Pọ́ọ̀l beè sí pííla kọbé à láá dé nu, sõò a beè ká bùlà gbẹẹ́ boo sìtóm kọ̀ kpẹ̀a
1-3. Éé beè naa kọọ̀ neǹ tóm Pọ́ọ̀l á dú Kọ́rìnt e, vaá mókà gbò ànà-ànà ní ea beè kpeesĩ́ lóé?
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CORINTH—MASTER OF TWO SEAS Ancient Corinth lay on an isthmus between the Greek mainland and the southern peninsula, the Peloponnese. The isthmus was less than four miles (6 km) wide at its narrowest point, so Corinth had two ports. On the Gulf of Corinth was Lechaeum, serving sea routes heading westward to Italy, Sicily, and Spain. On the Saronic Gulf, Cenchreae served maritime traffic to and from the Aegean region, Asia Minor, Syria, and Egypt.
Since the capes at the southern extremity of the Peloponnese were windswept and dangerous for shipping, navigators often preferred to anchor at one of Corinth’s two ports, have their cargo transported overland, and reload it at the other port. Lightweight ships could even be hauled over the isthmus on a platform that ran along a grooved pavement from sea to sea. The city’s position thus allowed it to dominate east-west maritime commerce and also north-south overland trade. Lively commerce brought to Corinth not only wealth but also vices common to many ports.
In the apostle Paul’s day, Corinth was the capital of the Roman province of Achaia and an important administrative center. The religious diversity of the city is attested to by the presence of a temple for the imperial cult, shrines and temples dedicated to numerous Greek and Egyptian divinities, and a Jewish synagogue.—Acts 18:4.
The athletic competitions held every two years at nearby Isthmia were second in importance only to the Olympic Games. The apostle Paul would have been in Corinth during the games of 51 C.E. Hence, comments one Bible dictionary, “it can hardly be coincidental that his first use of athletic imagery appears in a letter to Corinth.”—1 Cor. 9:24-27.
“Ba Beè Olòó “Lò kàn Ge Tìbmà Tọ” ( Tóm 18:1-4 ) 4, 5. (a) Ãàe ní e Pọ́ọ̀l beè tõo gbẹá Kọ́rìnt e, vaá mókà píílá ní ea beè sìe? (b) Mó tṍó ní e Pọ́ọ̀l beè láá nó gè lò kàn ge tìbmà tọ é?
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6, 7. (a) Móbá ní e Pọ́ọ̀ beè ẹ̀bmà ge lò kàn ge tìbmà tọ ẹ́, vaá éé ní ea zógè kọọ̀ Àkírà nè Prìsílà beè ẹ̀b nàgé nu naa vóé? (b) Mósĩ́ deè ní e gbò nyòòne nvéè Kráìst deè nieí ólò nyoone nvéè nu dòòmà bá Pọ́ọ̀l, Àkírà nè Prìsílà ẹ?
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INSPIRED LETTERS THAT PROVIDED ENCOURAGEMENT During his 18-month stay in Corinth, about 50-52 C.E., the apostle Paul wrote at least two letters that became part of the Christian Greek Scriptures—First and Second Thessalonians. He wrote his letter to the Galatians either during the same period or shortly afterward.
First Thessalonians is the earliest of Paul’s inspired writings. Paul visited Thessalonica in about 50 C.E., during his second preaching tour. The congregation that was formed there soon had to contend with opposition, which forced Paul and Silas to leave the city. (Acts 17:1-10, 13) Concerned about the welfare of the fledgling congregation, Paul twice attempted to return, but “Satan cut across [his] path.” Paul therefore sent Timothy to comfort and strengthen the brothers. Likely late in the year 50 C.E., Timothy rejoined Paul in Corinth and brought a good report about the Thessalonian congregation. Thereafter, Paul penned this letter.—1 Thess. 2:17–3:7.
Second Thessalonians was probably written soon after the first letter, perhaps in 51 C.E. In both letters, Timothy and Silvanus (called Silas in Acts) joined Paul in sending greetings, but we have no record of these three being together again after Paul’s stay in Corinth. (Acts 18:5, 18; 1 Thess. 1:1; 2 Thess. 1:1) Why did Paul write this second letter? He had apparently received more news about the congregation, perhaps via the person who had delivered his first letter. This report moved Paul not only to praise the brothers for their love and endurance but also to correct the idea of some in Thessalonica that the Lord’s presence was imminent.—2 Thess. 1:3-12; 2:1, 2.
Paul’s letter to the Galatians implies that he had visited them at least twice before writing to them. In 47-48 C.E., Paul and Barnabas visited Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe, all of which lay within the Roman province of Galatia. In 49 C.E., Paul returned to the same area with Silas. (Acts 13:1–14:23; 16:1-6) Paul penned this letter because Judaizers, who followed quickly on his heels, were teaching that circumcision and observance of the Law of Moses were necessary for Christians. Doubtless Paul wrote to the Galatians as soon as he heard of this false teaching. He may well have written from Corinth, but it is also possible that he wrote either from Ephesus, during a brief stopover on his journey back to Syrian Antioch, or from Antioch itself.—Acts 18:18-23.
“Gã́bug Gbò Nen E Baè Di Kọ́rìnt Beè Gbóó Dẹlẹ Nyíé Boo Jíízọ̀s” ( Tóm 18:5-8 ) 8, 9. Pọ́ọ̀l beè labví láb naa vàẹ tṍó e pá Júù náa uué boo boo béè ge kọ́ kpẹ̀a ẹ́, vaá ãàe ní ea beè gbóó àà kìl gé kọ́ kpẹ̀a ẹ́?
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10. Éé ní ea zógè kọọ̀ Pọ́ọ̀l náa beè beeláfùl ge kọ́ kpẹ̀a nè áá gbò e bà dú dõona kà dó é?
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11. Mósĩ́ deè ní e Gbò Neǹ Dìtõ̀ò Jìhóvà deè nieí nó Pọ́ọ̀l tṍó e bà gé kọ́ kpẹ̀a nè dõona gbò e?
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“Gã́bug Pá Ǹdáà Gbò “Di Boní” ( Tóm 18:9-17 ) 12. Mókà bel sììà kpóó ló ní e Pọ́ọ̀l beè ié mm̀ mòà nù dẽeáé?
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13. Éé ní e Pọ́ọ̀l beè láá bugi togó boo tṍó ea é gé iná ló kpòté bèèla beláẹ́, sõò éé beè naa kọ á agala boo kọ bà náa é fẹ́ẹ̀ẹ belí Stívàn ẽ?
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Seek to establish common ground on which to build
14, 15. (a) Mókà kyáá bel ní e pá Júù beè kpó ló Pọ́ọ̀lẹ, vaá éé beè naa kọọ̀ Gálìò á lọ̀l belá kẽé? (b) Éé beè naaá ló Sọ́stànìz e, vaá éé beè láá sìlà aa m tṍó e tṍó téní ẽ́?
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16. Éé ní e moǹ bel Dõò ea kọ́ọ̀, “lóó ni á gá ọọ, sõò kilsĩ́ gè vee lé kpẹ̀aí mè nda dìní ló” náá ló bẹẹ lé kpẹ̀a ẹ́?
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17, 18. Éé ní e Pọ́ọ̀l géè láá bugi togó boo tṍó ea gé kil Ẹ́fẹsọ̀se?
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19, 20. Éé ní e Pọ́ọ̀l beè naa tṍó ea ni íná Ẹ́fẹsọ̀s e, vaá éé ní e nóò lọl ló Pọ́ọ̀l ea kuu gè noo nu sẹ̀ẹ̀a sĩ́ ẽ́?
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PAUL’S VOW Acts 18:18 states that while Paul was in Cenchreae, “he had his hair clipped short . . . , for he had made a vow.” What kind of vow was it?
Generally, a vow is a solemn promise voluntarily made to God to perform some act, make some offering, or enter some condition. Some suppose that Paul had his hair cut to fulfill a Nazirite vow. Yet, it should be noted that according to the Scriptures, on completing a period of special service to Jehovah, a Nazirite was to have his head shaved “at the entrance of the tent of meeting.” It would seem that such a requirement could be carried out only in Jerusalem and thus not in Cenchreae.—Num. 6:5, 18.
The Acts account says nothing regarding when Paul made his vow. It could conceivably have been made even before he became a Christian. The account is equally silent concerning whether Paul made any specific request of Jehovah. One reference work suggests that Paul’s having his hair clipped short could have been “an expression of thanksgiving to God for his protection, which had enabled [Paul] to complete his ministry at Corinth.”