They were hard to get in those war years, and every shipment that came in went out like hot cakes. Long has taught full time at Grace Christian University since 1998, specializing in Bible and Biblical languages. Remember, a believer who is at war with his brother or sister in Christ cannot be at peace with our heavenly Father. 10 I appeal to you, brothers,[ a] by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. Some sued their fellow Christians in the secular courts. They may have carried Pauls teachings of justification by faith and freedom from the Law to an extreme and felt free to do whatever they wanted. I have had people say to me, "Oh, Mr. Stedman, when you speak I see so clearly! Some people will pick other matters of doctrine to affirm. They failed to take seriously the power of evil; their behavior caused divisions in the church and led to a lack of concern for other members. I believe that if people would take their eyes off man and stop putting man up up so high and put THE MASTER BACK FIRST in their lives it wont be so much division in our churches. It wasnt even about secondary doctrine (the second coming, the nature of baptism). The Corinthian church had many problems, and most of them were the result of pride and placing so much emphasis on social status. Webdivided. If it had been left up to us to plan the program by which God would change the world we would never have included a cross. Paul is going to go on to describe this radical force that is so different than anything else there is nothing like it in the world. When everybody decides to put the things of Christ first, and is willing to suffer loss that the honor and glory of Christ might be advanced, that is what brings harmony in a congregation. Their conflicts undoubtedly had its theological and philosophical dimensions, but it was social as well, human and petty, high on pride and low on love (Polhill 233). Some boasted of their special spiritual gifts; others felt left out. So they were splitting and arguing and quarreling over the relative merit and authority of these various teachers. In fact, these divisions are a sign of worldliness. It seems unbelievable at first to think that this kind of division exists within the modern church, but more often than not it is actually one of the most common reasons for division. Paul always expresses great concern about the possibility of a split in the church. They became symbols of prestige and standing that became divisive factors among the men. It is possible, though, that the divisions among We tend to fall out along doctrinal lines or because we are drawn to one charismatic pastor over another. The Lords Supper was affected by the divisions between rich and poor and an overall general misunderstanding. His followers in the Corinthian church may have viewed Christianity as a philosophy rather than a relationship with a Person Jesus Christ. There are several important terms in this passage. 5-Members going to pagan courts to settle disputes. There were: the followers of Paul, the followers of Apollos, the followers of Cephas or Peter, and the followers of Christ. Sometimes a church leader can have so much clout that he begins to have cult status. And, after all, Peter even walked on water!" Paul exhorts them to agree. Each group claimed to be better than the others, and party spirits began to grow in the church. This is the result of a religious snobbery associated by cliques that produced pride and conflict. One of his biggest goals is to double our congregation so we have 5,000 members. In Matthew 12:25 the Lord Jesus says, Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself shall not stand.. In other words, there must be agreement with Christ, with His will, and with His Word. You could spot the Navigators going up and down the streets of Honolulu. John 12:37-50, THE PARADOX OF LIFE FROM DEATH John 12:20-26, THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM JOHN 12:9-19, SPIRITUAL LIGHT AND DARKNESS John 9:35-41. Her hair is messed up! Paul gives the church a stern warning about their actions and the proper way to participate. We have Jesus only groups even today. WebAnd you know, that gives me some idea of how important this is to God, because from 1:10 to the ninth verse of the sixteenth Chapter, he just talks about the errors in the church. I would agree that we find ourselves in much the same situations as those listening to the Greek philosophers/orators. Why are these thing SO important? In her book, The Key to a Loving Heart, Karen Mains includes a parable about the church entitled The Brawling Bride. It is the popular thing today to cry, "Back to the Reformation!" Now, we are similar to the ancient world in that some people do see their pastors/teachers as a source of pride. In verse 10 we see both Pauls affection for the Corinthian church, and his authority as an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. The church in Corinth was a group of people who were tearing themselves apart! In my opinion, this is one of the main reasons our churches are so split and why we act more like the world rather than more like Christ. Are we willing and ready to pray for unity in His Church, and work at building a stronger unity among fellow members of the congregations where we fellowship and serve? One of these influencing factors is consumerism which finds its way into even the way Christians think. Going off of what Cody is saying, in todays church everything needs to be just right. That is the mind Paul is talking about. They embraced the values of their Roman society, which divided over ethnicity (e.g., Jews vs. Gentiles) and social rank (wise vs. foolish, powerful WebThe members of the Corinthian church we disunited because they were pledging their allegiance to human leaders rather than God. Its not just the denominations per se any more theres also a proliferation of house churches too. Ridiculous? The cross of Christ is what will heal the fragmentation of Christians wherever they are. You may be reminded by his words in Verse10 of the similar passage in his letter to the Philippians where, in Chapter2, he says to that church, "So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any incentive of love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord, and of one mind," (Philippians 2:1-2 RSV). The members started to develop division following different leaders. This is the result of a religious snobbery associated by cliques that produced pride and conflict. Each group claimed to be better than the others, and party spirits began to grow in the church. I still have at home the Scofield Reference Bible with the index ladder drawn by him. For example, in the first section from 1:10 to 4:21, it's errors regarding division. That was the mark, that was the identification badge. Let's get back to the beginnings. He didnt focus on himself being superior to all the rest of the church leaders. This is what Paul uses as the basis for unity in this church -- not only the attitude of selflessness, which is the mind of Christ, but the responsibility to submit to his Lordship, the common responsibility that we have together. Luke says in Acts 4:12, And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men, by which we must be saved. The ground is level at the cross. WebPaul rebukes the Corinthians because there are divisions and quarrels in the church. They failed to take seriously the power of evil; their behavior caused divisions in the church and led to a lack of concern for other members. In this parable, the groom is Christ. It is extremely important. WebDivisions in the Church. The word divisions comes from the Greek word schismata, from which we get our English word schism. The real problem behind the divisions is that the church continues to act like Christianity is just another philosophy, and teachers are in competition with each other just as the Greek orators competed. When you call them back to an understanding of the meaning of the cross, you will find all the divisions disappearing; they fade away like the morning mist. It is interesting how quickly we forget where our gifts come from and think we are the cause of success. Therefore our boasting should only be in the Lord (1 Corinthains 1:26-31). 3- The presence of an immoral member. I always have, and always will believe that this overly exaggerated concept of denominations is a problem. These are not the only causes of divisions in churches today. Yet, in reality as long as correct biblical doctrine is being taught no pastor should be viewed in comparison to one another. In what ways have we failed to de-paganize? Its pastors, bishops and others who fear the loss of their livlihoods as their former sheep move on in God towards the new wine skins of revival that want to maintain the old wine skins which brought them an income. That is why the apostle appeals to it. Whenever this attitude of gathering around a man is allowed to perpetuate itself, it is the source of much trouble and difficulty. In my church it seems like they are all about numbers. I told them that I do not foresee and end to these divisions anytime soon (sadly). There are those who are emotionally attached to some great Christian leader who has helped them, and they will only listen to him. 14I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. Take the various mega-churches for example, whose charismatic pastors live in mansions. He addresses them as brethren. Paul rejects this disunity, telling the church members to focus on Christ. To resolve this issue, he encourages communal love. The cross strips away our illusions and brings the pride of men tumbling down from that high place where it exalts itself against the knowledge of God. We all know what a clique is. When the Corinthians divided into factions, it wasnt so much about core doctrine (nature of God, nature of Christ, the Gospel, the nature of man). Paul, however, was a good leader. Believers who are joined in heart should not find it difficult to be joined in hand, working together for the common good and for the glory of Christ. There is not a single teacher who ever lived who can heal the hurt of a broken heart, or supply energy and adequacy to someone who feels worthless and unable to function in society, not one. These are not the only causes of divisions in churches today. They are his family in Christ. Just as there was competiveness for honor and prestige among the orators of the first century, it also seems like there is competition between the pastors and churches of today. There should be oneness of mind, no matter how long it takes. I think that if you put the teachings of a man over the teachings of Scripture then you have a problem. I find there are these tendencies right here in Peninsula Bible Church. He described the activities of the disciples of the Sophists the professional orators who were able to command large audiences, high fees for educating youth, and often a great deal of power within the city. They were dividing over this whole issue, and Paul says it is all wrong. Each group claimed to be better than the others, and party spirits began to grow in the church. Her gown is ripped and covered with mud! The elders should make their decisions with the same mind and the same judgment. Paul enters this world of wretched Sophists and preaches the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I understand the fact that people have different beliefs and would like to stick to those (it is good to sick to what you believe) but when you get so segregated that you cannot work together anymore, it becomes a serious problem. However, I would like to approach this in a different way than the comments already present here. WebThe Corinthians were basically making a mockery of Communion. As bad as it is, it makes sense for the people of Pauls day to be concerned with whatever home church has the best orator, and then argue for them to other potential followers. So we have the possibility for this very thing right here. Members follow him blindly and whatever they do seems right to them. I would like to close this service by reading what one man wrote about the cross: It is well that we should think sometimes of the Upper Room and the Last Supper, and of his soul, "exceeding sorrowful unto death"; of Gethsemane and the deep shadow of the olive trees; his loneliness, prayers, and disappointment with his disciples; his bloody sweat; the traitor's kiss; the binding, the blow in the face, the spitting, the buffeting, the mocking, the scourging, the crown of thorns, the smiting; the sorrowful way and the burdensome cross; the exhaustion and collapse; the stripping, the impaling, and the jeers of his foes, and the flight of his friends; the hours on the cross; the darkness, his being forsaken of God; his thirst, and the end. Im not saying its wrong to stick to what you believe. It is popularized in the movie Mean Girls. We tend to fall out along doctrinal lines or because we are drawn to one charismatic pastor over another. There was nothing wrong with Paul baptizing people, but Paul didnt want people to boast about the fact that he baptized them. WebDivisions in the Church. God is not confused, and He does not contradict Himself. Near the cross, O Lamb of God, bring its scenes before me. But when each piece is fitted together into its proper place in the puzzle, you have a beautiful and complete picture. In verses 14 to 16, Paul uses himself as an example. The individual leaders should only point them to Christ. WebWhat were the causes of division in the Corinthian Church? Paul, however, was a good leader. The content of their messages was in agreement, but the followers of these men probably focused on personality differences and distorted their teachings. Paul continues in verse 10 by saying that there be no divisions among you. Were you baptized into the name of Paul? Obviously sin is at the heart of these divisions, but I am encouraged to hear that at least in your corner of the world there is some unification and revival. That was a mark of status with them. From the book of Acts we learn that Apollos was an outstanding orator in a world that loved and appreciated oratory. This consumerism that we face today in the end doesnt seem all that much different from the way the Christian faith was treated like just another philosophy back in the days of Paul. 2 Corinthians Webdivided. It is well known that division in the church of Corinth was over leadership. This unintentional mindset causes people to treat the Bible and its words like it is a product that can wear out, and ignored like an infomercial. Website 2023 by Ray Stedman Ministries. The Corinthian church had many problems, and most of them were the result of pride and placing so much emphasis on social status. I think the letter to the Philippians helps us here, because in that passage I just quoted from, Paul goes on to say, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus," (Philippians 2:5). Not when we hear of churches with factions or cliques of people who sit on opposite sides of the aisle. We go back to the Lord alone. In conjunction with this, some people were questioning Pauls character and authority ( 1 Corinthians 14 ). It was considered honorable for you to stand up for yourself in this way. It seems so bland compared to all the other choices out there when really it presents and encourages people to live out a very different and exciting life in the opposite direction of the world. In verse 11, Paul gives the reason for his appeal for unity in the church at Corinth. And some of them are really gross. This division in the church was over their own selfish ambitions evidenced in what they wanted. It is well known that division in the church of Corinth was over leadership. Even though the churches within a certain denomination agree to the same biblical teachings, some churches within those denominations may begin to disagree with the biblical teachings and break away from the denomination to become affiliated with another denomination that aligns with their beliefs. Now, in Verse13 you understand why. Paul doesnt want these divisions to continue, so he offers them an alternative. When the lifeless body of the little one was carried back to the anxious mother, she cried aloud, Oh why didnt you join hands before?. The first and perhaps biggest is denominations. I lead a small group so I sometimes have to sit in meetings where the pastor shares things about the vision of our church. There are even discrepancies inside single denominations (which means we have division inside our divisions, great). WebWhat were the causes of division in the Corinthian Church? This is not what the Church was meant to be like, and I fully believe that Paul would be appalled by our actions today as a Church of believers in Jesus Christ. Religious snobs want to be a part of a small group who Paul here introduces that which can cure divisions, both negatively and positively. Austin Hellier Brisbane Queensland Australia. He come to Corinth to create a community of disciples from which he might receive patronage and prestige. God is all about people, not money, and I feel sorry for anyone who tries to take over the current move of God, put it in a box, stick a label on it, and own it they will be swept away. Just looking at America, there are political divisions that have destroyed relationships, there are social divisions that have sparked riots around the nation, and there are even religious divisions that have pitted millions against each other. To an unbeliever, this looks like we cannot agree on our own religion. Then not only did they have the Bible, but every Navigator who was anybody at all had to have an index drawn in on the pages of the Bible, a kind of a ladder that gave you a clue to where the books were so that with your thumb you could turn up any book in the Bible almost instantly. Doesnt He deserve better than this? the author asks. There was nothing wrong with them, they were very helpful, but it was not very long before they became status symbols, and they were used to put down, not always intentionally, those who did not have them. These kinds of things happen when there are divisions in a church. Obviously, here at Peninsula Bible Church we cannot do that. I appreciate the perspective given by the author and agree 100% that the body of Christ is divided. I dont remember Paul seeing any thing like these issues as other than trivial. Christ belongs fully to every believer in His spiritual body, the Church. Paul says that he does not preach in cleverness of speech because the power of the gospel lies in the facts of the gospel, and not in any mans presentation of them. In Jesus' name, Amen. It is popularized in the movie Mean Girls. And there were some who said, "Well, when Peter came through, he baptized me. I told them GBC and they said something along the lines of, Oh a Bible college? (1Corinthians 1:10 RSV). They were also not afraid to be mentioned in Pauls letter to the church. WebPaul rebukes the Corinthians because there are divisions and quarrels in the church. One of the celebrities was Paul himself some believers at Corinth actually claimed to be his followers. Now, in one verse he introduces to us the cure for these divisions (Verse17): For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom [literally, "wisdom of words"], lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. The same viewpoints are still dividing people. The human condition is, unfortunately, one of comparison that seeks to place oneself or their beliefs over another. Now, almost every group does this. With all the differences among us, it is impossible to get people to think alike. Phillip J. Message transcript and recording 1978 by Ray Stedman Ministries, owner of sole copyright by assignment from the author. Like Greg, I recognize this tension in some of the churches I have served in and find it appalling (1 Corinthians 3:18-19). It took four viewpoints to report his earthly life and ministry accurately enough to us. If you limit yourself to one speaker or one teacher and feed only on him, you are getting a distorted view of Jesus Christ; you are chopping Christ up, dividing him and taking one little portion as one man reports it and ignoring the rest, thus your view of Christ is deficient and unable to satisfy you as it was intended to do. [Then he thinks of another group that he had baptized] (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Why? We may not all agree on the way to do church but there is definitely more than one effective way. One of the celebrities was Paul himself some believers at Corinth actually claimed to be his followers. In verses 10-12, Paul begins by giving an appeal for unity. Because I am a little defensive it seems like they are almost my enemy. The Corinthian church had many problems, and most of them were the result of pride and placing so much emphasis on social status. But that is a very dangerous attitude, and yet we tend to think of people as being the channel by which deliverance can come to our heart. Phil Long is correct, we have not improved much since the first century. We pray that it may be rich and real in our hearts as we live this week together. WebThe Christians at Corinth were dividing the church by pledging their loyalties to different celebrities. The first noticeable division would be among differing denominations. That is why Paul calls us back to it. Others bragged that they were followers of Peter (1 Corinthians 1:12). 1 Corinthians 1:10: I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.. This Western Church soon became known as the Roman Catholic Church. The Corinthian Church. To resolve this issue, he encourages communal love. Although the modern church has improved in many ways compared to the ancient churches, there is still the issue of division that exists among differing churches as was in the ancient churches. Anyone who claims that he or she has an exclusive part in Christ is wrong. He finds that there is a great deal of parallels between the disciple-teacher relationship in the culture of Corinth and the problem of divisions in the church over the authority of teachers. This division in the church was over their own selfish ambitions evidenced in what they wanted. Like the world, Christians are too concerned with being right and having our way. Like the orators wanted more money from the fees they charged, many pastors just want more people to look better and have a bigger budget. WebAnd you know, that gives me some idea of how important this is to God, because from 1:10 to the ninth verse of the sixteenth Chapter, he just talks about the errors in the church. One eye is purple and swollen! (1Corinthians 1:17 RSV). (1 Corinthians 1:12 RSV) Now, there was the trouble at Corinth. Their divisions, lack of church discipline, lawsuits, abuse of Christian liberty and over-emphasis of the gift of tongues, all illustrate this root problem. He was a rhetorician who was especially capable in the allegorical style of teaching of the Old Testament. These kinds of things happen when there are divisions in a church. One of the celebrities was Paul himself some believers at Corinth actually claimed to be his followers. The bridesmaids have come down the aisle. Alexandria was a center for learning and philosophy. There are three different causes of divisions in churches that Paul mentions in I Corinthians. It is a serious threat to the life of a church to find people choosing favorite preachers, to the degree, at least, that they do not want to listen to anyone else. For instance, in the Greco-Roman culture the practice of teacher-disciple relationships was often common and so many Christian converts in Corinth would associate themselves with a particular teacher and be under their discipleship. Then there were the stylists, those who were attracted by the different kinds of preaching, and they had especially been drawn to Apollos. These are two common causes of church divisions in the West. (Peter, evidently, had been through Corinth and had preached there.) This is really what is behind his disclaimer on baptism in 1 Cor 1:14-16. We feel some sense of connectedness to the teachers (pastors/leaders) whose teachings we sit under while they count us as proof of their effectiveness (numbers). Some Corinthian Christians were dividing over church teachers. His dissertation was published as Jesus the Bridegroom by Pickwick Books in 2012. But yet the apostle says they are to be of the same mind. It is not merely that the Church is everywhere split up into sections, but that this has led to party strife and jealousy. In 2019 he published a commentary. How many of you have ever put together a jigsaw puzzle? They are springing up all over the place, including Downunder (Australia) where I live here in Brisbane. (1Corinthians 1:12 RSV), Now, there was the trouble at Corinth. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, and whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. You and I cant have more of the Lord Jesus Christ, but we can give Him more of ourselves, and experience more fully what is already ours as children of God. 4-The churchs failure to discipline. When the Corinthians divided into factions, it wasnt so much about core doctrine (nature of God, nature of Christ, the Gospel, the nature of man). Its pathetic that people should get so angry about whether drums are used or if the AC unit is kept at 71 or 70. This applies also to the leadership in the church. It is popularized in the movie Mean Girls. Paul condemns their behavior in verse 13 by saying, Has Christ been divided? In other words, have different amounts of Christ been given to different people? The congregation then is to submit to the elders because it has confidence that their decisions were made under the Holy Spirits direction and power. He chooses various channels through which to work. The ground, of course, is the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. The individual leaders should only point them to Christ. In the same way, thats not the way the Church was meant to be fitted together. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Offshoots had disturbed the church. They forget, of course, that the church never belongs to anybody but the Lord. They were caused by Cliques (1:12; 3:4). Some had no problem with consuming meat that had been sacrificed to idols; for others, it was a real offense. WebAnd you know, that gives me some idea of how important this is to God, because from 1:10 to the ninth verse of the sixteenth Chapter, he just talks about the errors in the church. It is well known that division in the church of Corinth was over leadership. Everybody has their denomination and they cling relentless to their doctrinal beliefs. The facts in the gospel are what will set us free, and particularly, he says, the word of the cross. 4-The churchs failure to discipline. A gasp bursts from the guests! Now, here the apostle makes very clear that the tendency among groupies is to distort the meaning of symbols. But it is the exclusiveness that Paul is concerned about here -- people who do not even want to come to a service if someone other than their favorite is preaching. A young pastor who was facing that problem in his church called me this week from another state. These are two common causes of church divisions in the West. I told them that it is a concern of mine as well. Paul goes right on, in Verse12, to describe the forms that these divisions were taking in the church of Corinth: What I mean is that each one of you says, "I belong to Paul," or "I belong to Apollos," or "I belong to Cephas" [another name for Peter], or "I belong to Christ." The Corinthian Church. They failed to take seriously the power of evil; their behavior caused divisions in the church and led to a lack of concern for other members. If someone comes on preaching the doctrines that were emphasized during the Reformation, he will get a great following of people who think that the Reformation was the whole sum and substance of all great Christian truth. WebThe members of the Corinthian church we disunited because they were pledging their allegiance to human leaders rather than God. That is what they were doing with baptism here in Corinth. Now, he describes the nature of unity this way, "that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment." Now, Paul says this is all basically, fundamentally wrong. We do not know who the people were who belonged to the house of Cloe, but we must commend them for their courage and devotion. "I appeal to you," he says, "by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." When I say it gets ignored like an infomercial you probably infer what that means. Now, the Apostle Paul is very concerned about this matter of incipient division in the church at Corinth, and he begins dealing with it in this powerful appeal for unity in Verse10: I appeal to you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no dissensions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. At that time it was under the leadership of its founder, Dawson Trotman, and it was my privilege and delight to be a close friend of his, to have spent a good deal of time with him and to come under the influence of his teaching and his methods. There are some people who minister to us better than others, and it is only natural that we should listen to them and follow them. How important was unity to our Lord Jesus Christ? Paul rejects this disunity, telling the church members to focus on Christ. The most well known one is having worship on Sundays instead of the Sabbath.