Who was Paul writing to in 1 Corinthians and what kind of background did the Corinthian believers come from?

Les explains that Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles, is writing to a congregation in the wicked city of Corinth. These believers had come out of an abject, immoral, idolatrous background, and they were all hung up on the marriage relationship that was now Biblical compared to what it had been in paganism. Les teaches that under idolatry, the marriage relationship did not amount to much; it was just a place to propagate the family, and pagans knew nothing of moral integrity or fidelity in marriage. Now as believers, they were going off the deep end, asking, “Is it right for us to marry?” Paul clarifies that “it is good for a man not to touch a woman” does not mean they should not get involved and get married. Rather, in light of chapter 6, believers must be careful in their contact with the opposite sex, and a man should not get physically involved with a woman to excite the sexual senses. Les notes this certainly does not abolish shaking hands with women, and the early church even granted the holy kiss, much like Middle Easterners still do.