Though the apostle Paul wrote letters to many of the chruches he founded, none of his extant letters reveal more about him, his missionary activity, and the comunity of faith he sought to foster than 1 Corinthians. In 1 Corinthians, Paul tried to influence - even control - the church in the context of a city that had lasting memories of Greek democracy but was having to live with the present realities if a Roman proconsul. This text highlights Paul as apostle, missionary and pastor against the backdrop of Greco-Roman culture, economics and politics.