1CO 1

1 Corinthians 1:13

WEB

Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized into the name of Paul?

BSB

Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?

KJV

Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

Matthew Henry

Verses 10–13

1 Corinthians 1:10–13

Here the apostle enters on his subject.

I. He extorts them to unity and brotherly love, and reproves them for their divisions. He had received an account from some that wished them well of some unhappy differences among them. It was neither ill-will to the church, nor to their ministers, that prompted them to give this account; but a kind and prudent concern to have these heats qualified by Paul's interposition. He writes to them in a very engaging way: "I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; if you have any regard to that dear and worthy name by which you are called, be unanimous. Speak all the same thing; avoid divisions or schisms" (as the original is), "that is, all alienation of affection from each other. Be perfectly joined together in the same mind, as far as you can. In the great things of religion be of a mind: but, when there is not a unity of sentiment, let there be a union of affections. The consideration of being agreed in greater things should extinguish all feuds and divisions about minor ones."

II. He hints at the origin of these contentions. Pride lay at the bottom, and this made them factious. Only of pride cometh contention, Pro 13:10. They quarrelled about their ministers. Paul and Apollos were both faithful ministers of Jesus Christ, and helpers of their faith and joy: but those who were disposed to be contentious broke into parties, and set their ministers at the head of their several factions: some cried up Paul, perhaps as the most sublime and spiritual teacher; others cried up Apollos, perhaps as the most eloquent speaker; some Cephas, or Peter, perhaps for the authority of his age, or because he was the apostle of the circumcision; and some were for none of them, but Christ only. So liable are the best things in the world to be corrupted, and the gospel and its institutions, which are at perfect harmony with themselves and one another, to be made the engines of variance, discord, and contention. This is no reproach to our religion, but a very melancholy evidence of the corruption and depravity of human nature. Note, How far will pride carry Christians in opposition to one another! Even so far as to set Christ and his own apostles at variance, and make them rivals and competitors.

III. He expostulates with them upon their discord and quarrels: "Is Christ divided? No, there is but one Christ, and therefore Christians should be on one heart. Was Paul crucified for you? Was he your sacrifice and atonement? Did I ever pretend to be your saviour, or any more than his minister? Or, were you baptized in the name of Paul? Were you devoted to my service, or engaged to be my disciples, by that sacred rite? Did I challenge that right in you, or dependence from you, which is the proper claim of your God and Redeemer?" No; ministers, however instrumental they are of good to us, are not to be put in Christ's stead. They are not to usurp Christ's authority, nor encourage any thing in the people that looks like transferring his authority to them. He is our Saviour and sacrifice, he is our Lord and guide. And happy were it for the churches if there were no name of distinction among them, as Christ is not divided.

Cross-references: Prov 13:10

Greek interlinear

G3307

μερίζωmerízō/mer-id'-zo/

deal, be difference between, distribute, divide, give participle

Derivation: from G3313;

to part, i.e. (literally) to apportion, bestow, share, or (figuratively) to disunite, differ

KJV: deal, be difference between, distribute, divide, give participle

See also: G3313.

G3588

ho/ho/

the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc

, including the feminine , and the neuter τό in all their inflections;

Derivation: the definite article;

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)

KJV: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.

G5547

ΧριστόςChristós/khris-tos'/

Christ

Derivation: from G5548;

anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus

KJV: Christ.

See also: G5548.

G3361

μήmḗ/may/

any but (that), X forbear, + God forbid, + lack, lest, neither, never, no (X wise in), none, nor, (can-)not, nothing, that not, un(-taken), without

Derivation: a primary particle of qualified negation (whereas G3756 expresses an absolute denial);

(adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas G3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether

KJV: any but (that), X forbear, + God forbid, + lack, lest, neither, never, no (X wise in), none, nor, (can-)not, nothing, that not, un(-taken), without.

Often used in compounds in substantially the same relations. See also G3362, G3363, G3364, G3372, G3373, G3375, G3378.

See also: G3756, G3362, G3363, G3364, G3372, G3373, G3375, G3378.

G3972

ΠαῦλοςPaûlos/pow'-los/

Paul, Paulus

Derivation: of Latin origin;

(little; but remotely from a derivative of G3973, meaning the same); Paulus, the name of a Roman and of an apostle

KJV: Paul, Paulus.

See also: G3973.

G4717

σταυρόωstauróō/stow-ro'-o/

crucify

Derivation: from G4716;

to impale on the cross; figuratively, to extinguish (subdue) passion or selfishness

KJV: crucify.

See also: G4716.

G5228

ὑπέρhypér/hoop-er'/

(+ exceeding, abundantly) above, in (on) behalf of, beyond, by, + very chiefest, concerning, exceeding (above, -ly), for, + very highly, more (than), of, over, on the part of, for sake of, in stead, than, to(-ward), very

Derivation: a primary preposition;

"over", i.e. (with the genitive case) of place, above, beyond, across, or causal, for the sake of, instead, regarding; with the accusative case superior to, more than

KJV: (+ exceeding, abundantly) above, in (on) behalf of, beyond, by, + very chiefest, concerning, exceeding (above, -ly), for, + very highly, more (than), of, over, on the part of, for sake of, in stead, than, to(-ward), very.

In the comparative, it retains many of the above applications.

G4771

σύ/soo/

thou

Derivation: the personal pronoun of the second person singular;

thou

KJV: thou.

See also G4571, G4671, G4675; and for the plural G5209, G5210, G5213, G5216.

See also: G4675, G4571, G4671, G5209, G5210, G5213, G5216.

G2228

/ay/

and, but (either), (n-)either, except it be, (n-)or (else), rather, save, than, that, what, yea

Derivation: a primary particle of distinction between two connected terms;

disjunctive, or; comparative, than

KJV: and, but (either), (n-)either, except it be, (n-)or (else), rather, save, than, that, what, yea.

Often used in connection with other particles. Compare especially G2235, G2260, G2273.

See also: G2235, G2260, G2273.

G1519

εἰςeis/ice/

(abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by, concerning, + continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore, + forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-)on, + perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to), …ward, (where-)fore, with

Derivation: a primary preposition;

to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases

KJV: (abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by, concerning, + continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore, + forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-)on, + perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to), …ward, (where-)fore, with.

Often used in composition with the same general import, but only with verbs (etc.) expressing motion (literally or figuratively).

G3686

ὄνομαónoma/on'-om-ah/

called, (+ sur-)name(-d)

Derivation: from a presumed derivative of the base of G1097 (compare G3685);

a "name" (literally or figuratively) (authority, character)

KJV: called, (+ sur-)name(-d).

See also: G1097, G3685.

G907

βαπτίζωbaptízō/bap-tid'-zo/

Baptist, baptize, wash

Derivation: from a derivative of G911;

to immerse, submerge; to make whelmed (i.e. fully wet); used only (in the New Testament) of ceremonial ablution, especially (technically) of the ordinance of Christian baptism

KJV: Baptist, baptize, wash.

See also: G911.

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