Divisions in the Church

I Corinthians 1:10–17
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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.