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House Church at Corinth
When Paul writes to "the church of God that is in Corinth,"1 the contemporary reader has no way of knowing that he is addressing the sum total of believers in a number of house churches in the city. Upon closer examination, however, we discover the possibility of seven assemblies.2 First, there was the home of Aquila and Priscilla (or Prisca; Paul calls her Prisca, a common Latin name, but Luke prefers Priscilla). They were Jewish converts who settled in Corinth when Claudius expelled a large number of Jews from Rome around A.D. 49/503. Paul began his life in Corinth by moving into Aquila and Priscilla's home, where all of them carried on their trade as tent makers. Most likely this was a type of storefront home that doubled as a work/retail outlet and domestic residence.
During Paul's eighteen-month stay in Corinth,4 this home must have been a significant place for proclaiming the gospel, teaching and gathering believers in worship. At the end of that time, Aquila and Priscilla moved on to Ephesus with Paul and started a house church there.5 Paul's greeting to "Prisca and Aquila" and "the church in their house"6 implies that they returned to Rome, probably after Claudius lifted his edict against the Jews.2
11 Corinthians 1:2 2"The Emergence of the Church - Context, Growth, Leadership and Worship" by Arthur G. Patzia. 3Acts 18:2 4Acts 18:11 5Acts 18:18-19; see 1 Corinthians 16:19 and 2 Timothy 4:19 6Romans 16:3-5
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