<P> Some time before 2 Corinthians was written, Paul paid them a second visit (2 Cor. 12: 14; 2 Cor. 13: 1) to check some rising disorder (2 Cor. 2: 1; 2 Cor. 13: 2), and wrote them a letter, now lost (1 Cor. 5: 9). They had also been visited by Apollos (Acts 18: 27), perhaps by Peter (1 Cor. 1: 12), and by some Jewish Christians who brought with them letters of commendation from Jerusalem (1 Cor. 1: 12; 2 Cor. 3: 1; 2 Cor. 5: 16; 2 Cor. 11: 23). </P> <P> Paul wrote this letter to correct what he saw as erroneous views in the Corinthian church . Several sources informed Paul of conflicts within the church at Corinth: Apollos (Acts 19: 1), a letter from the Corinthians, the "household of Chloe", and finally Stephanas and his two friends who had visited Paul (1: 11; 16: 17). Paul then wrote this letter to the Corinthians, urging uniformity of belief ("that ye all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you", 1: 10) and expounding Christian doctrine . Titus and a brother whose name is not given were probably the bearers of the letter to the church at Corinth (2 Corinthians 2: 13; 8: 6, 16--18). </P> <P> In general, divisions within the church at Corinth seem to be a problem, and Paul makes it a point to mention these conflicts in the beginning . Specifically, pagan roots still hold sway within their community . Paul wants to bring them back to what he sees as correct doctrine, stating that God has given him the opportunity to be a "skilled master builder" to lay the foundation and let others build upon it (1 Cor 3: 10). </P> <P> Later, Paul wrote about immorality in Corinth by discussing an immoral brother, how to resolve personal disputes, and sexual purity . Regarding marriage, Paul states that it is better for Christians to remain unmarried, but that if they lacked self - control, it is better to marry than "burn" (πυροῦσθαι) which Christians have traditionally thought meant to burn with sinful desires . The Epistle may include marriage as an apostolic practice in 1 Corinthians 9: 5, "Do we not have the right to be accompanied by a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas (Peter)?" (In the last case, the letter concurs with Matthew 8: 14, which mentions Peter having a mother - in - law and thus, by interpolation, a wife .) However, the Greek word for "wife" is the same word for "woman". The Early Church Fathers including Tertullian, Jerome, and Augustine state the Greek word is ambiguous and the women in 1 Corinthians 9: 5 were women ministering to the Apostles as women ministered to Christ (cf Matthew 27: 55, Luke 8: 1--3), and were not wives, and assert they left their "offices of marriage" to follow Christ . </P>

First letter of paul to the corinthians summary