Paul again opens his letter with a customary greeting (see 1 Cor. 1:1–3). After naming himself as the sender of the letter together with Timothy, he describes himself to the church in words almost identical to those used in his earlier letter. The letter’s address indicates that Christians elsewhere in Achaia, probably principally at Cenchreae (Acts 18:18; Rom. 16:1) and Athens (Acts 17:34), have been affected by the recent affairs in the church at Corinth (likely the largest in Achaia). The salutation concludes with Paul’s usual Christian greeting.

Thanksgiving typically follows the greeting (see 1 Cor.…