Corinth was the key city in Greece at the time of Paul and was a bustling trading centre. It was located on a narrow isthmus between the Aegean and the Adriatic and served as a link between the two seas. It thrived on commerce; vice and corruption. In this city Paul founded three churches (Acts 18, 1-17). This first letter addresses problems in the life-style of the Corinthian church including lawsuits; immorality; factions; abuse of the Lord’s supper; spiritual gifts and general Christian discipline.
Paul deals with each problem and gives practical help and advice as to how to deal with it and how the church should conduct itself.