So rather that detailing their accomplishments as orators, Paul describes their functions (Paul planted, Apollos watered, etc.) The Greek word used here literally means to say the same thing. Thank you, Father, for this time here contemplating the cross. Long has taught full time at Grace Christian University since 1998, specializing in Bible and Biblical languages. Corinthians When you get men's eyes off all these status symbols, and call them back away from following men to the Person of Christ and his cross, all the divisions will disappear. 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. Christ belongs fully to every believer in His spiritual body, the Church. The same viewpoints are still dividing people. Religious snobs want to be a part of a small group who Gods people who are moving in revival (like we have been to experiencing right here in Brisbane these last few months) have no qualms about getting together to see the nation of Australia come to Christ. There should be oneness of mind, no matter how long it takes. As a result, this led to the division among Christian converts and to the Christian community as a whole. Its all about who looks the best, how much money is made, and how big our churches are. What is a clique? 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." These are not the only causes of divisions in churches today. Teaching to be effective first needs to effect/transform the life of the teacher and then connect with those who hear. Corinthians With all the differences among us, it is impossible to get people to think alike. Ones honor and reputation were valued highly and if someone attacked your reputation it was expected that you would defend yourself and retaliate by publicly bashing your attacker. Each group claimed to be better than the others, and party spirits began to grow in the church. Lovelessness among Christians is not a light thing.. In verse 11, Paul gives the reason for his appeal for unity in the church at Corinth. I remember a few years ago being at a family congress in St. Louis, Missouri, when one of the evening speakers was Dr.Oswald Hoffman, the very capable and powerful preacher on the Lutheran Hour radio program. 6-Members defiling the Lords Supper. Divisions in the Church Divisions never really ended with Pauls letters; they just appear to have evolved into having more sophisticated names. We must allow him the privilege of doing that. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. This word was normally used to refer to a tear in a garment. I have been in many places where they were having church fights and almost invariably the thing that gives away that a church is in trouble is when people start talking about "my church," not in the sense that is perfectly proper as meaning, "The church where I go," but leaders of the church actually saying, "This is our church," and telling other people they have no rights to do something because the church belongs to them. How important is it that there be unity in the Church where you fellowship? Not when we hear of churches with factions or cliques of people who sit on opposite sides of the aisle. 7-False zeal for spiritual gifts. (1Corinthians 1:17 RSV). The church in Corinth was a group of people who were tearing themselves apart! I will jump on the bandwagon here and say that division is definitely an issue today. How important was unity to our Lord Jesus Christ? I'm nobody, just like you!" Yet, in reality as long as correct biblical doctrine is being taught no pastor should be viewed in comparison to one another. Offshoots had disturbed the church. WebThe Corinthians were basically making a mockery of Communion. I was unaware of this connection before now but it really makes sense. The bridesmaids have come down the aisle. I appreciate the perspective given by the author and agree 100% that the body of Christ is divided. 2 Corinthians This applies also to the leadership in the church. And some of them are really gross. Was Paul crucified for you? 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. There is not a single Christian teacher who ever lived who can help us be forgiven one single sin, not one. A. (1Corinthians 1:13 RSV). I personally experienced this at work about a year and a half ago. 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. 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). Everybody has their denomination and they cling relentless to their doctrinal beliefs. The Protestant Reformation had its beginnings in 1517 (see Chapter 1 0). Paul then goes on to give us three very carefully stated clues in Verse13 as to what is wrong with this kind of thing. Conclusion. Anyone who claims that he or she has an exclusive part in Christ is wrong. 2- The Churchs division. They were dividing over this whole issue, and Paul says it is all wrong. We get so off track of what Christianity is all aboutMark 12:30-31 and begin focusing on worldly things like Rob Bell debated are actually being held to see if this Pastor is even Christian! in the Corinthian Church 4-The churchs failure to discipline. One of the celebrities was Paul himself some believers at Corinth actually claimed to be his followers. At that time it was under the leadership of its founder, Dawson Trotman, and it was my privilege and delight to be a close friend of his, to have spent a good deal of time with him and to come under the influence of his teaching and his methods. So we have the possibility for this very thing right here. It wasnt even about secondary doctrine (the second coming, the nature of baptism). Austin Hellier Brisbane Queensland Australia. This division in the church was over their own selfish ambitions evidenced in what they wanted. 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. Yes, we have the core beliefs that most Christians will agree upon, but the rest is still very confusing to non-believers. To all of this Paul would say to us, as he says to Corinth, Is Christ divided? 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. Since November 2021, Reading Acts is edited by Sarah Westphal. The Protestant Reformation had its beginnings in 1517 (see Chapter 1 0). Phil Long is correct, we have not improved much since the first century. In fact, there are still many divisions that exist today in modern churches. (Philippians 2:6-8 RSV). Some are of Ritchie, and some are of Roper, and a few of Stedman! On opening it you found a loose-leaf notebook with many of the small, half-page materials that the Navigators printed their Bible helps on. It is well known that division in the church of Corinth was over leadership. I told them that I do not foresee and end to these divisions anytime soon (sadly). DIVISIONS IN THE CHURCH I Corinthians 1 Will we do so by the strength which God alone can and will supply? Paul doesnt want these divisions to continue, so he offers them an alternative. He addresses them as brethren. They were caused by Cliques (1:12; 3:4). Their relationship to Christ was the unifying factor of the church. Why? The cross of Christ is what will heal the fragmentation of Christians wherever they are. He gathers disciples and establishes a church, a meeting place for educating his disciples. It is well known that division in the church of Corinth was over leadership. Sermon 5: Who is the Most Important? Instead of directly saying that we follow Paul, or Apollos, we say that we are Baptist, Reformed, or even Catholic. I am sure there were many in Corinth who were saying, "Oh, I love to hear Apollos! The divisions of Christendom are the scandal of Christianity. We tend to fall out along doctrinal lines or because we are drawn to one charismatic pastor over another. 4-The churchs failure to discipline. Others bragged that they were followers of Peter (1 Corinthians 1:12). It would destroy the unity of the congregation and split them up and provide an inaccurate testimony to the Person of Christ before the watching world. And some of them are really gross. Some of them were saying, "Well, Paul baptized me." Her nose is bloody! We pray that it may be rich and real in our hearts as we live this week together. 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. 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? 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. On a large jigsaw puzzle of a thousand pieces or more, its almost impossible to put it together upside down! One day in Africa, a small boy was lost. It builds him up too much; it makes him a rival, to some degree, of the Lord himself. They read only his books or listen only to his tapes. Their divisions, lack of church discipline, lawsuits, abuse of Christian liberty and over-emphasis of the gift of tongues, all illustrate this root problem. 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. The Lords Supper was affected by the divisions between rich and poor and an overall general misunderstanding. Whatever you say, I believe." They were drawing themselves up and saying, "Well, you may be of Paul or of Peter or of Apollos, but we are of Christ! Aside from this acceptable division within the modern church, there are also two other reasons for division which should not exist. This is what Paul does here. No, he says that is not why he was sent: "I was not sent to emphasize symbols, but, positively, I was sent to preach a whole gospel, not one emphasizing style, not in wisdom of words, but that which emphasizes content." Corinthians WebThe Christians at Corinth were dividing the church by pledging their loyalties to different celebrities. We, as the modern church, say that we hold to Pauls message that we shouldnt be conformed to this world, but when we look at the world, there seem to be just as many divisions. is the history and significance of the church This division in the church was over their own selfish ambitions evidenced in what they wanted. Thanks for the thoughtful comment Austin. Dio Chrysostom visited Corinth about A.D. 89-96. Perhaps, in their individual efforts, they had missed some spots; so the suggestion was made, Lets all join hands and go through the long grass again. Finally, the child was found, but it was too late. (1 Corinthians 1:12 RSV) Now, there was the trouble at Corinth. I think that if you put the teachings of a man over the teachings of Scripture then you have a problem. It is possible that these divisions represent competing house churches, some founded by Paul, some by Apollos. In my opinion, this is one of the main reasons our churches are so split and why we act more like the world rather than more like Christ. Todays church is a lot like the church of Corinthians. All rights reserved. Four groups had formed in the Corinthian church. Many of the other problems were flowing out of this division within the congregation. Other divisions were to follow. 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. in the Corinthian Church How important was unity to the apostle Paul, and to the Holy Spirit who moved Him to write this letter to the Church in Corinth? That is why the apostle appeals to it. It is not merely that the Church is everywhere split up into sections, but that this has led to party strife and jealousy. There are still others today who follow after some school of thought. One of the celebrities was Paul himself some believers at Corinth actually claimed to be his followers. A. Sometimes a church leader can have so much clout that he begins to have cult status. Paul, however, was a good leader. In what ways have we failed to de-paganize? What happens when you get a tear in a piece of clothing and you keep washing and wearing that piece of clothing with the tear in it? In 1 Corinthians, Paul consciously avoids disciple-teacher language. John 12:37-50, THE PARADOX OF LIFE FROM DEATH John 12:20-26, THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM JOHN 12:9-19, SPIRITUAL LIGHT AND DARKNESS John 9:35-41. Splits and Quarrels in the Church Sermon 5: Who is the Most Important? Now, Paul says this is all basically, fundamentally wrong. Only the Lord Jesus Christ could pay the penalty for our sins because only He is the Son of God. After all, he was one of the first apostles that Jesus himself called." This is the result of a religious snobbery associated by cliques that produced pride and conflict. Sermon 5: Who is the Most Important? [Then he thinks of another group that he had baptized] (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. 5-Members going to pagan courts to settle disputes. The members started to develop division following different leaders. It is possible that these divisions represent competing house churches, some founded by Paul, some by Apollos. It is popularized in the movie Mean Girls. These were not schisms yet; they had not split off into other congregations, but there were four cliques, or factions within the congregation. Some considering Paul their authority, other Apollos, others Peter, and still others accepted only Jesus as their authority. I would agree that we find ourselves in much the same situations as those listening to the Greek philosophers/orators. It is not merely that the Church is everywhere split up into sections, but that this has led to party strife and jealousy. When I say it gets ignored like an infomercial you probably infer what that means. This Bible was pushed by the Navigators, and everybody had to have one. My answer was that it all depends on the motive. Paul is going to go on to describe this radical force that is so different than anything else there is nothing like it in the world. This Western Church soon became known as the Roman Catholic Church. Each group claimed to be better than the others, and party spirits began to grow in the church. A. He begins the process of developing them into leaders who will also preach the gospel and found more churches. We all know what a clique is. Then not only did they have the Bible, but every Navigator who was anybody at all had to have an index drawn in on the pages of the Bible, a kind of a ladder that gave you a clue to where the books were so that with your thumb you could turn up any book in the Bible almost instantly. Now, we all have our favorite preacher, and up to a point that is not wrong. DIVISIONS IN THE CHURCH I Corinthians 1 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. Just as there was competiveness for honor and prestige among the orators of the first century, it also seems like there is competition between the pastors and churches of today. It was expected. What should our evaluation of a ministry look like I wonder if its not by numbers? Subject to permissions policy, all rights reserved. Unfortunately, this has effected our outreach. Doesnt He deserve better than this? the author asks. The Factions At Corinth From the book of Acts we learn that Apollos was an outstanding orator in a world that loved and appreciated oratory. He recognizes that we share a common life if we have come to Christ; we are brothers and sisters because we have his life in us. 2 Corinthians 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. 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. Paul wants the Corinthian church to mend the broken relationships that have been caused by the divisions among its members. 1-False prophets (2 Corinthians 11:13). Webdivided. 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. What is a clique? Some sued their fellow Christians in the secular courts. He come to Corinth to create a community of disciples from which he might receive patronage and prestige. In fact, Paul never claims disciples. 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. 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. Lewis.". 2- The Churchs division. Here are our first clues as to what is wrong with this kind of cliquishness in a church. in the Corinthian Church That does not mean that everybody has to think alike. Then there were the stylists, those who were attracted by the different kinds of preaching, and they had especially been drawn to Apollos. These kinds of things happen when there are divisions in a church. Have you ever tried to put a jigsaw puzzle together with the pieces turned upside down so that they are all blank? With Pauls harsh criticism of said divisions, you would think that we might have learned how to move beyond that in the 21st Century, however, that is not the case.
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