January 21, 2025

1 Corinthians 1:10-17 (HCSB)
Divisions at Corinth
10 Now I urge you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, that there be no divisions among you, and that you be united with the same understanding and the same conviction. 11 For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers, by members of Chloe’s household, that there is rivalry among you. 12 What I am saying is this: Each of you says, “I’m with Paul,” or “I’m with Apollos,” or “I’m with Cephas,” or “I’m with Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was it Paul who was crucified for you? Or were you baptized in Paul’s name? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one can say you were baptized in my name. 16 I did, in fact, baptize the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t know if I baptized anyone else. 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to evangelize—not with clever words, so that the cross of Christ will not be emptied of its effect.

Caleb Doolittle
Paul, filled with concern for the Corinthian church, pleads with them to be unified. He's heard reports of factions and divisions, with people aligning themselves with different leaders: "I follow Paul," or "I follow Apollos," or even "I follow Cephas (Peter)" (v12). This breaks Paul's heart because it misses the point entirely. He reminds them, "Is Christ divided?" (v13). The answer is a resounding no! Christ is the cornerstone, the foundation upon which the church is built. Our focus should be solely on Him, not on any human leader, no matter how gifted or influential. Paul minimizes his own role, stating that he was merely an instrument to bring them to faith. He even down plays the significance of baptism, emphasizing that it's about pointing to Christ, not elevating the one performing the act. This passage challenges us to examine our own hearts. Are we more focused on personalities or preferences within the church than on Christ Himself? Are we contributing to division or unity? Today, make an effort to reach out to someone in your church who may hold different views or preferences than you. Seek common ground in Christ and build bridges of understanding and love.