Isthmus and Influence: The Pagan Port of Corinth: BP Podcast S1E10

Episode Summary

The Season 1 finale covers ancient Corinth — its geography at the isthmus of Greece, Acts 18, Paul's 18-month stay, and the rich cultural connections to 1 & 2 Corinthians. Also includes a season wrap-up and thank-you from Brian and John.

Topics Covered

• Season 1 reflection — thank you to listeners; invitation to like, subscribe, give

• Cultural mistakes abroad — John's taxi story in Jerusalem (1998, first visit); Brian's left-side driving in the Virgin Islands; cowboys and Indians translation story from Wayne Jones in Rome

• Corinth geography: the isthmus connecting mainland Greece to the Peloponnese; Gulf of Corinth on one side, Saronic Gulf (Aegean) on the other; key trade shortcut avoiding dangerous sailing around the southern tip

• The diolkos — Romans pulled ships on rollers across the isthmus; canal not dug until modern times (Greek engineers reportedly told Octavian one side was higher than the other and it would flood Greece)

• The city's reputation: sailors, debauchery, prostitution; "Corinthian girl" as slang for a woman of loose morals

• Roman Corinth: more Roman than Greek (~100/110 Latin inscriptions); administrative capital of Achaia province; Julius Caesar rebuilt it as a Roman colony

• Proconsul Gallio — Paul appears before him in Acts 18; the Gallio Inscription at Delphi (5 fragments) dates Paul's stay in Corinth to ~51 AD; most secure date peg in all Pauline chronology

• Edict of Claudius — expulsion of Jews from Rome; Aquila and Priscilla come to Corinth; the church in Rome becomes largely Gentile; Paul later writes Romans to address Jewish/Gentile tensions; Romans likely written from Corinth on the Third Missionary Journey

• Aquila and Priscilla as tentmakers — two reasons: (1) sails for ships at a port city; (2) tents for the Isthmian Games (held every two years; thousands camped outside Corinth)

• The Erastus inscription: found in 1929 in a field near the theater; Latin inscription: "Erastus, in return for the aedileship, laid this pavement at his own expense"; matches Romans 16:23 (Erastus the city treasurer); the name Erastus is rare; unique in Latin inscriptions = very strong identification

• The synagogue inscription: fragment with letters for "Hebrew" visible; a menorah on a column capital (photo taken by Brian)

• Crispus and Sosthenes — two rulers of the synagogue in Acts 18; John's suggestion that Crispus was converted and possibly asked to leave the role

• Paul's vision in Corinth — Holy Spirit tells Paul to stay; first time he's given a reprieve from persecution

• The Bema (βῆμα) — the judgment seat in the Forum; Acts 18:12–17; still partially standing, ~8 feet high; 2 Corinthians 4:17 inscription on top ("our light and momentary troubles achieve for us an eternal glory")

• The site: Acrocorinth (1,800 feet above the city; not visited on tours); Roman Forum; Temple of Apollo (most prominent feature — 6 columns remaining); the shops along the stoa; Paul likely lived/worked in the shopkeeper housing above the stalls

• The Corinth Museum: excellent; not fully air-conditioned; notable artifacts include:

  • Asclepion votive offerings (body parts — hands, feet, etc.) — connection to 1 Corinthians 12 (many members, one body)

  • Busts of Emperors including Julius Caesar and Augustus

  • The Julian Basilica remains

  • A bronze mirror base — connection to 1 Corinthians 13:12 ("now we see in a mirror dimly")

  • Starting blocks from the ancient running track near the Forum — connection to 1 Corinthians 9:24–27

  • The meat market inscription — connection to 1 Corinthians 8 (meat offered to idols)

  • Veiled statues of Nero and Augustus — connection to 1 Corinthians 11 (men not covering their heads)

  • Temple E (possibly dedicated to Octavia, Augustus's sister) — connection to the Roman triad (Jupiter, Juno, Minerva)

• The Isthmian Games and the celery crown — 1 Corinthians 9:25 ("perishable wreath"); athletes receiving a celery crown at Corinth vs. the imperishable crown Christians receive

• Paul's self-discipline passage (1 Corinthians 9:24–27) in context: not just about running but about restricting personal liberty to avoid offending others — tied to the meat-offered-to-idols discussion

• Idol worship connections: 1 Corinthians 10 (eating at the table of idols), 1 Corinthians 13 (agape vs. Eros/Aphrodite), 1 Corinthians 12 (body parts and the Asclepion)

• Article teaser: John writing an article on head coverings (1 Corinthians 11); veiled statues at Corinth are the visual evidence

Scripture References

• Acts 18 (Paul in Corinth)

• Romans 16:23 (Erastus the city treasurer)

• 1 Corinthians 8–13 (multiple cultural connections)

• 2 Corinthians 4:17; 5:10 (Bema of Christ)