Divisions

Paul, in writing to the churchin Corinth, was responding to questions the young church had sent to him - and also to reports he had gotten about the church.

The first problem he addressed probably came from those reports rather than the church's own awareness of its issues.

The problem? Division.

Paul addressed it in 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."

In asking the church to agree, he wasn't requesting they become like the Borg in the Star Trek series: mindless cogs in a common organism. He made it clear later that he treasured their unique gifts from God.

But they were arguing among themselves over which teacher to follow. They had developed their own fan clubs within the church. Some collected sports cards, so to speak, for Paul and some for Apollos and some for Cephas.

And their criteria for choosing their personal celebrity was based on the world's criteria. Which was most eloquent? Which spoke with the wisdom treasured by the world around them?

So Paul wrote to remind them that, because they were in Christ, the world's measure should not affect them. They were not to boast in wisdom of the world, but in God.