After the departure of Paul, however, unfavorable conditions arose; tares that had been sown by the enemy appeared among the wheat, and erelong these began to bring forth their evil fruit. This was a time of severe trial to the Corinthian church. The apostle was no longer with them to quicken their zeal and aid them in their endeavors to live in harmony with God, and little by little many became careless and indifferent, and allowed natural tastes and inclinations to control them. He who had so often urged them to high ideals of purity and uprightness was no longer with them, and not a few who, at the time of their conversion, 300 had put away their evil habits, returned to the debasing sins of heathenism.

Men efter Paulus afrejse kom der imidlertid vanskelige forhold; fjenden havde sået klinte blandt hveden og det varede ikke længe, før den bar sin onde frugt. Dette var en alvorlig prøvelsens tid for menigheden i Korint. Apostlen var ikke mere hos dem for at ophjælpe deres iver og styrke dem i deres kamp for at leve efter Guds vilje; og lidt efter lidt blev mange ligegyldige og letsindige og lod deres naturlige tilbøjeligheder få magt over dem. Han, der så ofte havde vist dem hen til renhedens og retskaffenhedens høje idealer, var ikke mere iblandt dem og ikke så få af dem, der ved deres omvendelse havde frigjort sig fra deres onde vaner, vendte nu tilbage til hedenskabets nedværdigende synder.