God is all about people, not money, and I feel sorry for anyone who tries to take over the current move of God, put it in a box, stick a label on it, and own it they will be swept away. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. It wasnt even about secondary doctrine (the second coming, the nature of baptism). We have Jesus only groups even today. Paul gives the church a stern warning about their actions and the proper way to participate. Paul is putting his finger right on the problem when he asks, "Was Paul crucified for you?" The bridesmaids have come down the aisle. So undoubtedly there was a big group that followed Paul. I have had to do some degree of battle with this myself. The same viewpoints are still dividing people. 6-Members defiling the Lords Supper. We all know what a clique is. Thanks for the thoughtful comment Austin. There are even discrepancies inside single denominations (which means we have division inside our divisions, great). DIVISIONS IN THE CHURCH I Corinthians 1 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. Bruises show on her arm! 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. Chapter Summary Furthermore, would the apostle not also be concerned with other divisions within the individual church body? Paul did not want to present the Gospel as an orator, competing for students as they did. Paul, however, was a good leader. There was nothing wrong with Paul baptizing people, but Paul didnt want people to boast about the fact that he baptized them. It seems so bland compared to all the other choices out there when really it presents and encourages people to live out a very different and exciting life in the opposite direction of the world. But when it comes to the clear teachings of Gods Word, there cannot be two conflicting views that are both right. 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. 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. People begin to think things about him that are not true, and expect things from him that he is unable to deliver. Lovelessness among Christians is not a light thing.. To all of this Paul would say to us, as he says to Corinth, Is Christ divided? The bibles need to match the pews which need to match the carpet which need to match the wall color. (1Corinthians 1:13 RSV). One day in Africa, a small boy was lost. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, and whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. You and I cant have more of the Lord Jesus Christ, but we can give Him more of ourselves, and experience more fully what is already ours as children of God. Divisions The countless denominations and different beliefs of Christianity are often not appealing to non-believers. WebWhat were the causes of division in the Corinthian Church? I find there are these tendencies right here in Peninsula Bible Church. They were hard to get in those war years, and every shipment that came in went out like hot cakes. 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. 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. If you will turn in your Bibles with me to John 17:20-23, I will read the passage to you. We must allow him the privilege of doing that. A number of churches in this postmodern era have begun to resemble the Corinthian church in alarming ways. That was a mark of status with them. In conjunction with this, some people were questioning Pauls character and authority ( 1 Corinthians 14 ). But when each piece is fitted together into its proper place in the puzzle, you have a beautiful and complete picture. How important is it that there be unity within the Church? For permission to use this content, please review We all know what a clique is. They read only his books or listen only to his tapes. That, of course, is as it should be. 1 Corinthians Problems in the Church There are the Calvinists and the Arminians and the Dispensationalists -- these are some of the things that are held up as the "summum bonum," the highest good, in theology. 7-False zeal for spiritual gifts. 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. 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. That is why Paul calls us back to it. 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. Public arguments were commonplace in the Greco-Roman world at the time that Paul was writing to the Corinthian church. Website 2023 by Ray Stedman Ministries. It is well known that division in the church of Corinth was over leadership. Each group claimed to be better than the others, and party spirits began to grow in the church. Now, he describes the nature of unity this way, "that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment." One of the celebrities was Paul himself some believers at Corinth actually claimed to be his followers. This applies also to the leadership in the church. Causes So he says, "I didn't baptize many of you. Teaching to be effective first needs to effect/transform the life of the teacher and then connect with those who hear. We are all equally undeserving of salvation and a relationship with Jesus Christ. And there are others who are drawn to some speaking style that has attracted them. Believers who are joined in heart should not find it difficult to be joined in hand, working together for the common good and for the glory of Christ. That is why we have four gospels, because not even one of the disciples who was with the Lord was capable of giving us a complete enough view of Christ. We do not know who the people were who belonged to the house of Cloe, but we must commend them for their courage and devotion. 16(Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don't remember if I baptized anyone else.) 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.. They were caused by Cliques (1:12; 3:4). WebWhat were the causes of division in the Corinthian Church? Now, you do not have to be very old to recognize that that is still a problem in the church. It took four viewpoints to report his earthly life and ministry accurately enough to us. 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. He didnt focus on himself being superior to all the rest of the church leaders. It is well known that division in the church of Corinth was over leadership. It is not merely that the Church is everywhere split up into sections, but that this has led to party strife and jealousy. Her gown is ripped and covered with mud! Some considering Paul their authority, other Apollos, others Peter, and still others accepted only Jesus as their authority. 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). 1-False prophets (2 Corinthians 11:13). Religious snobs want to be a part of a small group who It is popularized in the movie Mean Girls. Paul exhorts them to agree. Divisions in the Church Now, we are similar to the ancient world in that some people do see their pastors/teachers as a source of pride. After all, he was one of the first apostles that Jesus himself called." Was Paul crucified for you? 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). The Protestant Reformation had its beginnings in 1517 (see Chapter 1 0). 4-The churchs failure to discipline. 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. We have our theological view points, and even our philosophical ones (even though we could have less of that in our churches today in my opinion) but we also have our social dimensions as well. If I am not out of line I seem to remember that Constantine played a large role in allowing Pagan influences back into the Christian Life. the background of the Corinthian Church Offshoots had disturbed the church. The words made complete mean to be perfectly joined together, like a jigsaw puzzle. These kinds of things happen when there are divisions in a church. Others bragged that they were followers of Peter (1 Corinthians 1:12). 2 Corinthians WebThe members of the Corinthian church we disunited because they were pledging their allegiance to human leaders rather than God. The Corinthian church had many problems, and most of them were the result of pride and placing so much emphasis on social status. (1Corinthians 1:13b-16 RSV). 7-False zeal for spiritual gifts. Message transcript and recording 1978 by Ray Stedman Ministries, owner of sole copyright by assignment from the author. There he indicates that the problem with cliquishness is that it tends to overemphasize the significance of the human leader. Divisions Thank you, Father, for this time here contemplating the cross. His dissertation was published as Jesus the Bridegroom by Pickwick Books in 2012. Paul gives the church a stern warning about their actions and the proper way to participate. in the Corinthian Church Corinthians 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." (Peter, evidently, had been through Corinth and had preached there.) Paul rejects this disunity, telling the church members to focus on Christ. The Lords Supper was affected by the divisions between rich and poor and an overall general misunderstanding. In verse 11, Paul gives the reason for his appeal for unity in the church at Corinth. 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. 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. 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). Verse 12 tells us the source of this problem. Like Greg, I recognize this tension in some of the churches I have served in and find it appalling (1 Corinthians 3:18-19). I believe that if people would take their eyes off man and stop putting man up up so high and put THE MASTER BACK FIRST in their lives it wont be so much division in our churches. He appeals to them in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul condemns their behavior in verse 13 by saying, Has Christ been divided? In other words, have different amounts of Christ been given to different people? In verses 10-12, Paul begins by giving an appeal for unity. Now, almost every group does this. 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. In the year 1 054 the Church was divided into two parts: 1) The Greek Eastern Church 2) The Roman Western Church. They were caused by Cliques (1:12; 3:4). Every Navigator had to have a Scofield Reference Bible; that was the only "Authorized Version." As we do, I hope every one of us will understand more and more fully the character of this radical principle that God has turned loose among us, this revolutionary idea represented in the cross of Christ that wipes out all these distinctions among men. His Word does not disagree with itself. "I appeal to you," he says, "by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Maybe if they are getting rid of core doctrine it is a justifiable anger but I can definitely see how the church is very much the same as 2000 years ago. 12What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas"; still another, "I follow Christ.". Why? It is possible that these divisions represent competing house churches, some founded by Paul, some by Apollos. Since I was working at that time in the ship's service department in Pearl Harbor, we ordered great quantities of these Bibles. I hang on every word you say. Corinthians This is the result of a religious snobbery associated by cliques that produced pride and conflict. In verse 10 we see both Pauls affection for the Corinthian church, and his authority as an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. He begins the process of developing them into leaders who will also preach the gospel and found more churches. Paul, however, was a good leader. The groom and his attendants are in their places. What Was Dividing the Corinthian Church Christ belongs fully to every believer in His spiritual body, the Church. Corinthians In verse 11, Paul gives the reason for his appeal for unity in the church at Corinth. WebPaul rebukes the Corinthians because there are divisions and quarrels in the church. They were boasting over who had baptized them. RayStedman.org/permissions. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. We tend to fall out along doctrinal lines or because we are drawn to one charismatic pastor over another. In 2019 he published a commentary. Corinthians There were: the followers of Paul, the followers of Apollos, the followers of Cephas or Peter, and the followers of Christ. That is the mind Paul is talking about. For example, in the first section from 1:10 to 4:21, it's errors regarding division. In verse 11, Paul gives the reason for his appeal for unity in the church at Corinth. In what ways have we failed to de-paganize? It seems like it would be better to ask in what ways have we been re-paganized. That is what they were doing with baptism here in Corinth. Paul continues in verse 10 by saying that, MANS WISDOM VERSUS GODS WISDOM I Corinthians 1:18-25, WHY DONT PEOPLE BELIEVE? Its all about who looks the best, how much money is made, and how big our churches are. This Bible was pushed by the Navigators, and everybody had to have one. 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. This word was normally used to refer to a tear in a garment. The church at Corinth had divided loyalty to different leaders. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any one else). 5-Members going to pagan courts to settle disputes. He come to Corinth to create a community of disciples from which he might receive patronage and prestige. When it comes to seeking the spiritually lost for Christ, we can be much more effective if we are perfectly joined together in an unfailing zeal for Gods glory, not our own. (I suppose that if Dio were commenting on the modern world, he would describe the wretched bloggers shouting abuse at the temple of WordPress!). Polhill says, every Corinthian had their own favorite preacher (237). Now to this, there should be a division that exists considering that there are some denominations that do teach correct biblical doctrine, while other churches deviate from correct biblical doctrine in order to teach their own false doctrines. He chooses various channels through which to work. Like I talked about in the first posting, the emerging church makes me question a lot of things they are doing. If we sacrifice quality for numbers I dont think we are being good stewards of our gift of leadership. You could spot the Navigators going up and down the streets of Honolulu. There should be oneness of mind, no matter how long it takes. 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. Splits and Quarrels in the Church 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). 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. The most well known one is having worship on Sundays instead of the Sabbath. Some sued their fellow Christians in the secular courts. Help me walk from day to day, with its shadows o'er me. That does not mean that everybody has to think alike. If Paul could see the divisions between the various denominations of today, what would he say? 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). 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. I think that if you put the teachings of a man over the teachings of Scripture then you have a problem.