1 Corinthians 1: Unity in Church, not Division

Read 1 Corinthians Chapter 1

Introduction: 1 Corinthians 1 is a spiritual start to a letter written by the Apostle Paul to the church in Corinth. This chapter sets the tone for warnings of divisions in the church, pointing out the importance of unity in Christ, and the uselessness of relying on human wisdom over God’s wisdom. Through Paul’s persuasive and inspirational words, we are reminded of the grace and teachings given to us by Jesus Christ, which is the foundation of our faith, and the call to live in harmony with one another as believers, there is no substitute for unity amongst a group of believers.

I. Greetings and Thanksgiving – 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
Paul offers thanksgiving for the believers in Corinth, recognizing their understanding in speech and knowledge. He assures them that they will be strengthened until the end. In Ephesians 1:3-4, we can see something similar to his opening here, there the Bible shows Paul expressing gratitude for believers’ spiritual blessings. Another verse that comes to mind is Philippians 1:6, where God affirms that He will complete the good work He began in the believers. Also in 2 Thessalonians 1:3, the Apostle Paul is thankful about the growing faith and love among believers, much like Paul does in these verses for the Corinthians.

II. Appeal for Unity – 1 Corinthians 1:10-17
Paul encourages the people to strive for unity among the believers at the Corinthian church, who are experiencing divisions due to taking sides with different human leaders instead of Christ. In Romans 12:5, Paul emphasizes how believers are one body in Christ, this is a reflection of the unity Paul desires for the Corinthians. A house divided will ultimately fall in the end. Another verse that comes to mind is Ephesians 4:3, where the Bible encourages us to maintain the unity of the Spirit, which is what Paul’s words are to the Corinthians. Also the Bible exhorts believers to put away the things that cause divisions in 1 Peter 2:1-2, it teaches to put away all malice and deceit, which can be a source of division.

III. Christ the Power and Wisdom of God – 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
Paul compares the wisdom of the world with the wisdom of God, stating that what seems foolish in Christ’s crucifixion is actually the power and wisdom of God. What the wise can not see, the simple and faithful see clearly. The cross of Christ is the power of the gospel message, we read in Romans 1:16, it is power of God for salvation, which lines up with Paul’s message of Christ’s power here in these verses. Colossians 2:2-3 describes how all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ, which points to Paul’s teaching here. Also in James 3:17, the Bible clearly shows a contrast between earthly and heavenly wisdom, like Paul was teaching here in these verses, truly God’s wisdom surpasses human understanding.

IV. God’s Choice of the Lowly – 1 Corinthians 1:26-31
Paul reminds the Corinthians that God chose the weak and foolish things of the world to confound the wise, what better way to show His divine selection process, than to reject the proud and give grace to the humble. Jesus taught in the beatitudes in Matthew 5:3,  blessed are the poor in spirit, showing God’s favor toward the humble, as Paul notes. Another verses that speaks of God choosing the meek is in James 2:5, the Bible says that God has chosen the poor in faith to inherit the kingdom, somewhat like  Paul’s message of God choosing the lowly. Also in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, the verses tell us that God’s strength in can be seen in our human weakness, which is the topic Paul also teaches in this chapter.

Conclusion: In 1 Corinthians 1, Paul deals with the subjects of gratitude, unity in the church, Godly wisdom, divisions,  and divine selection of people. He begins by encouraging them to stand firm until Jesus’ return. Paul gives the call for unity, rebuking the divisions that arise from following human leaders. He compares worldly wisdom with the true wisdom that comes from God, demonstrated through what the world thinks is a foolish act of Jesus’ crucifixion. Lastly, Paul reminds us that God deliberately chooses the humble and the weak to fulfill His purposes. This chapter, thus, serves as an inspirational call to hold tight to the grace and wisdom that comes from our relationship with Christ, and to live in unity as one body in the faith.