Articles
The Corinthians And Division
“I hear there are divisions among you”. When people are saved, they are ‘added together’ (Acts 2:47). They ‘join themselves to the [other] disciples and are with them, coming in and going out’ (Acts 9:26-28). They are united by a common faith (Titus 1:4). [Common in the sense that they all shared the same faith, they had it 'in common'.]
Yet, the Corinthians had divided themselves into groups. We might call them cliques, or whatever - but they were DIVIDED in their allegiance and love. That which they had in common gave way to esteeming things that do not in the long run matter. They divided over who baptized them and who taught them. They became disciples of men rather than disciples of Jesus.
They elevated the teacher above the message. Yet it is the MESSAGE that is from God. It is the message that has the power to save (1C. 1:21). It is the message that points us to Jesus and away from the one proclaiming the message.
Paul in chapter two shows that the message is the true wisdom of God and it was revealed through the apostles and prophets of the first century (vs. 1-13). Those that were spiritual thus held to this message.
He continues in chapter three to show that those who are spiritual are followers of Jesus by the message that was revealed, and NOT divided into cliques following teachers. ALL teachers of truth are serving the same Jesus and are FELLOW workers TOGETHER. They do their work of teaching so that the whole body would grow. It is NOT about the teacher.
He then gives a stern warning that dividing the group on such a worldly basis will bring severe judgment from God.
Thus teachers are to be regarded as servants of Christ and steward of God’s mysteries. They are to be faithful to HIS cause. No matter who we are (teacher or disciple), all that we have comes from God as a gift (vs. 4:7ff). Such an attitude will stop all such division over men and their ‘glory’.
Let us pursue the Lord and things that make for peace among us. Hugh DeLong
