But even if there are multiple house churches founded by different leaders, Paul passionately argues that the body of Christ cannot be divided in this way. The cross of Christ is what will heal the fragmentation of Christians wherever they are. It is well known that division in the church of Corinth was over leadership. WebThe spirit that wrought such mischief at Corinth has been busy in the Church ever since. Each group claimed to be better than the others, and party spirits began to grow in the church. Have you ever tried to put a jigsaw puzzle together with the pieces turned upside down so that they are all blank? Now, almost every group does this. 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! If Paul were to visit one of these churches, he would see a good-looking man in a custom suit standing over everybody else, and his mind would go straight to the orators of his day. I Corinthians 12:12,13 says, For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. Others bragged that they were followers of Peter (1 Corinthians 1:12). Four groups had formed in the Corinthian church. Paul always expresses great concern about the possibility of a split in the church. WebThe members of the Corinthian church we disunited because they were pledging their allegiance to human leaders rather than God. Some pigged out at the Lord Supper; others had barely enough to eat. Unlike most of his other epistles, Paul plunges right into the heart of the practical problems that were affecting this church, and the first of these, the problem of divisions within the church, he begins to deal with in Chapter1, Verse10. I remember a few years ago being at a family congress in St. Louis, Missouri, when one of the evening speakers was Dr.Oswald Hoffman, the very capable and powerful preacher on the Lutheran Hour radio program. The members started to develop division following different leaders. Paul was the apostle to the gentiles. When you divide up among men you lose something, that is what he is saying. In the year 1 054 the Church was divided into two parts: 1) The Greek Eastern Church 2) The Roman Western 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. [Then he thinks of another group that he had baptized] (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. One of these influencing factors is consumerism which finds its way into even the way Christians think. That is what they were doing with baptism here in Corinth. Paul here introduces that which can cure divisions, both negatively and positively. For example, in the first section from 1:10 to 4:21, it's errors regarding division. We must allow him the privilege of doing that. Therefore, the only basis upon which you can get Christians to agree is by setting before them the Person of the Lord Jesus, and calling them back to that fundamental base. Here in Verse10 he briefly shows us the ground of unity, and the nature of unity in a church. This word was normally used to refer to a tear in a garment. It is well known that division in the church of Corinth was over leadership. These are not the only causes of divisions in churches today. 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." Some sued their fellow Christians in the secular courts. This is the result of a religious snobbery associated by cliques that produced pride and conflict. Each group claimed to be better than the others, and party spirits began to grow in the church. This applies also to the leadership in the church. The third danger of groups is given in the latter part of Verse13, and on through the next few verses: Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I hang on every word you say. Not when some people in the congregation wont look at, speak to, or even acknowledge the existence of certain other people in the congregation. The bridesmaids have come down the aisle. I dont remember Paul seeing any thing like these issues as other than trivial. Religious snobs want to be a part of a small group who And if you were really on the inside circle, your ladder was drawn by none other than Dawson Trotman himself! In verse 11, Paul gives the reason for his appeal for unity in the church at Corinth. 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. Orators have to be so careful not to let teaching become a pride thing rather than a gift they share to better the other. Unless its mended, the tear gets bigger and bigger, doesnt it? The divisions of Christendom are the scandal of Christianity. 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. 7-False zeal for spiritual gifts. 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. 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. Let's go back to Jerusalem. Instead of directly saying that we follow Paul, or Apollos, we say that we are Baptist, Reformed, or even Catholic. God is not confused, and He does not contradict Himself. One day in Africa, a small boy was lost. These preachers draw in masses of people every week who are eager to hear them speak. 2 Corinthians He chooses various channels through which to work. I used to attend a Navigator group which met in Honolulu on Sunday afternoons. We came to life in Christ by Paul, and Paul is the one we're going to listen to above all others." Her hair is messed up! In 2019 he published a commentary. Sometimes two or three hundred sailors, all of them Christians, would be there. They did not try to hide the problems. The church in Corinth was a group of people who were tearing themselves apart! The individual leaders should only point them to Christ. 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. That was the mark, that was the identification badge. This is the result of a religious snobbery associated by cliques that produced pride and conflict. The Corinthian Church. We pray that it may be rich and real in our hearts as we live this week together. 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. It tells about the most climactic moment in a wedding ceremony. So, just a few texts and there are so many more. There are still others today who follow after some school of thought. One of the celebrities was Paul himself some believers at Corinth actually claimed to be his followers. I will jump on the bandwagon here and say that division is definitely an issue today. Divisions never really ended with Pauls letters; they just appear to have evolved into having more sophisticated names. He recognizes that we share a common life if we have come to Christ; we are brothers and sisters because we have his life in us. WebAccording to Paul, the communitys problems were the consequence of the Corinthians mistaken belief that they had already been exalted. Some considering Paul their authority, other Apollos, others Peter, and still others accepted only Jesus as their authority. That does not mean that everybody has to think alike. Members follow him blindly and whatever they do seems right to them. Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? Ridiculous? The Protestant Reformation had its beginnings in 1517 (see Chapter 1 0). He said so himself. These are two common causes of church divisions in the West. Paul then goes on to give us three very carefully stated clues in Verse13 as to what is wrong with this kind of thing. 13Is Christ divided? The Protestant Reformation had its beginnings in 1517 (see Chapter 1 0). Everybody has their denomination and they cling relentless to their doctrinal beliefs. Paul wants the Corinthian church to mend the broken relationships that have been caused by the divisions among its members. It took four viewpoints to report his earthly life and ministry accurately enough to us. No man would ever have planned the cross. There are three different causes of divisions in churches that Paul mentions in I Corinthians. Some Corinthian Christians were dividing over church teachers. This is what Paul does here. 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 followed Apollos whom they honored above Paul (1 Corinthians 1:12; 3:4; Acts 18:24 to 19:1). It is popularized in the movie Mean Girls. Paul gives the church a stern warning about their actions and the proper way to participate. 6-Members defiling the Lords Supper. WebWhat were the causes of division in the Corinthian Church? Sermon 5: Who is the Most Important? Do we need to be looking for results? The first noticeable division would be among differing denominations. The ground, of course, is the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. But when doctrinal beliefs keep churches from working together to further the gospel. Near the cross, O Lamb of God, bring its scenes before me. As a result, this led to the division among Christian converts and to the Christian community as a whole. He has Masters degrees in Biblical Exposition and Old Testament from Talbot School of Theology (BIOLA) and a PhD in New Testament from Andrews University. And I say that because some people focus on PREACHER instead of THE SAVIOR. This introduces one of the greatest passages in the Bible, setting forth the difference between the wisdom of man and the wisdom of God. Remember, a believer who is at war with his brother or sister in Christ cannot be at peace with our heavenly Father. 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. For example, in the first section from 1:10 to 4:21, it's errors regarding division. It is not merely that the Church is everywhere split up into sections, but that this has led to party strife and jealousy. I do not think things have improved much since the first century. WebDivisions in the Church. (1 Corinthians 1:12 RSV) Now, there was the trouble at Corinth. I think that if you put the teachings of a man over the teachings of Scripture then you have a problem. The Corinthian church had many problems, and most of them were the result of pride and placing so much emphasis on social status. He come to Corinth to create a community of disciples from which he might receive patronage and prestige. It is not merely that the Church is everywhere split up into sections, but that this has led to party strife and jealousy. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. The other reason is the division among churches of the same denomination. He then goes on to describe for us the mind of Christ, which is a willingness to give up rights and personal privileges and give in and take a lower place. WebThe Corinthians were basically making a mockery of Communion. The Corinthian Church. In verse 11, Paul gives the reason for his appeal for unity in the church at Corinth. Her nose is bloody! How important is it that there be unity in the Church where you fellowship? 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. 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. Conclusion. There are several things that split the church today. Some considering Paul their authority, other Apollos, others Peter, and still others accepted only Jesus as their authority. It was expected. Others bragged that they were followers of Peter (1 Corinthians 1:12). Take the various mega-churches for example, whose charismatic pastors live in mansions. It is possible that these divisions represent competing house churches, some founded by Paul, some by Apollos. Ones honor and reputation were valued highly and if someone attacked your reputation it was expected that you would defend yourself and retaliate by publicly bashing your attacker. They would have the Scofield Reference Bible and a notebook under one arm, and you knew that if you examined their Bibles you would find the ladder index on the pages. They will not all be the same flavor; they will not all have the same characteristics. One eye is purple and swollen! These are two common causes of church divisions in the West. In desperation, they returned and held a meeting. 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 have Jesus only groups even today. It is extremely important. 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. (I have been trying for a long time to get my wife to accept that!) To an unbeliever, this looks like we cannot agree on our own religion. The third thing that every Navigator had was a little black notebook covered in rough-grained leather. Public arguments were commonplace in the Greco-Roman world at the time that Paul was writing to the Corinthian church. Offshoots had disturbed the church. 14I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. The Gentiles coming into this new Church do not seem to be able to see the differences between it and a Greco-Roman philosopher gathering disciples and educating them in a particular philosophy. It is those who have a financial interest in their own wellbeing, that divide the sheep up into different folds. I appreciate the perspective given by the author and agree 100% that the body of Christ is divided. In verse 11, Paul gives the reason for his appeal for unity in the church at Corinth. (1Corinthians 1:17 RSV). 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. In my experience though, I find that it is carnal and unspiritual leaders that put up walls and fences between members of the body. I think the letter to the Philippians helps us here, because in that passage I just quoted from, Paul goes on to say, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus," (Philippians 2:5). "I appeal to you," he says, "by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." From the book of Acts we learn that Apollos was an outstanding orator in a world that loved and appreciated oratory. While there can be problems with some (no recognised leadership, disorganised, isolated, cultishness, lack of cohesion etc) they can also produce some of the strongest disciples Ive seen for many years, and yet, they could easily claim to be that fourth division like the one at Corinth the I am of Christ division, where they have no name (no favoured preacher/teacher) but are still divided off. I do not identify my self as being a follower of anybody but Jesus (although there are certain theologians that I do hold in higher regard than others). As we read through First Corinthians, I think we will see how very much like modern day churches this ancient church of Corinth was. Polhill says, every Corinthian had their own favorite preacher (237). The facts in the gospel are what will set us free, and particularly, he says, the word of the cross. I have had people say to me, "Oh, Mr. Stedman, when you speak I see so clearly! So we have the possibility for this very thing right here. Their divisions, lack of church discipline, lawsuits, abuse of Christian liberty and over-emphasis of the gift of tongues, all illustrate this root problem. Its a lot harder! We reveal our immaturity when we insist that only those with certain characteristics are the ones we will listen to, or we feel can bless or strengthen our lives. 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." On opening it you found a loose-leaf notebook with many of the small, half-page materials that the Navigators printed their Bible helps on. Some say, "I am of Gothard," and others say, "No, I am of Bright." If you will turn in your Bibles with me to John 17:20-23, I will read the passage to you. Some boasted of their special spiritual gifts; others felt left out. God only sees one fold, (John 10) and there is only one faith, one Lord, one baptism etc. That is what Paul speaks about. In verses 10-12, Paul begins by giving an appeal for unity. His Word does not disagree with itself. The Lords Supper was affected by the divisions between rich and poor and an overall general misunderstanding. 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. So Paul is insisting that the Corinthians, and all believers, have doctrinal unity that is clearly based on Gods Word. We tend to fall out along doctrinal lines or because we are drawn to one charismatic pastor over another. Since I was working at that time in the ship's service department in Pearl Harbor, we ordered great quantities of these Bibles. 1 Corinthians 1-4 Division in the Church, division in the church of Corinth was over leadership, 1 Corinthians 6:1-8 Lawsuits Among Brothers, Corinthiaka in New Testament Blogs | Corinthian Matters, The Book of Enoch for Beginners: A Guide to Expand Your Understanding of the Biblical World. Anyone who claims that he or she has an exclusive part in Christ is wrong. I told them GBC and they said something along the lines of, Oh a Bible college? They embraced the values of their Roman society, which divided over ethnicity (e.g., Jews vs. Gentiles) and social rank (wise vs. foolish, powerful To resolve this issue, he encourages communal love. Why are these thing SO important? In verse 17, Paul says that his calling of God was to preach the Gospel, and the focus of the Gospel is the cross of Christ. Were you baptized into the name of Paul? Website 2023 by Ray Stedman Ministries. One of the celebrities was Paul himself some believers at Corinth actually claimed to be his followers. They were dividing over this whole issue, and Paul says it is all wrong. So, just a few texts and there are so many more. They take an innocent teaching medium, in this case baptism, and make it into an identification badge. Religious snobs want to be a part of a small group who Many of us are familiar with this common phenomenon in human psychology of thinking that some symbolic thing that is of use to us is so important that we finally make it a badge of the group to which we belong. In verse 10 we see both Pauls affection for the Corinthian church, and his authority as an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. Some are of Ritchie, and some are of Roper, and a few of Stedman! It is possible that these divisions represent competing house churches, some founded by Paul, some by Apollos. Throughout this 2000 year process of normalizing divisions among believers, we have consistently neglected the fact we Jesus should unite us, and unless we choose to make a change, we will continue to forget this fact. Only the Lord Jesus Christ could pay the penalty for our sins because only He is the Son of God. 3- The presence of an immoral member. This is the result of a religious snobbery associated by cliques that produced pride and conflict. Paul exhorts them to agree. Message transcript and recording 1978 by Ray Stedman Ministries, owner of sole copyright by assignment from the author. Paul, however, was a good leader. Each group claimed to be better than the others, and party spirits began to grow in the church. This unintentional mindset causes people to treat the Bible and its words like it is a product that can wear out, and ignored like an infomercial. In what ways have we failed to de-paganize? It seems like it would be better to ask in what ways have we been re-paganized. 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. 2- The Churchs division. Paul is putting his finger right on the problem when he asks, "Was Paul crucified for you?" Some had no problem with consuming meat that had been sacrificed to idols; for others, it was a real offense. The divisions of Christendom are the scandal of Christianity. 4-The churchs failure to discipline. These are not the only causes of divisions in churches today. 16(Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don't remember if I baptized anyone else.) 1-False prophets (2 Corinthians 11:13). Phillip J. Thank you, Father, for this time here contemplating the cross. 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. They were burdened about them, and they went to the right person with them. Not even a three-fourths vote should carry a motion. 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. He is the ground, always, of unity. Im not saying its wrong to stick to what you believe. The Corinthian church had many problems, and most of them were the result of pride and placing so much emphasis on social status. Since November 2021, Reading Acts is edited by Sarah Westphal. I thank God that only a few of you can say that about me." We go back to the Lord alone. As bad as it is, it makes sense for the people of Pauls day to be concerned with whatever home church has the best orator, and then argue for them to other potential followers. Sermon 5: Who is the Most Important? Christians are all disciples, or better, stewards and servants of the mysteries of God (1 Cor 4:1). This Bible was pushed by the Navigators, and everybody had to have one. If we sacrifice quality for numbers I dont think we are being good stewards of our gift of leadership. 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. Now, Paul says this is all basically, fundamentally wrong. 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. That is why Paul calls us back to it. (1Corinthians 1:12 RSV), Now, there was the trouble at Corinth.