I mean the fact that each of you says, “I am paul’s,” “I am from Apollo,” “I am of Cephas,” “I am of Christ. “Is Christ divided?1Co 1. 12-13a
It’s alarming that such a young church is so problematic. Paul was in Corinth for a year and a half for the evangelization and settlement of the church (51-52 AD). He wrote to them between 54 and 55 A. D. , which means that the Corinthian church is no more than three years old, look how much problems there are between them, if on the one hand setting up a church requires time and effort, on the other hand, dividing it is much easier and can be done quickly.
- The first problem presented by the Apostle in this letter is the “division of the party”.
- We see that the members of this church were his favorite leaders.
- Was there a PP? Paulino Party; Afp? Philosophical Festival of Apollo (remember he was from Alexandria and an excellent communicator at 6:24 p.
- M.
- ); SPC: the Conservative Party of Cepheas (probably converted Jews who were followers of the Apostle Peter); PCdoB?The Good Of Christ Party.
- Those who would say that they are only following Christ and need no leader.
Now, let’s be clear that what was happening in this church was not a matter of leadership. Paul was not against Apollo, Cephas, much less against Christ. The moments Paul quotes Apollo in this letter are always in a positive tone (see 1Co 3. 6, 22; 16. 12) Then we learned that it is possible to have healthy leadership while still being a sick church!
We’ll only stay on the surface if we think what was happening was just a matter of intolerance. If we read Paul’s argument carefully (1. 10?4), we will see that the diagnosis he proposes is very serious. For Paulo, the root of the problem was EL FIERTÉ. Look:
so that no one can boast in the presence of God [?] so that, as it is written, the bubbly, he may glorize in the Lord?(1C 1. 29, 31).
Therefore, no one should brag about men. For everything belongs to you: be it Paul, be it Apollo, be it Cepheas, be it the world, be it life, be it death, be it the present, be it to come, be yours (1C 3:21-22).
And what do you have that you haven’t received? And if he received it, why does he glorify himself, as if he had not received it?(1Co 4. 7)
The glory itself? This was Paul’s true diagnosis for these brethren. [1] In electing the leaders of their choice, they actually asserted themselves, nurtured their own passions, said they were right in their beliefs, thinking they were superior to others because they were part of a particular party.
Do we know how it works?
In a world where we are massacred by the exposure of people more important than us, more beautiful, richer, smarter, we feel inferior. To solve this identity problem, we adhere to someone, we choose our idols: “I am of the Church of Pr. Un such”; “I am a friend of Ciclano’s”; “I have a picture with Beltrano. We always try to demonstrate our relevance/identity in the one with which we partner.
Similarly, those who were from? Paulo, they would be proud to have received the gospel message directly from him, they would be proud to be themselves founders of the church. Those of “Apollo” would find the most intellectual and prefer a more elaborate language. Those of “Cefas”, perhaps boast of being more conservative, and even those of “Christ”?They would show their pride in saying they don’t need leadership, they’re self-sufficient. In any case, the problem was the same: pride!
The good news is that Paul not only demonstrates the disease, but offers us a cure: the gospel. Twice in this passage, Paul mentions the cross of Christ, the first indirectly and the second quotation is very clear:
“Was Paul crucified for you? (1Co 1. 13)
?? so that the cross of Christ is not emp empded?(1C 1. 17).
The Apostle presents the message of the Cross to these proud brethren, the reason is that before the Cross of Christ everything is leveled, we are all sinners!If Christ died to reconcile us with God, attitude of all who come unto Christ crucified. it’s the same: humiliation.
Before the Cross of Christ, there is no place for the great, the powerful, the wise, the supporters, the strong, the important, there is no place for personal merit, everyone has the same need. Before the cross of Christ, a bandit can say, “Jesus, do you remember me when his kingdom comes?(Lk 23:42), but also, a centurion said, “Was this man really the Son of God?(Mk 15:39). A thief and a centurion, different socially and morally, but with the same need.
Later in his argument, Paul says that Christ is our “holiness, justice, and redemption. “He wants to teach us that Christ is truly all we need, our satisfaction, and our worth reside in him. something or someone is satisfied, the gospel heals our pride!
Church, we are the people of the Cross, we have been reconciled with God and with others by the work of Christ. There must be no division between us. We cannot say with our actions that “Christ is divided”. Let us be promoters of peace and unity. Let us be the first to take care of the glory and testimony of Christ in the midst of our community. Let us do all we can preservar. la unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace (Eph 4:3). Let us make a constant war against our pride, always having Christ crucified before us.
?
[1] 1C 4. 6b: So no one should be proud of one man over another
[2] See also: 1Co 1. 18; 2,2, 8
[3] 1Co 1. 30