Though Paul had a measure of success in Corinth, yet the wickedness that he saw and heard in that corrupt city almost disheartened him. The depravity that he witnessed among the Gentiles, and the contempt and insult that he received from the Jews, caused him great anguish of spirit. He doubted the wisdom of trying to build up a church from the material that he found there.

Skønt Paulus gerning til en vis grad lykkedes i Korint, tog den ondskab, han så og hørte i denne lastefulde by, næsten modet fra ham. Den fordærvelse, han var vidne til blandt hedningerne, og den foragt og de krænkelser, han måtte tage imod fra jøderne, voldte ham stor sjælekval. Han tvivlede om, at det var klogt at oprette en menighed af det materiale, som fandtes her.