Corinthian

Relating, or belonging, to Corinth. -Impure; sensual; luxurious; resembling the old Corinthian character; as, the " Corinthian laity." - Milton. -n. ( Geog.) A native or inhabitant of Corinth. -A debauchee; a gay spark; a rake. (sometimes applied to a courtesan.) may be subsequently repeated once every 8 or 10 years, the quality of the C. improving with the increasing age of the tree. The bark is taken off in July and August, and the trees that are regularly stripped are said to live for 150 years or more. C. is light, porous, readily compre ible, and wonderfully elastic. It may be cut into any sort of figure, and notwithstanding its porosity, is nearly impervious to any common liquor. These Corinthians, (EPISTLES TO THE.) ( Eccl . Hist .) Two epistles of the apostle Paul addre ed to the Church of Corinth, and forming part of the canonical writings of the New Testament. In order clearly to comprehend the scope of these epistles, it is nece ary to glance at the circumstances of the people to whom they were addre ed. Christianity was first planted at Corinth by es the apostle Paul himself during a residence there of about 18 months, between A. D. 51 and 53. After Paul's departure from Corinth, Apollos, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came and preached the gospel there with great succe , -watering what the apostle had planted. Other teachers of Christianity also came among them, and the Church came to be divided into different sects, some declaring for Paul, others for Apollos, some for Cephas, and some for Christ. The converts, too, were partly Jews and partly Gentiles; the former contending strenuously for the observance of Jewish ceremonies, the latter giving way to the idolatrous and lascivious practices of the heathens. When the apostle Paul received information of this state of matters, he wrote to them his First Epistle, the contents of which naturally divide themselves into two distinct parts-the one being intended to remedy the disorders and abuses that had crept into the Church, the other being in reply to certain questions which the Church had submitted to him for his decision; as, concerning matrimony, concerning the lawfulne of eating things sacrificed to idols, and touching the resurrection of the dead. This epistle produced very different effects in the Church. Many were led to amend their conduct, and to greater vigilance and zeal against the errors into which they had fallen; while others were led to cast imputations upon the apostle, and to accuse him of levity, pride, arrogance, and of being personally contemptible. The great object of the Second Epistle was, therefore, to defend himself against these imputations. He enlarges on his spiritual office, enumerates his sufferings and disasters, recounts his labors, and details his succe es. The great oratorical power of this epistle has always been much admired. The former of these epistles is generally believed to have been written about A. D. 57, the latter about 58. The authenticity of either has scarcely ever been questioned; but much discu ion has arisen as to whether the apostle had addre ed to the church at Corinth an earlier epistle than either of these, referred to in 1 Cor . v. 9, in the words, "I have written to you in an epistle." Those who are of opinion that there was no other epistle, maintain that the reference is to the one he was then writing.