Paul's Time
in Corinth
Bema
Cenchreae
  Paul's Letters
to Corinth
Meat Market
Dionysos Tablet
Military Statue
Clay Jars
  Other Sites
in Corinth
Asklepius Offering
Temple to Octavian

The content on this website is maintained by Robert Myallis, pastor at Zion's Lutheran Church, of Jonestown, PA. 

The photos were taken by Emily Myallis, a diaconal minister in the ELCA who also serves at Zion's Lutheran. 

This website and travel to Greece was made possible by a grant from the Fund for Theological Education, which provides grants to assist the education and formation of Christian  leaders from numerous denominations.

Bible quotes are taken from the New Revised Standard Version, unless cites otherwise.

The above photo of Greece comes from NASA; The icon of Saint Paul comes from George Mitrevski's website. 

 

 

Clay Jars

This is a picture of a clay jar found in the excavations at Corinth. They are numerous clay jars from various periods. This jar was not found in one piece and has been reconstructed. The lighter white is the work of the modern archeologist.

How are clay jars significant for understanding the world of Paul?

Paul uses clay Jars to describe the suffering he and his fellow Christians are undergoing:

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. (Second letter to the Corinthians, chapter 4:7-9)

How is Paul remixing his culture?

Paul takes an everyday item where people would store their treasures (banks did not exist yet!) and turns it into a metaphor for the Christian life. Clay jars can hold something for years but are also fragile.