1 Corinthians 1:10-17
“Every Man for Himself”
Date: 6-Jun-10
Required Resources:
Introduction
Review:
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In the previous verses Paul told the church in Corinth who they were and what they had.
He ended this section with “God has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ” as a reminder of God’s call to unity. He says this as a transition to this next section (v1:10-4:21) where he spells out the problems with factions in the church.
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Book Outline (to date)
A. Salutations & Reminders (v1:1-1:9)
1. Who Paul was (v1)
2. Who those in Corinth were (v2)
3. Salutations (v3)
4. What those in Corinth had (v4-9)
B. Divisions within the church (v1:10-4:21)
Ü 1. The manifestation of the problem (v1:10-17)
The question of: “Which group is most spiritual?” leads to emptying the cross of Christ of its power
a. Quarrelling (v10-12)
b. Christ’s body divided (v13-17)
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Homework review:
In class..
Ü Is it natural to feel a kinship with those that helped us make changes in life?
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The Text
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Scripture
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Observation
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1 Corinthians
1:10-12
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Quarrels are a part of life. Infants are quick to express their displeasure when they don’t get what they want. Little children fight and cry when they don’t get their way. They fight over the football, then they fight over getting on the team. We fight in business & politics. We fight with friends. We fight with spouses. Quarrelling happens.
Secular teachers of the day had the loyalty of their pupils. Traditionally pupils engaged in quarrels over the merits of their mentors.
Paul declares such loyalty idolatrous; these men did not purchase the believers redemption.
Note that Paul does not use the secular term “leaders” to identify these men – thus implying superiority of status.
James 4:1-2 ¿: Why is there quarrelling?
¿: Of all the sins in the church, Paul chose to deal with quarrelling first. Why?
In John 17:11, 21-23, Christ prayed for unity.
¿: Has anyone every been in a church where there has been quarrelling?
In matters on which Scripture is not explicit there is room for difference of opinion. But in clear teachings of the Bible there is no room for difference, because to differ with Scripture is to differ with God.
Paul’s letters to the churches often touch this theme of unity:
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10
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¿: What is the common ground Paul is using the appeal to them? [Jesus Christ & brotherhood]
“agree with one another” lit. “that you say the say thing” GRK
“perfectly united” = “joined together”
– a medical term “to put together what was”, “to repair”
¿: What about unity in non-Scriptural issues – like a starting an Awana club, supporting a missionary or a building program?
¿: Is it possible – or desired – to have unanimity on all issues?
Unity must be genuine. Unity does not mean “That’s the way I would do it” it means that we agree that “that’s the way WE’LL do it”
Very likely, during the first 3 centuries of the church met in homes. Likely the larger homes of the well-to-do (maybe Chloe v11) – natural cause for divisions (Acts 18:7)
¿: If the church was split among different homes, how did they function?
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11
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This must have been distressing news for Paul
Chloe was likely a prominent woman in the Corinthian church
“quarrels” lit. “rivalries, disputes”
Paul mentions Chloe, this is an important concept in Christian conduct. We should not pass on news about our fellow believers unless we are willing to be quoted on the matter.
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12
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Exalting men can only lead to division
¿: Why would there be factions?
Paul – founded the church (Acts 18:4-11), not eloquent (v2:1-2)
Apollos – Gifted orator (Acts 18:24-28*), continued where Paul left off (v3:5-6), does v16:12 imply he possibly left and/or did not want to return due to divisions, or was Paul simply expressing his complete trust in Apollos?
*Note on John’s baptism: was based upon repentance followed by good works to prove the repentance (Luke 3:1-22) vs. baptism based upon the finished work of Christ on the cross.
Cephas (Peter) – no record of his visit to Corinth (maybe v9:5?), although Peter’s reputation must have been high throughout the church (Acts 3:12-26) and possibly some of his personal converts were in the congregation.
Christ – Those that belonged to Christ could have been saying “we alone belong to Christ – exclusively. This was probably the group which considered themselves the most pious and self-righteous.
¿: Is it possible that they have felt they had no need to human instruction because “Christ was enough?”
*It is possible that these names were illustrative (cf. v4:6) in order to avoid worsening an already volatile situation. v15 indicates divisions were not over baptisms done by Paul. ?: Could this mean divisions were over baptisms by “unnamed men” – to protect from further inflaming the situation?
The divisions were likely of a “spiritual nature” with each group thinking they were more spiritual than the other.
¿: Give examples in which this occurs today. [denominations – each thinks they hold the corner on the “entire” truth]
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1 Corinthians
1:13-17
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Paul rebukes the sectarianism
Aligning allegiance to anyone for anything but Christ is diminishing Christ
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13
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“Is Christ divided?” = “Has Christ been divided and different parts handed out to different people?”
Paul’s rhetorical example is given as an absurd conclusion. One in which the hearer will clearly understand and answer to the contrary.
No man won salvation for the Corinthians, nor did any of them owe their allegiance to anybody except Christ
¿: Can the church be all that God designed and still be divided?
Ü What about those that say, “we follow the pope” vs. “we follow no one but Christ”?
Paul established his apostolic authority at the beginning of the letter but wanted no part of the faction that called his name in honor.
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14
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¿: Is it significant who baptizes whom?
¿: Do you think Paul thought baptism was not significant, so that’s why he didn’t do it? [cf Acts 18:8]
Crispus = synagogue ruler was converted under Paul’s teaching [cf Acts 18:8]
See John 4:2 – ¿: Why do you think Jesus did not baptize personally?
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15
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Paul was not trying to win converts to himself. His sole aim was to point men and women to Christ
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16
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“beyond that I don’t remember”, an interesting side-note on the inspiration of scripture. As an apostle writing the Word of God, Paul made no errors; but he was not omniscient. God protected His Holy Word from error but Paul did not know everything about God or even himself. He only knew what God revealed to him, what he could not know on his own, but even his own memory was fallible.
The key is that every word in scripture was inspired by the Holy Spirit. What is not there God did not put there and what is there God wanted recorded.
¿: What do you think about all those genealogies in Genesis, Chronicles or Matthew?
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17
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Paul’s God-given task was to preach. I’m sure he was thankful to be able to baptize – but for HIS part no one should be following him.
“Emptied of it’s power” = void (NASB) = none effect (KJV)
¿: What would it mean to void the power of the cross?
Transitions to the message of the cross – “the gospel”
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Conclusion
Personal Application:
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¿: What is your responsibility if you see factions forming within your circle of acquaintances within the body?
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Homework:
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