1 Corinthians 1:10-17·~1 min

Unity in the Church

Paul urges the Corinthians to agree together and be united in mind and conviction because Chloe's household has reported quarrels among them. He explains that some are aligning themselves with Paul, Apollos, Cephas, or Christ, and answers by asking whether Christ can be divided or whether Paul was crucified for them.

I¹⁰ appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree together, so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be united in mind and conviction. ¹¹My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. ¹²What I mean is this: Individuals among you are saying, “I follow Paul,” “I follow Apollos,” “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” ¹³Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?

Paul is thankful that he baptized only a few of them, so no one can claim baptism into his name, though he remembers also baptizing the household of Stephanas. He says Christ sent him not to build a following through baptizing or verbal display, but to preach the gospel without emptying the cross of its power.

¹⁴I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, ¹⁵so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. ¹⁶Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that I do not remember if I baptized anyone else. ¹⁷For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with words of wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

Section summaryPaul appeals for unity because reports from Chloe's people have exposed quarrels and competing loyalties among the Corinthians. By asking whether Christ is divided and by downplaying his own baptizing, he shows that the church's life cannot be organized around human names without emptying the cross of its proper power.

Role in the chapterThis section introduces the first concrete disorder in Corinth and links it to a deeper theological mistake. Their divisions are not merely social friction; they reveal confusion about Christ, baptism, and the gospel itself.