polis, where he paffed the winter, must be fought, not in Epire, but in Afia Minor and the Nicopolis in Cilicia must be preferred to that in Bithynia. For whoever fets fail from Crete, to return to Ephefus, can hardly be driven by adverfe winds fo far as into the Black Sea, and land at Nicopolis in Bithynia. The circumftance, that Apollos affifted St. Paul in converting the Cretans, is favourable alfo to the opinion that the voyage to Crete was made in an excurfion from Ephefus for it appears from 1 Cor. xvi. 12. that Apollos was then returned from Corinth to Ephefus. However, I think it very improbable, that St. Paul would have paffed a whole winter at Nicopolis in Cilicia; for, fince his zeal for the propagation of Chriftianity induced him in general to prefer large towns, as affording him a more ample scene of action, he would rather have spent the winter in Tarfus, which was both the capital of the country, and the place of his birth. A further confutation of this hypothefis is unneceffary at prefent: for, though I have mentioned it, as a poffible one, I know. of no commentator, who has adopted it.

3- Lardner is of opinion that between St. Paul's departure from Ephefus mentioned Acts xx. 1. and his laft vifit to Jerufalem a longer time elapfed, than is generally tuppoled, namely, almost two years: and in this period Lardner fixes St. Paul's voyage to Crete". But this hypothefis is attended with infuperable difficulties.

The leaft important objection is, that Apollos, as far as we know, was then at Ephefus. But, when St. Paul wrote his Epiftle to Titus, Apollos was in Crete, as appears from ch. iii. 13., and therefore muft either have accompanied St. Paul, or have been fent thither from Nicopolis.

But the following objection is more decifive. It is evident from 2 Cor. i. 8. 9. 10. that the second Epiftle

to

Supplement to the Credibility of the Gofpel Hiftory, Vol. II. p. 101-118. 187-191.

* See I Cor. xvi. 12.

to the Corinthians was written very foon after St. Paul's departure from Ephefus: fo that it is impoffible to refer to this very fhort interval St. Paul's voyage to Crete, and his refidence in Nicopolis. Nor could he have lately fuffered fhipwreck, when he wrote his fecond Epiftle to the Corinthians: for the misfortune the most fresh in his memory was the disturbance at Ephefus, which had obliged him to quit the place. Further, it is evident from what St. Paul fays in the eighth and ninth chapters of this Epiftle in refpect to contributions for the poor, that after his departure from Ephefus he had vifited only the Macedonian churches. If then his voyage to Crete, and his fubfequent ftay in Nicopolis are to be referred to Acts xx. 1-5. they must have taken place, after he wrote his fecond Epiftle to the Corinthians. But in this cafe, neither of the three hipwrecks, which St. Paul mentions, 2 Cor. xi. 25. can have happened on the voyage either to or from Crete; and then we shall have five voyages made by St. Paul and omitted by St. Luke, whereas according to the firft opinion not only the number will be confined to three, but what St. Paul fays, 2 Cor. xi. 25. will harmonize with, and explain what he fays, Tit. i. 3.

Laftly, if we read with attention Acts xx. 1-6. we fhall find it impoffible to infert in this interval a voyage to Crete and a refidence during a whole winter in Nicopolis, which together must have taken up at least eight months. For, as it was not ufual in that age to undertake a voyage after the month of September, St. Paul's return from Crete muft have happened at least before the clofe of September: and if we make his stay in Crete as fhort as poffible, we must allow at least that his voyage to Crete was not later, than the beginning of Auguft. Before therefore his winter refidence in Nicopolis was finished, an interval of at least eight months must have elapfed. Now let us keep this in view, and follow St. Luke's narrative, Acts xx. 1—6.

Ver. 1. St. Paul leaves Ephefus, foon after Eafter, and travels into Macedonia. In his journey from Ephefus

CHAP. XIV.

OF THE TWO EPISTLES TO THE CORINTHIANS.

SECT. I.

Of the city of Corinth: and when, and to whom, St. Paul wrote his firft Epiftle to the Corinthians.

TH

HE two Epiftles to the Corinthians appear to have been written about five or fix years after St. Paul's fecond Epiftle to the Theffalonians, which was written at Corinth, while the Apostle was engaged in eftablishing a Christian community in that city. At Corinth he refided a year and a half: at the expiration of which period he took a journey into Afia, vifited Ephefus, Jerufalem and Antioch, and then paffing through Galatia and Phrygia returned to Ephefus', where he remained three years. During this refidence at Ephefus, and toward the clofe of it, St. Paul wrote his first Epistle to the Corinthians, as appears from ch. xvi. 8. where he fays, I will tarry at Ephefus until Pentecoft.' Further, that it was written at the Eafter preceding this Pentecoft appears from the expreffion ufed by St. Paul, ch. v. 7. ' ye are unleavened,' that is, ye are now celebrating the feaft of unleavened bread. Now St. Paul's departure from Ephefus after his refidence of three years there, was about the year of Chrift 57: confequently, about that time was written that Epiftle to the Corinthians, which is the firft of thofe, which are now extant. In the fubfcriptions to this Epiftle it is faid to have been written from Philippi, contrary to St. Paul's own declaration, which I have juft quoted. This mistake arose probably from a falfe interpretation of ch. xvi. 5. where the

Acts xviii. 1. II.
Ch. xix. 1.

b Ver. 18.

< Ver. 20-22.

• Ch. xx. 31.

the Apoftle fays, Μακεδονίαν γαρ διερχομαι, which was understood as denoting, I am now travelling through Macedonia,' though it evidently denotes nothing more than my route is through Macedonia.'

The city of Corinth was fituated in Achaia, near the Ifthmus, which joins Peloponnefus with the rest of Greece. It had two harbours, which opened to the two neighbouring feas, one of them convenient for the Afiatic, the other for the Italian trade. This fituation contributed greatly to the wealth of the city: and though the Roman general Mummius had levelled it to the ground, yet it rofe again, and gradually arrived at fuch a height of grandeur, as to be entitled to the appellation of the Capital of Greece. Julius Cæfar had greatly contributed to its restoration, and had fent thither Roman colonies. Near this city were celebrated the Ifthmian games: and on this account St. Paul has many allufions to these games in his two Epiftles to the Corinthians.

These Epiftles were addreffed, not only to the inhabitants of Corinth, but likewife to the Chriftian communities throughout all Achaia, as appears from the beginning of the fecond Epiftle. There is a paffage in the first Epistle, ch. i. 2. from which one might almoft conclude that St. Paul's intention was, that they who conveyed this Epiftle to Corinth, fhould in their paffage fhew it to other communities. But an objection to this conjecture is, that St. Paul in many parts of this Epiftle feverely reproaches the Corinthians. To have fhewn it therefore to other communities would unavoidably have provoked the Corinthians, which would have been neither confiftent with St. Paul's general caution, nor with the profeffions, which he foon after made in his fecond Epistle to the Corinthians'. I believe therefore that the paffage in queftion, 1 Cor. i. 2. τn exxλnoiX TE Θες τη μέση εν Κορινθῳ, ἡγιασμένοις εν Χρισῳ Ιησε, κλητοις άγιοις, συν πάσι τοις επικαλεμένοις το όνομα το Κυριεήμων Ιησε Χρισε εν παντι τοπῳ, αυτών τε και ήμων, relates, not to the, Corinthians,

Ch. viii. ix.

Corinthians, and to other Chriflian communities in places diftinct from Corinth, but to Chriftians of two different defcriptions in Corinth itself, which may be called, according to our prefent modes of expreffion, church-men and diffenters. I understand therefore the Apoftle as faying, to the Church of God in Corinth, together with all thofe who call on the name of Chrift, whether they affemble in our place of worship, or in their own.' 'Ayios in the language of the New Teftament denotes Chriftians in general; and, as the Corinthian community was divided into parties, St. Paul distinguishes from the feparatifts, thofe who affembled in the ufual place of worship, by the title of xanto. This expreffion is borrowed from the Septuagint, in which xanτn aya the tranflation of pp, denotes a congregation called together for divine worship. The diffenting party at Corinth, which met at their own place of worship, the Apoftle mentions in terms of gentlenefs, and includes under the general appellation of those who call on the name of Chrift.' The preceding explanation has likewife this advantage, that it fhews St. Paul has not made use of fuperfluous expreffions, and repeated only in different words at the end of the. verfe what he had faid at the beginning.

SECT. II.

The fate of the Chriftian community in Corinth defcribed.

A

S the fituation of the Chriftian community in Corinth was very remarkable, a knowledge of it will greatly contribute to the illuftration of St. Paul's two Epiftles to the Corinthians. I will therefore enumerate the most material circumftances attending this church, which at the fame time will throw a light on the other Epiftles, because in these two St. Paul is very minute in refpect to the regulation of divine worship.