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Their relationship to Christ was the unifying factor of the church. Paul does not want to be considered a philosopher who is gathering disciples, nor does he want that for Apollos or Peter or any man. Subject to permissions policy, all rights reserved. 2 Corinthians The same viewpoints are still dividing people. He described the activities of the disciples of the Sophists the professional orators who were able to command large audiences, high fees for educating youth, and often a great deal of power within the city. When the lifeless body of the little one was carried back to the anxious mother, she cried aloud, Oh why didnt you join hands before?. Paul did not want to present the Gospel as an orator, competing for students as they did. 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. 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. I do not think things have improved much since the first century. They were boasting over who had baptized them. So, just a few texts and there are so many more. I have had to do some degree of battle with this myself. 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." And more than that, we have a responsibility to obey him, to follow his Lordship. Now, the Apostle Paul is very concerned about this matter of incipient division in the church at Corinth, and he begins dealing with it in this powerful appeal for unity in Verse10: I appeal to you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no dissensions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. I lead a small group so I sometimes have to sit in meetings where the pastor shares things about the vision of our church. Why are these thing SO important? Lovelessness among Christians is not a light thing.. We have Jesus only groups even today. Verse 12 tells us the source of this problem. 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.. By focusing on Jesus we can see how important the parts of church really are. After all, he was one of the first apostles that Jesus himself called." 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 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. We may not all agree on the way to do church but there is definitely more than one effective way. It was a glorious work. Sermon 5: Who is the Most Important? Others were saying, "Well, Apollos himself baptized me." 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 were burdened about them, and they went to the right person with them. They forget, of course, that the church never belongs to anybody but the Lord. One day in Africa, a small boy was lost. 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. Paul rejects this disunity, telling the church members to focus on Christ. He was introduced in a rather extended and flowery way, but he came on and in his great, booming voice said, "I'm not Dr.Oswald Hoffman, the great preacher of the Lutheran Hour. It builds him up too much; it makes him a rival, to some degree, of the Lord himself. Paul always expresses great concern about the possibility of a split in the church. The Corinthian Church. There has been no other cure that I know of through the years. His dissertation was published as Jesus the Bridegroom by Pickwick Books in 2012. These are two common causes of church divisions in the West. The Greek word used here literally means to say the same thing. What is a clique? 17For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospelnot with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For permission to use this content, please review We tend to fall out along doctrinal lines or because we are drawn to one charismatic pastor over another. 7-False zeal for spiritual gifts. That was a mark of status with them. 4-The churchs failure to discipline. Now, we all have our favorite preacher, and up to a point that is not wrong. These were not schisms yet; they had not split off into other congregations, but there were four cliques, or factions within the congregation. Paul was the apostle to the gentiles. The minister is waiting, Bible in hand. Aside from this acceptable division within the modern church, there are also two other reasons for division which should not exist. We had some great meetings and great times together. The congregation then is to submit to the elders because it has confidence that their decisions were made under the Holy Spirits direction and power. There he indicates that the problem with cliquishness is that it tends to overemphasize the significance of the human leader. I was taking my break and a person I work with asked where I went to college. He didnt focus on himself being superior to all the rest of the church leaders. In conjunction with this, some people were questioning Pauls character and authority ( 1 Corinthians 14 ). As we read through First Corinthians, I think we will see how very much like modern day churches this ancient church of Corinth was. Its a lot harder! They did not try to hide the problems. It is possible that these divisions represent competing house churches, some founded by Paul, some by Apollos. The members started to develop division following different leaders. Webdivided. But when it comes to the clear teachings of Gods Word, there cannot be two conflicting views that are both right. Sometimes a church leader can have so much clout that he begins to have cult status. The Corinthian Church. We need to be perfectly joined together in the love of Christ. Something shows up sooner or later as an identifying badge that marks them as "special," with special privilege and special status in that group. So undoubtedly there was a big group that followed Paul. He is the ground, always, of unity. Dio Chrysostom visited Corinth about A.D. 89-96. 4-The churchs failure to discipline. A number of churches in this postmodern era have begun to resemble the Corinthian church in alarming ways. I told them GBC and they said something along the lines of, Oh a Bible college? It is possible, though, that the divisions among When daylight again appeared, they looked for him with renewed energy but still without success. These are two common causes of church divisions in the West. We are of Peter." Weve seen how important unity was to the apostle Paul. Peter was an uneducated, common man and may have appealed to that group of people in Corinth. We become followers of out Pastors and churches rather than of Christ. Their divisions, lack of church discipline, lawsuits, abuse of Christian liberty and over-emphasis of the gift of tongues, all illustrate this root problem. In the year 1 054 the Church was divided into two parts: 1) The Greek Eastern Church 2) The Roman Western Church. 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.. God only sees one fold, (John 10) and there is only one faith, one Lord, one baptism etc. You may recall also that in writing to the church at Ephesus, he exhorted the elders there to be careful to "maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace," (Ephesians 4:3 RSV). There are several important terms in this passage. Now, the second thing Paul says is, "Was Paul crucified for you?" This introduces one of the greatest passages in the Bible, setting forth the difference between the wisdom of man and the wisdom of God. I agree with Greg, I see a lot of times where Pastors begin to care more about the number of the congregation rather on the connectedness of it. Paul, however, was a good leader. When the Corinthians divided into factions, it wasnt so much about core doctrine (nature of God, nature of Christ, the Gospel, the nature of man). Their divisions, lack of church discipline, lawsuits, abuse of Christian liberty and over-emphasis of the gift of tongues, all illustrate this root problem. RayStedman.org/permissions. Why? Doesnt He deserve better than this? the author asks. The Lords Supper was affected by the divisions between rich and poor and an overall general misunderstanding. 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). The church is never called to having everybody think exactly alike. And there are others who are drawn to some speaking style that has attracted them. 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. This is the result of a religious snobbery associated by cliques that produced pride and conflict. WebThe members of the Corinthian church we disunited because they were pledging their allegiance to human leaders rather than God. His bride, the Church, has been fighting again!. Some followed Apollos whom they honored above Paul (1 Corinthians 1:12; 3:4; Acts 18:24 to 19:1). It is well known that division in the church of Corinth was over leadership. They were hard to get in those war years, and every shipment that came in went out like hot cakes. There are those who are emotionally attached to some great Christian leader who has helped them, and they will only listen to him. We, as the modern church, say that we hold to Pauls message that we shouldnt be conformed to this world, but when we look at the world, there seem to be just as many divisions. On a large jigsaw puzzle of a thousand pieces or more, its almost impossible to put it together upside down! 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. 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. [Then he thinks of another group that he had baptized] (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. The Protestant Reformation had its beginnings in 1517 (see Chapter 1 0). However, I would like to approach this in a different way than the comments already present here. If so, what results are we shooting for? 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. 2- The Churchs division. In verse 11, Paul gives the reason for his appeal for unity in the church at Corinth. 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. A. The Lords Supper was affected by the divisions between rich and poor and an overall general misunderstanding. It is those who have a financial interest in their own wellbeing, that divide the sheep up into different folds. 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. 2- The Churchs division. WebPaul rebukes the Corinthians because there are divisions and quarrels in the church. We feel some sense of connectedness to the teachers (pastors/leaders) whose teachings we sit under while they count us as proof of their effectiveness (numbers). Not even a three-fourths vote should carry a motion. I. PAULS APPEAL FOR UNITY (verses 10-12). These are not the only causes of divisions in churches today. Obviously sin is at the heart of these divisions, but I am encouraged to hear that at least in your corner of the world there is some unification and revival. If you survey the church scene all over America today, you find people dividing up this way. I told them that it is a concern of mine as well. Let's go back to Jerusalem. 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. The individual leaders should only point them to Christ. 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. Thank you, Father, for this time here contemplating the cross. Lewis.". Paul gives the church a stern warning about their actions and the proper way to participate. Members follow him blindly and whatever they do seems right to them. 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. Some considering Paul their authority, other Apollos, others Peter, and still others accepted only Jesus as their authority. Some sued their fellow Christians in the secular courts. Some considering Paul their authority, other Apollos, others Peter, and still others accepted only Jesus as their authority. Like the world, Christians are too concerned with being right and having our way. You could spot the Navigators going up and down the streets of Honolulu. Their conflicts undoubtedly had its theological and philosophical dimensions, but it was social as well, human and petty, high on pride and low on love (Polhill 233). Yet, in reality as long as correct biblical doctrine is being taught no pastor should be viewed in comparison to one another. All are mere teachers; there is only one Lord. WebThe members of the Corinthian church we disunited because they were pledging their allegiance to human leaders rather than God. No man is the Savior; no man can deliver us except Jesus. Im not saying its wrong to stick to what you believe. Paul knew this and said in 1 Corinthians 2:1-2, When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed the testimony about God. In verses 14 to 16, Paul uses himself as an example. How important is it that there be unity in the Church where you fellowship? 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. Some considering Paul their authority, other Apollos, others Peter, and still others accepted only Jesus as their authority. These are not the only causes of divisions in churches today. 5-Members going to pagan courts to settle disputes. They embraced the values of their Roman society, which divided over ethnicity (e.g., Jews vs. Gentiles) and social rank (wise vs. foolish, powerful I was unaware of this connection before now but it really makes sense. Luke says in Acts 4:12, And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men, by which we must be saved. The ground is level at the cross. There should be oneness of mind, no matter how long it takes. I told them that I do not foresee and end to these divisions anytime soon (sadly). The Corinthian Church. This consumerism that we face today in the end doesnt seem all that much different from the way the Christian faith was treated like just another philosophy back in the days of Paul. Orators have to be so careful not to let teaching become a pride thing rather than a gift they share to better the other. 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). Paul continues in verse 10 by saying that, MANS WISDOM VERSUS GODS WISDOM I Corinthians 1:18-25, WHY DONT PEOPLE BELIEVE? (I suppose that if Dio were commenting on the modern world, he would describe the wretched bloggers shouting abuse at the temple of WordPress!). 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. I would like to approach it from an evangelistic standpoint. This Western Church soon became known as the Roman Catholic Church. I would agree that we find ourselves in much the same situations as those listening to the Greek philosophers/orators. It is well known that division in the church of Corinth was over leadership. Some considering Paul their authority, other Apollos, others Peter, and still others accepted only Jesus as their authority. Paul rejects this disunity, telling the church members to focus on Christ. 2 Corinthians (1Corinthians 1:12 RSV), Now, there was the trouble at Corinth. When I say worn out I mean people say that it is not usable in the modern world so its words become little more than foot rests in the pew. In this parable, the groom is Christ. WebThe Christians at Corinth were dividing the church by pledging their loyalties to different celebrities. He started this church. In fact, there are still many divisions that exist today in modern churches. How many of you have ever put together a jigsaw puzzle? The Protestant Reformation had its beginnings in 1517 (see Chapter 1 0). 1-False prophets (2 Corinthians 11:13). A. 1-False prophets (2 Corinthians 11:13). Whenever this attitude of gathering around a man is allowed to perpetuate itself, it is the source of much trouble and difficulty. It would be great if all of you would think like me, but unfortunately there are stubborn ones among you, there are depraved ones among you, there are those who have different backgrounds than I have, and some of you just do not think like I do! The followers of Jesus may have believed in Jesus words only, and did not believe that the writings of Peter, Paul, and the other apostles were really Scripture. WebDivisions in the Church. Some Corinthian Christians were dividing over church teachers. The cross of Christ cuts across all human value systems. Instead of tearing themselves apart, he urges them to be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. When the Corinthians divided into factions, it wasnt so much about core doctrine (nature of God, nature of Christ, the Gospel, the nature of man). They may have carried Pauls teachings of justification by faith and freedom from the Law to an extreme and felt free to do whatever they wanted. 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. These kinds of things happen when there are divisions in a church. 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. Paul, however, was a good leader. 10I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. In 1 Corinthians, Paul consciously avoids disciple-teacher language. Paul gives the church a stern warning about their actions and the proper way to participate. The search went on until nightfall, but no answer came to their urgent calls. Then comes that great Christological passage where he describes how Christ, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. His Word does not disagree with itself. Its all about who looks the best, how much money is made, and how big our churches are. Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? In 2019 he published a commentary. When you call them back to an understanding of the meaning of the cross, you will find all the divisions disappearing; they fade away like the morning mist. 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. Long has taught full time at Grace Christian University since 1998, specializing in Bible and Biblical languages. But when each piece is fitted together into its proper place in the puzzle, you have a beautiful and complete picture. They were dividing over this whole issue, and Paul says it is all wrong. He gathers disciples and establishes a church, a meeting place for educating his disciples. Whatever you say, I believe." WebThe spirit that wrought such mischief at Corinth has been busy in the Church ever since. The words made complete mean to be perfectly joined together, like a jigsaw puzzle. We tend to fall out along doctrinal lines or because we are drawn to one charismatic pastor over another. Help us to judge these in the light of the cross, and, by its light, to walk before thee. To all of this Paul would say to us, as he says to Corinth, Is Christ divided? 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. 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. 7-False zeal for spiritual gifts. At that time it was under the leadership of its founder, Dawson Trotman, and it was my privilege and delight to be a close friend of his, to have spent a good deal of time with him and to come under the influence of his teaching and his methods. But when doctrinal beliefs keep churches from working together to further the gospel. Alexandria was a center for learning and philosophy. This is the result of a religious snobbery associated by cliques that produced pride and conflict. In verse 11, Paul gives the reason for his appeal for unity in the church at Corinth. 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. Thats not the way a jigsaw puzzle was meant to be put together. It is possible that these divisions represent competing house churches, some founded by Paul, some by Apollos. Every Navigator had to have a Scofield Reference Bible; that was the only "Authorized Version." For example, in the first section from 1:10 to 4:21, it's errors regarding division. Religious snobs want to be a part of a small group who They read only his books or listen only to his tapes. Others bragged that they were followers of Peter (1 Corinthians 1:12). Religious snobs want to be a part of a small group who
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