August 22, 2004

DIVISIONS IN THE CHURCH

1 Corinthians 1:1-14

   Throughout the ages God has always wanted unity and oneness among His people. "Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity" (Psa. 133:1). The Lord prayed, "That they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they all may be one in Us" (John 17:21). So to Corinth Paul wrote, "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; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (1 Corinthians 1:10).

   This new unity was fragile for Paul had heard of their divisions and contentions. They were choosing sides between Paul, Apollos, Peter, and Christ. Such divisions belied the truth of God which had brought them together, "For by one Spirit" they had been "baptized into one body" (1 Cor. 12:13). Their goal was to "stand fast in one    spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel" (Phil 1:27).

Paul gave examples of himself and Apollos, "for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed...?" (3:3-5). There was no need to take sides, "for all things are yours, whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours...you are Christ's; and Christ is God's" (3:23).

  He explained, "these things ... I have transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that you might learn in us not to think above that which is written, that no one of you should be puffed up for one against another..." (4:6). This "transfer" is the key. Their problem was not exactly taking sides with leaders like Paul, Apollos, Peter, and Christ. Their divisions were taking sides with different leaders among themselves. Paul showed how foolish it was to think of their being divisions between himself and Apollos or any of the others. They were united and worked in harmony. At Corinth the problem was boasting in flesh and taking sides preferring one above another.

Ivan L. Burgener