 1st Clement and place it alongside Paul’s epistles to the Corinthians. With these three writings, what can we take away from the 1st century Corinthian church?

Rough Timeline

The founding of the Corinthian Church/1st Corinthians

We’re introduced to the planting of the Corinthian church in Acts 18. Paul befriends Priscilla and Aquila, who would become close partners of his apostolic ministry (Romans 16:3-4). Despite heavy pushback and discouragement, Paul’s outreach had a big impact to the Jews and Gentiles in Corinth, even winning over the local leader of the synagogue (Acts 18:8).

After living on mission in Corinth for a year and a half, Paul moved on to other cities. Another year and half goes by, and Paul hears about several problems happening back in Corinth. Favoritism, intellectual/economic elitism, leadership schism, sexual scandals, abuse of spiritual gifts, and denying core truths of the Gospel were present in the church. Paul writes a loving rebuke to the Corinthians to try to set things right (1st Corinthians). According to chapter 5 of 1st Corinthians, Paul had actually written to them a previous letter which we don’t have today.

2nd Corinthians

Although long term 1st Corinthians would have an impact on countless communities and individuals, it apparently wasn’t too positively received when first read to the original recipients. Paul would end up having to write a third letter (another one we don’t have) in tears (2nd Corinthians 2:4). It seems that by this third letter, there was (at least some) repentance and restoration in the Corinthian church (2nd Corinthians 2:5-11).

Now Paul hears word that fake apostles have gained acceptance in the Corinthian church and are trying to discredit Paul. In giving a follow up to his tearful letter, sharing encouragement and endurance, and exposing the wickedness of these fake apostles, Paul writes a fourth letter to the church (2nd Corinthians). This is Paul’s most vulnerable and intimate writing.

1st Clement

Several decades have passed, and Paul has been martyred. Some of the details from Clement imply that the Corinthian Christians over time did take in Paul’s instructions and rebuke (Howell, 2012, Pg. 18). It seems that for a period of time in the latter half of the first century, the Corinthian church repented and was living in fellowship with Christ.

However, over time jealousy and schism arose once again, and this didn’t stay private. Word got to Rome, and Clement felt compelled to write to them (1st Clement). Unfortunately, we don’t really know how the Corinthians responded to Rome’s letter, but we know the epistle convicted many Christians afterward.

A Beautiful Mess

Over the scope of the first century, the Corinthian church went through a roller coaster of blessings, curses, fruitfulness, and sin. Gifts of the Holy Spirit were poured out over the congregation despite misuse (1st Corinthians 12-14). The Lord’s Supper was abused to the point of people in the church dying (1st Corinthians 11:30). At the same time, even previously in that same chapter, Paul praises the Corinthians for holding to the traditions he passed down to them (1st Corinthians 11:1). Despite Paul having to constantly rebuke and correct their errors, he also gives and receives comfort from the congregation (2nd Corinthians 1:6-11).

The same can be said regarding 1st Clement. At one point, the Corinthians were so fruitful that a full outpouring of the Holy Spirit was over them (2.2). Despite the troubling errors members of the congregation were committing, it seems the leaders/elders were holding to what was right (1st Clement 44, 57.1). While we don’t know the response from the Corinthians, Clement ends his epistle with optimism that repentance and restoration will come to them (65.1).

Three Takeaways from the Corinthian Church

1.     A Church that falls into scandal wasn’t necessarily evil from the very beginning.

Sadly, we hear more and more scandals from congregations and denominations every year. Pastors exposed in affairs, elder boards hiding sexual misconduct, finances being abused, and truths of the Gospel being twisted into heretical teachings. The list goes on and on.

Sometimes, there are individuals and even congregations who from the start were not truly following Christ. As a result, they reaped what they sowed and their true nature was brought to light.

However, I think this is far too often assumed every time a tragedy and scandal happens in the Church. I think what is often more true and frankly more disturbing is that the pastor/elder board/whoever started out in the right place. We can certainly see this being the case with Corinthians. After all, their church was planted by the apostle Paul!

Accountability and necessary punishments need to be given when leaders and denominations fall into heavy sin. However, we need to be careful about our judgments on these people and where their hearts were from the beginning. We also need to check ourselves and realize that we too could fall prey to the enemy’s seduction and manipulation.

2.     A Church that falls can be redeemed

The Corinthian church is proof that Christ’s forgiveness and redemption can reach any congregation despite how low they sink. We see this from Christ’s own words in Revelation 1-3. A church can fall into humiliating failure, yet still be restored as the Bride and be a faithful witness to the world once again.

Now to be fair, what that restoration looks like may vary. This doesn’t mean a pastor who bullied his congregation gets to return to the pulpit after a quick apology. This also doesn’t mean the congregation won’t have pain and trauma to heal from over a lengthy period of time. But in God’s timing, and by the Holy Spirit’s healing, there is hope for any church or Christian to recover.

3.     A Church must have humble unity, and be planted in all of Scripture, seeking the Kingdom first

Love and unity in Christ is the ultimate solution Paul and Clement propose to the Corinthians. If we truly are saved by Christ, then it is the Kingdom of Christ we live for and must seek at all times (2nd Corinthians 5). And as part of that Kingdom, we live and die together as brothers and sisters.

Life is complicated, and unfortunately the Scriptures don’t have a go-to answer for every single question or problem that arises. However, it is the Scriptures that we look to first and foremost for guidance, and it is all of the Bible we learn from. Paul and Clement stress to hold to the Scriptures and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We should too.

Bibliography

Howell, K. (2012). Clement of Rome and The Didache: A New Translation and Theological Commentary. Zanesville, OH. CHResources.

Evans, T. (2019). The Tony Evans Bible Commentary. Nashville, TN. Holman Bible Publishers.