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TIMOTHY FINDS PAUL IN CORINTH!
Listed below are ten proverbs. Match them with the proper people group.

Proverbs are simply pithy expressions that a people group have come to accept as containing truth. They capture the beliefs of the group and offer practical guidance, wisdom, to the next generation.
For our purposes today we simply want to focus on the two proverbs that were very much a part of Greek culture during the first century. Proverbs that Paul, Silas, and Timothy became aware of as they drew others to Christ in the city of Corinth.
Corinth, not Athens, was the capital of southern Greece, matching Thessalonica in the north. It was located just south of a narrow isthmus which joined the peninsula called Peloponnesus to Achaia just to the north. Naturally, since Corinth practically sat on the isthmus, all north and south land trade went through the city. But Corinth was a beehive of commercial activity for an additional reason. A reason related to the proverb “Let him who thinks of sailing around Malea make his will.”
Because Cape Malea was so dangerous to sail around merchants transporting goods by ship from the east to the west, and vice versa, put into port at one of Corinth’s seaports. They would then have their goods transported across the isthmus to the other port, a distance of about five miles. Hence all east/west trade traffic went through Corinth as did all the north/south traffic. Clearly, it was a city that needed traffic lights!
When you couple the high volume of traffic with the neon lights of the Temple of Aphrodite it is not surprising that Corinth became known for its DUI’s and its licentiousness. After all the temple housed one-thousand priestesses, sacred prostitutes, who came down to the city every evening and plied their trade. A trade enjoyed by the sailors as well as by others. So it wasn’t long before the tourist coined the proverb “Not every man can afford a journey to Corinth.” A proverb that was true in more ways than one!
It is into this bustling city that Paul made his way from Athens. It was bigger than Athens and while the intelligentsia of Athens presented Paul with a number of challenges, Corinth would prove to be far more challenging. Yes, it fit in better with the team’s strategy of reaching the whole world through its cities but it would prove to be a real test for the power of the gospel. But, it is in this city that Timothy probably learned his greatest lessons.
Looking at Acts 18:1 - 6 we read:
Then Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 There he became acquainted with a Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently arrived from Italy with his wife, Priscilla. They had been expelled from Italy as a result of Claudius Caesar’s order to deport all Jews from Rome. 3 Paul lived and worked with them, for they were tentmakers just as he was.
Each Sabbath found Paul at the synagogue, trying to convince the Jews and Greeks alike. 5 And after Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul spent his full time preaching and testifying to the Jews, telling them, “The Messiah you are looking for is Jesus.” 6 But when the Jews opposed him and insulted him, Paul shook the dust from his robe and said, “Your blood be upon your own heads—I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”
It is clear that Paul made his way to Corinth on his own. He entered the city with no one by his side except God which proved to be more than enough companionship in this wild city. For God in his grace quickly led Paul to a Jewish couple by the name of Aquila and Priscilla. And just by coincidence, or rather by grace, the two earned a living just as Paul earned a living - by working with leather.
In a city the size of Corinth Paul could have met any number of people as he entered the city. But God led him to just the right two not simply because they shared the same occupation as Paul but because, as it turned out, these two either already knew Christ Jesus as their Lord or we’re more than ready to hear and receive the gospel. So in addition to providing someone to work with Monday through Friday, the Lord provided spiritual partners in the real of work of planting a church.
Why? Because the Lord understands that “two are better than one.” For in Ecclesiastes 4:9 - 12 we read:
Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one; they get a better return for their labor. 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But people who are alone when they fall are in real trouble. 11 And on a cold night, two under the same blanket can gain warmth from each other. But how can one be warm alone? 12 A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.
In the past month the Lord has reminded me of how much trouble others are in when they are not well-connected to a body of believers. For example, on Thursday I received a call from the church office looking for someone who would be willing to go see a couple who learned a few days earlier that the husband has inoperable pancreatic cancer. They were married here at Bethany years ago but have never developed the habit of attending any church.
They are now facing a very real crisis - physically, emotionally, and spiritually. This man’s wife is confident of her relationship with Christ but doesn’t know whether her husband is a believer. All she knows is that he may be facing death in the absence of any real peace; which leaves her with no peace.
Furthermore, they have no pastor and no church to turn to in their time of need. However, the wife knows a few ladies here at Bethany and that has undoubtedly been a blessing to her. But she is still very anxious about her husband’s physical and spiritual well-being.
We see this same principle played out when Timothy and Silas find Paul in Corinth. With their arrival Paul was able to give himself fully to preaching, “testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.” If we had only Luke’s account to go by we would be inclined to think that Paul devoted himself fully to preaching while Timothy and Silas took over the tent-making business.
But a few other verses suggest otherwise, when we put them together it appears that all three of them were able to devote themselves to preaching and teaching the Word. For elsewhere in Scripture we read:
As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. 16 Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. (Philippians 4:15 - 16)
Did I do wrong when I humbled myself and honored you by preaching God’s Good News to you without expecting anything in return? 8 I “robbed” other churches by accepting their contributions so I could serve you at no cost. 9 And when I was with you and didn’t have enough to live on, I did not ask you to help me. For the brothers who came from Macedonia brought me another gift. I have never yet asked you for any support, and I never will. (II Corinthians 11:7 - 9)
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You may be asking why I changed my plan. Hadn’t I made up my mind yet? Or am I like people of the world who say yes when they really mean no? 18 As surely as God is true, I am not that sort of person. My yes means yes 19 because Jesus Christ, the Son of God, never wavers between yes and no. He is the one whom Timothy, Silas, and I preached to you, and he is the divine Yes—God’s affirmation. 20 For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in him. That is why we say “Amen” when we give glory to God through Christ. (II Corinthians 1:17 - 20)
Judging from these passages it appears that all three of them set aside employment while they preached the Word. They were able to do this, of course, because the Philippian believers sent a financial gift through Timothy and Silas.
In like manner missionaries all over the world are able to devote themselves fully to the work of the Lord because of financial gifts from individuals and churches within the United States. Without adequate financial gifts they would have to focus much of their attention on simply surviving in a foreign land. I trust you are praying for some of them as well as supporting them financially!

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