5. The time of the writing of the same is investigated.
That this Epistle was written at Ephesus, we have argued above. That is, the Corinthians wrote to him there, 1 Corinthians 7:1, and that, as it appears, through Stephanas and Fortunatus, whom they had sent to him, 1 Corinthians 16:17, through whom Paul appears likewise to have written back this Epistle in reply, since in it he greatly commends them to the Corinthians, 1 Corinthians 16:15-18. Moreover, it appears to have been written at Ephesus, a little before, departing thence, he proceeded to Macedonia, even indeed about the end of those three years that he spent at Ephesus; which out of 1 Corinthians 16:1-3 and Acts 19:1 is readily gathered:more precisely a little before Pentecost. For in 1 Corinthians 16:8 he says, I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost.But this Pentecost preceded that Pentecost, on which he had determined to be at Jerusalem, Acts 20:16. Therefore, thus this Epistles also was written by Paul while he was yet free, to be bound approximately a year afterwards at Jerusalem, and so, according to the calculation of Ussher and other highly recommended men, in the fiftieth year after the birth of Christ.