Christ Is Not Divided

Paul appeals to the Corinthians in the name of Jesus Christ to agree with one another and stop living in factions. He is not asking them to erase every difference in personality, judgment, or calling. He is asking for a shared mind and purpose so that quarrels do not become the church's identity.

People from Chloe's household have told Paul that the Corinthians are arguing. One says, “I follow Paul,” another Apollos, another Cephas, and another Christ. Even claiming Christ as a slogan can become part of the rivalry when it is used to imply that everyone else belongs to an inferior group.

Paul asks a series of questions that expose the absurdity: Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for them? Were they baptized into Paul's name? The church does not gather around the charisma, teaching style, or status of a human leader. Jesus alone was crucified for them, and baptism names their belonging to Him.

Paul is grateful that he baptized only a few people in Corinth, so no one can say they were baptized into his name. He was sent to preach the gospel, not with eloquent wisdom that would empty the cross of its power. The issue is not that clear speech or careful teaching is wrong. It is that human prestige must not replace the crucified Christ.

A family can have strong preferences without turning them into badges of spiritual superiority. When a favorite teacher, tradition, worship style, or personality becomes more important than belonging to Jesus, the household has begun to imitate Corinth's division.