10 Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, that there be no divisions among you, and that you be united with the same understanding and the same conviction. 11 For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers and sisters, by members of Chloe’s people, that there is rivalry among you. 12 What I am saying is this: One of you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in Paul’s name? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one can say you were baptized in my name. 16 I did, in fact, baptize the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t recall if I baptized anyone else. 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ will not be emptied of its effect.
1 Corinthians 1:10-17 (CSB)
Paul has heard things about the Corinthians. There is division among the church there and it appears that people are breaking up into groups based upon individual leaders. It seems as if people think certain leaders are more imortant and that affiliation with them makes them more important as well. Paul is pointing out that not only is this absurd, it is unacceptable. Paul clearly states that Christ is the one who died for us. Christ is the one we are baptized into. Christ is not divided. Paul even corrects those who think being associated with him is more beneficial. Paul wasn’t crucified for them. They aren’t baptized in his name. He even points out that he only baptized two of them so they can’t even use that as a reason.
Apparently this is a serious issue for Paul because he brings it back up. Chapter 3 sees Paul lamenting the immaturity of the Corinthians. He says that had to give them “milk” because they were not ready for the “solid food” of in depth instruction. He tells that they still aren’t ready because they are still living “wordly” lives. They are comfortable in the shallow end of the pool and Paul wants them to move to deeper water. Envy and strife run rampant because they are acting like “mere humans” and are not living according to the Spirit.
Paul brings the idea of following humans leaders back up. In this case he mentions Apollos and himself. He shows how it is pointless to compare them to one another because God appointed them to do different things.
5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, and each has the role the Lord has given. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So, then, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God’s coworkers. You are God’s field, God’s building.
1 Corinthians 3:5-9 (CSB)
It is important to understand the context here. Paul is discussing division in the Church based upon immature and selfish motives. This is still an issue that still plagues the Church today. We live in a culture that worships celebrity and there are many “celebrity pastors” out there who have built up their own little kingdoms. While that can be good if these individuls are truly preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ but we often see the dark side when they fall. When people are devoted to a certain speaker or a certain congregation instead of being devoted to Christ, they are living the same “wordly” life Paul mentions here.
I do believe Paul’s plea for unity does have other implications. What things in the world today cause division among us? I probably don’t have to list anything do I? I try my best to stay out of political discussions these days because that seems to be the #1 thing that Christians are fighting over. I very rarely hear discussions over theology and doctrine. It’s not that we don’t have different views either but for some reason we keep getting at each other’s throats over something that will not matter in eternity.
On the night he was arrested, Jesus prayed for unity among his followers. I believe that extends to us today. Paul urged the Corinthians to be united in Christ. I believe that also extends to us. Imagine what the Church could accomplish (through the power of the Holy Spirit) if we were truly unted and there was no division.
Grace and peace.
That 80s Pastor Dude 