1 Corinthians 1:10-25 Factions in the Church of Corinth

1 Corinthians 1:10-25

Factions in the Church of Corinth

1 Corinthians 1:10 is an appeal for doctrinal agreement within the church. Scriptural adherence is the backbone of any church and is completely necessary for true unity.  Paul was urging the church to be “put back together”.  Verse 11 indicates this was not the case in Corinth as Chloe’s household reported there were factions within the church.

Contentions had arisen because of favouritism (partiality) towards particular leaders within the church and this led to factions with each group reportedly pitting their chosen leader against other leaders within the church. This not only weakened the Corinthian church but also weakened its witness to the unbelieving world.

Verse 13 gets to the point of the rebuke: Christ is not divided nor should his church be! Sectarianism or obsessive attachment to a particular leader is a threat to Christian unity and undermines Jesus Christ’s purpose for his church. (Ephesians 2:21-22, Ephesians 4:16)

1 Corinthians 1:18

¹⁸ For the ^[a]message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

The primary message of the true church must be the gospel in its fullness. (1 Corinthians 2:2, Romans 1:16) Those who are in the process of salvation believe the gospel and are in the process of awaiting their complete redemption. (Romans 8:23) Those who view the gospel as foolishness are perishing because they have not believed in the wisdom of God. (John 3:18-19)

Verse 19: The God of the Bible is the all powerful LORD Most High or Elohim Yahweh in Hebrew. Elohim Yahweh does not share his glory with man or any idols. (Isaiah 42:8) In His complete supremacy of majesty, sovereignty, power,  knowledge, and wisdom: The LORD Most High purposed that salvation would not be possible through the wisdom and understanding of man but only by His divine revelation of the gospel message.

Verse 20-25 Human adoration of worldly wisdom or human reasoning or human philosophy (love of wisdom) is completely inadequate in relation to salvation and how to obtain it. (Isaiah 19:12) God in his infinite wisdom; purposed that men would be saved by believing the message of the cross of Jesus Christ. To the intellectual of the earth who merely sought after intellectual novelty; the message seemed foolish. To the religious Jews; the message lacked miraculous signs that they were so accustomed to. (Mathew 12:38-44) Regardless of the many Christ rejecters and the various forms they may take; the cross of Christ remains God’s true wisdom and only provision to save mankind from damnation in hell. (John 8:24, Acts 4:12)

I Corinthians 1:1-9 Paul’s greeting to the saints in Corinth

I Corinthians 1:1-9

Paul’s greeting to the saints in Corinth

Verse 1-2: Paul firstly establishes his credentials as an apostle (sent one) of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus making his epistle authoritative as though it was written by Jesus Christ personally. Paul is writing to the church of God in Corinth. He acknowledges they have been sanctified by Jesus Christ and set apart from sin. (Ephesians 4:1, 1 Peter 2:9) He calls them saints because everyone who is in Christ Jesus is a saint. (Ephesians 1:1) They are set apart from sin unto God. Anyone who confesses the name of Jesus Christ as lord is considered a saint according to the Bible.

Verse 3 Paul greets the Corinthian church with grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace is unmerited favour that God the Father bestows upon those who demonstrate saving faith in the lord Jesus Christ. Peace with God is also a by-product of saving faith in Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 2:8, 9, Romans 5:1, John 14:21)

Verse 4 Paul acknowledges that God lavished grace upon the church in Corinth; saving them from their sins and baptising them in the Holy Spirit. (Mathew 3:11, Acts 1:5). This act of unmerited mercy on behalf of God the Father is marvelous, irrevocable, and un-repayable. Paul acknowledges that grace in which the church in Corinth stands and thanks God for them.

Verse 5-6 The church in Corinth was complete in Christ and not lacking in spiritual giftedness. They possessed both speaking gifts for spiritual transference as well as gifts of knowledge for accurately presenting truth without error. (Ephesians 1:3, 2 Peter 1:3). Their genuine giftedness stemmed from the fact that they believed in the true gospel message and thus were conferred grace from God. (1 Corinthians 15:1-5)

Verse 7-8 Not only did the Corinthian church possess giftedness in knowledge and speaking; which was primarily used for evangelism; but they were also equipped with every other gift for the building of the church (1 Corinthians Ch. 12-14) The apostle Paul was also looking to future glory that would happen to the Corinthian church at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:52)

Verse 9 God is completely sovereign in his election (Romans 8:30) therefore the Corinthian’s salvation was considered complete from God the Father’s perspective. God would prove faithful to provide the grace necessary to bring about their eventual glorification. (Ephesians 5:26-27)