1 Corinthians 1:10-17
Ps Paul Cheng
Dear Bethelites,
There are a few things that can hurt and weaken a church as much as infighting and disunity among the members. Indeed, divisive issues and divisive people have a terrible effect on the church. When someone comes into your home and tries to destroy your family, what would you do? You react firmly, right? That is precisely what we ought to do against divisiveness in the church.
Whenever the church is disunited, she is disobeying and dishonouring the Lord Jesus Christ. He prayed that the disciples would be united (c.f. John 17:20-21). The disciples of Christ obeyed Him, and after Pentecost (Acts 2), they lived in unity and harmony with one another, continuing steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and prayer. They sold their belongings and shared with those who were lacking. They continued daily with one accord in the temple, praising God and having favour with all the people, and the Lord added to the church daily.
1 Corinthians 1:10a, Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you;
The word beseech is to come alongside someone in order to help correct his sins or shortcomings. A church may be sound in its doctrine but disunity will rob the church of its power and destroy its testimony. A church that is engaged in the gospel work and already facing hostile external enemies cannot afford to have its soldiers fighting amongst themselves. Infighting within the church will give the enemies of the cross an opportunity to attack and the gospel work will be hindered. When there is disharmony, it has to be dealt with; otherwise it will hinder the effectiveness of the church.
Notice, Paul appealed to the Corinthians as brethren, and invoked the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was reminding the Corinthians of their relationship with one another through Christ. They belonged to God’s spiritual family, the church.
Speak the same thing - The way to deal with disunity was to speak the same thing. Nothing can be more confusing than to hear all kinds of speculations and rumours. As far as God’s truth is concerned, there is only one truth, though the application can be many. When people say that there are many schools of thoughts, it is not a compliment but rather an evidence of human weaknesses and limitations. Man cannot properly comprehend God’s truth, that is why they are divided in their understanding.
Heretics - The enemies will take advantage of the situation and teach contrary to the Scriptures. Some people will support their errors, while others who are more discerning, will not accept, and the vast majority will be confused. The entire church is divided!
The original Greek word for divisions is from where the English word for “schism” was derived, which means to tear apart, or separate. When Jesus was preaching in Jerusalem, the people could not agree on who He was; some believed He was the Great Prophet, others thought He was the Christ, yet others could not agree from where He came from. So there was a division among the people because of him (John 7:43).
Here, Paul was not referring to those who preach heresies but rather those who divided the church into fractions by drawing the people to themselves (c.f. Romans 16:17). Oftentimes such people are capable, knowledgeable and articulative, as they are able to teach and preach, and people would look up to them. Soon, they would be elected as office-bearers, but problems would develop quickly. These so-called teachers or leaders would begin to push particular points of doctrine to the exclusion of other equally important truths. They are critical of people who do not see things as they do, or join them in their own personal convictions. When they realize that not everyone agrees with them, these divisive teachers or leaders would pull their own followers out of the church. Then they would attack the church from without. Throughout history, nothing has plagued the church of Jesus Christ more than division.
Divisive people can be difficult to identify. But one can detect them through their whisperings and private one-to-one meetings which are always instrumental in their “trade.
Sadly, many would become their victims thinking that they are just trying to help by offering advice, but in reality, they are causing divisions in the church. How can we prevent ourselves from being a participant in divisive work? Perhaps, in all our conversations, we need to ask the following questions;
- Am I saying things that agree with the Bible?
- Am I saying things that honour my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ?
- Am I saying things that help myself and the people to be more-godly?
- Am I saying things that cause others to think more highly of myself?
When Paul exhorted the Roman Christians on how to deal with divisive people, he did not tell them to debate with the false teachers or try to prove them wrong, but to mark them and avoid them. While Paul was in Athens, he reasoned with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles in the synagogue and marketplace, and the Greek philosophers on Mars hill (Acts 17). But never once did he provide a platform for those false teachers to promote their false and perverted gospel. Such people are not to be given a platform for them to propagate their heresies but to be denounced.
Mark them - The original word for mark them (skopeo) was from where the English word “scope” was derived (e.g. telescope, microscope). It has the idea of looking at or observing something with intensity. In other words, to mark them means to come to a conclusion after careful examination and scrutiny.
Avoid them - To avoid them is to turn away from them. The right response of believers to those who cause divisions, especially those who teach their heresies under the pretence of Christianity, is not to debate or dialogue with them They are to turn away, and reject what they teach, and protect the other fellow believers, especially new converts and spiritually immature believers from being deceived, confused and misled. To avoid them would also include not attending their churches and meetings, or listening to their sermon audio, or buying their books.
1 Corinthians 1:10b, ...but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. The only way we can be joined together in the same mind is when our minds are renewed by the Word of God. Then subsequently, we will have the same judgment, as in the same opinion, advice and counsel. When we have the Word of God as the lamp unto our feet and the light unto our path, we will be able to agree in our standards, attitudes, decisions and principles of spiritual living.
1 Corinthians 1:11, For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
The Apostle Paul had ministered in Corinth for about one and a half years. After that, he sent Apollos to be the second pastor. Apparently, a group of Jews in the church had been saved under Peter’s ministry; therefore different groups were formed under these men. Paul was informed about the divisions from those which are of the house of Chloe, who were apparently members of the Corinthian church. They either informed Paul through letters or when they visited him in Ephesus. Praise God for their boldness that they were not afraid of being mentioned by Paul in his letter to the Corinthians. One can imagine that this letter would be read out to everyone, including those people who created the division.
Most people did not want to be quoted, or viewed as the ones who highlighted the issue. Not these brethren from the house of Chloe! Obviously, they loved the church and were willing to stand for the truth and righteousness.
1 Corinthians 1:12, Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
The Corinthians were divided into these four prominent groups, Paul, Apollos, Peter and Christ. It is not difficult to imagine some would say, “We belong to Paul’s group.” Others would say, “Paul is no longer our pastor. Apollos is now our pastor.” Others would say, “Paul and Apollos have never been with Jesus for as long as Peter. He was with Christ from the beginning of His ministry. We belong to Peter’s group.”
Then there would be the rest who say, “We do not recognise any human preachers, teachers or pastors. We belong to Christ’s group.” God gave the leaders to unite the people, not to divide them!
Sometimes one may have a special affection for the person who had led him to Christ, or a pastor who has fed him the Word for many years, or a Sunday school teacher who has counselled and helped him. There is nothing wrong with that, but when such affections caused him to take special pride in being closely associated with those people, or take precedence over God, then it is sin.
Most certainly, Paul was distraught and said, 1 Corinthians 1:13. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? Paul was quick to correct whatever misconstrued ideas about him, for he was never crucified for anyone and many of the Christians were not baptized by him. Most vitally, he did not want to rob the loyalty that belongs only to the Lord.
1 Corinthians 1:14-15, I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. Crispus was the leader of the synagogue in Corinth (Acts 18:8), and Gaius was another brethren mentioned in the book of Romans (Romans 16:23). No pastor ought to give the impression that the candidates were baptized in his name, save Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:16, And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
Paul was not certain of the exact number he had baptized in Corinth. It is worthy to note that when it concerned the things of God, Paul could remember, but regarding those things he had done, he could not remember. Such a person was always consumed with the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 1:17, For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
Paul’s primary call was to preach the gospel. His main ministry was to propagate the gospel, establish churches, ordain pastors and elders in those churches, and then he would move to another location and preach the gospel. Those local pastors would be the ones who conducted the baptism, not Paul.
We love Bethel BP Church and want the people to be united, encouraged and edified by the preaching of God’s Word, and be involved in missions. But if our church is divided, then we cannot be an effective church to minister to the people. It is everyone’s duty to protect the church, to stop those divisive people who seek to destroy the church we love so dearly. We need to mark, avoid and disassociate ourselves from such people, and we may even need to exercise church discipline. If we tolerate such divisive behaviours in the church, sooner or later, the church will be divided!
With love in Christ,
Pastor Paul Cheng