Title:   1 Corinthians 1:10-12 “Divisions in the Church

By Bob DeWaay

In these passages Paul deals with slogans where people were claiming some special status based on who they followed. What is clear is that Paul and Apollos were preaching the same gospel and were unified. But there were division (schisms) that were not sanctioned by Christ or any apostle. Paul exhorts them by using the term “same” three times: say the same thing, be of the same mind, have the same purpose. In this sermon we explain what we can know and what is not clear about these schisms. But whatever the cause of the divisions, the cure is the truth of the gospel and the true doctrine of Christ.

Throughout church history there have been attempts to cure any possible division through hierarchical church government, and political unity. This does not result in the unity of the faith, but institutions that are not the church as defined biblically. We point to Jude 3 and some passages from Paul’s address to the elders in Ephesus in Acts 20 as the foundation of true unity. One is “the faith once for all handed down to the saints,” and the other, “the whole counsel of God” of which Paul said that he had declared. These are necessary because there are wolves who would arise, as Paul predicted, and they would make disciples after themselves. Schisms are caused when people are disciples of men with their eccentric claims or dynamic personalities. The authority of Scripture and priesthood of every believer is necessary if we are to have a baseline to test religious claims.