The church in Corinth was a group of people who were tearing themselves apart! Ridiculous? 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. Religious snobs want to be a part of a small group who 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 took four viewpoints to report his earthly life and ministry accurately enough to us. From the book of Acts we learn that Apollos was an outstanding orator in a world that loved and appreciated oratory. I told them that it is a concern of mine as well. If I was not raised in a Christian home, I think that I would have the same concerns. Its pathetic that people should get so angry about whether drums are used or if the AC unit is kept at 71 or 70. Sermon 5: Who is the Most Important? Now to this, there should be a division that exists considering that there are some denominations that do teach correct biblical doctrine, while other churches deviate from correct biblical doctrine in order to teach their own false doctrines. The Corinthian church had many problems, and most of them were the result of pride and placing so much emphasis on social status. The groom and his attendants are in their places. He had received a report from the household of Cloe that there were quarrels among the members of the Corinthian church. The members started to develop division following different leaders. 2- The Churchs division. We need to be perfectly joined together in the love of Christ. I Corinthians 12:12,13 says, For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. WebPaul rebukes the Corinthians because there are divisions and quarrels in the church. 4-The churchs failure to discipline. The first thing Paul says is that it tends to chop up Christ and parcel him out as though his person and his work came in various packages, thus you lose perspective of the whole of Christian theology. The organ begins the bridal march, and everyone stands. The word divisions comes from the Greek word schismata, from which we get our English word schism. The church at Corinth had divided loyalty to different leaders. The Corinthian Church. I thank God that only a few of you can say that about me." There was still a fourth group, and in some ways I think they were probably the worst. In the year 1 054 the Church was divided into two parts: 1) The Greek Eastern Church 2) The Roman Western Church. Verse 12 tells us the source of this problem. We, as the modern church, say that we hold to Pauls message that we shouldnt be conformed to this world, but when we look at the world, there seem to be just as many divisions. For example, in the first section from 1:10 to 4:21, it's errors regarding division. These are not the only causes of divisions in churches today. He was introduced in a rather extended and flowery way, but he came on and in his great, booming voice said, "I'm not Dr.Oswald Hoffman, the great preacher of the Lutheran Hour. Galatians: Freedom through Gods Grace (Wipf & Stock, 2019). Lovelessness among Christians is not a light thing.. I find there are these tendencies right here in Peninsula Bible Church. And he speaks in the name of or by the authority of, our Lord Jesus Christ. Going off of what Cody is saying, in todays church everything needs to be just right. These kinds of things happen when there are divisions in a church. 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." Some followed Apollos whom they honored above Paul (1 Corinthians 1:12; 3:4; Acts 18:24 to 19:1). If I am not out of line I seem to remember that Constantine played a large role in allowing Pagan influences back into the Christian Life. 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. Sermon 5: Who is the Most Important? 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. It is possible, though, that the divisions among Paul doesnt want these divisions to continue, so he offers them an alternative. 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. A. Was Paul crucified for you? It is well known that division in the church of Corinth was over leadership. We get so off track of what Christianity is all aboutMark 12:30-31 and begin focusing on worldly things like Rob Bell debated are actually being held to see if this Pastor is even Christian! We worry about how the power points are going to look, if we should have one or two singers, drums or no drums, electric guitars or none at all (I feel like you get my point) its almost as if we worship these things! Have you ever tried to put a jigsaw puzzle together with the pieces turned upside down so that they are all blank? But you could always tell a Navigator because there were three things that he always had: First, he had a Scofield Reference Bible tucked under his arm. Lovelessness among Christians is not a light thing.. This is the result of a religious snobbery associated by cliques that produced pride and conflict. Religious snobs want to be a part of a small group who In 1 Corinthians, Paul consciously avoids disciple-teacher language. It is extremely important. 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. All are mere teachers; there is only one Lord. In verses 10-17 of Chapter 1, Paul establishes the fact that there are divisions and begins to deal with them. I was taking my break and a person I work with asked where I went to college. The Corinthian church had many problems, and most of them were the result of pride and placing so much emphasis on social status. Christ belongs fully to every believer in His spiritual body, the Church. It is possible that these divisions represent competing house churches, some founded by Paul, some by Apollos. Apollos was an intellectual. I think that if you put the teachings of a man over the teachings of Scripture then you have a problem. By focusing on Jesus we can see how important the parts of church really are. 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. Bruises show on her arm! When you divide up among men you lose something, that is what he is saying. They forget, of course, that the church never belongs to anybody but the Lord. Austin Hellier Brisbane Queensland Australia. There should be oneness of mind, no matter how long it takes. (I have been trying for a long time to get my wife to accept that!) Some considering Paul their authority, other Apollos, others Peter, and still others accepted only Jesus as their authority. RayStedman.org/permissions. Help me walk from day to day, with its shadows o'er me. The Lord Jesus is praying to the Father, and this is part of His prayer for us: I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one; even as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be one in Us; that the world may believe that You sent Me. It builds him up too much; it makes him a rival, to some degree, of the Lord himself. In verse 11, Paul gives the reason for his appeal for unity in the church at Corinth. Phil Long is correct, we have not improved much since the first century. Some pigged out at the Lord Supper; others had barely enough to eat. In fact, there are still many divisions that exist today in modern churches. Instead of tearing themselves apart, he urges them to be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. 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. Her gown is ripped and covered with mud! This Western Church soon became known as the Roman Catholic Church. 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. 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. Not when we hear of churches with factions or cliques of people who sit on opposite sides of the aisle. It is not merely that the Church is everywhere split up into sections, but that this has led to party strife and jealousy. This doesnt mean that they have to agree on the minutest points in areas where there is no clear teaching in Scripture. These kinds of things happen when there are divisions in a church. To resolve this issue, he encourages communal love. When I say worn out I mean people say that it is not usable in the modern world so its words become little more than foot rests in the pew. "One is your master; all of you are brothers," (Matthew 23:8 KJV). Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. The divisions of Christendom are the scandal of Christianity. We tend to fall out along doctrinal lines or because we are drawn to one charismatic pastor over another. Today we have followers of Rob Bell, Rick Warren, and even Joel Osteen (for some reason). Everybody has their denomination and they cling relentless to their doctrinal beliefs. Paul rejects this disunity, telling the church members to focus on Christ. He started this church. I always have, and always will believe that this overly exaggerated concept of denominations is a problem. WebThe spirit that wrought such mischief at Corinth has been busy in the Church ever since. Paul gives the church a stern warning about their actions and the proper way to participate. Public arguments were commonplace in the Greco-Roman world at the time that Paul was writing to the Corinthian church. We are of Peter." Some considering Paul their authority, other Apollos, others Peter, and still others accepted only Jesus as their authority. These are two common causes of church divisions in the West. The members started to develop division following different leaders. This word was normally used to refer to a tear in a garment. Throughout this 2000 year process of normalizing divisions among believers, we have consistently neglected the fact we Jesus should unite us, and unless we choose to make a change, we will continue to forget this fact. There are three different causes of divisions in churches that Paul mentions in I Corinthians. The church at Corinth had divided loyalty to different leaders. It was considered honorable for you to stand up for yourself in this way. God only sees one fold, (John 10) and there is only one faith, one Lord, one baptism etc. (I suppose that if Dio were commenting on the modern world, he would describe the wretched bloggers shouting abuse at the temple of WordPress!). (1Corinthians 1:17 RSV). Now, Paul says this is all basically, fundamentally wrong. Many of us are familiar with this common phenomenon in human psychology of thinking that some symbolic thing that is of use to us is so important that we finally make it a badge of the group to which we belong. [Then he thinks of another group that he had baptized] (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Like I talked about in the first posting, the emerging church makes me question a lot of things they are doing. To resolve this issue, he encourages communal love. That is what Paul speaks about. Offshoots had disturbed the church. Others bragged that they were followers of Peter (1 Corinthians 1:12). This issue was so important that Paul devotes the first four chapters of I Corinthians to divisions in the church. This Western Church soon became known as the Roman Catholic Church. Phillip J. I do not identify my self as being a follower of anybody but Jesus (although there are certain theologians that I do hold in higher regard than others). This also brings up another Pagan influence which is naming the days of the week after the planets. Not even a three-fourths vote should carry a motion. We all know what a clique is. The Greek word used here literally means to say the same thing. Their divisions, lack of church discipline, lawsuits, abuse of Christian liberty and over-emphasis of the gift of tongues, all illustrate this root problem. The cross of Christ is what will heal the fragmentation of Christians wherever they are. Paul rejects this disunity, telling the church members to focus on Christ. 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. In verse 11, Paul gives the reason for his appeal for unity in the church at Corinth. 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. A. It is possible, though, that the divisions among 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). They love to listen to someone because he turns them on emotionally. Doesnt He deserve better than this? the author asks. This division in the church was over their own selfish ambitions evidenced in what they wanted. A number of churches in this postmodern era have begun to resemble the Corinthian church in alarming ways. (1 Corinthians 1:12 RSV) Now, there was the trouble at Corinth. WebThe Corinthians were basically making a mockery of Communion. What is a clique? It is possible that these divisions represent competing house churches, some founded by Paul, some by Apollos. Paul gives the church a stern warning about their actions and the proper way to participate. 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. 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). The bride is limping! One of the celebrities was Paul himself some believers at Corinth actually claimed to be his followers. It was a glorious work. 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. The Corinthian Church. 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.. Obviously, here at Peninsula Bible Church we cannot do that. Other divisions were to follow. Like the world, Christians are too concerned with being right and having our way. Sometimes a church leader can have so much clout that he begins to have cult status. Conclusion. If you will turn in your Bibles with me to John 17:20-23, I will read the passage to you. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. Their relationship to Christ was the unifying factor of the church. I do not think things have improved much since the first century. Alexandria was a center for learning and philosophy. The bibles need to match the pews which need to match the carpet which need to match the wall color. As a young Christian in my early twenties during World WarII, I was stationed in Hawaii, and I became acquainted with the work of the Navigators. I told them that I do not foresee and end to these divisions anytime soon (sadly). Its all about who looks the best, how much money is made, and how big our churches are. It is well known that division in the church of Corinth was over leadership. To all of this Paul would say to us, as he says to Corinth, Is Christ divided? Now, we all have our favorite preacher, and up to a point that is not wrong. He had received a report from the household of Cloe that there were quarrels among the members of the Corinthian church. Polhill says, every Corinthian had their own favorite preacher (237). With all the differences among us, it is impossible to get people to think alike. These preachers draw in masses of people every week who are eager to hear them speak. 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. 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. There are several important terms in this passage. In verse 11, Paul gives the reason for his appeal for unity in the church at Corinth. Teaching to be effective first needs to effect/transform the life of the teacher and then connect with those who hear. Webdivided. Now, in Verse13 you understand why. 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. He then goes on to describe for us the mind of Christ, which is a willingness to give up rights and personal privileges and give in and take a lower place. 3- The presence of an immoral member. 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. He is the ground, always, of unity. My answer was that it all depends on the motive. The most well known one is having worship on Sundays instead of the Sabbath. Paul, however, was a good leader. For example, in the first section from 1:10 to 4:21, it's errors regarding division. He does not say we should stop baptizing because of this problem. There was nothing wrong with Paul baptizing people, but Paul didnt want people to boast about the fact that he baptized them. 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. And if you were really on the inside circle, your ladder was drawn by none other than Dawson Trotman himself! There is no other name big enough, great enough, glorious enough, and powerful enough to gather everybody together, despite the diversity of viewpoint and the differences of background or status in life, than the name of Jesus. 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. The church at Corinth had divided loyalty to different leaders. 6-Members defiling the Lords Supper. For a local church to be spiritually healthy and effective, and for there to be harmony in the local church, there must be doctrinal unity. WebWhat were the causes of division in the Corinthian Church? 6-Members defiling the Lords Supper. In the same way, thats not the way the Church was meant to be fitted together. Conclusion. Not when one part of the congregation meets in one part of the building, and the other part of the congregation meets in another spot. Four groups had formed in the Corinthian church. Yet, in reality as long as correct biblical doctrine is being taught no pastor should be viewed in comparison to one another. The better the orator, the higher the fee, and the more disciples he will attract. WebPaul rebukes the Corinthians because there are divisions and quarrels in the church. 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. The facts in the gospel are what will set us free, and particularly, he says, the word of the cross. Anyone who claims that he or she has an exclusive part in Christ is wrong. Now, how could that be? 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.. And more than that, we have a responsibility to obey him, to follow his Lordship. Her nose is bloody! These kinds of things happen when there are divisions in a church. The third danger of groups is given in the latter part of Verse13, and on through the next few verses: Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 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. I would agree that we find ourselves in much the same situations as those listening to the Greek philosophers/orators. There are those who are emotionally attached to some great Christian leader who has helped them, and they will only listen to him. I still have at home the Scofield Reference Bible with the index ladder drawn by him. This is a very propitious time for us to consider the cross for this is Palm Sunday, commemorating the day when our Lord entered Jerusalem for his last week. What happens when you get a tear in a piece of clothing and you keep washing and wearing that piece of clothing with the tear in it? WebAccording to Paul, the communitys problems were the consequence of the Corinthians mistaken belief that they had already been exalted. Therefore, the only basis upon which you can get Christians to agree is by setting before them the Person of the Lord Jesus, and calling them back to that fundamental base. How important is it that there be unity in the Church where you fellowship? It is popularized in the movie Mean Girls. The anxiety of the childs mother continued to grow, for she knew that her boy was somewhere out in the darkness where wild animals were constantly on the prowl. Its not just the denominations per se any more theres also a proliferation of house churches too. In verse 11, Paul gives the reason for his appeal for unity in the church at Corinth. Unless its mended, the tear gets bigger and bigger, doesnt it? 1-False prophets (2 Corinthians 11:13). 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?. In her book, The Key to a Loving Heart, Karen Mains includes a parable about the church entitled The Brawling Bride. Whatever you say, I believe." Like Greg, I recognize this tension in some of the churches I have served in and find it appalling (1 Corinthians 3:18-19). 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. WebThe members of the Corinthian church we disunited because they were pledging their allegiance to human leaders rather than God. You could spot the Navigators going up and down the streets of Honolulu. So rather that detailing their accomplishments as orators, Paul describes their functions (Paul planted, Apollos watered, etc.) 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). Offshoots had disturbed the church. He was a rhetorician who was especially capable in the allegorical style of teaching of the Old Testament. How important was unity to our Lord Jesus Christ? Only the Lord Jesus Christ could pay the penalty for our sins because only He is the Son of God. The news went out but no one had seen the little fellow. 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. One of them being the reason to follow a specific pastor. The Lords Supper was affected by the divisions between rich and poor and an overall general misunderstanding. We see similar situations today, with political debates often devolving into a shouting match in which the person who yells their opinion the loudest and the longest is the winner. In verse 17, Paul says that his calling of God was to preach the Gospel, and the focus of the Gospel is the cross of Christ. 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 Christians at Corinth were dividing the church by pledging their loyalties to different celebrities. The Protestant Reformation had its beginnings in 1517 (see Chapter 1 0). Something shows up sooner or later as an identifying badge that marks them as "special," with special privilege and special status in that group. Each group claimed to be better than the others, and party spirits began to grow 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. 2 Corinthians Will we do so by the strength which God alone can and will supply? 5-Members going to pagan courts to settle disputes. There has been no other cure that I know of through the years. "I appeal to you," he says, "by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." In the year 1 054 the Church was divided into two parts: 1) The Greek Eastern Church 2) The Roman Western Church. There are three different causes of divisions in churches that Paul mentions in I Corinthians. They would have the Scofield Reference Bible and a notebook under one arm, and you knew that if you examined their Bibles you would find the ladder index on the pages. I have had people say to me, "Oh, Mr. Stedman, when you speak I see so clearly! 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. Christians are all disciples, or better, stewards and servants of the mysteries of God (1 Cor 4:1). I personally experienced this at work about a year and a half ago. So they said, "When Peter came, we really felt that we were on solid ground. Having listened to Pauls words and the prayer of the Lord Jesus Christ, how important is unity to each of us today? To resolve this issue, he encourages communal love. They were caused by Cliques (1:12; 3:4). How many of you have ever put together a jigsaw puzzle? 11My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. I was unaware of this connection before now but it really makes sense. Now, here the apostle makes very clear that the tendency among groupies is to distort the meaning of symbols. This division in the church was over their own selfish ambitions evidenced in what they wanted. Paul does not want to be considered a philosopher who is gathering disciples, nor does he want that for Apollos or Peter or any man. These are not the only causes of divisions in churches today. Then comes that great Christological passage where he describes how Christ, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. However, I would like to approach this in a different way than the comments already present here. I would like to approach it from an evangelistic standpoint. They embraced the values of their Roman society, which divided over ethnicity (e.g., Jews vs. Gentiles) and social rank (wise vs. foolish, powerful