1 CORINTHIANS
10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 12 What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”
– 1 Corinthians 1:10-19
1 CORINTHIANS AN APPEAL FOR UNITY
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
As believers, let us set aside all kinds of quarrels and arguments
There is no room for believers to insist on their own preferences
Accept one another as different from you with love and respect
Be genuinely interested in others and do not make it about yourself
Just as the Father, Son and Spirit are united and one in three
Let all believers aim for unity with their brothers and sisters.
In this letter, Paul confronts the Corinthian church about quarrels and divisions happening among them. He calls out all those reported to him who get into quarrels, fights and divisions. He asks them to aim for unity instead of highlighting their differences and judging one another who doesn’t fit into their predilections. He sounds like scolding little children in this letter. He didn’t want them to be shallow with competitive spirits that work against unity and harmony. He also attacks those who think they are wise and presents to them that God destroys the wisdom of the world and prefers the weak.
REFLECTION
- How can we as Christians go against what the world considers as wise?
