All of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you

1 Corinthians 1:1-17

Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:

I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge— God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you.

I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.”

Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized in my name.

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

Paul's opening and thanksgiving are characteristic. He believes in encouragement. Of all his letters to churches, only Galatians lacks this note of praise. In a day before church buildings, when Christa met in houses or halls, a large group might well have to split up. it is easy to see how divisions could arise. Paul mentions three factions centered on rival 'leaders': Paul, Apollos, and Cephas. A fourth division, in their pride, claimed exclusive rights to the label 'Christian'.

Why?

Paul pointed out all of us are the same, belong to Christ, and do not belong to each teacher or group, even though we are learning with some teachers.

We are united in mind and thought. We follow Christ.

Baptized in name of Jesus Christ through any follower of Christ, but all the Christian belong to the Lord.

Paul pointed out the important point in this church, which may mislead the way of Christian.

-------------------

保羅看重同工的合一，他的書信總是提及他的同工一同關心這個教會。

哥林多教會很有錢，會友也很有才華，無論講道、敬拜、……。恩賜是為了等候耶穌基督再來讓人持守信仰，藉此讓人信心得著堅固。哥林多教會最有恩賜，可能在當時是最好的教會。

會結黨紛爭就是因為看不起別人，自認為自己的對。神給我們恩賜時，要知道我們很多恩賜也沒有。我們是耶穌基督的門徒，不是教導我們讀經老師的門徒。

-------------------

How?

We attend worship in a church and serve there, all of us are belong to Jesus Christ.