Divisions

1Corinthians 1:10-13 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it has been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you said, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

‘By the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you.’ Three exhortations by Christ’s authority: That you speak the same things; that there be no divisions among you and that you be unified in all things.

Jesus prayed for the unity of believers (John 17:11, 21-22).

‘Divisions’ [Greek: schism] From a split or gap (“schism”), literally or figuratively: division, rent or schism.

‘Declared’ [Greek: deloo] ]to make manifest (3:13; Col. 1:8; Heb. 9:8; 12:27).

‘Them which are of the house of Chloe’ – perhaps the ones of 1 Corinthians 16:17 who had come from Corinth to make known the conditions of the congregation to Paul. They perhaps were sons of Chloe, a very prominent person in Corinth.

‘Contentions’ [Greek: eris] Strife (Rom. 13:13; 1Cor. 3:3; Php. 1:15; 1Tim. 6:4); contention (1:11; Tit. 3:9); debate (Rom. 1:29; 2Cor. 12:20); and variance (Gal. 5:20). These contentions were caused by the divisions of 1 Corinthians 1:10.

‘Every one of you said, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.’ Four main parties in Corinth: Paulians – followers of Paul, because he founded the congregation (Acts 18:1-7), and because he was a special apostle to the Gentiles (Rom. 11:13). Apollonians – followers of Apollos, because of his eloquence (Acts 18:24-19:1). Cephians – followers of Peter, because he was the apostle to the Jews (Gal. 2:7-10). Christians – followers of Christ, because they would have nothing to do with parties that followed people (1Cor. 1:12)

‘Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were you baptized in the name of Paul?’ Paul, Apollos and Peter were followers of Jesus Christ and rebuked those who followed them instead of Jesus Christ. There can be no divisions in the body of Christ.

Romans 16:17 warns us to be alert for those who cause divisions and have no religious fellowship with them that the flock may be protected; 1 Corinthians 3:3 warns that envying led to strife and evil speaking, and that led to divisions and fixed parties; 1 Corinthians 11:18-19 talks about the divisions amongst the congregation of Corinth and that there must be heresies among them, that they which are approved may be made manifested.