Divisions in the Church
March 29, 2020
Commentary
The first problem Paul addresses in the church at Corinth is division. He introduces the thoughts of this passage with an appeal for unity. Paul is emphasizing that as Christians we are a part of God’s family and share a unity that runs deeper than that of blood brothers and sisters. To speak the same thing, allow for no divisions, and be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment does not require that everyone believe exactly the same. There is a difference between having opposing viewpoints and being divisive. It seems that quarrels had split the church into factions, resulting in four rival parties (vv. 11-17):
1. Those who professed to follow Paul, the founder of the Corinthian church (Acts 18:1-17).
2. Those who counted themselves to be followers of Apollos, a native of Alexandria.
3. Those who claimed to follow Peter, favoring Jewish forms and ceremonies.
4. Those who renounced all the others and claimed only Christ.
With the many churches and styles of worship available today, we can easily get caught up in the game of “my preacher is better than yours”. Paul makes it clear that God’s message is much more important than any human messenger. In view of all these divisions Paul says that he is thankful that very few in Corinth were ever baptized by him (v. 14). Some speakers use a lot of impressive words, but they are weak in content. Paul is stressing that solid content and practical help is what is important for the listener. The persuasive power should be in the story and not in the storyteller. Paul concludes his exhortation regarding the divisions in the church with a call to evangelize (v. 17).
Application
I must never let my appreciation for any teacher, preacher or author cause me to follow a man rather than the message of God’s Word. My allegiance must be to Jesus Christ and to the unity He desires.
1 Corinthians 1:10– 17 (NET)
10 I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to agree together, to end your divisions, and to be united by the same mind and purpose. 11 For members of Chloe’s household have made it clear to me, my brothers and sisters, that there are quarrels among you. 12 Now I mean this, that each of you is saying, “I am with Paul,” or “I am with Apollos,” or “I am with Cephas,” or “I am with Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Paul wasn’t crucified for you, was he? Or were you in fact baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name! 16 (I also baptized the household of Stephanus. Otherwise, I do not remember whether I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—and not with clever speech, so that the cross of Christ would not become useless.