THE CORINTHIAN QUESTION
Why did the church oppose Paul?
By Paul W. Barnett. Apollos. 243 pages. £11.99
ISBN 978 1 844 745 326
There are already some hints in 1 Corinthians that difficulties had arisen between some members of the church and the apostle; these become more explicit in 2 Corinthians.
What reasons prompted the seemingly increasing opposition to Paul? The author believes that the answer is to be found primarily in a careful study of 1 and 2 Corinthians against the background of what we know about the city and culture of Corinth from other sources. This evidence in turn throws light on the second of three visits Paul made to Corinth — in between the two which are recorded in Acts — and on two letters which have not survived, one (the ‘previous’ letter) written before 1 Corinthians and the other afterwards (the ‘sorrowful’ or ‘severe’ letter).
