what caused divisions in the corinthian church what caused divisions in the corinthian church

Because the Holy Spirit has but one will, and because a church must be in complete harmony with His will, the leaders must be in complete harmony with each other in that will. Others were saying, "Well, Apollos himself baptized me." 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. Polhill says, every Corinthian had their own favorite preacher (237). (Peter, evidently, had been through Corinth and had preached there.) There are some people who minister to us better than others, and it is only natural that we should listen to them and follow them. We go back to the Lord alone. These were not schisms yet; they had not split off into other congregations, but there were four cliques, or factions within the congregation. There is not a single teacher who ever lived who can heal the hurt of a broken heart, or supply energy and adequacy to someone who feels worthless and unable to function in society, not one. Why? They did not try to hide the problems. Some boasted of their special spiritual gifts; others felt left out. It is sad to see that our world appears just as divided today as it did back in the first century. Alexandria was a center for learning and philosophy. How many of you have ever put together a jigsaw puzzle? WebWhat were the causes of division in the Corinthian Church? 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). 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." Now, the second thing Paul says is, "Was Paul crucified for you?" They embraced the values of their Roman society, which divided over ethnicity (e.g., Jews vs. Gentiles) and social rank (wise vs. foolish, powerful It is popularized in the movie Mean Girls. I think today if church leaders focus on Jesus and only Jesus we would be so much healthier. This is what Paul uses as the basis for unity in this church -- not only the attitude of selflessness, which is the mind of Christ, but the responsibility to submit to his Lordship, the common responsibility that we have together. I think that if you put the teachings of a man over the teachings of Scripture then you have a problem. Paul then goes on to give us three very carefully stated clues in Verse13 as to what is wrong with this kind of thing. Unity in the church is something that requires cooperation with each other and with the Spirit of God. 2 Corinthians 2- The Churchs division. Try it some time. When I say it gets ignored like an infomercial you probably infer what that means. 4-The churchs failure to discipline. 6-Members defiling the Lords Supper. WebPaul rebukes the Corinthians because there are divisions and quarrels in the church. 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. Now, he is not saying that it is wrong to baptize; he himself did it, and acknowledges that he did. 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. 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. Corinthians 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. Paul goes right on, in Verse12, 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." Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. That is not the work of men; that is the work of God himself. One eye is purple and swollen! It is well known that division in the church of Corinth was over leadership. In verse 11, Paul gives the reason for his appeal for unity in the church at Corinth. Verse 12 tells us the source of this problem. The Protestant Reformation had its beginnings in 1517 (see Chapter 1 0). He is the ground, always, of unity. The Factions At Corinth Its all about who looks the best, how much money is made, and how big our churches are. In verses 10-12, Paul begins by giving an appeal for unity. Corinthians It is possible, though, that the divisions among For example, in the first section from 1:10 to 4:21, it's errors regarding division. The divisions of Christendom are the scandal of Christianity. If someone comes on preaching the doctrines that were emphasized during the Reformation, he will get a great following of people who think that the Reformation was the whole sum and substance of all great Christian truth. 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. There were: the followers of Paul, the followers of Apollos, the followers of Cephas or Peter, and the followers of Christ. A. And, after all, Peter even walked on water!" the background of the Corinthian Church It is interesting how quickly we forget where our gifts come from and think we are the cause of success. Therefore our boasting should only be in the Lord (1 Corinthains 1:26-31). It wasnt even about secondary doctrine (the second coming, the nature of baptism). They were caused by Cliques (1:12; 3:4). We had some great meetings and great times together. These kinds of things happen when there are divisions in a church. So Paul is insisting that the Corinthians, and all believers, have doctrinal unity that is clearly based on Gods Word. There has been no other cure that I know of through the years. Not when some people in the congregation wont look at, speak to, or even acknowledge the existence of certain other people in the congregation. He begins the process of developing them into leaders who will also preach the gospel and found more churches. Divisions in the Church These kinds of things happen when there are divisions in a church. 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. the background of the Corinthian Church 2 Corinthians Religious snobs want to be a part of a small group who How can the presence of divisions be described as worldly?, Bruce Winter details the Greco-Roman practice of discipleship in the second chapter of After Paul Left Corinth. Divisions Have you ever tried to put a jigsaw puzzle together with the pieces turned upside down so that they are all blank? We tend to fall out along doctrinal lines or because we are drawn to one charismatic pastor over another. But that is a very dangerous attitude, and yet we tend to think of people as being the channel by which deliverance can come to our heart. Are we willing to love each other as Christ loved us? 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. The church at Corinth had divided loyalty to different leaders. Their divisions, lack of church discipline, lawsuits, abuse of Christian liberty and over-emphasis of the gift of tongues, all illustrate this root problem. 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? 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. But if it is to escape pressures and difficulties and problems in the congregation, then it is absolutely wrong and the worst thing he could do, because it sets before the watching world a false testimony concerning the church of Jesus Christ. WebThe Christians at Corinth were dividing the church by pledging their loyalties to different celebrities. It is well known that division in the church of Corinth was over leadership. Some followed Apollos whom they honored above Paul (1 Corinthians 1:12; 3:4; Acts 18:24 to 19:1). A gasp bursts from the guests! And some of them are really gross. They became symbols of prestige and standing that became divisive factors among the men. (1Corinthians 1:13 RSV). There he indicates that the problem with cliquishness is that it tends to overemphasize the significance of the human leader. In my church it seems like they are all about numbers. 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. A second issue that seems to keep the church divided (the whole church and individual churches) is the little things such as the structure of the service, the type of music played for worship, whether a pastor should always wear a tie, and what color should be used in the bathroom. Instead of directly saying that we follow Paul, or Apollos, we say that we are Baptist, Reformed, or even Catholic. 7-False zeal for spiritual gifts. Corinthians 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. 3- The presence of an immoral member. Paul continues in verse 10 by saying that there be no divisions among you. RayStedman.org/permissions. Weve seen how important unity was to the apostle Paul. He had received a report from the household of Cloe that there were quarrels among the members of the Corinthian church. The families have been seated. That is why Paul calls us back to it. 1 Corinthians Problems in the Church Now these things were good. That was a mark of status with them. The Corinthian church had many problems, and most of them were the result of pride and placing so much emphasis on social status. 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.. WebThe Christians at Corinth were dividing the church by pledging their loyalties to different celebrities. The groom and his attendants are in their places. What is a clique? (1Corinthians 1:12 RSV), Now, there was the trouble at Corinth. In Philippians 2:9 Paul said of Christ, Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name. No Christian, no Christian minister, is to put himself in Christs place, or allow himself to be put in Christs place, and take the authority and honor that is due to Christ alone. 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. WebDivisions in the Church. In 2019 he published a commentary. One of the celebrities was Paul himself some believers at Corinth actually claimed to be his followers. I've not forgotten that incident because it seems to me to capture the very attitude Paul is describing here. 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." 6-Members defiling the Lords Supper. Paul gives the church a stern warning about their actions and the proper way to participate. Sometimes a church leader can have so much clout that he begins to have cult status. It was expected. Its not just the denominations per se any more theres also a proliferation of house churches too. Take the various mega-churches for example, whose charismatic pastors live in mansions. These are two common causes of church divisions in the West. The Greek word used here literally means to say the same thing. Corinthians My answer was that it all depends on the motive. However, I would like to approach this in a different way than the comments already present here. Im not saying its wrong to stick to what you believe. 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. I hang on every word you say. The individual leaders should only point them to Christ. Some of them were saying, "Well, Paul baptized me." There were, first of all, the loyalists who said, "We are of Paul. The facts in the gospel are what will set us free, and particularly, he says, the word of the cross. (1Corinthians 1:10 RSV). 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. Chapter Summary They were hard to get in those war years, and every shipment that came in went out like hot cakes. There are several important terms in this passage. The organ begins the bridal march, and everyone stands. As a young Christian in my early twenties during World WarII, I was stationed in Hawaii, and I became acquainted with the work of the Navigators. 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. But when each piece is fitted together into its proper place in the puzzle, you have a beautiful and complete picture. Long has taught full time at Grace Christian University since 1998, specializing in Bible and Biblical languages. We have Jesus only groups even today. The first thing Paul says is that it tends to chop up Christ and parcel him out as though his person and his work came in various packages, thus you lose perspective of the whole of Christian theology. I would agree that we find ourselves in much the same situations as those listening to the Greek philosophers/orators. Everybody has their denomination and they cling relentless to their doctrinal beliefs. It seems unbelievable at first to think that this kind of division exists within the modern church, but more often than not it is actually one of the most common reasons for division. 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. This division in the church was over their own selfish ambitions evidenced in what they wanted. I told them that I do not foresee and end to these divisions anytime soon (sadly). I have to admit though that sometimes I think about numbers and recognition and want that. 7-False zeal for spiritual gifts. Now, here the apostle makes very clear that the tendency among groupies is to distort the meaning of symbols. WebThe Corinthians were basically making a mockery of Communion. That is why the apostle appeals to it. He come to Corinth to create a community of disciples from which he might receive patronage and prestige. Corinthians 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. If Paul could see the divisions between the various denominations of today, what would he say? in the Corinthian Church 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. After all, he was one of the first apostles that Jesus himself called." 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. This is the result of a religious snobbery associated by cliques that produced pride and conflict. Remember, a believer who is at war with his brother or sister in Christ cannot be at peace with our heavenly Father. How important is it that there be unity within the Church? Help me walk from day to day, with its shadows o'er me. The members started to develop division following different leaders. 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). People begin to think things about him that are not true, and expect things from him that he is unable to deliver. The Corinthian church had many problems, and most of them were the result of pride and placing so much emphasis on social status. The bridesmaids have come down the aisle. They were burdened about them, and they went to the right person with them. You could spot the Navigators going up and down the streets of Honolulu. If we are, all our differences and difficulties would soon come to an end. Bruises show on her arm! It is extremely important. WebAccording to Paul, the communitys problems were the consequence of the Corinthians mistaken belief that they had already been exalted. The Lords Supper was affected by the divisions between rich and poor and an overall general misunderstanding. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. With all the differences among us, it is impossible to get people to think alike. Now, in Verse13 you understand why. 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. It is possible that these divisions represent competing house churches, some founded by Paul, some by Apollos. Thanks for the thoughtful comment Austin. 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. The Factions At Corinth The Corinthian Church. His most recent book is The Book of Enoch for Beginners: A Guide to Expand Your Understanding of the Biblical World (Rockridge, 2022). It took four viewpoints to report his earthly life and ministry accurately enough to us. Orators have to be so careful not to let teaching become a pride thing rather than a gift they share to better the other. Sermon 5: Who is the Most Important? Because I am a little defensive it seems like they are almost my enemy. Some Corinthian Christians were dividing over church teachers. Their divisions, lack of church discipline, lawsuits, abuse of Christian liberty and over-emphasis of the gift of tongues, all illustrate this root problem. Members follow him blindly and whatever they do seems right to them. But when doctrinal beliefs keep churches from working together to further the gospel. The word divisions comes from the Greek word schismata, from which we get our English word schism. The divisions of Christendom are the scandal of Christianity. WebPaul rebukes the Corinthians because there are divisions and quarrels in the church. There was nothing wrong with Paul baptizing people, but Paul didnt want people to boast about the fact that he baptized them. The church in Corinth was a group of people who were tearing themselves apart! This issue was so important that Paul devotes the first four chapters of I Corinthians to divisions in the church. Christ belongs fully to every believer in His spiritual body, the Church. Their divisions, lack of church discipline, lawsuits, abuse of Christian liberty and over-emphasis of the gift of tongues, all illustrate this root problem. That is the problem, and it is still going on today. Website 2023 by Ray Stedman Ministries. I do not think things have improved much since the first century. the Problems in the Corinthian Church I used to attend a Navigator group which met in Honolulu on Sunday afternoons. Whenever this attitude of gathering around a man is allowed to perpetuate itself, it is the source of much trouble and difficulty. They failed to take seriously the power of evil; their behavior caused divisions in the church and led to a lack of concern for other members. 5-Members going to pagan courts to settle disputes. One day in Africa, a small boy was lost. 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. Like I talked about in the first posting, the emerging church makes me question a lot of things they are doing. I. PAULS APPEAL FOR UNITY (verses 10-12). God, therefore, has designed that there be many teachers, many preachers, many viewpoints, in a church. Each group claimed to be better than the others, and party spirits began to grow in the church. Its pastors, bishops and others who fear the loss of their livlihoods as their former sheep move on in God towards the new wine skins of revival that want to maintain the old wine skins which brought them an income. I think we have failed to de-paganize the art of preaching/teaching if pastors/leaders are looking for patronage, prestige, and numbers over relationships, service, and transformation. 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.. Chapter Summary Unless its mended, the tear gets bigger and bigger, doesnt it? (I suppose that if Dio were commenting on the modern world, he would describe the wretched bloggers shouting abuse at the temple of WordPress!). When daylight again appeared, they looked for him with renewed energy but still without success. 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.. There is not a single Christian teacher who ever lived who can help us be forgiven one single sin, not one. WebAccording to Paul, the communitys problems were the consequence of the Corinthians mistaken belief that they had already been exalted. Chapter Summary 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 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. 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. Paul enters this world of wretched Sophists and preaches the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The bride is limping! Now, Paul says this is all basically, fundamentally wrong. It is possible, though, that the divisions among Even though the churches within a certain denomination agree to the same biblical teachings, some churches within those denominations may begin to disagree with the biblical teachings and break away from the denomination to become affiliated with another denomination that aligns with their beliefs. The countless denominations and different beliefs of Christianity are often not appealing to non-believers. As a result, this led to the division among Christian converts and to the Christian community as a whole. Webdivided. The Lords Supper was affected by the divisions between rich and poor and an overall general misunderstanding. 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. The words made complete mean to be perfectly joined together, like a jigsaw puzzle. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. All that mattered to Paul was Jesus! For permission to use this content, please review The cross of Christ is what will heal the fragmentation of Christians wherever they are. 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. Divisions in the Church Subject to permissions policy, all rights reserved. Conclusion. There is no other name big enough, great enough, glorious enough, and powerful enough to gather everybody together, despite the diversity of viewpoint and the differences of background or status in life, than the name of Jesus. Divisions WebDivisions in the Church. The cross of Christ cuts across all human value systems. There are still others today who follow after some school of thought. All are mere teachers; there is only one Lord. It builds him up too much; it makes him a rival, to some degree, of the Lord himself. (Philippians 2:6-8 RSV). WebThe spirit that wrought such mischief at Corinth has been busy in the Church ever since. I understand the fact that people have different beliefs and would like to stick to those (it is good to sick to what you believe) but when you get so segregated that you cannot work together anymore, it becomes a serious problem. Webdivided. To resolve this issue, he encourages communal love. They were also not afraid to be mentioned in Pauls letter to the church. Here in Verse10 he briefly shows us the ground of unity, and the nature of unity in a church. He said so himself. Some considering Paul their authority, other Apollos, others Peter, and still others accepted only Jesus as their authority. The individual leaders should only point them to Christ. DIVISIONS AND PERSONALITIES IN THE CHURCH 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. He chooses various channels through which to work. The Corinthian church had many problems, and most of them were the result of pride and placing so much emphasis on social status. 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. 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. DIVISIONS IN THE CHURCH I Corinthians 1 Now, we all have our favorite preacher, and up to a point that is not wrong. Some are of Ritchie, and some are of Roper, and a few of Stedman! There are even discrepancies inside single denominations (which means we have division inside our divisions, great). 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. Public arguments were commonplace in the Greco-Roman world at the time that Paul was writing to the Corinthian church. And just as the Corinthian church was not above the petty rivalries of its time, neither is the modern church above becoming involved in such shouting matches. The Protestant Reformation had its beginnings in 1517 (see Chapter 1 0). If you will turn in your Bibles with me to John 17:20-23, I will read the passage to you.