Question 1

Why does Paul urge the believers to speak the same thing in this passage?

Accepted Answer

Paul urges the believers to “speak the same thing” because the church was splitting into groups that followed different leaders. He wants them to agree in what they teach and confess about Christ so they are not pulled apart by arguments and pride. Unity in words points to unity in belief and purpose. Paul cares that their shared faith in Jesus, not their loyalty to this or that teacher, is what binds them together. When they speak in a united way about the gospel, their life together better reflects Christ.

Question 2

What were the divisions and contentions in the Corinthian church about?

Accepted Answer

The divisions came from people lining up behind different teachers. Some said, “I am of Paul,” others, “I am of Apollos,” “I am of Cephas,” and even, “I am of Christ.” Instead of seeing these servants as helpers who all point to the same Lord, they treated them like rival leaders. This stirred up pride and arguments. Paul explains that this kind of party spirit misses the point, because no human leader was crucified for them, and no one should replace Christ as the center of their faith and identity.

Question 3

What does Paul mean when he asks, Is Christ divided?

Accepted Answer

When Paul asks, “Is Christ divided?” he is showing how wrong it is to split the church into parties. Christ has one body, not many competing bodies. All believers share the same Savior, the same cross, and the same new life. To act as if Christ can be divided up between Paul, Apollos, or Cephas is to misunderstand who Jesus is. The question is meant to stop them and make them see that following different human leaders as if they were separate camps goes against the unity of Christ Himself.

Question 4

Why does Paul thank God that he baptized so few people in Corinth?

Accepted Answer

Paul thanks God that he only baptized a few, like Crispus, Gaius, and the household of Stephanas, because he does not want anyone to claim they were baptized “in his name.” He knows people are already using connections to teachers to boast and form groups. If he had baptized many, some might treat that as a badge of belonging to Paul instead of to Christ. By keeping the focus off his role in baptism, Paul protects the meaning of baptism as being into Christ and keeps attention on Jesus, not on himself.

Question 5

What does Paul mean by saying Christ sent me not to baptize but to preach the gospel?

Accepted Answer

Paul is not saying baptism is unimportant. He is saying his main task as an apostle is to preach the gospel. Others could carry out baptisms, but his special calling is to announce the message of Christ’s death and resurrection. He wants the church to know that the heart of his ministry is the word about the cross, not gathering a personal following through baptizing many people. This keeps the church’s focus on the message of salvation, not on who performed which act for them.

Question 6

What does not with wisdom of words mean in Paul’s preaching?

Accepted Answer

When Paul says he was sent to preach “not with wisdom of words,” he means he did not rely on fancy speech or clever human ideas to impress people. He avoided the kind of talk that could draw attention to the speaker instead of to Christ. If the message is dressed up in a way that makes human skill the main thing, the cross can seem less important. Paul wants the simple, clear message of Christ crucified to stand out, so that people trust in God’s power, not in the style or charm of the preacher.

Question 7

How does this passage guide how Christians should view church leaders today?

Accepted Answer

This passage teaches that church leaders are servants, not heroes to rally around. Paul, Apollos, and Cephas all served the same Lord, and none of them died for anyone’s sins. Today, Christians should be thankful for faithful teachers, but must not treat them as the center of their faith or use them to feel superior to others. Our main loyalty belongs to Christ alone. When leaders point people to Jesus and believers refuse to form cliques around personalities, the church better reflects the unity Paul calls for.

Question 8

How can believers apply Paul’s call for unity in their own churches?

Accepted Answer

Believers can apply this call for unity by checking their hearts for pride and favoritism. Instead of saying, in effect, “I am of this teacher” or “I am of that group,” they can focus on what they share in Christ. That means valuing sound teaching while remembering that all true ministers serve the same gospel. It also means being willing to listen, forgive, and work toward agreement in what the Bible clearly teaches. When the cross and Christ Himself stay at the center, there is less room for division.

1 Corinthians 1:10

Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Unity in the Church

Cross References

1 Corinthians 1:10

Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Share Options

All Verses

Verse + Context

Current Verse

Unity in the Church

Cross References