Book excerpt: Paul's letter to the Corinthians provides an exclusive quick look into the social and political life of a young Christian congregation in a Greco-Roman environment during the early decades when Christianity was emerging. The letter provides a range and richness of information regarding the early church that is unparalleled by any other writing in the New Testament. Much effort has gone into reconstructing the Christian church at Corinth; more recently, attention has focused on the Corinthian congregation itself and its influence towards the community of the Roman Empire. The scholarly picture of the Corinthian community throughout the period of modern interpretation has been far from constant. It has been continually altered as interpretative fashions have changed.