That does not mean that everybody has to think alike. Behind Divisions DIVISIONS AND PERSONALITIES IN THE CHURCH He had received a report from the household of Cloe that there were quarrels among the members of the Corinthian church. Bruises show on her arm! The anxiety of the childs mother continued to grow, for she knew that her boy was somewhere out in the darkness where wild animals were constantly on the prowl. In Matthew 12:25 the Lord Jesus says, Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself shall not stand.. That is the mind Paul is talking about. God only sees one fold, (John 10) and there is only one faith, one Lord, one baptism etc. I have had to do some degree of battle with this myself. We tend to fall out along doctrinal lines or because we are drawn to one charismatic pastor over another. The bride is limping! With Pauls harsh criticism of said divisions, you would think that we might have learned how to move beyond that in the 21st Century, however, that is not the case. the Problems in the Corinthian Church My impression is that the same sorts of problems evident in Corinth are clearly evident in the contemporary church, whether that is West Michigan or Brisbane. "I appeal to you," he says, "by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." the background of the Corinthian Church The word divisions comes from the Greek word schismata, from which we get our English word schism. And more than that, we have a responsibility to obey him, to follow his Lordship. Many of the other problems were flowing out of this division within the congregation. (1Corinthians 1:13 RSV). What he says we'll listen to, not Paul or Peter or anyone else -- it makes no difference to us." Some are of Ritchie, and some are of Roper, and a few of Stedman! However, I would like to approach this in a different way than the comments already present here. (1Corinthians 1:17 RSV). Just looking at America, there are political divisions that have destroyed relationships, there are social divisions that have sparked riots around the nation, and there are even religious divisions that have pitted millions against each other. That is what Paul speaks about. The other reason is the division among churches of the same denomination. in the Corinthian Church Webdivided. Thats not the way a jigsaw puzzle was meant to be put together. In desperation, they returned and held a meeting. He finds that there is a great deal of parallels between the disciple-teacher relationship in the culture of Corinth and the problem of divisions in the church over the authority of teachers. Unless its mended, the tear gets bigger and bigger, doesnt it? Website 2023 by Ray Stedman Ministries. I will jump on the bandwagon here and say that division is definitely an issue today. To resolve this issue, he encourages communal love. Some considered Paul their leader, others Apollos, still others Peter. This is a very propitious time for us to consider the cross for this is Palm Sunday, commemorating the day when our Lord entered Jerusalem for his last week. They embraced the values of their Roman society, which divided over ethnicity (e.g., Jews vs. Gentiles) and social rank (wise vs. foolish, powerful What Was Dividing the Corinthian Church Now these things were good. The first thing Paul says is that it tends to chop up Christ and parcel him out as though his person and his work came in various packages, thus you lose perspective of the whole of Christian theology. These are not the only causes of divisions in churches today. We worry about how the power points are going to look, if we should have one or two singers, drums or no drums, electric guitars or none at all (I feel like you get my point) its almost as if we worship these things! Members follow him blindly and whatever they do seems right to them. All rights reserved. Since I was working at that time in the ship's service department in Pearl Harbor, we ordered great quantities of these Bibles. In Philippians 2:9 Paul said of Christ, Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name. No Christian, no Christian minister, is to put himself in Christs place, or allow himself to be put in Christs place, and take the authority and honor that is due to Christ alone. It seems like this isnt a problem and doesnt affect the church much in its present state. Aside from this acceptable division within the modern church, there are also two other reasons for division which should not exist. And there are others who are drawn to some speaking style that has attracted them. The divisions of Christendom are the scandal of Christianity. As we do, I hope every one of us will understand more and more fully the character of this radical principle that God has turned loose among us, this revolutionary idea represented in the cross of Christ that wipes out all these distinctions among men. It is well known that division in the church of Corinth was over leadership. Church has become about the pastor and not about his message. A young pastor who was facing that problem in his church called me this week from another state. Paul gives the church a stern warning about their actions and the proper way to participate. Corinthians I have had people say to me, "Oh, Mr. Stedman, when you speak I see so clearly! Sometimes a church leader can have so much clout that he begins to have cult status. So we have the possibility for this very thing right here. We become followers of out Pastors and churches rather than of Christ. (1Corinthians 1:10 RSV). Conclusion. I told them GBC and they said something along the lines of, Oh a Bible college? Here are our first clues as to what is wrong with this kind of cliquishness in a church. The Protestant Reformation had its beginnings in 1517 (see Chapter 1 0). We all know what a clique is. 10 I appeal to you, brothers,[ a] by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. The basic meaning is to put back together and make one again something that was broken or separated. A second issue that seems to keep the church divided (the whole church and individual churches) is the little things such as the structure of the service, the type of music played for worship, whether a pastor should always wear a tie, and what color should be used in the bathroom. If you will turn in your Bibles with me to John 17:20-23, I will read the passage to you. WebPaul rebukes the Corinthians because there are divisions and quarrels in the church. The individual leaders should only point them to Christ. Other divisions were to follow. WebWhat were the causes of division in the Corinthian Church? For permission to use this content, please review 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. Perhaps, in their individual efforts, they had missed some spots; so the suggestion was made, Lets all join hands and go through the long grass again. Finally, the child was found, but it was too late. No, he says that is not why he was sent: "I was not sent to emphasize symbols, but, positively, I was sent to preach a whole gospel, not one emphasizing style, not in wisdom of words, but that which emphasizes content." Then there were the traditionalists (there always are), those that say, "Well, I don't know about Paul or Apollos. They embraced the values of their Roman society, which divided over ethnicity (e.g., Jews vs. Gentiles) and social rank (wise vs. foolish, powerful in the Corinthian Church One of the celebrities was Paul himself some believers at Corinth actually claimed to be his followers. (Even non-denominationals do this, just without claiming a denominational title). The same viewpoints are still dividing people. There is not a teacher among us today, or at any other time, who is able to open the mind and open the eyes of the heart and reveal to us the glory and majesty of God, not one. Some had no problem with consuming meat that had been sacrificed to idols; for others, it was a real offense. John 12:37-50, THE PARADOX OF LIFE FROM DEATH John 12:20-26, THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM JOHN 12:9-19, SPIRITUAL LIGHT AND DARKNESS John 9:35-41. The members started to develop division following different leaders. He appeals to them in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now, in one verse he introduces to us the cure for these divisions (Verse17): For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom [literally, "wisdom of words"], lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 10 I appeal to you, brothers,[ a] by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. If it is to expand the congregation and further the work of the Lord in that area, and he had the whole agreement of the leadership of the church behind him, then it is fine to take part of the congregation and go away and begin another work. These kinds of things happen when there are divisions in a church. Since November 2021, Reading Acts is edited by Sarah Westphal. Christians are all disciples, or better, stewards and servants of the mysteries of God (1 Cor 4:1). So he says, "I didn't baptize many of you. Not when one part of the congregation meets in one part of the building, and the other part of the congregation meets in another spot. I am sure there were many in Corinth who were saying, "Oh, I love to hear Apollos! I was taking my break and a person I work with asked where I went to college. It wasnt even about secondary doctrine (the second coming, the nature of baptism). They will not all be the same flavor; they will not all have the same characteristics. Paul, however, was a good leader. He is the ground, always, of unity. is the history and significance of the church These kinds of things happen when there are divisions in a church. 1-False prophets (2 Corinthians 11:13). Believers who are joined in heart should not find it difficult to be joined in hand, working together for the common good and for the glory of Christ. Paul was the apostle to the gentiles. This division in the church was over their own selfish ambitions evidenced in what they wanted. For instance, in the Greco-Roman culture the practice of teacher-disciple relationships was often common and so many Christian converts in Corinth would associate themselves with a particular teacher and be under their discipleship. For a local church to be spiritually healthy and effective, and for there to be harmony in the local church, there must be doctrinal unity. In the year 1 054 the Church was divided into two parts: 1) The Greek Eastern Church 2) The Roman Western Church. In 2019 he published a commentary. Webdivided. I would like to close this service by reading what one man wrote about the cross: It is well that we should think sometimes of the Upper Room and the Last Supper, and of his soul, "exceeding sorrowful unto death"; of Gethsemane and the deep shadow of the olive trees; his loneliness, prayers, and disappointment with his disciples; his bloody sweat; the traitor's kiss; the binding, the blow in the face, the spitting, the buffeting, the mocking, the scourging, the crown of thorns, the smiting; the sorrowful way and the burdensome cross; the exhaustion and collapse; the stripping, the impaling, and the jeers of his foes, and the flight of his friends; the hours on the cross; the darkness, his being forsaken of God; his thirst, and the end. We tend to deify men, and people look at them as if they can do no wrong, can made no errors, that they know everything and can settle all questions. For example, in the first section from 1:10 to 4:21, it's errors regarding division. Paul condemns their behavior in verse 13 by saying, Has Christ been divided? In other words, have different amounts of Christ been given to different people? WebAnd you know, that gives me some idea of how important this is to God, because from 1:10 to the ninth verse of the sixteenth Chapter, he just talks about the errors in the church. There is not a single teacher who ever lived who can heal the hurt of a broken heart, or supply energy and adequacy to someone who feels worthless and unable to function in society, not one. Some considering Paul their authority, other Apollos, others Peter, and still others accepted only Jesus as their authority. There he indicates that the problem with cliquishness is that it tends to overemphasize the significance of the human leader. It seems so bland compared to all the other choices out there when really it presents and encourages people to live out a very different and exciting life in the opposite direction of the world. There should be oneness of mind, no matter how long it takes. 7-False zeal for spiritual gifts. Was Paul crucified for you? Having listened to Pauls words and the prayer of the Lord Jesus Christ, how important is unity to each of us today? But yet the apostle says they are to be of the same mind. A. Paul wants the Corinthian church to mend the broken relationships that have been caused by the divisions among its members. That is always the unifying factor in a church, and that is the mind that is to be among us, the mind that does not consider itself the most important thing. Paul says that he does not preach in cleverness of speech because the power of the gospel lies in the facts of the gospel, and not in any mans presentation of them. WebThe Corinthians were basically making a mockery of Communion. 1 Corinthians Problems in the Church I would like to approach it from an evangelistic standpoint. When I say it gets ignored like an infomercial you probably infer what that means. Now, church unity is a very important matter, and, because of its significance, Paul puts it first in the list of problems he has to deal with here at Corinth. Other divisions were to follow. Weve seen how important unity was to the apostle Paul. With that spirit of self-righteous smugness, they were separating from the rest, dividing up the congregation and quarreling with one another over these things. One of his biggest goals is to double our congregation so we have 5,000 members. They became symbols of prestige and standing that became divisive factors among the men. Like the world, Christians are too concerned with being right and having our way. Now, the second thing Paul says is, "Was Paul crucified for you?" Near the cross, O Lamb of God, bring its scenes before me. I'm nobody, just like you!" We see similar situations today, with political debates often devolving into a shouting match in which the person who yells their opinion the loudest and the longest is the winner. This is really what is behind his disclaimer on baptism in 1 Cor 1:14-16. These are two common causes of church divisions in the West. They were drawing themselves up and saying, "Well, you may be of Paul or of Peter or of Apollos, but we are of Christ! I have been in many places where they were having church fights and almost invariably the thing that gives away that a church is in trouble is when people start talking about "my church," not in the sense that is perfectly proper as meaning, "The church where I go," but leaders of the church actually saying, "This is our church," and telling other people they have no rights to do something because the church belongs to them. He then goes on to explain that it was the Corinthian wisdom that created so much disunity. This division in the church was over their own selfish ambitions evidenced in what they wanted. Lovelessness among Christians is not a light thing.. Paul is going to go on to describe this radical force that is so different than anything else there is nothing like it in the world. 1-False prophets (2 Corinthians 11:13). And I say that because some people focus on PREACHER instead of THE SAVIOR. Others were saying, "Well, Apollos himself baptized me." (1 Corinthians 1:12 RSV) Now, there was the trouble at Corinth. Its pathetic that people should get so angry about whether drums are used or if the AC unit is kept at 71 or 70. In verses 14 to 16, Paul uses himself as an example. Divisions When daylight again appeared, they looked for him with renewed energy but still without success. the Problems in the Corinthian Church (1 Corinthians 1:12 RSV) Now, there was the trouble at Corinth. 4-The churchs failure to discipline. It is well known that division in the church of Corinth was over leadership. They are his family in Christ. The elders should make their decisions with the same mind and the same judgment. 2 Corinthians I think that some of the ways we have failed to de-paganize is because we are still so focused on the little things that make up the church. Instead of tearing themselves apart, he urges them to be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. Unity in the church is something that requires cooperation with each other and with the Spirit of God. "One is your master; all of you are brothers," (Matthew 23:8 KJV). Paul rejects this disunity, telling the church members to focus on Christ. Corinthians If it had been left up to us to plan the program by which God would change the world we would never have included a cross. It took four viewpoints to report his earthly life and ministry accurately enough to us. Then there were the stylists, those who were attracted by the different kinds of preaching, and they had especially been drawn to Apollos. When everybody decides to put the things of Christ first, and is willing to suffer loss that the honor and glory of Christ might be advanced, that is what brings harmony in a congregation. The first noticeable division would be among differing denominations. He didnt focus on himself being superior to all the rest of the church leaders. In this passage of Scripture, Paul is very careful to focus the attention on Christ and not on himself. Sometimes two or three hundred sailors, all of them Christians, would be there. Divisions in the Church is the history and significance of the church 5-Members going to pagan courts to settle disputes. Orators have to be so careful not to let teaching become a pride thing rather than a gift they share to better the other. In 1 Corinthians, Paul consciously avoids disciple-teacher language. The cross of Christ is what will heal the fragmentation of Christians wherever they are. The church was divided into factions, and one group was urging him to take half the congregation and go to another part of the city and start a new church. Splits and Quarrels in the Church If Paul could see the divisions between the various denominations of today, what would he say? That, of course, is as it should be. If I was not raised in a Christian home, I think that I would have the same concerns. We are all equally undeserving of salvation and a relationship with Jesus Christ. Not when we hear of churches with factions or cliques of people who sit on opposite sides of the aisle. God is all about people, not money, and I feel sorry for anyone who tries to take over the current move of God, put it in a box, stick a label on it, and own it they will be swept away. The search went on until nightfall, but no answer came to their urgent calls. A. He had received a report from the household of Cloe that there were quarrels among the members of the Corinthian church. They were dividing over this whole issue, and Paul says it is all wrong. Apollos was an intellectual. So, just a few texts and there are so many more. Members follow him blindly and whatever they do seems right to them. This is a radical principle that we need to understand, because, when you understand the cross, there will be no room left for the divisions of men. 2 Corinthians In conjunction with this, some people were questioning Pauls character and authority ( 1 Corinthians 14 ). How important is it that there be unity in the Church where you fellowship? To resolve this issue, he encourages communal love. What happens when you get a tear in a piece of clothing and you keep washing and wearing that piece of clothing with the tear in it? Some pigged out at the Lord Supper; others had barely enough to eat. Subject to permissions policy, all rights reserved. They failed to take seriously the power of evil; their behavior caused divisions in the church and led to a lack of concern for other members. 13Is Christ divided? The Corinthian Church. Its all about who looks the best, how much money is made, and how big our churches are. 1 Corinthians Problems in the Church The individual leaders should only point them to Christ. In fact, there are still many divisions that exist today in modern churches. How many of you have ever put together a jigsaw puzzle? Dio Chrysostom complained that Corinth was filled with wretched sophists, many of whom were debating one another with shouting and abuse near the temple to Poseidon. I appreciate the perspective given by the author and agree 100% that the body of Christ is divided. 1 Corinthians 1:10: I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.. The Protestant Reformation had its beginnings in 1517 (see Chapter 1 0). You may be reminded by his words in Verse10 of the similar passage in his letter to the Philippians where, in Chapter2, he says to that church, "So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any incentive of love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord, and of one mind," (Philippians 2:1-2 RSV). It is not merely that the Church is everywhere split up into sections, but that this has led to party strife and jealousy. The cross strips away our illusions and brings the pride of men tumbling down from that high place where it exalts itself against the knowledge of God. That was the mark, that was the identification badge. Then youre a Christian right? Even though our conversation could only continue for about 10 more minutes, this issue of divisions within the church arose. The real problem behind the divisions is that the church continues to act like Christianity is just another philosophy, and teachers are in competition with each other just as the Greek orators competed. They were caused by Cliques (1:12; 3:4). The facts in the gospel are what will set us free, and particularly, he says, the word of the cross. There are still others today who follow after some school of thought. The Corinthian Church. WebAnd you know, that gives me some idea of how important this is to God, because from 1:10 to the ninth verse of the sixteenth Chapter, he just talks about the errors in the church. The Lord Jesus is praying to the Father, and this is part of His prayer for us: I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one; even as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be one in Us; that the world may believe that You sent Me. Some say, "I am of Gothard," and others say, "No, I am of Bright." It was expected. Her nose is bloody! He was a rhetorician who was especially capable in the allegorical style of teaching of the Old Testament. In fact, Paul never claims disciples. I am thankful that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius; lest any one should say that you were baptized in my name. WebAnd you know, that gives me some idea of how important this is to God, because from 1:10 to the ninth verse of the sixteenth Chapter, he just talks about the errors in the church. I think that if you put the teachings of a man over the teachings of Scripture then you have a problem. God, therefore, has designed that there be many teachers, many preachers, many viewpoints, in a church. There are the Calvinists and the Arminians and the Dispensationalists -- these are some of the things that are held up as the "summum bonum," the highest good, in theology. What is a clique? Their divisions, lack of church discipline, lawsuits, abuse of Christian liberty and over-emphasis of the gift of tongues, all illustrate this root problem. Phillip J. These kinds of things happen when there are divisions in a church. This is the result of a religious snobbery associated by cliques that produced pride and conflict. It is well known that division in the church of Corinth was over leadership. The individual leaders should only point them to Christ. In verse 11, Paul gives the reason for his appeal for unity in the church at Corinth. Like I talked about in the first posting, the emerging church makes me question a lot of things they are doing. When it comes to seeking the spiritually lost for Christ, we can be much more effective if we are perfectly joined together in an unfailing zeal for Gods glory, not our own. In verse 10 we see both Pauls affection for the Corinthian church, and his authority as an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. Offshoots had disturbed the church. Not even a three-fourths vote should carry a motion. I. PAULS APPEAL FOR UNITY (verses 10-12). WebThe Christians at Corinth were dividing the church by pledging their loyalties to different celebrities. 16(Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don't remember if I baptized anyone else.) They were hard to get in those war years, and every shipment that came in went out like hot cakes. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. All that mattered to Paul was Jesus! In verse 11, Paul gives the reason for his appeal for unity in the church at Corinth. It is a serious threat to the life of a church to find people choosing favorite preachers, to the degree, at least, that they do not want to listen to anyone else. 10 I appeal to you, brothers,[ a] by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. There are those who are emotionally attached to some great Christian leader who has helped them, and they will only listen to him. Some boasted of their special spiritual gifts; others felt left out. But you could always tell a Navigator because there were three things that he always had: First, he had a Scofield Reference Bible tucked under his arm. We had some great meetings and great times together. After all, he was one of the first apostles that Jesus himself called." They forget, of course, that the church never belongs to anybody but the Lord. Within our churches, and even in our own denominations (sophisticated name for divisions), we argue about church funds, whos on the worship team, and whether the youth should have long hair. The Corinthian church had many problems, and most of them were the result of pride and placing so much emphasis on social status. Paul continues in verse 10 by saying that, MANS WISDOM VERSUS GODS WISDOM I Corinthians 1:18-25, WHY DONT PEOPLE BELIEVE? is the history and significance of the church Although the modern church has improved in many ways compared to the ancient churches, there is still the issue of division that exists among differing churches as was in the ancient churches. The Lords Supper was affected by the divisions between rich and poor and an overall general misunderstanding. We need to be perfectly joined together in the love of Christ. WebPaul goes right on, in Verse 12, to describe the forms that these divisions were taking in the church of Corinth: What I mean is that each one of you says, "I belong to Paul," or "I belong to Apollos," or "I belong to Cephas" [another name for Peter], or "I belong to Christ." This is what Paul does here. Try it some time. WebThe members of the Corinthian church we disunited because they were pledging their allegiance to human leaders rather than God. If so, what results are we shooting for? It was a glorious work. It would destroy the unity of the congregation and split them up and provide an inaccurate testimony to the Person of Christ before the watching world. There should be unanimous agreement. In verses 10-12, Paul begins by giving an appeal for unity. WebThe members of the Corinthian church we disunited because they were pledging their allegiance to human leaders rather than God.