B2-devotions

1 Corinthians 1:10-17

Devotions for Monday 5th January

The introduction to Paul’s letter to the Corinthians was powerful and meaningful, but short. Paul wanted to raise a number of serious issues with his readers, and the rapidity with which he turned to them indicated that Paul was probably very concerned. The whole of the first letter to the Corinthians cycles through a series of difficult issues that had raised problems within the church at Corinth, as we will find out, but it is very significant that the first issue is the unity of God’s people. Paul was not being polite when he said ‘I appeal to you ...’ (1:10); he was very worried. It was incomprehensible to him that there could be anything less than complete agreement amongst God’s people (see 1:10) about what bound them together, and this passage is one of Paul’s most eloquent expressions of his conviction.

It seems that some report had come to Paul from some people of ‘Chloe’s household’ (1:11) telling him that there were ‘quarrels’ amongst the Christians in Corinth. We do not know exactly how Paul obtained this information, but clearly, some were unsettled in Corinth, and felt it right to tell Paul what was going on. The general situation seems to be this. The church at Corinth was fragmenting into different groups of people with differing views about things, and the focus for these divisions were the leaders and preachers of the church; Paul, Peter (Cephas), Apollos and Christ (1:12). Paul was horrified.

Paul, of course, was the first evangelist and teacher at Corinth, and he spent time in establishing the church there. Human nature has always had a tendency to follow the latest trend, and we know that the Corinthian church attracted later preachers like Apollos (see Acts 18:27-19:1) and others followed. There is no reference in Acts to any preaching there by Peter (‘Cephas’ – 1:12 was Peter’s name in Aramaic), but it is possible that those who supported his leadership of the church from Jerusalem went there to advocate Peter’s primacy. With lively and intellectual people in the church, and amongst those with a very cosmopolitan outlook, it seems that the church had not split completely, but was certainly dominated by these different groups or ‘parties’, each with different agendas for understanding the work of the church and the things of God. Paul even had to accept that people identified themselves with him, and therefore in opposition to others!

Perhaps it was the news that some identified themselves as belonging to Christ that stirred Paul to action. We cannot be completely sure, but we can imagine that Paul, who spoke in so many of his letters about the unique importance of identifying oneself with Christ (see Romans 6:11, Galatians 2:4, Ephesians 2:6f. etc.), found it unacceptable that some used Christ as an expression of party allegiance instead of faith alone. Such people were saying ‘we are right about Christ and others are wrong,’ and Paul would not tolerate this. As he went on to say with exasperation; ‘Is Christ divided?’ (1:13) The situation is like those churches today who call themselves by names which imply they believe they are true Christians and no one else is. This is offensive not merely to other Christians, but to Christ.

As we study this passage, we will discover more of Paul’s feelings about what was going on in the church at Corinth, but as he began to speak about the divisions, Paul could not help but wrest the discussion away from the division and back towards Jesus Christ Himself. People were baptised in the name of Christ, and Paul felt that everyone should be aware of this (1:14-16), he even did his best to disassociate himself from any implication that anyone might regard themselves as belonging to a party bearing his own name because he had baptised them!

In a move that becomes typical of Paul’s manner of dealing with problems throughout his letter to the Corinthians, Paul took the whole issue back to the cross of Christ (1:17); the only source of salvation and the very point of unity for all God’s people.

Going Deeper

It is relatively easy for us to read this passage and think we understand it all perfectly well. The general principle is straightforward, but as we look at how Paul struggled with the issue of the ‘party spirit’ within the church at Corinth, we will find that God has provided us with some helpful spiritual insight for how to deal with such matters today.

10 Now I appeal to you, fellow believers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be unified by having the same understanding and purpose. 11 For it has been made clear me by some from Chloe's household, fellow believers, that there are quarrels among you. 12 I suggest that each one of you says, ‘I am of Paul,’ or ‘I am of Apollos,’ or ‘I am of Cephas,’ or ‘I am of Christ.’ 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I am thankful that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so no one can maintain that you were baptized in my name. 16 (However, I did baptize the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not believe I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be robbed of its power.

Lord Jesus, Your grace is greater than we can comprehend;

Forgive us for our narrow understanding of You and Your Word,

Forgive us for our attempts to structure the work of Your Spirit,

Forgive us for our hardness of heart towards other people,

Break us and remake us as Your holy people; united in You;

Make us one in You, in living, in loving and in giving. AMEN

‘The Lord has done great things for us, and we are glad’ (Psalm 126:3)

We are glad because of the love of our God:

Jesus has been raised from the dead!

Angels have proclaimed the Good News!

Satan has been roundly defeated!

Love has won a great victory over sin!

Mercy is triumphant over judgement!

Faith has been fully justified!

Grace has been shown in action!

We are glad because of the love of our God;

And because Jesus has made it known to all.

Now we are saved by faith in Him! Alleluia!

Weekly Theme: Wildlife

Pray for those who study the changes in the wildlife of the world, and the possibility that these suggest environmental problems. Pray for the integrity of all who do this work.

On-going prayers

Pray about the strife in Israel and Gaza, and for the peace of God
Pray for those who are distressed because of family breakup
Give thanks for the internet and pray that God will use it for good

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