“Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” (1 Corinthians 1:10, NKJV)

At the time of Paul, Christians in Corinth did not have one central meeting place. Church buildings were built 200 years later when the persecution began. So, for the first three centuries of the church in Corinth met mainly in homes.

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They usually met in the houses of those who belong to more well-to-do members of the congregation whose houses can hold the most people. However, limited number of people can be accommodated to these houses, so believers were forced to gather in different small congregations.  Because of this set up, divisions among the people could easily arise. It is evident in the letter that the main cause of division was the differences in social stratification within the congregation.

Corinthian believers have divided themselves into four factions: those who who sided with Paul, those who admired the eloquence of Apollos, those who were followers of Peter, and those who called themselves Christ special party (1 Cor. 1:11-12).

It is in this context that Paul lamented divisions and called for unity. Today, the same problems arise in most of the churches worldwide. Thus, Paul’s exhortation to set aside differences and be united rings to us. In Christ, we must have the unity similar to that of blood brothers and sisters!

Sources:

Halley, Henry H. Halley’s Bible Handbook. ePub Format. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2000.

Keener, Craig S. The IVP Bible Background Commentary. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993.

MySword for Android. Riversoft Ministry, 2011-2019.

Olive Tree Bible Software, 1998-2020.

Zondervan NASB Study Bible. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 1999.

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