I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other.
Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.
1 Corinthians 1:10 New Living Translation
‘IMPOSSIBLE !’ you say. Impossible in Corinth.. and certainly impossible in our local Common Era Church.
This is the challenge of the Apostle in his exhortation for the Corinthians who Paul has addressed so graciously in his introduction.
1 Corinthians 1 – 4
The Apostle’s approach, translated variously in 1 Corinthians 1:10 sets both the tone and outline of his epistle:
- Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.. – KJV
- Now I plead with you.. – NKJV
- I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ.. – NLT
- Now I urge you, brothers and sisters.. – CSB
- Now I exhort you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you.. – 1 Cor 10a LSB
παρακαλέω – parakaleō – Lexicon :: Strong’s G3870 – parakaleō
to call near, i.e. invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation):—beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort(-ation), intreat, pray.
How to sustain a CHURCH in the Gospel
Paul loves these people of the Corinthian church to whom the apostle writes from Ephesus.
He is beholden to this church he started across the Aegean in a city embracing every imaginable sin – Corinth, where many Greeks and some Jews received the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ by the Spirit through his witness.
SO HOW IS PAUL TO APPROACH THESE CORINTHIANS SIMPLY BY SENDING A LETTER TO THEIR CHURCH?
Corinth is a large administrative capital where important policies of ROME must be managed wisely every day.
Even well-educated Roman Centurions and well-to-do families recognized the benefits of applying a Greek-style wisdom and logic to the goals of their everyday lives.
The Jews and their religious traditions have an acceptable presence in Corinth as well.
ANSWER:
"The Wisdom of the Cross Purifies and Unites Believers, the Wisdom of the World Pollutes and Divides."
- Kress Biblical Resources Overview Outline of
1 Corinthians
The Wisdom of the Cross
TODAY we will examine Paul's initial approach ONLY from the beginning of 1 Corinthians.
The Apostle will address more relationships of Christians and the CROSS later in his epistle, but Paul begins with the ROLES of certain people (ministers).
The wisdom of the cross and Christian ministers
Problem #1
For I have been informed concerning you, my brothers, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you.
1 Corinthians 1:11 LSB
Rumor?
Hearsay?
YOU heard THAT about OUR church?
A.D. 55 – the Corinthian Church
What is evident here is that the Apostle has been and is in communication with this church he started back in Corinth. His sources are both reliable and concerned for the right outcomes of their church ministry.
Kress Biblical Resources provides a helpful outline of Paul's approach to this problem of CHURCH QUARRELS.
The Apostles first states
- the report of divisions over Christian ministers, THEN
- rebukes their divisions over Christian ministers, and finally
- Paul provides the remedy for divisions over Christian ministers
ἔρις quarrels
BEWARE, Christian leader (minister), these divisions could divide and conquer a church once faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ.
ἔρις éris, er'-is; of uncertain affinity; a quarrel, i.e. (by implication) wrangling:—contention, debate, strife, variance.
Note the gravity of some headings from 1 Corinthians:
- Sectarianism Is Sin – NKJV
- Divisions in the Church – ESV
- Taking Sides – Contemporary English Version
- A Church Divided Over Leaders – NIV
A.D. 49 – Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians
Paul, in writing to the Galatians six years ago back in A.D. 49 included the same Greek word, translated as ‘strife,’ in a list of what NOT to do.
Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Paul’s Letter to the Galatians 5:19-21 LSB
Whether is was the ‘foolish‘ Galatians, these Corinthians or YOUR CHURCH, quarreling and strife are serious challenges of the flesh which work against ministers of the Gospel.
Paul contrasts OUR expected behavior to such foolish quarrels.
Now those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Galatians 5:24 LSB
1 Corinthians 1:10-
Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 1:12 NKJV
Note Paul’s list from divisions include Christ in addition to Peter and Apollos, the powerful preacher who had followed Paul in Corinth.
The Apostle then asks:
- Has Christ been divided?
- Was Paul crucified for you?
- Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
ALL with the same implication for Peter or Apollos or whatever PREACHER they might follow in the place of CHRIST.
Paul disavows any loyalty to any other than Christ, taking no side of any Corinthian (or any other) claimant of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul’s summary of the Corinthian Report
I thank God that I baptized none of you…
Paul mentions a recalled exception [v.14] of Crispus, Gaius, and [v.16] also the household of Stephanas which mentions later in his epistle.
For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom or words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
gar christos apostellō me ou baptizō alla euangelizō ou en sophia logo ina mē ho stauros christos kenoō
1 Corinthians 1:17 οὐ γὰρ ἀπέστειλέν με Χριστὸς βαπτίζειν ἀλλ᾽ εὐαγγελίζεσθαι οὐκ ἐν σοφίᾳ λόγου ἵνα μὴ κενωθῇ ὁ σταυρὸς τοῦ Χριστοῦ
Again, the context of Corinth is Greek as an international language and philosophy of an authoritarian ROMAN EMPIRE which created the culture of the Corinthians and Judeans and everybody else.
NEXT, God-willing, the Apostle’s rebuke of ministers
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