Conflict Management - 1 Corinthians 1:10-4:21

 

Lesson 3: The Church’s Problems—Division

 

 Because people come from a variety of backgrounds, they have correspondingly different preferences. Some like their food spicy, while others like it plain. Some sport a hair style with the part on the side, while others part theirs in the middle or not at all. Some do their exercise walking, while others play tennis or basketball. Some enjoy listening to classical music, while others find Country and Western more to their liking. These are legitimate differences that reflect the diversity in our makeup. People in the church have various preferences, too, and these can add to the richness of a congregation. Nevertheless, differences can also impoverish a congregation by causing division and strife. What makes some differences acceptable and others unacceptable? How can a church composed of different people keep itself together? That is what Paul discusses as he addresses the first of the Corinthian church’s problems: division.

 

     II.    Church’s Problems        1:10-6:20

             A. Division         1:10-4:21

 

1 Cor 1:10 I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. 11 My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12 What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas"; still another, "I follow Christ." 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul? 14 I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. 16 (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don't remember if I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. ¹⁷

 

                   1.    Symptoms (1:10-17)

a.     Quarrels (v. 11)

b.    Factions (v. 12)

 

Comment: About “I follow Christ” (v. 12)

 This may refer to a group or leader in Corinth who opposes Paul.¹⁸ The faction, in claiming to follow Jesus, implies that others (including Paul) do not.

 

  

1 Cor 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate." 20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength. 26 Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord." [≈ Jer 9:23-24]

 

                   2.    Issues (1:18-31)

           a. For Jews, the issue is power (vv. 22a, 24b).  1) Assumption: The messiah will be a conquering king.  2) Disillusionment: The teacher failed to conquer.¹⁹    3) Conclusion: The gospel is a message of weakness.      b. For Greeks, the issue is wisdom (vv. 22b, 24b).

1)    Assumption: The body is an evil that man must escape.

2)    Disillusionment: The teacher rose physically from the dead.

3)    Conclusion: The gospel is a message of foolishness.    c. For both, the root is pride (vv. 29, 31).

 

Comment: About “…the power of God” (v. 18)

 Although we acknowledge the historicity of the crucifixion, we tend to view the cross as a mystical symbol of our faith. We may read Paul’s equation of the cross of Christ with the power of God as if there were some supernatural investment in the wood itself. Paul’s focus on Jesus’ death, however, is rather a response to a central problem for Christianity at this time; namely, that in the eyes of the state— and, therefore, in the eyes of many citizens of the state—officially, the messiah was a criminal, an insurrectionist. To “boast…in the cross” (Gal 6:14) means to face this problem in evangelism head on, not to gloss over it or to talk around it (Gal 5:11; 6:12).²⁰ It is to address unflinchingly the accusation that the one we claim as the messiah was allegedly a felon.

 

1 Cor 2:1 When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.

 6 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" [≈ Isa 65:7b]—10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. 14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment: 16 "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" [Isa 40:13] But we have the mind of Christ.

 

Query: Is Paul advocating an uneducated clergy (v. 1)?

           No, he is saying the message he proclaimed was simple and straightforward, not requiring great wisdom to understand.

 

Comment: About “not accept…not understand…spiritually discerned” (2:14)  • “Discern” (aÓnakri÷nw) appears in Paul’s writings only in 1 Cor (10x). Given its judicial sense elsewhere (e.g., 4:3-4), it seems here to mean an ability to evaluate something, to “sift” through the various details (cf. Acts 17:11) in order “to make appropriate judgments about what God is doing in the world” (Fee 1987:117). Such an evaluation is only possible with the help of God Himself.

•         “Understand” (ginw¿skw) here, does not mean just being able to comprehend the words but having an appreciation of their significance (cf. 2:8).

•         “Accept” (de÷comai) is also to “receive” in the sense of acknowledging certain information as valid or true.

 

Summary: Paul’s point in these first two chapters is that their dividing into factions—because they think that one leader has a truer message than another—is counterproductive. That is, the pride they foster by identifying themselves with a particular group actually prevents them from acquiring the truth, because pride hinders spiritual understanding and, as we will see in chapter 3, pride also hinders spiritual growth. One commentator put it this way: “Being spiritual does not lead to elitism; it leads to a deeper understanding of God’s mystery—redemption through a crucified Messiah” (Fee 1987:120).

 

*****??? Break ???*****

 

 The first problem Paul addresses in this letter is divisions in the church. There are several groups, each claiming to adhere to the teaching of a particular leader (Cephas, Apollos, Paul, and even Jesus). This is not unusual; prominent men often attract a following. Nor is it necessarily bad; the rabbi-student relationship is a useful teaching model. The situation at Corinth, though, is not simply a leader attracting a following or a rabbi with his disciples. There is no indication that these men ever led the groups that use their names (Jesus certainly did not). Furthermore, these groups are apparently in competition, for each claims to be better than the next…and such rivalry does not promote church unity. Paul’s response is two-fold.

•         In chaps 1-2 he says, “Remember that those outside the church who are proud of their wisdom are at odds with God’s plan for man’s salvation” (1:23; cf. 2:8).

•         In chaps 3-4 he says, “Realize that those inside the church who are proud of their wisdom are at odds with God’s plan for church growth.”

This second response is evident in the opening verses of chapter 3 (especially v. 3).

 

                   3.    Evaluation (3:1-4:21)

 

1 Cor 3:1 Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? 4 For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not mere men?

 

                           a. Your pride is a sign of immaturity (3:1). 

 

             

1 Cor 3:5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. 9 For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. 10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

 

 b. Your pride is contrary to ministry (which is a cooperative effort toward a common end; 3:7). 

 

1 Cor 3:16 Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? 17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple. 18 Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a "fool" so that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: "He catches the wise in their craftiness"; 20 and again, "The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile." 21 So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, 23 and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.

 

                           c. Your pride is a denial of reality (3:18).

 

Comment: About “All things are yours” (v. 21b)

 Paul underscores the point he makes in v. 9—This whole thing is God’s operation—by reversing their perceptions. They have been saying, “I belong to Paul or Apollos or Cephas”; but Paul says here that he, Apollos, and Cephas actually belong to them as servant-leaders, and that together they all belong to God.

 

1 Cor 4:1 So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. 2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 3 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. 4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

 6 Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, "Do not go beyond what is written." Then you will not take pride in one man over against another. 7 For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

 8 Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have become kings—and that without us! How I wish that you really had become kings so that we might be kings with you! 9 For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men. 10 We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! 11 To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. 12 We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; 13 when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.

 14 I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you, as my dear children. 15 Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me. 17 For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.

 18 Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have. 20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. 21 What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a whip, or in love and with a gentle spirit?

 

                 d. Your pride makes our work a mockery (4:10).²¹

 

Query: Is Paul advocating unity at all costs (cf. 1:10)? Why or why not?

 One reason Paul may be scolding them is that in their search for a more profound (wise) theological system, they have obscured the simplicity of the gospel (2:2). At any rate, this core must serve as the basis for unity (3:11).

 

Query: How does the presence of factions at Corinth relate to the existence of denominations today? Are they simply an extension of this first century problem?  Note that Paul is addressing an inter-church issue (i.e., within a congregation) not an intra-church issue (i.e., between congregations).

 

Comment: About “Do not go beyond what is written” (4:6)²²

 With this proverbial saying (perhaps rabbinic; so Godet 1977:217; Robertson 1978:81), Paul warns the Corinthian believers not to interpret their salvation as a license to live as they please. God’s word²³ is still binding upon them, and they must not add their own peculiar bias to what He has revealed.

 

 Upon hearing that there are divisions in the Corinthian church because of pride among the members, Paul issues a rather lengthy (four-chapter) response. We can boil it down to this:

•         He tells them what they must do to repair the breech—”Stop boasting!” (3:21). Yet verbal instruction is only one side of this two-sided coin.

•         He shows them what they must improve their testimony—”Imitate me!”

(4:16). Personal example is the other side of the coin.

The first is relatively easy compared to the second, but the resolution requires both. That thought, alone, of being an example or of following another’s example, can keep pride in check.