10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? (1 Corinthians 1:10-13 KJV)
Divisions in the Church
The apostle now begins addressing the issue at hand. He urges the Corinthians to live in unity and love, and corrects them for their divisions. He had heard from some concerned believers about the conflicts among them. This report didn’t come from malice toward the church or its leaders but from a sincere desire for Paul to help resolve the tensions. Paul appeals to them warmly and respectfully: “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought” (1 Corinthians 1:10).
He calls them to avoid schisms—not just disagreements in opinion, but breakdowns in love and unity. In the essential matters of faith, they should be of one mind. But even when they differ in opinions, they must remain united in affection. Shared agreement on the core truths of Christianity should help them overcome disagreements on less important matters.
Paul also identifies the root of their conflict: pride. “Where there is strife, there is pride” (Proverbs 13:10). They were divided over their favorite ministers. Some followed Paul, others Apollos, others Peter (Cephas), and some claimed allegiance to Christ alone. Paul and Apollos were both faithful ministers, but pride led people to form factions and elevate one leader over another. Paul may have been preferred for his spiritual depth, Apollos for his eloquence, and Peter for his apostolic authority and seniority. Even something as good as the gospel was being twisted into a source of division. This doesn’t reflect badly on the gospel, but it highlights the deep corruption of human nature. Pride can go so far as to pit Christians against one another, even using Christ and His apostles as rallying points for division.
Paul confronts them with pointed questions: “Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Corinthians 1:13). These rhetorical questions expose the absurdity of their divisions. Paul was not their savior, nor did he ever claim to be. They were not baptized into allegiance to him, but to Christ.
Ministers are not to be placed in Christ’s position. They are not saviors, nor should they accept any honor or loyalty that belongs only to Christ. He alone is our sacrifice, our Lord, and our guide. It would be better for the church if no party names existed, since Christ is not divided.