I used to attend a Navigator group which met in Honolulu on Sunday afternoons. I told them that it is a concern of mine as well. That is always the unifying factor in a church, and that is the mind that is to be among us, the mind that does not consider itself the most important thing. We are so proud of them when they look right, but when things start to fall apart, the church begins to fall apart as well. It tells about the most climactic moment in a wedding ceremony. (1 Corinthians 1:12 RSV) Now, there was the trouble at Corinth. 11My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. So undoubtedly there was a big group that followed Paul. 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. 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. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. To an unbeliever, this looks like we cannot agree on our own religion. Unless its mended, the tear gets bigger and bigger, doesnt it? Some considering Paul their authority, other Apollos, others Peter, and still others accepted only Jesus as their authority. Why? 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. Offshoots had disturbed the church. (1 Corinthians 1:12 RSV) Now, there was the trouble at Corinth. 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. In what ways have we failed to de-paganize? (Phil Long). But when each piece is fitted together into its proper place in the puzzle, you have a beautiful and complete picture. 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). Some of them were saying, "Well, Paul baptized me." In conjunction with this, some people were questioning Pauls character and authority ( 1 Corinthians 14 ). They were dividing over this whole issue, and Paul says it is all wrong. In the body of Christ at large there are many who can make a contribution to the understanding of Christ. Divisions never really ended with Pauls letters; they just appear to have evolved into having more sophisticated names. 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. In the year 1 054 the Church was divided into two parts: 1) The Greek Eastern Church 2) The Roman Western Church. You may recall also that in writing to the church at Ephesus, he exhorted the elders there to be careful to "maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace," (Ephesians 4:3 RSV). It is those who have a financial interest in their own wellbeing, that divide the sheep up into different folds. In fact, there are still many divisions that exist today in modern churches. That is what they were doing with baptism here in Corinth. After all, he was one of the first apostles that Jesus himself called." Paul is putting his finger right on the problem when he asks, "Was Paul crucified for you?" In these cases, there should be freedom to agree to disagree. Gods people who are moving in revival (like we have been to experiencing right here in Brisbane these last few months) have no qualms about getting together to see the nation of Australia come to Christ. What should our evaluation of a ministry look like I wonder if its not by numbers? They became symbols of prestige and standing that became divisive factors among the men. Sometimes a church leader can have so much clout that he begins to have cult status. If we are, all our differences and difficulties would soon come to an end. WebThe Corinthians were basically making a mockery of Communion. 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. I have had to do some degree of battle with this myself. While there can be problems with some (no recognised leadership, disorganised, isolated, cultishness, lack of cohesion etc) they can also produce some of the strongest disciples Ive seen for many years, and yet, they could easily claim to be that fourth division like the one at Corinth the I am of Christ division, where they have no name (no favoured preacher/teacher) but are still divided off. 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. A second issue that seems to keep the church divided (the whole church and individual churches) is the little things such as the structure of the service, the type of music played for worship, whether a pastor should always wear a tie, and what color should be used in the bathroom. 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. The first noticeable division would be among differing denominations. In the same way, thats not the way the Church was meant to be fitted together. Apollos was an intellectual. In Jesus' name, Amen. WebPaul goes right on, in Verse 12, 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." So they said, "When Peter came, we really felt that we were on solid ground. I would agree that we find ourselves in much the same situations as those listening to the Greek philosophers/orators. It wasnt even about secondary doctrine (the second coming, the nature of baptism). They are springing up all over the place, including Downunder (Australia) where I live here in Brisbane. Then youre a Christian right? Even though our conversation could only continue for about 10 more minutes, this issue of divisions within the church arose. His dissertation was published as Jesus the Bridegroom by Pickwick Books in 2012. If so, what results are we shooting for? 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. Like the world, Christians are too concerned with being right and having our way. For permission to use this content, please review 1 Corinthians 1-4 Division in the Church, division in the church of Corinth was over leadership, 1 Corinthians 6:1-8 Lawsuits Among Brothers, Corinthiaka in New Testament Blogs | Corinthian Matters, The Book of Enoch for Beginners: A Guide to Expand Your Understanding of the Biblical World. A gasp bursts from the guests! 5-Members going to pagan courts to settle disputes. Some sued their fellow Christians in the secular courts. 5-Members going to pagan courts to settle disputes. Some Corinthian Christians were dividing over church teachers. Austin Hellier Brisbane Queensland Australia. The Corinthian Church. This is the result of a religious snobbery associated by cliques that produced pride and conflict. The families have been seated. 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! I have had people say to me, "Oh, Mr. Stedman, when you speak I see so clearly! One of the celebrities was Paul himself some believers at Corinth actually claimed to be his followers. He addresses them as brethren. Alexandria was a center for learning and philosophy. 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. Sermon 5: Who is the Most Important? In verse 10 we see both Pauls affection for the Corinthian church, and his authority as an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. WebThe Corinthians were basically making a mockery of Communion. (I have been trying for a long time to get my wife to accept that!) Religious snobs want to be a part of a small group who The Lords Supper was affected by the divisions between rich and poor and an overall general misunderstanding. That is what Paul speaks about. 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. I agree with P. Longs last statement in that things have not improved much since the first century. 1-False prophets (2 Corinthians 11:13). Why are these thing SO important? There are three different causes of divisions in churches that Paul mentions in I Corinthians. WebWhat were the causes of division in the Corinthian Church? WebAccording to Paul, the communitys problems were the consequence of the Corinthians mistaken belief that they had already been exalted. Dio Chrysostom complained that Corinth was filled with wretched sophists, many of whom were debating one another with shouting and abuse near the temple to Poseidon. We all know what a clique is. For example, in the first section from 1:10 to 4:21, it's errors regarding division. Because I am a little defensive it seems like they are almost my enemy. 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). I'm nobody, just like you!" 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. WebThe spirit that wrought such mischief at Corinth has been busy in the Church ever since. It is possible, though, that the divisions among They were boasting over who had baptized them. Polhill says, every Corinthian had their own favorite preacher (237). So rather that detailing their accomplishments as orators, Paul describes their functions (Paul planted, Apollos watered, etc.) 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? This also brings up another Pagan influence which is naming the days of the week after the planets. He says, in effect, "You don't cure divisions in a church by identification badges. The Corinthian church had many problems, and most of them were the result of pride and placing so much emphasis on social status. Other divisions were to follow. We tend to fall out along doctrinal lines or because we are drawn to one charismatic pastor over another. Because the Holy Spirit has but one will, and because a church must be in complete harmony with His will, the leaders must be in complete harmony with each other in that will. 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. But first, it is very clear that he is deeply troubled by this. Now these things were good. He then goes on to explain that it was the Corinthian wisdom that created so much disunity. Long has taught full time at Grace Christian University since 1998, specializing in Bible and Biblical languages. This is a radical principle that we need to understand, because, when you understand the cross, there will be no room left for the divisions of men. He had received a report from the household of Cloe that there were quarrels among the members of the Corinthian church. 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? Its not just the denominations per se any more theres also a proliferation of house churches too. Try it some time. In the year 1 054 the Church was divided into two parts: 1) The Greek Eastern Church 2) The Roman Western Church. The church is never called to having everybody think exactly alike. Message transcript and recording 1978 by Ray Stedman Ministries, owner of sole copyright by assignment from the author. The cross of Christ cuts across all human value systems. We pray that it may be rich and real in our hearts as we live this week together. 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 still have at home the Scofield Reference Bible with the index ladder drawn by him. 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. Like Greg, I recognize this tension in some of the churches I have served in and find it appalling (1 Corinthians 3:18-19). That does not mean that everybody has to think alike. Her hair is messed up! 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. One of them being the reason to follow a specific pastor. A young pastor who was facing that problem in his church called me this week from another state. But yet the apostle says they are to be of the same mind. The church was divided into factions, and one group was urging him to take half the congregation and go to another part of the city and start a new church. This Western Church soon became known as the Roman Catholic Church. Some Corinthian Christians were dividing over church teachers. That is why Paul calls us back to it. WebThe Christians at Corinth were dividing the church by pledging their loyalties to different celebrities. One eye is purple and swollen! You could spot the Navigators going up and down the streets of Honolulu. We go back to the Lord alone. Lovelessness among Christians is not a light thing.. Paul doesnt want these divisions to continue, so he offers them an alternative. 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). 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. No man would ever have planned the cross. But when doctrinal beliefs keep churches from working together to further the gospel. Others bragged that they were followers of Peter (1 Corinthians 1:12). 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? We tend to fall out along doctrinal lines or because we are drawn to one charismatic pastor over another. In 1 Corinthians, Paul consciously avoids disciple-teacher language. 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. Sermon 5: Who is the Most Important? 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- The Churchs division. This is the result of a religious snobbery associated by cliques that produced pride and conflict. 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. I would like to approach it from an evangelistic standpoint. There are those who are emotionally attached to some great Christian leader who has helped them, and they will only listen to him. (Philippians 2:6-8 RSV). There are many other things that do cause serious problems stemming from the outside world. Todays church is a lot like the church of Corinthians. When I say it gets ignored like an infomercial you probably infer what that means. The individual leaders should only point them to Christ. Who are we, that we should put our interests and our desires ahead of that of the Lord for his church? When you get men's eyes off all these status symbols, and call them back away from following men to the Person of Christ and his cross, all the divisions will disappear. The other reason is the division among churches of the same denomination. The organ begins the bridal march, and everyone stands. 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). 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. The word divisions comes from the Greek word schismata, from which we get our English word schism. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. There should be unanimous agreement. 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.. WebAccording to Paul, the communitys problems were the consequence of the Corinthians mistaken belief that they had already been exalted. They are still acting just like the world. This is the challenge of the divisions in 1 Corinthians how does the modern church act just like the world? 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. Doesnt He deserve better than this? the author asks. WebWhat were the causes of division in the Corinthian Church? Whatever you say, I believe." The church at Corinth had divided loyalty to different leaders. In verses 10-12, Paul begins by giving an appeal for unity. When daylight again appeared, they looked for him with renewed energy but still without success. Some followed Apollos whom they honored above Paul (1 Corinthians 1:12; 3:4; Acts 18:24 to 19:1). Four groups had formed in the Corinthian church. If we sacrifice quality for numbers I dont think we are being good stewards of our gift of leadership. Not when we hear of churches with factions or cliques of people who sit on opposite sides of the aisle. Now, we are similar to the ancient world in that some people do see their pastors/teachers as a source of pride. Here in Verse10 he briefly shows us the ground of unity, and the nature of unity in a church. 5-Members going to pagan courts to settle disputes. He come to Corinth to create a community of disciples from which he might receive patronage and prestige. It is possible that these divisions represent competing house churches, some founded by Paul, some by Apollos. Others bragged that they were followers of Peter (1 Corinthians 1:12). 3- The presence of an immoral member. By focusing on Jesus we can see how important the parts of church really are. He recognizes that we share a common life if we have come to Christ; we are brothers and sisters because we have his life in us. I always have, and always will believe that this overly exaggerated concept of denominations is a problem. There are three different causes of divisions in churches that Paul mentions in I Corinthians. If you survey the church scene all over America today, you find people dividing up this way. 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). The countless denominations and different beliefs of Christianity are often not appealing to non-believers. We may not all agree on the way to do church but there is definitely more than one effective way. Paul rejects this disunity, telling the church members to focus on Christ. 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. 3- The presence of an immoral member. 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. We came to life in Christ by Paul, and Paul is the one we're going to listen to above all others." Now, Paul says this is all basically, fundamentally wrong. 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. Subject to permissions policy, all rights reserved. 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 bridesmaids have come down the aisle. 1-False prophets (2 Corinthians 11:13). He started this church. Instead of directly saying that we follow Paul, or Apollos, we say that we are Baptist, Reformed, or even Catholic. Having listened to Pauls words and the prayer of the Lord Jesus Christ, how important is unity to each of us today? This introduces one of the greatest passages in the Bible, setting forth the difference between the wisdom of man and the wisdom of God. 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. I remember a few years ago being at a family congress in St. Louis, Missouri, when one of the evening speakers was Dr.Oswald Hoffman, the very capable and powerful preacher on the Lutheran Hour radio program. 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. I. PAULS APPEAL FOR UNITY (verses 10-12). They are his family in Christ. Everybody has their denomination and they cling relentless to their doctrinal beliefs. And there are others who are drawn to some speaking style that has attracted them. Teaching to be effective first needs to effect/transform the life of the teacher and then connect with those who hear. This is really what is behind his disclaimer on baptism in 1 Cor 1:14-16. The Corinthian Church. 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. Some pigged out at the Lord Supper; others had barely enough to eat.