19 EKOBEE

“Kɔ Ue, Sa O Aa Ubepiī”

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Pɔɔl bee si tam lo ekuūdɛɛ̄loo aba ɛɛ, mɛ a bee su tam zue ue nua tuatua

Dɛɛa nyɔɔ Doonu 18:1-22

1-3. Ena anua nɛɛ lɛɛratam Pɔɔl bee lu Kɔrint a, e pya amunu finiabah na a bee kpesī a?

¹Buū bu English

² Buū bu English

³ Buū bu English

CORINTH—MASTER OF TWO SEAS

Ancient Corinth lay on an isthmus between the Greek mainland and the southern peninsula, the Peloponnese. The isthmus was less than four miles (6 km) wide at its narrowest point, so Corinth had two ports. On the Gulf of Corinth was Lechaeum, serving sea routes heading westward to Italy, Sicily, and Spain. On the Saronic Gulf, Cenchreae served maritime traffic to and from the Aegean region, Asia Minor, Syria, and Egypt.

Since the capes at the southern extremity of the Peloponnese were windswept and dangerous for shipping, navigators often preferred to anchor at one of Corinth’s two ports, have their cargo transported overland, and reload it at the other port. Lightweight ships could even be hauled over the isthmus on a platform that ran along a grooved pavement from sea to sea. The city’s position thus allowed it to dominate east-west maritime commerce and also north-south overland trade. Lively commerce brought to Corinth not only wealth but also vices common to many ports.

In the apostle Paul’s day, Corinth was the capital of the Roman province of Achaia and an important administrative center. The religious diversity of the city is attested to by the presence of a temple for the imperial cult, shrines and temples dedicated to numerous Greek and Egyptian divinities, and a Jewish synagogue.—Acts 18:4.

The athletic competitions held every two years at nearby Isthmia were second in importance only to the Olympic Games. The apostle Paul would have been in Corinth during the games of 51 C.E. Hence, comments one Bible dictionary, “it can hardly be coincidental that his first use of athletic imagery appears in a letter to Corinth.”—1 Cor. 9:24-27.

“Wa Tam Na Doo Tɔkpo” (Doonu 18:1-4)

4, 5. (a) Mɛ kɛ̄ na Pɔɔl bee tɔɔ̄ bie Kɔrint a, e amunu gbora na a bee doo a? (b) Pɔɔl bee dap tɛɛ̄ doodoo wa nɔ lo edoo tɔkpo?

⁴ Buū bu English

⁵ Buū bu English

6, 7. (a) Pɔɔl bee ɛp tam doo tɔkpo doodoo wa, e ena a tɔgɛ kɔ Akwila le Prisila bee ɛpnage lo tam bu lo sīdee a? (b) Bu mɛ sīdee na Pya Nɛɛ Kraist anii’ee gaa nɔ edoba Pɔɔl, Akwila, le Prisila a?

⁶ Buū bu English

⁷ Buū bu English

INSPIRED LETTERS THAT PROVIDED ENCOURAGEMENT

During his 18-month stay in Corinth, about 50-52 C.E., the apostle Paul wrote at least two letters that became part of the Christian Greek Scriptures—First and Second Thessalonians. He wrote his letter to the Galatians either during the same period or shortly afterward.

First Thessalonians is the earliest of Paul’s inspired writings. Paul visited Thessalonica in about 50 C.E., during his second preaching tour. The congregation that was formed there soon had to contend with opposition, which forced Paul and Silas to leave the city. (Acts 17:1-10, 13) Concerned about the welfare of the fledgling congregation, Paul twice attempted to return, but “Satan cut across [his] path.” Paul therefore sent Timothy to comfort and strengthen the brothers. Likely late in the year 50 C.E., Timothy rejoined Paul in Corinth and brought a good report about the Thessalonian congregation. Thereafter, Paul penned this letter.—1 Thess. 2:17–3:7.

Second Thessalonians was probably written soon after the first letter, perhaps in 51 C.E. In both letters, Timothy and Silvanus (called Silas in Acts) joined Paul in sending greetings, but we have no record of these three being together again after Paul’s stay in Corinth. (Acts 18:5, 18; 1 Thess. 1:1; 2 Thess. 1:1) Why did Paul write this second letter? He had apparently received more news about the congregation, perhaps via the person who had delivered his first letter. This report moved Paul not only to praise the brothers for their love and endurance but also to correct the idea of some in Thessalonica that the Lord’s presence was imminent.—2 Thess. 1:3-12; 2:1, 2.

Paul’s letter to the Galatians implies that he had visited them at least twice before writing to them. In 47-48 C.E., Paul and Barnabas visited Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe, all of which lay within the Roman province of Galatia. In 49 C.E., Paul returned to the same area with Silas. (Acts 13:1–14:23; 16:1-6) Paul penned this letter because Judaizers, who followed quickly on his heels, were teaching that circumcision and observance of the Law of Moses were necessary for Christians. Doubtless Paul wrote to the Galatians as soon as he heard of this false teaching. He may well have written from Corinth, but it is also possible that he wrote either from Ephesus, during a brief stopover on his journey back to Syrian Antioch, or from Antioch itself.—Acts 18:18-23.

“M Ɛrɛ Booboo Nɛɛ A Bu Gbɛnɛ Buɛ̄ Ama” (Doonu 18:9-17)

8, 9. Bu mɛ sīdee na Pɔɔl bee doo dogo sɔ̄ a bee su mɛm zuema ue nɛ pya Juu sa ba naa yiga egbaɛ̄ ye tɔ̄ a, e mɛ kɛ̄ na a bee sikɛ̄ kii wee zue ue a?

⁸ Buū bu English

⁹ Buū bu English

10. Ena a tɔgɛ kɔ Pɔɔl naa bee biaɛfii lo ezue ue nɛ aba pya dɔɔ̄na edonyɔɔ a?

¹⁰ Buū bu English

11. Bu mɛ sīdee na Pya Ekeebee Jɛhova anii’ee gaa nɔ Pɔɔl sɔ̄ ba gaa zue ue nɛ pya tɔbari a?

¹¹ Buū bu English

“Lo A Nia Bari” (Doonu 18:18-22)

12. Amunu yereue egbɔ̄nyiɛ na Jizɔs bee nɛ Pɔɔl tɛ̄maloo mɔmanudɛɛ̄ a?

¹² Buū bu English

13. Ena Pɔɔl bee dap le aa kɛɛrɛ sɔ̄ a lu waɛloo kasi biaɛ a, mɛ ena anua a bee suā kɔ a naale epeeree ye dum doodoo Stifɛn a?

¹³ Buū bu English

“With that he drove them away from the judgment seat.”—Acts 18:16

14, 15. (a) Amunu ue na pya Juu bee dɛrɛ Pɔɔl a, e ena anua Gallio bee yere kuma loo lo ue a? (b) Ena a bee siraloo Sɔstinis a, e ena anua pio nɛɛ kɛɛrɛ kɔ a bee dap lu Nɛɛ Kraist a?

¹⁴ Buū bu English

¹⁵ Buū bu English

16. Amunu pah na ue Nɛɛ-a-i-ɛrɛ a kɔ: “Bɔɔ aa a aa, mɛ kɔ ue, sa o aa ubepiī,” ɛrɛ nyɔɔ i tam zue ue a?

¹⁶ Buū bu English

“Lo A Nia Bari” (Doonu 18:18-22)

17, 18. Ena Pɔɔl bee dap le aa kɛɛrɛ sɔ̄ aa bee kii Ɛfɛsɔs a?

¹⁷ Buū bu English

¹⁸ Buū bu English

19, 20. Ena Pɔɔl bee doo sɔ̄ a bee ina Ɛfɛsɔs a, e ena i dap nɔ aāloo ye edoba bu su nu bu edɔɔ̄ seeasī a?

¹⁹ Buū bu English

²⁰ Buū bu English

PAUL’S VOW

Acts 18:18 states that while Paul was in Cenchreae, “he had his hair clipped short . . . , for he had made a vow.” What kind of vow was it?

Generally, a vow is a solemn promise voluntarily made to God to perform some act, make some offering, or enter some condition. Some suppose that Paul had his hair cut to fulfill a Nazirite vow. Yet, it should be noted that according to the Scriptures, on completing a period of special service to Jehovah, a Nazirite was to have his head shaved “at the entrance of the tent of meeting.” It would seem that such a requirement could be carried out only in Jerusalem and thus not in Cenchreae.—Num. 6:5, 18.

The Acts account says nothing regarding when Paul made his vow. It could conceivably have been made even before he became a Christian. The account is equally silent concerning whether Paul made any specific request of Jehovah. One reference work suggests that Paul’s having his hair clipped short could have been “an expression of thanksgiving to God for his protection, which had enabled [Paul] to complete his ministry at Corinth.”

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