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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. Some considering Paul their authority, other Apollos, others Peter, and still others accepted only Jesus as their authority. This is the result of a religious snobbery associated by cliques that produced pride and conflict. There are even discrepancies inside single denominations (which means we have division inside our divisions, great). Paul rejects this disunity, telling the church members to focus on Christ. Behind Divisions is the history and significance of the church (1 Corinthians 1:12 RSV) Now, there was the trouble at Corinth. Some considered Paul their leader, others Apollos, still others Peter. Church has become about the pastor and not about his message. These were not schisms yet; they had not split off into other congregations, but there were four cliques, or factions within the congregation. This issue was so important that Paul devotes the first four chapters of I Corinthians to divisions in the church. Teaching to be effective first needs to effect/transform the life of the teacher and then connect with those who hear. So, just a few texts and there are so many more. I always have, and always will believe that this overly exaggerated concept of denominations is a problem. It took four viewpoints to report his earthly life and ministry accurately enough to us. Others were saying, "Well, Apollos himself baptized me." These kinds of things happen when there are divisions in a church. The individual leaders should only point them to Christ. It is possible that these divisions represent competing house churches, some founded by Paul, some by Apollos. WebThe Christians at Corinth were dividing the church by pledging their loyalties to different celebrities. 6-Members defiling the Lords Supper. WebThe Christians at Corinth were dividing the church by pledging their loyalties to different celebrities. Now, he describes the nature of unity this way, "that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment." I would like to start off with a quote (forgive me for the length) from Polhill that I found to be all to strikingly familiar of todays churches. Are we willing to love each other as Christ loved us? 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. Not when we hear of churches with factions or cliques of people who sit on opposite sides of the aisle. If we sacrifice quality for numbers I dont think we are being good stewards of our gift of leadership. 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. There he indicates that the problem with cliquishness is that it tends to overemphasize the significance of the human leader. The words made complete in verse 10 are translated from a Greek word that was used to speak of mending such things as nets, bones, dislocated joints, broken utensils, and torn garments.