1 Corinthians 3:1-4

One denomination puts down Catholics, another puts down Protestants and together they put down Methodists, Lutherans and Pilgrim Holiness. We become a hindrance to salvation. 

 We are saved to be a light to all people in all nations.

We are all one under Christ Jesus. He was born, suffered, died and was buried for all those who believe in Him….not in a particular denomination. He died so that all of us could live. Praise be the Messiah, Savior of the World.

It was too small a thing that Jesus die for only the Jews He came to earth to save the world.

 Catholic or Gentile we form the Body of Christ.

One of the main problems facing the first-century Corinthian church was division. When Paul wrote to Corinth, the church was divided into at least four factions, each of them aligned with one of four prominent Christian leaders. 

One group identified itself with the apostle Paul. The members of this faction may have been attracted by Paul’s emphasis on his ministry to the Gentiles.

 A second group identified itself with Apollos, one of Paul’s fellow missionaries. He may have attracted a following because of his eloquent speaking abilities. 

A third group identified itself with Cephas, another name for the apostle Peter. This group may have been mostly of Jewish background. 

A fourth group identified itself specifically with Christ. While on the surface it might seem that this group was the “godly” contingent of the Corinthian church, this may not have been the case. 

Paul does not commend any of the groups, not even the “I am of Christ” faction, suggesting that all of their professed allegiances were causing division and dissension in that church. NKJ Bible

The Corinthian believers demonstrated their immaturity through divisiveness and failure to grasp the significance of Jesus’ death on the cross. Paul asserts that such behavior is inappropriate for those in Christ.

 jealousy and strife are two actions that harm the unity of the Church both are characteristic of sophists.

sophist | ˈsäfəst |

noun

a paid teacher of philosophy and rhetoric in ancient Greece, associated in popular thought with moral skepticism and specious reasoning.

• a person who reasons with clever but fallacious arguments.

An immature Christian naturally lacks many Christian traits, but no one should expect this condition to last. Paul was surprised that the Corinthians had not yet grown into spiritual maturity or become able to distinguish between good and evil. Faithlife Bible.

1 Corinthians 3:1–4 (NKJV)

3 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. ² I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; ³ for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? ⁴ For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?