INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF 1 CORINTHIANS This was not the first epistle that was written by the apostle to the Corinthians, for we read in this of his having written an epistle to them before, ( 1 Corinthians 5:9), but this is the first epistle of his unto them, that is now extant; and has been received by the churches, as of divine authority, being written by the inspiration of God, of which there has been no doubt in any age. The apostle himself was nearly two years at Corinth; where he preached with great success; and was the instrument of converting many persons, who by him were formed into a church state, consisting both of Jews and Gentiles, as is clear from many passages in this epistle, and whom be left in good order, and in great peace and harmony; but quickly after his departure, false teachers got in among them, and bad principles were imbibed by many of them, and evil practices prevailed among them, and they fell into factions and parties, which occasioned the apostle to write this epistle to them, as well as their writing to him concerning certain things, they desired to have his judgment and opinion of, ( 1 Corinthians 7:1), It is thought to be written about the year of Christ 55, and in the first year of Nero, though some place it in the year 59.