Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
Paul heard about the divisions among the Corinthian Christians and wrote a letter to the church to address this. There were some of them who may have had an attachment to him, Apollos or Cephas (Peter). They identified themselves with these three teachers because one of them brought these believers to Christ.
Paul, Apollos and Peter were all servants of God, through whom believers heard about and were led to Christ. As a result of this, they should not be lauding one leader (teacher) over the other. Instead of saying, “I am of Paul” or “I am of Apollos” or “I am of Cephas,” they should say, “I am Christ’s.” We are Christ’s who gave His life for us, not the leaders, pastors, preachers, ministers, people who led us to Him.
In following human leaders we are going to be divided from Christ. We should only be following Him. After all, we are called “Christians,” aren’t we? We are His because He paid the ultimate price for our salvation.
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