Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

Paul is asking this question rhetorically, in order to highlight his displeasure with the way in which the Corinthian church had divided into competing factions, with each faction supporting a different teacher or authority that it preferred (with Christ apparently being regarded as only one other such teacher among several), and with each faction claiming that it was superior to the others because its favored teacher was better or more authoritative. This was resulting in strife and contention in the congregation.

Paul made clear to them that Christ, rather than any merely human teacher, was their ultimate authority for belief and practice. It was Christ who had made their salvation possible by being crucified for them, and it was Christ in whose name they had been baptized. Furthermore, Christ was not divided as the church at Corinth was. He was to be the single, sole source of salvation and doctrine, and the only focus of faith for each member of the Church. 

Just as He was not divided, the church should follow His example, and remain united in following Him alone. Different individuals might preach or teach in His name, but their goal was to be pointing their listeners to Christ, rather than glorifying themselves, or seeking the praise of others for their piety or eloquence.

January 09 2016 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report