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Grace Bible Church

4000 E. Collins Rd.   P.O. Box #3762   Gillette, WY  82717   (307) 686-1516

 

“Preaching the Living Word through the Written Word (2Tim 4:2)”

 

 

 

 

DIVISIONS IN THE CHURCH - PT 1

1Co 1:10-25 (6/8/11)

Grace Bible Church, Gillette, Wyoming

Pastor Daryl Hilbert

 

 

I.        CORINTHIAN DIVISION OVER BAPTISM (1Co 1:10-17)

 

A.      The Exhortation to Be of the Same Mind (1Co 1:10)

 

1.        [1Co 1:10] - Paul begins with an “exhortation” (parakalé́ō - call alongside), which is stronger than encouragement (same word) concerning divisions. Strong biblical exhortation is as necessary as tender encouragement.

a)       Note that Paul first calls them “brethren” (adelphoi), a reference to the fact that they are believers (used some 27 times in 1 Co 1:10f,26; 2:1; 3:1; 4:6; 6:5,8; 7:24,29; 8:12; 10:1; 11:33; 12:1; 14:6,20,26,39; 15:1,6,31,50,58; 16:11f,15,20).

b)       He exhorts them through Christ (“by the name of the Lord Jesus Christ”) so that they would all “agree” (to auto legête - say the same thing, i.e agreement). This would include being complete (katartízō - equipped, complete, or mature), in the same (fr autos) mind, and in the same (fr autos) judgment. They were to have the same purpose and goal which would be edification for the whole body.

c)       He also exhorts them that there should be no divisions among them. “Division” is translated from the Greek word schisma (Eng. schism) and means to split (Mat 27:51; Joh 19:24) or divide. It results in divided groups, loyalties, dissensions and discord (cp. Joh 7:43; 9:16; Act 14:4; 23:7).

 

B.      The Evidence of Divisions (1Co 1:11-12)

 

1.       [1Co 1:11] - Paul was informed about divisions and quarrels from Chloe’s (only mentioned here)  household, but should have come from the elders. Specifically they reported that there were quarrels among them. Quarrels (eris) can mean anything from strife to debate, from in-fighting to rivalries. All of these stem from acting out the sinful nature (Gal 5:19-21).

2.       [1Co 1:12] - What exactly were they quarreling over? They were quarreling over who was baptized and by whom.

a)       One might have thought that it would have been over doctrinal issues like baptismal regeneration or the meaning of the “baptism for the dead.”

b)       Instead they digressed to fighting over which apostles had more clout and who was baptized by him.

c)       They obviously formed splinter groups and some claimed to be of Paul’s group, some Apollos’, some Peter’s, and the purists claimed to be of Christ, though Christ did not baptize anyone.

 

C.      The Exposition of Error (1Co 1:13-17)

 

1.       [1Co 1:13] - Paul reveals their absurdity. He asks the rhetorical question, “has Christ been or continued to be divided (perfect passive participle - merizō divide or apportion)?”

a)       How could they ever compare Paul, Apollos, or Peter with Christ? Were any of them crucified on the sinner’s behalf?

b)       Whose name was used in baptism? Was it Paul’s, Apollos’, or Peter’s? Though Christ cannot be divided, their divisions were attempting to do just that.

2.       [1Co 1:14-16] - Paul was thankful that he baptized very few believers at Corinth. Otherwise they would have said they were baptized in “Paul’s name.” He names some of the ones he did baptize, Crispus (Act 18:8) and Gaius (Act 19:29; 20:4). He also baptized the household of Stephanas (mentioned only in Corinthians, 1Co 1:16; 16:15, 17).

3.       [1Co 1:17] - Paul makes a declarative statement that Christ did not send him to baptize, but to preach the gospel.

a)       Not only does this quell their immature wranglings, but it shows how far off the Corinthians were from thinking spiritual thoughts.

b)       It also teaches that baptism has nothing to do with the gospel or salvation. The contrast shows that baptism is not part of the gospel’s equation.

c)       Otherwise, Paul would have made the gospel void (kenos - empty and ineffective) either by erroneous doctrinal content or erroneous human effort (“cleverness of speech”).

 

II.      GOD’S DIVISION OF HIS WISDOM VS. THE WORLD’S (1Co 1:18-25)

 

A.      The Contrast of the Two Categories (1Co 1:18)

 

1.        [1Co 1:18] - Paul picks up the subject of the cross. He will begin to talk about the only division that the Bible recognizes, namely the division between God’s wisdom and the world’s wisdom (i.e between believers and unbelievers). It is the “cross” (metonym for gospel) that is the dividing line.

a)       In regard to unbelievers, they are described as the ones who:

(1)     think the preaching (“word” logos) of the cross is “foolishness” (mōría fr moros, dull, stuid, irrational, intellectually weak, Eng. moron).

(2)     are presently “perishing” (appollumi - coming to destruction, spiritually lost).

b)       In regard to believers, they are described as the ones who:

(1)     are presently “being saved” (present passive participle - sōzō).

(2)     believe that the gospel is the power of God (cp. Rom 1:16).

 

B.      The Consequences of the World’s Wisdom (1Co 1:19-22)

 

1.       [1Co 1:19] - Paul quotes from Isa 29:14 to substantiate his thoughts on the biblical division. It states that God will destroy (appollumi , same word as vs. 18) the wisdom of the “wise” of this world (and the world with it) as well as “set aside” (athetéō - reject) their cleverness (same word as in vs. 18).

2.       [1Co 1:20-21] - Paul probably is paraphrasing from Isa 19:12 where the powerful and wise of the ancient world did not know the Lord or His will, and therefore became fools.

a)       Paul explains his analogy as the foolish of this world who scoff at the gospel. But the wisdom of this world was unable to have a relationship with God and therefore will perish.

b)       However, God was well-pleased to use the foolishness of the gospel to save those who believe.

3.       [1Co 1:22] - The Jews and the Greeks are examples of the wise of the world who reject God’s wisdom.

a)       The Jews sought signs and asked Jesus to perform them (Mat 12:38-39; 16:1). Signs themselves are not bad. The Jews were told to look for signs (Isa 7:14). They were even given signs by Jesus but they still would not believe the message of Jesus.

b)       The Greeks (Hellên - Greeks and Gentiles) sought for wisdom. But in their own human wisdom, the gospel was intellectually weak and even foolish (cp. Act 17:18).

 

C.      The Consequences of God’s Wisdom (1Co 1:23-25)          

 

1.        [1Co 1:23] - In spite of what the world thinks, Paul continued to “preach” (kerússō - herald or proclaim) Christ “crucified” (perfect passive participle - stauróō - lit. “having been and continued to be crucified” emphasizing the finished and sufficient work of Christ on the cross).

a)       However, the crucified Christ and the message of the gospel was a stumbling block (skandalon - a stick for bait (of a trap), generally a snare, a stumbling block, an offense, cp. Rom 9:31-33; 1Pe 2:8; Gal 5:11) to the Jews. They were not only looking for a ruling Messiah, but they did not see their need for an atoning Messiah (Mat 5:20; Rom 10:2-3).

b)       As for the Greeks, they were enamored with new ideas and the acceptance of most ideas. Such a dogmatic belief in the cross of Christ as the only way to salvation was foolishness to them. Furthermore, they were without the Spirit and could only perceive spiritual truths as foolish (1Co 2:14).

2.       [1Co 1:24] - In contrast are the ones who are entitled, “the called” (cp. 1Co 1:9). They were made up of both Jews and Greeks who believed on Christ. There is no division in Christ only a unity. Unfortunately the Corinthians were attempting to start one.

a)       Christ is the power of God in that His death on the cross had the power to bring forgiveness to men and give them eternal life.

b)       Christ is the wisdom of God in that He solved the eternal dilemma of how to reconcile sinful men with a holy God.

3.       [1Co 1:25] - In conclusion, God’s foolishness of the gospel is wiser than the wisdom of this perishing world. God’s weakness in the gospel is stronger than man’s pseudo strength to pull himself up by his own boot straps.

 

III.   OBSERVATIONS AND APPLICATIONS

 

A.      Many divisions are over the most ridiculous things and mean nothing in the light of eternity.

B.      The worst thing about divisions is that they attempt to divide Christ and His body.

C.      Unity among the brethren calls for maturity, servanthood, and preference to one another.

D.      Note: The truths of biblical principles are never to be set aside for the sake of unity.

E.       Counseling Principle: We must seek our answers from the Scriptures over conventional wisdom, biases, and emotions.

F.       Counseling Principle: We must direct people away from their carnal notions to the spirituality of the Word.

G.      Counseling Principle: The objective of the biblical counselor is to preach the gospel to the unbeliever and bring the believer to maturity in Christ through biblical principles.