# Corinthians? What's the joke? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [October 28, 2004, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corinthians-whats-the-joke/271695 "2004-10-28T17:41:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![galt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@galt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galt)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corinthians-whats-the-joke/271695/1 "2004-10-28T17:41:29Z")
In [this column](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_086.html), Cecil’s first response alludes to the fact that the question is supposed to be a joke. Can someone explain the joke to me? Assume little to no biblical knowledge. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corinthians-whats-the-joke/271695/2 "2004-10-28T18:01:43Z")
Saul of Tarsus, later called Paul, wrote a number of letters to nascent Christian churches all around the Mediterranean. Several of these letters were incorporated into the New Testament, by the general title “epistles, and are named by their recipeints. For example, Paul’s letter to the church at” Ephesus is commonly called “Ephesians.” He wrote at least two letters to the church at Corinth, called the first and second letters to the Corinthians (1 Cor and 2 Cor). His letters to them are in the Bible . . . so did they write back? ---
**Author:** ![picker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/picker/32/13969_2.png) [@picker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picker)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corinthians-whats-the-joke/271695/3 "2004-10-28T18:05:51Z")
Well, I am certainly no Biblical scholar, nor even a practicing Christian but I will attempt to respond until someone more knowledgeable (maybe **Polycarp**?) comes along. Corinthians, and many other books of the New Testament, are actually ‘Epistles’, letters that Paul (and maybe some other authors) wrote to various communities in the region. I believe the purpose was to both bear witness to the miracles of Christ and to provide spiritual support to those already converted in the areas. The joke is, I believe, that these were letters written to a town or region. In the case of the Corinthians, multiple letters were sent. For much more info, [this site](http://www.paulonpaul.org/workshop/legacy.htm) might have more information for you. IANAM, P, T, or BH (Minister, Priest, Theologian or Bibilical Historian). Do not taunt happy fun ball. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corinthians-whats-the-joke/271695/4 "2004-10-28T20:19:25Z")
Actually, there is a fragment of a letter, that has been surpressed by the Catholic Church and the Knights Templar of Malted: > [@](#): > > 10 April 83 AD. > Dear Paul, > Thanks very much for your letter of 1 inst. warning us of the coming Easter season and threatening us with eternal damnation and hellfire if we don’t convert. While we respect your religious beliefs, we really must insist that you do the same for ours. After all, the wrath of Hera is not to be taken lightly. > > We also think it would be a good idea if you reminded your priests that small male children should not [REMAINDER OF PARAGRAPH INDECIPHERABLE] > > Otherwise, the weather here is fine, and we hope you are enjoying good health. Your cousin Martha has had a kidney stone that has caused her much pain. It’s been great hearing from you, and we hope you’ll stop by again on your travels. > > Sincerely, > I Corinthians This ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corinthians-whats-the-joke/271695/5 "2004-10-28T21:10:52Z")
I’ve always viewed II Corintians 9 as Paul asking for donations. It must be the chapter that televangelists rely on. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corinthians-whats-the-joke/271695/6 "2004-10-29T00:58:54Z")
Heh. Here I was just wondering if Asimov had ever planned on writing “II Robot.” ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corinthians-whats-the-joke/271695/7 "2004-10-29T07:53:09Z")
Adding a little to what’s already been said: The Christian Scriptures contain quite a few such letters or epistles, creditted to at least six different authors, of whom Paul was by far the most prolific. The two letters to the Corinthians are probably the best-known since many Christians (including ministers) find parts of them especially inspirational and appealing, for instance, the passage that starts “Love is patient, love is kind…” and ends “In the end there are three things that will last, Faith, Hope, and Love; and the greatest of these is Love.” So I figure that’s why the joke is always about the Corinthians writing back and not, say, the Ephesians. Plus, let’s face it, “Corinthians” is just fun to say. Say it with me. CorINTHians. CorINTHians… 😛 ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corinthians-whats-the-joke/271695/8 "2004-10-29T10:52:07Z")
> [@flodnak](#): > > Plus, let’s face it, “Corinthians” is just fun to say. Say it with me. CorINTHians. CorINTHians… 😛 Damn you! Now I’ll have Ricardo Montalban saying “Corinthian Leather” stuck in my brain all day. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corinthians-whats-the-joke/271695/9 "2004-11-04T18:48:17Z")
> [@andros](#): > > Heh. > > Here I was just wondering if Asimov had ever planned on writing “II Robot.” I imagine he’d find it rather difficult these days. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corinthians-whats-the-joke/271695/10 "2004-11-04T19:34:19Z")
> [@fetus](#): > > I imagine he’d find it rather difficult these days. Well, yes. That’s why I said “had planned.” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2004, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corinthians-whats-the-joke/271695/11 "2004-11-04T20:15:08Z")
> [@andros](#): > > Well, yes. That’s why I said “had planned.” 🙂 Ah. Missed the “had”. ---
**Author:** ![John\_W.Kennedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_w.kennedy/32/1031_2.png) [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corinthians-whats-the-joke/271695/12 "2004-11-05T00:12:16Z")
> [@andros](#): > > Heh. > > Here I was just wondering if Asimov had ever planned on writing “II Robot.” Not bloody likely. “I Robot” was the name of an unrelated short story by another author (“Eando” Binder), the first in the “Adam Link” series. Asimov’s publisher attached the title to his book because it was cool, and because copyright law does not protect titles. Asimov was not happy about it. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corinthians-whats-the-joke/271695/13 "2004-11-05T03:44:33Z")
Also not bloody likely because he did actually write a sequel to _I, Robot_, and called it _The Rest of the Robots_. Well, I suppose it wasn’t quite a sequel, since not all of the stories in it are in the _I, Robot_ continuity. It’s just all of the other robot stories he had at the time (hence the name). But several, at least, are Susan Calvin stories (“Intuition” and “Satisfaction Guaranteed” come to mind). But do you think that’s going to stop Hollywood :mad: ? ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corinthians-whats-the-joke/271695/14 "2004-11-05T05:15:20Z")
Serves me right for making a joke. Hmph. Dopers. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![tim314](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim314/32/3468_2.png) [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2004, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corinthians-whats-the-joke/271695/15 "2004-11-05T05:28:03Z")
> [@andros](#): > > Serves me right for making a joke. Hmph. Dopers. > 😃 I thought it was funny. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![peter318200](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ec8ea/32.png) [@peter318200](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peter318200)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2004, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corinthians-whats-the-joke/271695/16 "2004-11-06T13:46:54Z")
> [@C K Dexter Haven](#): > > Actually, there is a fragment of a letter, that has been surpressed by the Catholic Church and the Knights Templar of Malted: > > This im not even going 2try 2 come up with something funnier than that well done that man carry on ---
**Author:** ![fyoss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b2d939/32.png) [@fyoss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fyoss)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2004, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corinthians-whats-the-joke/271695/17 "2004-12-30T04:47:01Z")
Paul wrote the letters to the Corinthians because he was unable to travel to them. The first letter was basically instructing them in ordinances and ways they needed to improve. The second letter was to show his love and joy at thier improvement. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2005, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corinthians-whats-the-joke/271695/18 "2005-01-02T14:15:59Z")
Actually, Paul’s two letters as we have them are fragments of correspondence between him and the church he had founded in Corinth. I Corinthians makes reference to a previous letter, and II Corinthians is believed by many scholars to be the coalescence of two or three letters (which, being short, were united onto the same roll of parchment, and came to be regarded as the same letter). So, obvious, the Corinthians **did** write back. ---
**Author:** ![Rucksinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/898d66/32.png) [@Rucksinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rucksinator)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2005, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corinthians-whats-the-joke/271695/19 "2005-01-05T21:08:22Z")
According to the pastor that taught my religion class, I corinthians was the 2nd letter that Paul wrote to them, and II Corinthians was the 4th (of at least 4). Letters 1 & 3, as well as the Corinthians’ replies, have never been found. ---
**Author:** ![Bean\_Counter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/db5fbb/32.png) [@Bean\_Counter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bean_Counter)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2005, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corinthians-whats-the-joke/271695/20 "2005-01-05T22:36:57Z")
> [@Rucksinator](#): > > Letters 1 & 3, as well as the Corinthians’ replies, have never been found. Paul actually sent those letters via e-mail. Unfortunately they were caught and deleted by the Corinthians’ spam filter. Paul soon after experienced a hard-drive crash and lost everything, including his saved-game progress in Grand Theft Auto : Vice City. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corinthians-whats-the-joke/271695.md?page=2)