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1 Corinthians 3 Meat for Ministers
and Milk for New Babes

In his letter to the Corinthians the Apostle typically begins with encouragement.

I always thank my God for you because of the grace of God given to you in Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in him in every way, in all speech and all knowledge.
Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians 1:4-5 CSB

And Paul will, as is his custom, close this epistle written in Greek with the same personalness of the Lord Jesus.

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with all of you in Christ Jesus.
I Corinthians 16:23-24 CSB

However HERE in the meat of his message Paul addresses the Corinthian church most pointedly, especially its ministers and leaders.

AND the Apostle also will close with a CURSE of those who would divide Christ by their own means.

If anyone does not love the Lord [does not obey and respect and believe in Jesus Christ and His message], he is to be accursed. Maranatha (O our Lord, come)!
1 Corinthians 16:22 AMP

1 Corinthians 3:
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Lest we take a more common casual contemporary approach let us begin with the King James Version.
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And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
1 Corinthians 3:1-2 KJV

for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?
1 Corinthians 3:3 NKJV
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There it is: the Apostle's initial summary of the problem reported to him of the Corinthian church. 

NOTE a few of the HEADINGS various Bibles use for their serious doctrinal issues:
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- The Church and Its Leaders
- Divisions in the Church
- Sectarianism Is Carnal
- Jesus Christ, Our Foundation
- But I cannot yet call you spiritual
Are you Spiritual? OR Carnal?

Christian, (brother, as Paul addresses the Corinthian readers, who would also read the Apostle’s letter to the whole church, including women) — Dear MINISTER to your Corinthian community — HAVE YOU RECEIVED CHRIST?

or DO you just lift up the preaching of one minister over the teaching of another?

For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?
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HEAR in your heart Paul's CONTRAST of those gathered together as the Corinthian church.
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πνευματικός – pneumatikos

Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit
1 Corinthians 3:1a NIV

AND the Apostle has already brought our consequent condition IN CHRIST to the forefront.

ANNOUNCEMENT of the Testimony of GOD

1 Corinthians 2

These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual…

But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.
1 Corinthians 2:15 NKJV
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Judge ALL things, 
 yet judge NO ONE.

Are you and your church doing any better than the Corinthians?
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Fleshy Carnal ‘christians‘

Paul points to those unbelievers from the world who join us to worship God.

WE ought to influence those who are BABES in their FLESH and FAITH without including their carnality so as to be like them.

CARNAL iS NOT a nice enough word to describe someone sitting next to you on Sunday in your evangelical 21st century C.E. ‘church‘ is it?
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Never-the-less, WE all know what WE are by NATURE 
and what we were before confessing Christ.
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Some translations of the BIBLE describe our carnal ‘worldliness‘ as IN THE FLESH.

The KJV translates Strong’s G4559 in the following manner: carnal (9x), fleshly (2x).
- having the nature of flesh, i.e. under the control of the animal appetites
  - governed by mere human nature not by the Spirit of God
  - having its seat in the animal nature or aroused by the animal nature
  - human: with the included idea of depravity
The Humanist by embracing ALL humanity denies our demonstrable depravity as godless creatures of desire.
Roger@TalkofJesus.com

PAUL had nurtured the Corinthians with SPIRITUAL MILK as babes at the breast. The Corinthians, a NEW church of Hellenists, naturally admired oratory and great emotional appeals. Christ through Paul adopted these children (though they were adults) drawn even as Greeks to this JESUS of the JEWS.

Powerful Preaching to powerless Christians

Luke describes Apollos’ preaching as eloquent

I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal.
1 Corinthians 3:2-3a NKJV
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IS IT STILL THE MILK YOU REQUIRE, BELOVED EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN OF THIS COMMON ERA TIME AND PLACE?
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What makes US Carnal?

Paul tells the Corinthian believers what to judge — how to identify in others MINISTERS claiming Christ.
- ζῆλος – zēlos – ENVYING
- ἔρις – eris – STRIFE
- διχοστασία – dichostasia – DIVISIONS among you
After sending a second letter to the Corinthians next year, Paul will write to the Romans in A.D. 57:

Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.
Romans 16:17 NKJV
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In essence, give them back to the world and the enemy of Christ.
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Mere Men, Mere Ministers
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NKJV 3:4 
For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?

The rhetorical QUESTION of personal accountability in Greek reads:

οὐκ ἄνθρωποί ἐστε

(I imagine that you will recognize the word.)
more literally:
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eimi [are you] ou [not] anthrōpos
- LSB v.3 for you are still fleshly [sarkikos]
- .. are you not fleshly [sarkikos]
- are you not walking like mere men? [anthrōpos]?
- are you not carnal [sarkikos] and behaving like mere men [anthrōpos]?
- v.4 .. ARE YOU NOT anthrōpos?
The Apostle goes on to point out through his apologia that PERSONALITIES do not matter OR who it was that BAPTIZED you (where you publically confessed to ALL that JESUS CHRIST is LORD!)

Ministers of Christ

5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one?
1 Corinthians 3:5 NKJV

The Apostle had pointed to their divisions by minister and he will mention Peter [Cephas] even more in his rebuke of their schisms.
- Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, “I am of Paul,” and “I of Apollos,” and “I of Cephas,” and “I of Christ.” – 1 Cor. 1:12
- whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, – 1 Corinthians 3:22 LSB
Paul uses imagery of sowing [planting a new church in various places] and watering [the very symbol of baptism, cleansing and in a sense the milk of pure nourishment required for growth].

I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.

So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.

8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one..
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one? (as opposed to divided?)

What does the Apostle mean by this?
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Paul will later emphasize the ONENESS of spirit in ministers of the church writing later in this letter:

But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.

For even as the body is one^G1520 and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one^G1520 body, so also is Christ.
1 Corinthians 6:17; 12:12 LSB

3:8b ..and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

9a For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field..

the Reward of your Labor
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The Apostle now changes the metaphor and picture of faith for the Corinthian church to visualize in his Epistle.

For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building. - 1 Cor. 3:9 NLT 
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..and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

θεοῦ γάρ ἐσμεν συνεργοί θεοῦ γεώργιον θεοῦ οἰκοδομή ἐστε
1 Cor. 3:9 TEXTUS RECEPTUS
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For those of us who do not understand Paul's eloquent GREEK text, rather than leaning on a single ENGLISH translation let's observe some of what we know from Paul's Greek words in this verse.
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For we are laborers together

synergos – συνεργός
Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers^G4904 in Christ Jesus – Romans 16:3

Timotheus my workfellow, G4904 – Romans 16:23a
with God [THEOS], you are God’s

geōrgion – γεώργιον
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I didn't know this one. a (presumed) derivative of γεωργός (G1092) husbandman
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husbandry – a cultivated field, husbandry (as in the animal husbandry of tending sheep), tillage (tilling soil for planting and growth)

It is the WORK -early work – BEFORE the harvest.

You are God’s farming, translates the HNV and in most English translations: you are God’s field.

SO Paul has been preaching that it does not matter to YOU THE SOIL in Corinth (or in your home church) the names of the MINISTERS who labored in you.

EACH will have their separate reward.

The Apostle then builds on this:

You are God’s [Theos]

oikodomē – οἰκοδομή

metaph. edifying, edification

the act of one who promotes another’s growth in Christian wisdom, piety, happiness, holiness
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..and each shall receive his wages according to his labor. 1 Cor. 3:8b RSV
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What wage have you earned for edifying other Christians?

(Paul will speak more to this later.)

NEXT: Christ’s Contractor

According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation..
1 Corinthians 3:10a NKJV – Paulos klētos apostolos iēsous christos

Comment on Scripture + Share the Gospel
July 8, 2024
Rebuke of ministers that perish without the Cross
For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
1 Corinthians 1:11 KJV
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Contentions (from the KJV) 

Sounds rather serious doesn't it?
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1 Corinthians 1 – Contentions between Christians

In our previous look at Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians we looked at the REPORT from Chloe’s household and the Apostle’s brief summary.

NO Divisions in our Church ?

ἔρις – ἔρις, er’-is; of uncertain affinity; a quarrel, i.e. (by implication) wrangling:—contention, debate, strife, variance.

What will Paul do about such serious contentions over ministers and teaching in distant Corinth?

Before we proceed with Paul’s Apostolic approach, let’s briefly clarify terms of WHO ARE WE talking about.

ὑπηρέτης – hypēretēs – Ministers of Christ

Who is Paul addressing?

Certain Corinthian church members must have wondered, “Is HE writing to ME?”
```
Later in his Epistle the Apostle appeals:
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Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers^G5257 of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
1 Corinthians 4:1 KJV

SOME of us resist the role to which God calls us in Christ.
Roger@TalkofJesus.com

A minister [ὑπηρέτης] from this context and application is a SERVANT
1. an underrower, subordinate rower
  - (Picture Paul and other prisoners later rowing a Roman ship toward Rome.)
2. any one who serves with hands: a servant
3. any one who aids another in any work
  - an assistant
  - of the preacher of the gospel
I might add that certain servants had the authority of Roman governors or military leaders to judge men under their jurisdiction and prescribe punishments.

The wisdom of the cross and Christian ministers – Rebuke
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Problem #1 - Paul reiterated the report of divisions over Christian ministers.

NOW the Apostle will REBUKE the Corinthian church divisions over Christian ministers.
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ἐπιτιμάω – Rebuke

LORD, do not rebuke me in Your wrath,

And do not punish me in Your burning anger.
Psalm 38:1 NASB20

Better is open rebuke

Than love that is concealed.
Proverbs 27:5 NASB20

Jesus said to his disciples, “Stumbling blocks are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come!

Watch yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him.
Gospel of Luke 17:1,3 NET
Ruins of the synagogue in Corinth

Christ the Power and Wisdom of God
Paul’s Rebuke of the Church

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish, foolishness; but to us who are saved, it is the power of God.
1 Corinthians 1:18 – Noah Webster’s 1833 Bible.

PREACHING
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The above 19th century English translation by Noah Webster of a 17th century King James Version, which also begins verse 1:18, "For the preaching of the cross...
```
19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

WISDOM is a BIG THING to Greek thinking.

Pastor, Preacher or Minister?

Many prefer to think of ‘Preachers’ as ‘Pastors.’

A popular 20th century title for both was ‘MINISTER.‘

In fact, some English Bibles begin 1 Corinthians 1:18,

For the message of the cross..

OR more true to Paul’s A.D first century Greek,

For the word of the cross…

1:18 Ὁ λόγος γὰρ ὁ τοῦ σταυροῦ τοῖς μὲν ἀπολλυμένοις μωρία ἐστίν τοῖς δὲ σῳζομένοις ἡμῖν δύναμις θεοῦ ἐστιν
λόγος logos https://www.blueletterbible.org/web/1co/1/1/t_conc_1063018

I can’t help but recalling the opening of John’s Gospel.
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The logos of Christ's Cross FOOLISHNESS? 
```
The Apostle continues rhetorically asking WHO among you seeks some other WISDOM than Christ?
- Where is the wise?
- where is the scribe?
- where is the disputer of this world?
hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

Paul’s answer:

For when in the wisdom [sophia] of God [theos] the world [kosmos] by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
1 Corinthians 1:21 WEB

Signs and Sophia

Just as Paul’s WISDOM passages point to the Hellenists [GREEK-thinking] of the Empire, the Apostle’s earlier reference to the Scribes points specifically to the JEWS.

“This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of Jonah the prophet. For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also shall the Son of man be to this generation.
Gospel of Luke 29:11b-12

Paul points to BOTH, in that some JEWS and some GREEKS in the Corinthian church DO NOT believe.

For the Jews require a sign,

and the Greeks seek wisdom:

But to them who are called,
```
Not ALL are called who gather in the Corinthian Church (or in yours).
```
both Jews and Greeks,

Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

That no flesh should glory in his presence.
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The Apostle Paul's REBUKE of Christian MINISTERS begins here. 
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Glory Only in the Lord

1 Corinthians 1:26- NKJV

For [consider] your calling, brethren, that
- not many wise according to the flesh,
- not many mighty,
- not many [well-born] noble,
are called.
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What think you, 21st century common era evangelical, of Paul's humbling rebuke?
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27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the [insignificant or lowly] base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen,

and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence.

30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— 31 that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”

NEXT: Further rebuke of CHRISTIAN MINISTERS.
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Paul will continue his rebuke of the wayward throughout his first epistle to the Corinthians up to Cor. 4:5.
```
```
Headings from the NKJV
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- Christ Crucified
- Spiritual Wisdom
- Sectarianism Is Carnal
- Watering, Working, Warning
- Avoid Worldly Wisdom
- Stewards of the Mysteries of God
Comment on Scripture + Share the Gospel
June 19, 2024
NO Divisions in our Church ?
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
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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.
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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
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The Wisdom of the Cross
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TODAY we will examine Paul's initial approach ONLY from the beginning of 1 Corinthians.
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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
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Problem #1
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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.
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Kress Biblical Resources provides a helpful outline of Paul's approach to this problem of CHURCH QUARRELS.

The Apostles first states
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- 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

https://talkofjesus.com/apollos-and-paul-apostles-crossing-paths

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

Comment on Scripture + Share the Gospel
June 15, 2024