Snoopy Considers 1 Corinthians

[Redbaron]

Likely both theological and social.

 

[Jaebius]

1 Corinthians 1:10-17

Bible Gateway passage: 1 Corinthians 1:10-17 - New English Translation

Divisions in the Church - I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to agree together, to end your divisions, and to be united by the same mind and purpose. For members of Chloe’s household have made it clear to me, my brothers and sisters, that there are quarrels...

www.biblegateway.com

Paul addresses the divisions in the church reported by members of Chloe's household. Various factions are aligning themselves with Paul, Apollos, Cephas or Christ.

He emphasizes that baptism is in Christ's name.

But Christ did not send him to baptize but to preach the gospel. And not with clever speech.

It's incredible, I think, p3, how God's Word speaks timeless truth into our lives today. Paul's addressing of the factions in the Corinthian church resonates with the struggles of today's Christians to maintain unity within the Body of Christ. It's a vital reminder that Christian allegiance is to Christ alone. Paul reminds us that Christian faith's centered on Jesus and his message.

The emphasis on baptism in Christ's name is profound. It reaffirms that Christian identity and salvation come through Jesus alone, not through the individuals who baptize. This brings such a purity to Christian faith. Christians are all part of the same family, baptized into the same Spirit, and called to be one in Christ.

And, wow, Paul's words on preaching hit home! It's about the power of the Gospel itself. We preachers get so focused on the method of delivery that we forget it's the message of Christ's love that truly changes hearts

 

[paradox3]

Betcha Paul would be horrified at the splintering of the Body of Christ which has happened over the last two millenia.

 

[Jaebius]

Snoopy's Snappy Question: 1 Corinthians 1:10-17

Three big shot leaders here. Paul, Apollos and Cephas. All in competition with Christ for the people's loyalty.

Were the differences theological or something else?

As a Missionary/Evangelist at my church, I kind of connect most with Apollos.

So I'll root for him

Why I associate with him is because while it seems he had a real role to play in the early Church, he wasn't one of the Apostles. In somewhat of a similar way, while I'm a Missionary/Evangelist, I'm not one of the ordained Pastors.

Anyway, as to your question, I believe that the factions were more about personal loyalties than theological differences. People were getting behind Paul, Apollos, and Cephas (Peter), which created unnecessary divisions in the community.

Paul's point here is to emphasize that their real loyalty must be to Christ. It's a reminder that, while leaders play important roles, the real focus in the Church must always be on the message of Jesus

 

[paradox3]

Not saying that we in the United Church have forgotten about Jesus or His message.

But I wonder if we overdo it with our loyalty to local congregations, ministry personnel & our denomination.

OTOH...

I think it was Ron Ewart who said if he believed any other denomination followed more faithfully, he would join them.

 

[Mendalla]

Lets face it, one of the problems that has dogged Christianity since at least Constantine's legalization of the faith has been people choosing sides, being loyal to something other than just Christ. Sometimes it's a belief, sometimes it's a leader, sometimes it's a particular church or faction. The book I read recently on the Byzantine Empire really brought that out, with battles over the status of icons, church governance (e.g. the authority of Rome), and, of course, the famous debate over filioque. Even if all, or most, of the myriad denominations and branches in the church agree on the existence of Jesus and God, the splitting of hairs over various matters, many of them purely secular like governance and organization of the church, have been devastating for any kind of unified face of Christianity.

 

[unsafe]

Paul says to the Corinthian Church that he has a serious concern to bring up with them ===

So here we see Paul is preparing their minds to handle the rebuke that is coming that needs immediate attention -----

Good Leaders will take charge and stay the course to resolve a divided Church and bring their minds back to Christ ---and mend and end the conflict and division to restore peace --
We see there is strife and division in the Church and Paul says they must learn to get along and find Common ground ----

This strife and division is so prominent in our Church today -----Satan is a master at causing division amongst Christians ----Satan's main agenda is to keep conflict and strife going among the Body of Christ ---and he does a great job at it ----then and now -----

This right here that is said ------
verse 12
You’re all picking sides, going around saying, “I’m on Paul’s side,” or “I’m for Apollos,” or “Peter is my man,” or “I’m in the Messiah group.”

This division and conflict was over groups identifying with the Leader who Baptised them with Water and Paul is saying -----I didn't Baptise you in MY Name -----Paul says he wasn't sent to Baptise anyone ---he was sent to Preach the Good News of Salvation so the Cross would not be made ineffective -----

Water baptism will not save anyone ----water Baptism today is a profession of your Faith in Christ ---

We are today famous at doing this very thing ----with all the different Man Made Religions ---each with their own Leaders -------I'm with the Catholic side ---I'm with the Protestant side ---I'm with the United side ----etc

So stupid -----there is only one Gospel and One Side and one Holy Spirit Baptism to get to the right destination -----and that is what Paul is telling this Church -----you all Get with the one right Program and stay connected ----

Matthew 12:25 AMPC B​

And knowing their thoughts, He said to them, Any kingdom that is divided against itself is being brought to desolation and laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will last or continue to stand

Division will kill the Church ---and that stands today -----

Good leaders will always be on guard for strife and division in their Church and deal with it immediately ----so the infection doesn't spread and cave in the Church altogether -----there is an enemy loose in our world just watching for the chance to infect a Christian community ------

Pauls saw it and said this -----he knew that if he had Baptised more ---it would have added more fuel to the fire ----

14 I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one would say that you were baptized into my name

 

[paradox3]

And of course, baptism itself is a "line in the sand" kind of issue between various Christian denominations. Ditto for the sacrament of communion.

But @Mendalla is correct. Many of the disagreements are much more trivial.

I have heard that at the time of church union, the question of standing or sitting for hymns was a major sticking point. The Methodists wanted it one way and the Presbyterians the other.

 

[Mendalla]

I have heard that at the time of church union, the question of standing or sitting for hymns was a major sticking point. The Methodists wanted it one way and the Presbyterians the other.

 

[Mystic]

Paul is responding to a letter written to him by "Chloe's household," that is, probably by the slaves in her house.
These slaves write about the discrimination they experience in the Corinthian church. Paul will urge equal treatment and respect later in the epistle.
But they also inform him about the divisions at Corinth and we can infer the topics in contention from the various sections in which Paul begins by writing, "Now concerning..."

We can only speculate about the nature of the Paul, Apollos, and Peter (- Cephas) factions. Apollos was Paul's successor at Corinth, and so, it would be natural for some to invest him with authoritative teaching in Paul's absence. Apollos was originally from the church at Alexandria, where allegorical exegesis of Scripture was stressed due to Philo's influence. In Alexandria Apollos embraced John's baptism, apparently being ignorant of Christian baptism, but Priscilla straightened him out on such issues when she discipled him at Ephesus--prior to his arrival at Corinth. The Peter faction is puzzling because there is no indication that Peter ever visited Corinth. Perhaps, some Corinthians had been baptized by him elsewhere and used that encounter as an excuse to claim his authority for their beliefs.

 

[unsafe]

Found this on Chloe ---

Who was Chloe in the Bible? - Answer The Bible

The name Chloe appears only once in the Bible, in 1 Corinthians 1:11, where Paul mentions that some in the church at Corinth reported to him that there were

www.answerthebible.com

From this brief mention, we can gather a few details about Chloe:

• She was likely a believer in Christ and part of the early Christian church at Corinth.
• She had “people” or servants who traveled to visit Paul, likely in Ephesus where he was at the time.
• These “people of Chloe” informed Paul about issues and quarrels happening among the Corinthians Christians.
• Chloe must have been concerned enough about reports of divisions in the Corinthian church that she sent her people to personally update Paul.

Based on her name and the context, Chloe was likely a Greek woman living in the city of Corinth around 55 AD. As a prominent woman with servants, she may have been wealthy or of high social standing. She used her resources to support Paul’s ministry and keep him informed about issues in the Corinthian church that he had founded and cared for deeply.

Some key lessons we can learn from Chloe’s example include:

• Being concerned for the welfare of fellow believers and the reputation of the church.
• Seeking to address and resolve conflicts or quarrels among Christians.
• Informing and involving church leaders when aware of problems in the church.
• Supporting the ministries of godly leaders like Paul through practical helps.
• Being proactive to correct issues rather than sitting by passively.

Corinthian believers and desire for unity serves as an example for Christians today. She saw a need and responded by sending aid to Paul through her servants. This allowed the apostle to write a letter addressing the reports of division and quarreling in the Corinthian church (1 Corinthians).

 

[paradox3]

There's certainly something to be said for naming a problem when one exists.

Way to go, Chloe!

 

[Waterfall]

There's certainly something to be said for naming a problem when one exists.

Way to go, Chloe!

I don't know, she sounds like a busy body to me.

 

[Jaebius]

Paul says to the Corinthian Church that he has a serious concern to bring up with them ===

So here we see Paul is preparing their minds to handle the rebuke that is coming that needs immediate attention -----

Good Leaders will take charge and stay the course to resolve a divided Church and bring their minds back to Christ ---and mend and end the conflict and division to restore peace --
We see there is strife and division in the Church and Paul says they must learn to get along and find Common ground ----

This strife and division is so prominent in our Church today -----Satan is a master at causing division amongst Christians ----Satan's main agenda is to keep conflict and strife going among the Body of Christ ---and he does a great job at it ----then and now -----

This right here that is said ------
verse 12
You’re all picking sides, going around saying, “I’m on Paul’s side,” or “I’m for Apollos,” or “Peter is my man,” or “I’m in the Messiah group.”

This division and conflict was over groups identifying with the Leader who Baptised them with Water and Paul is saying -----I didn't Baptise you in MY Name -----Paul says he wasn't sent to Baptise anyone ---he was sent to Preach the Good News of Salvation so the Cross would not be made ineffective -----

Water baptism will not save anyone ----water Baptism today is a profession of your Faith in Christ ---

We are today famous at doing this very thing ----with all the different Man Made Religions ---each with their own Leaders -------I'm with the Catholic side ---I'm with the Protestant side ---I'm with the United side ----etc

So stupid -----there is only one Gospel and One Side and one Holy Spirit Baptism to get to the right destination -----and that is what Paul is telling this Church -----you all Get with the one right Program and stay connected ----

Matthew 12:25 AMPC B​

And knowing their thoughts, He said to them, Any kingdom that is divided against itself is being brought to desolation and laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will last or continue to stand

Division will kill the Church ---and that stands today -----

Good leaders will always be on guard for strife and division in their Church and deal with it immediately ----so the infection doesn't spread and cave in the Church altogether -----there is an enemy loose in our world just watching for the chance to infect a Christian community ------

Pauls saw it and said this -----he knew that if he had Baptised more ---it would have added more fuel to the fire ----

14 I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one would say that you were baptized into my name

Yes, unsafe, unity in Christ's the Church's strongest defense. We all must focus on what binds us together: our shared faith and mission to spread the Good News.

We must all find common ground and work towards reconciliation. Good leadership's essential in navigating these challenges. We must all address conflicts head-on, fostering environments of love.

We must all remain united. Let's keep our hearts and minds open, seeking guidance from the Holy Spirit. United in Christ, we'll withstand all challenges

 

[unsafe]

I don't know, she sounds like a busy body to me.

Well in the Spiritual Realm it is Called Righteous Judgment ---when a True Believing Church is detected as allowing Satan to have a foot hold in God's Church to divide and cause conflict it is the responsibility of other True believers to report to the leader and to try and bring the conflict and division to an end -swiftly --otherwise the whole Church will be affected and Satan will have the upper hand not God --------

So Chloe is exercising her passing on her Righteous Judgment against the division and conflict in the Corinthian Church to their leader who is Paul ----and Paul deals swiftly with the Problem ----

 

[Jaebius]

And of course, baptism itself is a "line in the sand" kind of issue between various Christian denominations. Ditto for the sacrament of communion.

But @Mendalla is correct. Many of the disagreements are much more trivial.

I have heard that at the time of church union, the question of standing or sitting for hymns was a major sticking point. The Methodists wanted it one way and the Presbyterians the other.

Yes... Baptism's a line in the sand... Communion's a line in the sand. I had to change my beliefs about those things when I left the Baptist Church to join the Presbyterian. Other lines in the sand that are still around today are the issue of women being pastors, and hymnody. I didn't know about the standing/sitting thing.

 

[paradox3]

I don't know, she sounds like a busy body to me.

Sometimes it's not easy to discern if a person is saying something that needs to be said or being a busybody.

 

[paradox3]

Yes... Baptism's a line in the sand... Communion's a line in the sand. I had to change my beliefs about those things when I left the Baptist Church to join the Presbyterian. Other lines in the sand that are still around today are the issue of women being pastors, and hymnody. I didn't know about the standing/sitting thing.

The standing/ sitting thing is historical.

In the body of Christ today there are many questions about inclusion. Just look at the denominational split that happened with the Methodists in the U.S.

Baptists and Presbyterians certainly have different takes on the sacraments.

 

[Jaebius]

The standing/ sitting thing is historical.

In the body of Christ today there are many questions about inclusion. Just look at the denominational split that happened with the Methodists in the U.S.

Baptists and Presbyterians certainly have different takes on the sacraments.

Yes, I'll say, as someone who came out of the Baptist Church to join the Presbyterian. What I especially like about the Presbyterian way of thought is that we see such things as God being at work. We believe it's God who baptized people, and God who gives and strengthens faith through Word and Sacrament

 

[Mystic]

I am awestruck by a seemingly trivial fact about 1:14-15:

14 I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so no one can say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.)

At first, Paul writes that he baptized only Crispus and Gaius at Corinth. Then he suddenly recalls that he also baptized the household of Stephanus. If he rewrites his epistles after a first draft, he would have corrected this memory lapse in listing whom he baptized there. So this means that he wrote 1 Corinthians quickly as his only draft of the letter with no later revisions or corrections. This amazes me, given the tight and coherent richness of the epistle's thought and especially the soaring prose of the beautiful love chapter (13).

As my dissertation advisor reminded me, "You must remember that Paul probably had to write this rapidly on papyrus on the corner of a kitchen table full of the smells of garlic!" It is said that good writing is rewriting. I must have rewritten each page of my 455 page doctoral dissertation 30 times to get it right.