I Corinthians Study I Corinthians 1:10-31 A Divided Church

Beginning in verse 10, we come to a new division in this grand epistle where the Apostle Paul began to address the primary problem facing the Corinthian church.  Paul admonished the Corinthian church to “speak the same thing” and that “there be no divisions among you”, but that they “be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”  A church may be highly gifted, however, divisions within it can create problems.  The divisions within a church such as gossip, backbiting, criticism and hatred can bring about disunity within the body of Christ.  Paul admonished this church to “be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”

You might ask, “What is the same mind?”  The obvious answer is “the mind of Christ,” the submissive mind! (see Philippians 2:5-8).  The Apostle Paul had been informed that there were contentions in the church, and he was informed first-hand by those of the household of Chloe (v. 11).  The contentions within the Corinthian church included such sins of the flesh as strife, quarreling, schisms and wrangling.  These sins of the flesh can really bring about disunity within the body of Christ!

One of the problems in the Corinthian church was that the church had formed “cliques around certain men” (v. 12).  The believers in Corinth were divided over different leaders of the church (vv. 12-13).  Thus, Paul will stress to them that the centrality of Christ is the key ingredient in solving the factions and fractures in the church.  The Corinthian church was definitely not unified, and obviously, there was no fellowship in the body!  The Corinthian church needed to be occupied with the person of Christ, and not to be forming cliques around different leaders of the church!

In verses 14-17, Paul draws this church’s attention to the fact that he didn’t baptize many but was focused on preaching the gospel.  The gospel message should bring about unity, not disunity.  However, in verse 18, the preaching of the cross will divide the saved from the unsaved.  On another note, the preaching of the cross should not divide saved people!

We should be unified, not a church characterized by schisms and strife within the body of Christ.  Again, the preaching of the cross of Christ divides the world, but it does not divide the church!  Paul went on to stress that “the foolishness of preaching, not foolish preaching, will save them that believe” (vv. 19-21).  Men are not saved by the wisdom of this world; rather, they are saved by the foolishness of preaching when they believe.

From verses 22-23, Paul divided mankind into two groups: Jews and Greeks (Gentiles).  The message of a crucified Christ was a stumbling block to the Jews, and it was foolishness to the Gentiles because it did not conform to their philosophical way of thinking!  As believers today, we must stress that God is saving men today by the “foolishness of preaching” as they believe the gospel, and not by the wisdom of this world.

From verses 24-27, Paul emphasized that through the power and wisdom of God, He has called and transformed the lives of both Jews and Greeks, even those who were not considered wise, mighty or noble.  Believers may seem foolish and weak in the estimation of the world but God’s method in saving us is through the foolishness of preaching when we believe; therefore, we will have no basis to boast about anything, but that God will get the glory! (vv. 28-29).

In verses 30-31, we need to glory only in the Lord.  Christ is the source of everything we need:  He has been made to us wisdom; He is our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.  We need to glory in the Lord Jesus Christ and not in ourselves!

May God Bless!