What does 1 Corinthians 1:13 mean?

Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? 1 Corinthians 1:13

Explanation

1 Corinthians 1:13, “Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?” is a verse from the New Testament of the Christian Bible. In this verse, the Apostle Paul is addressing the issue of divisions within the Corinthian church. He poses three rhetorical questions to highlight the absurdity of the divisions among them and to redirect their focus to Christ.

The first question, “Is Christ divided?”, challenges the idea that Christ’s body, symbolizing the unified church, could be split into factions or follow different leaders. This communicates the idea that there should be no divisions in the church because Christ is one and indivisible; hence his followers should also remain united.

The second question, “was Paul crucified for you?”, points to the root of salvation — the crucifixion of Christ. Paul reminds the Corinthians that he, as an apostle, wasn’t the one who died for their sins, but it was Christ, and thus Christ should be the center of their faith and allegiances.

The third question, “or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?”, addresses the sacrament of baptism, which symbolizes identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. Baptism in someone else’s name would suggest allegiance to a human leader. Paul is stressing that their baptism was in the name of Christ, creating a bond with Him, not with any particular church leader, including Paul himself.

Historical Context

The Apostle Paul wrote 1 Corinthians to the Christian church in Corinth, a cosmopolitan trade center in Greece. The church was largely composed of non-Jewish (Gentile) converts and was facing many spiritual and moral issues. One significant issue was the factionalism that arose, with different groups claiming allegiance to various Christian leaders like Paul, Apollos, Cephas (Peter), or even directly to Christ. This verse reflects Paul’s concern about the divisions and his effort to unite the church under the leadership and teachings of Christ alone.

The verse is in the opening chapter where Paul immediately addresses the reports of division he has heard about, indicating that this was a pressing matter that needed immediate attention.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse offers several insights:

• Unity of the Church: This verse underscores the concept that the Church, the Body of Christ, should not be divided. The unity of believers is fundamental in Christian theology.
• Authority of Christ: The rhetorical questions remind believers that no church leader’s authority is comparable to Christ’s. All authority stems from Him, and all actions within the church should be in His name.
• Role of Church Leaders: It suggests that church leaders are not to be the objects of allegiance, but facilitators who point to Christ. They are there to serve, not to divide.
• Identity in Christ: In theological terms, baptism symbolizes the believers’ identity in Christ. The question regarding baptism emphasizes that the believer’s primary identity is with Christ, not with any human entity or leader.

Different denominations may emphasize different aspects of this teaching. Catholic and Orthodox theology stress the visible unity and apostolic succession, while many Protestant traditions emphasize spiritual unity and a personal relationship with Christ.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, this verse may be applied to daily life in several ways:

• Avoiding Division: Reflecting on one’s own behavior in contributing to division within a church or community, and actively working towards unity.
• Focusing on Christ: Re-centering one’s spiritual focus on Christ rather than on human leaders or denominational distinctions.
• Humility in Leadership: If one is in a position of leadership, ensuring that their role is to serve and not to assert unwarranted authority that overshadows Christ’s role in the church.
• Church Membership: When choosing a church or religious community, basing the decision on the centrality of Christ rather than the charisma or status of the leaders.

Cross-References

• Ephesians 4:5 “One Lord, one faith, one baptism,”
• 1 Corinthians 3:4-5 “For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?”
• Galatians 3:27 “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
• John 17:21 “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.”

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek text of this verse and their meanings are:

• μεριστής (meristēs): “divided” – To be divided or partitioned; suggests a break in what should be unified.
• ἐσταυρώθη (estaurothē): “crucified” – Refers to the act of Christ’s crucifixion, implying the ultimate sacrifice and work for salvation.
• ἐβαπτίσθητε (ebaptisthēte): “were ye baptized” – To be immersed or submerged; a religious rite of washing that signifies initiation and identification.
• ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι (en tō onomati): “in the name” – Acting by the authority or with the character of someone, in this case, meaning being identified with Christ in baptism.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Within the ancient world, religious factions and divisions were not uncommon. However, the early Christian insistence on unity under one God and one Lord, Jesus Christ, was somewhat distinctive. This unity contrasted with the polytheism and array of deities worshipped in different ways across various regions.

Comparing to other religions, one might think of the Hindu tradition, which accommodates a variety of gods and practices while still identifying as one religion. However, in Paul’s Christian perspective, unity was central, and divisions could detract from the truth of the Gospel.

Scientific Perspectives

The scientific community generally does not comment directly on theological concepts such as unity within the church or the symbolism of sacraments like baptism. However, the social sciences, including anthropology and sociology, may offer insights into how and why people form groups, create in-groups and out-groups, and the function of symbols in social cohesion and identity formation.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians have provided various interpretations of this verse. For instance:

• John Chrysostom: An early church father who pointed out that the division was more than just disagreeable; it was a sin against the Church and Christ.
• Matthew Henry’s Commentary posits that Paul’s questions highlight the folly of the Corinthians’ contentions, insisting that it was dishonoring to Christ and injurious to the Gospel.
• The Pulpit Commentary: Notes that these rhetorical questions underscore the importance of unity and how it is essential that believers are not divided in loyalties or distracted from the core of their faith.
• Adam Clarke’s Commentary: Clarke suggests that the questions are designed to provoke reflection on the true source of salvation and identity within the Church, asserting that all Christians belong to Christ alone.