Part 2: Be United in the Gospel!

1 Corinthians 1:10–17 NASB95

Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you. Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, “I am of Paul,” and “I of Apollos,” and “I of Cephas,” and “I of Christ.” Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one would say you were baptized in my name. Now I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any other. For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void.

1. The Principle: Be United (1:10)

1 Corinthians 1:10 NASB95

Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.

“Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ . . .” = What Paul is about to say is of great importance.

“exhort” (Παρακαλῶ) - “to call alongside,” an attorney, and thus Paul is “summoning” them - “I’m calling on you on behalf of Jesus”; Paul has authority here

He’s calling them on behalf of Christ to be united.

What does this look like?

Agree (v.10a)

1 Corinthians 1:10 NASB95

that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you

The word “agree” is actually “to say” (λέγητε) - They are “to speak the same thing”; they were saying contradictory things, causing division. Specifically, they were proclaiming to be followers of different people.

Rather than being united in their message, they were divided.

There to be no σχίσματα (where we get our word “schism”)—there are to be no schisms among the church of Jesus.

One of the things humans do best is make divisions and schisms among themselves (by language, skin color, political party affiliation, or which personality we follow). We all want a king to follow and find ourselves superior to others.

But the call for the Corinthians is to be united have not NO divisions.

Paul goes on to say that he wants them to be made complete.

Be Made Complete (v.10b)

1 Corinthians 1:10 NASB95

but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment

“be made complete” (κατηρτισμένοι) = “be put in order or restored” - seems to indicate they were once united, now they are divided. They need to come back together, be restored.

Restored to what? =>

“Same Mind” (νοῦς, νοῒ) - “mind” is the non-physical part of our thinking. It is the thinking center of the soul; the mind has thoughts and beliefs.

What Paul has in mind here is that we have the same beliefs and thoughts, not ones that divide us up.

What it does not mean: that we have to agree on 100% of everything. No one person agrees with another 100% of the time. Opinions especially.

What it does mean: the church is to agree on the essential core doctrines and practices of the faith.

The details as to what this means, Paul is going to lay out in the remainder of this letter.

“Same Judgement” (γνώμῃ) - similar idea; use for emphasis

What This Means for Us

The principle to be united in Christian belief and practice is for us also

Romans 12:16 “Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.”

“Haughty in mind” = Thinking highly of yourself and opinions

Philippians 1:27 “Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.”

We are to avoid petty and sinful schisms

Galatians 5:13–15 “For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.”

We need to make sure to avoid separating ourselves into groups of “who is on his side” and “who is not on his side” and so forth.

Argument over the appropriate length of the worship pastor’s beard (I think I saw a verse in Scripture that indicated it is to be no more than 1.5 inches longer than the pastor’s beard.).

Fight over whether or not to build a children’s playground or to use the land for a cemetery (I’m dying to know the resolution of this one.).

A deacon accusing another deacon of sending an anonymous letter, and deciding to settle the matter in the parking lot (The church could have sold tickets to this event and raised a lot of money.).

A church dispute of whether or not to install restroom stall dividers in the women’s restroom (I’m calling unfair on this one. The men should have their stall dividers too.).

A church argument and vote to decide if a clock in the worship center should be removed (I think this one is a timely argument.).

A 45-minute heated argument over the type of filing cabinet to purchase: black or brown; 2, 3, or 4 drawers (This one is an official cabinet meeting of the church leadership.).

A fight over which picture of Jesus to put in the foyer (I just want to know who took the pictures.).

A petition to have all church staff clean shaven (No church planters are allowed.).

A dispute over whether the worship leader should have his shoes on during the service (I vote for shoes, shirts, and pants.).

A big church argument over the discovery that the church budget was off $0.10. Someone finally gave a dime to settle the issue (I have to admit this issue is ten times more important than the church missing a penny.).

A dispute in the church because the Lord’s Supper had cran/grape juice instead of grape juice (Of course it should be grape juice. It’s right there in Hezekiah 4:11.).

Business meeting arguments about whether the church should purchase a weed eater or not. It took two business meetings to resolve (Wow. This fight was really whacky.).

Arguments over what type of green beans the church should serve (I could have resolved this conflict quickly: none.).

Two different churches reported fights over the type of coffee. In one of the churches, they moved from Folgers to a stronger Starbucks brand. In the other church, they simply moved to a stronger blend. Members left the church in the latter example (Perhaps they started a new church: The Right Blend Fellowship.).

Major conflict when the youth borrowed a crockpot that had not been used for years (I bet it was a bunch of crocky old adults.).

An argument on whether the church should allow deviled eggs at the church meal (Only if it’s balanced with angel food cake for dessert).

(An argument over who has the authority to buy postage stamps for the church The members were licking their wounds over this issue.).

A disagreement over using the term “potluck” instead of “pot blessing” (I get it! The concept of luck contradicts the theology of a sovereign God. This issue is very serious. Good luck trying to resolve it. ).

A church member was chastised because she brought vanilla syrup to the coffee server. It looked too much like liquor. (Beth Moore confessed she was the culprit who brought the syrup. Don’t you know, Beth, we Baptists cannot have vanilla syrup at anytime? Chocolate is fine though.).

An argument in church over who has access to the copy machine (I think a calendar should be made where every church member has at least five minutes access to the copy machine each year. You can have a business meeting to vote on each five-minute increment.).

Some church members left the church because one church member hid the vacuum cleaner from them. It resulted in a major fight and split (Thus the Second Electrolux Church was born.).

An argument over whether to have gluten-free communion bread or not (I thought gluteny was a sin.).

A dispute over whether the church should allow people to wear black t-shirts, since black is the color of the devil (Are you sure he’s not red? That’s what I’ve heard.)

A fight over whether or not to sing “Happy Birthday” each week (I’ve got an idea. Alternate it with the doxology.).

An argument over whether the fake, dusty plants should be removed from the podium (Just give them a little water. They should be fine.).

[Thom Rainer, “Twenty-five Silly Things Church Members Fight Over,” https://churchanswers.com/blog/twenty-five-silly-things-church-members-fight-over/; accessed 10/17/2025]

We may chuckle at some of these, but what are some petty things we have may have done that has caused division in the church?

What kind of schisms/divisions were present in the Corinthian church?

2. The Problem: Divisions (1:11-16)

1 Corinthians 1:11 NASB95

For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe’s people [household], that there are quarrels among you.

“Quarrels” (ἔρις) - “wordy wrangling, battle, strife” in regard to language and what is being said

Amplified Version: “For it has been made clear to me, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions and wrangling and factions among you.”

What were the Corinthians dividing over?

By Teacher (v.12-13a)

1 Corinthians 1:12–13 NASB95

Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, “I am of Paul,” and “I of Apollos,” and “I of Cephas,” and “I of Christ.” Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

They had divided themselves up over who they thought was the superior preacher.

In our sinfulness—when we walk in the flesh—we all want a king. Recall Israel when they demanded a king so they could be “like the other nations” around them. As to the exact reason and nature as to why they did this, we do not know. There is much speculation among biblical commentators.

One interesting thing to note: Paul even calls out those who say they “follow Christ.” Now, obviously, this is the actual correct answer. But not when it is being used as a weapon for division in the church. The problem is not that one group claimed to follow Christ—the problem was that there were divisions, period. It was the epitome of sin that there were identifiable groups who were taking on party names.

To add insult to injury, they were dividing over who baptized them. One of the most, if not the most, precious practices of the church had become a source of division.

By Baptism (v.13b-16)

1 Corinthians 1:13–16 NASB95

Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one would say you were baptized in my name. Now I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any other.

Paul was so distraught that the Corinthians had divided over who baptized whom that he was glad that he baptized just a handful of people.

Now the utter futility of these divisions is seen by Paul’s rhetorical questions: “Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” He could have easily asked, “Apollos or Peter were not crucified for you were they? Were you baptized into their name?”

What This Means for Us

Division can also be a problem for us today. We must be on guard ourselves.

Most divisions are over petty things, not over doctrinal issues that Scripture proclaims as the highest priorities.

Dallas Willard says anger = “frustrated will,” i.e., you do not get your own way.

On Wed nights, adult Bible study is going through Richard Foster’s books on biblical spiritual disciplines. We just covered “submission”: the idea of letting go of one’s preferences and getting one’s own way. At the beginning of the chapter on submission, he says:

“The obsession to demand that things go the way we want them to go is one of the greatest bondages in human society today. People will spend weeks, months, even years in a perpetual stew become some little thing did not go as they wished. The will fuss and fume. They will get mad about it. They will act as if their very life hangs on the issue. They may even get an ulcer over it. . . . If you will watch these things, you will see, for example, that almost all church fights and splits occur because people do not have the freedom to give in to each other.” (Richard Foster, Celebration, 111)

We need to become spiritually mature enough to have he ability to discern what is worth dying for and getting angry about. Most things that we get angry over has nothing to do with sin or Christian doctrine, but because something was not done or said the way we wanted them said or done.

What is really tragic is that divisions in a church reflect poorly on Jesus Himself. It communicates that Christi is divided, that he really has no power to regenerate and sanctify people. And then the world wants no part of Christ.

John 13:35 “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

So, what is something we can do to avoid having unnecessary divisions? What is the solution, or “panacea?”

3. The Panacea: The Gospel (1:17)

1 Corinthians 1:17 NASB95

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void.

Prioritize It

“For Christ did not send me to baptize. . . .” = There is a hierarchy of importance, or priorities, when it comes to life in the church, even things concerning Christian doctrines. One evidence of spiritual maturity is knowing which one’s are priority and which ones are secondary.

Here Paul is identifying a priority.

First, what Paul is not saying: that baptism in not important or that he was not sent to baptize at all (this would be against Jesus’ own command in the Great Commission). He is saying that one takes precedence over the other.

Paul here is in essence telling the Corinthians that they have mixed up their priorities. Paul himself prioritizes the preaching of the gospel over and against who baptizes whom. As important and significant as baptism is, preaching the Gospel takes top priority. Paul is showing how silly it is to claim one preacher over another because they were (probably discipled) and baptized by them.

Paul is effectively saying, “Look, you think it’s really something to have been discipled and baptized by Apollos or Peter, but you are missing the more important thing: the proclamation of the Gospel”—the message of salvation through Jesus the God-man who died on the cross and was resurrected on the third day.

Proclaim It

Great Commission

So important that the apostles and others died for it.

What This Means for Us

We are to prioritize what the Bible prioritizes so we may become spiritually mature.

Hebrews 6:1–2 “Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment.”

What’s actually an indictment against us is that most of the time, divisions in today’s churches are not even over doctrinal matters. The Corinthian church at least was dividing over baptism in some sense. Today, many churches divide over non-important matters whatsoever.

Illustration

True stories I came across:

I read about a church where there was division and it began over an argument at a potluck supper when a lady brought a congealed salad she made with Cool Whip instead of real whipping cream.

Churches have divided over whether the pianist should sit to the right or the left side of the podium, over whether the Lord's Supper should be served from the front to the back or the back to the front, over trying to decide whether a kitchen should be a part of the church building or not.

One church split over who was the real pastor. They had two pastors. Two groups thought they each had their own guy, and both of them got up to lead a service one Sunday. Both led the singing. Both groups tried to out-sing each other. Then both pastors started preaching, trying to out-preach each other. Finally, they just broke out into fisticuffs, and the police had to come in and break it up.

Personal story of order of service inscribed on wooden pulpit; someone changed the order of service and put it in the bulletin.

One outcome of having the ability and maturity to recognize what is of greater importance is less division. This is actually the main point Paul is making to the Corinthians.

When we come to realize what is important and what is not, there is less to complain about and get upset about.

Does it matter more that a salad is make with real whipping cream or how Christians love one another?

Does it matter more where a pianist sits on stage or that worship of the Lord is accomplished?

Second, we are to prioritize and proclaim the preaching and teaching of the Gospel, thereby making disciples.

Paul said: “Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel” (1 Cor 1:17). This is the most important.

To see that it is the most important of priorities for the church:

Galatians 1:8–9 “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!”

“Accursed” = anathema = devoted to evil

Philippians 3:8 “More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish [σκύβαλον] so that I may gain Christ.”

New American Standard Bible (1995): Paragraph Version Chapter 10

But what does it say? “THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, 9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; 13 for “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.”

14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? 15 How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO bBRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!”

16 However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, “LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.