Paul begins his letter to the Corinthians by reminding them of the riches they have in Christ. They have been sanctified and called into fellowship with Him, enriched in all speech and knowledge, and abounding in gifts (1 Corinthians 1:2, 1:5, 1:7, 1:9). Each of these was evidence of the deep love of the Father towards them.
After recounting all these blessings, Paul embarks on the long-suffering process of correcting the wrong thinking they had embraced, which had now become manifest in their behaviour and their treatment of each other.
The first problem Paul addresses is the presence of divisions and quarrels in their midst; news that had reached him through Chloe’s people.
Their mindset was heavily influenced by the attitude of their society, in which people were admired for their wisdom and teaching abilities. According to Gordon Fee, in the Hellenistic influence of their day, itinerary philosophers were common and there was a greater concern for “polished oration than for significant content.” We see an example of this practice in Acts 17, where Paul was welcomed to the Areopagus by the philosophers in the area and was asked to speak to an audience to entertain those who were used to spending “their time in nothing other than telling or hearing something new” (Acts 17:21). The believers in Corinth embraced the same attitude towards their favorite teachers, and were dividing themselves into groups based on their loyalty and admiration for these men, creating an environment of competition and rivalry, in an effort to prove their superiority over the rest (1Corinthians 1:12,3:4).
In 1 Corinthians 1:10, Paul highlights a stark contrast between the unity found in the Lord Jesus Christ and the reality of the divisions taking place among the brethren in Corinth. He describes this unity as one that is marked by being in agreement and of the same mind and judgement, and as striving together in one spirit and one mind (Philippians 1:27). He was encouraging the believers to work towards the same goal, to pull together in the same direction. He masterfully illustrates this unity in chapter 12 where he describes the function of the various parts of the body and how they all serve an important but different purpose, yet always for the benefit of the entire body. Competing or cheering for a favorite sports team comes to mind as a current day illustration of unity. Everyone wants the same thing, and if actively participating, they are doing what they can to accomplish the desired outcome.
Instead of coming together as one, the Corinthians were creating groups and factions based on the superiority they perceived their teachers to have, which in turn granted them superiority by association. They did not have one common goal: each group had its own agenda and interests in mind.
These divisions inevitably led to quarrels among them, disputes and petty fights that fractured the harmony they were supposed to live in.
This acceptance of some and the exclusion of others is the haughtiness of mind that Paul refers to and warns against in his letter to the Romans (12:16). Here, he encourages them to associate with the lowly and not be wise in their own estimation. But the Corinthians did not want to associate with the lowly. How could they benefit from that? Yet, Paul reminds them that God, in His wisdom, composed the body, giving more abundant honor to those who lacked it. God gave them honor so that there would be no divisions in the body, so that His people would have the same care for one another, rejoicing when one is honored and suffering with those who suffer (1 Corinthians 12:22-26).
The book of James reminds us that the source of quarrels is the war waging in the heart when it can’t obtain what it wants. This turmoil becomes evident in hatred and anger towards a brother and in self-seeking pursuits driven by wrong motives (4:1-3). These quarrels can often lead to the creation of opposing groups that fracture the unity in the church of Christ. Later in this letter Paul explains to the Corinthians that these factions are inevitable and have a role to play in the life of the church: they serve to bring visibility to those who are approved (11:19). In the words of Gordon Fee, “Paul…probably sees their present divisions as part of the divine ‘testing/sifting’ process… at work in their midst.” As divisions and quarrels take place, the conduct of those who walk in the Spirit is evident as they navigate these challenging waters. The display of the fruit of the Spirit in their lives in the face of opposition draws attention to them and separates them from those who walk in the flesh. They shine brightly in stressful situations and become a source of wisdom for those involved and for those who are watching the drama unfold. Their example is worthy of imitation as we strive to maintain unity in the church in recognition of the union we have in Christ and the riches we share together in Him.
by Lil S.
