Under Gods Command
PAUL ADDRESSES CHURCH PROBLEMS (1:1-6:20)
1 Corinthians 1:11-16 My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul” another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas” still another, “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul? I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.)
In this large and diverse Corinthian church, the believers favored different preachers. Because there was as yet no written New Testament, the believers depended heavily on preaching and teaching for spiritual insight into the meaning of the Old Testament. Some followed Paul, who had founded their church; some who had heard Peter (Eephas) in Jerusalem followed him’ while others listened only to Aollos, and eloquent and popular preacher who had had a dynamic ministry in Corinth (Acts 18:24; 19:1).
Paul wondered weather the Corinthians quarrels had “divided” Christ. This is a graphic picture of what happens when the church (the body of Christ) is divided into factions. With the many churches and styles of worship available today, we could get caught up in the same game of “my preacher is better than your!” To do so would divide Christ again. But Christ is not divided, and his true followers should not allow anything to divide them.
Lets Bring it Home: Don’t let your appreciation for any teacher, preacher, or author lead you into intellectual pride. Our allegiance must be to Christ and to the unity that he deserves.
Under Gods command 