1 Corinthians 10:17_Study Guide

1 Corinthians 10:17_Study Guide

Most of us who have attended church for a number of years have been in or know of a congregation where there was a split or at least serious quarreling. The problem has existed in the church from New Testament times. The Corinthian believers fell short of the Lord’s standards in many ways, and the first thing for which Paul called them to task was quarreling. 

Quarreling is a reality in the church because selfishness and other sins are realities in the church. Because of quarreling the Father is dishonored, the Son is disgraced, His people are demoralized and discredited, and the world is turned off and confirmed in unbelief. 

In His high priestly prayer the Lord prayed repeatedly that His church would be one (John 17:11, 21–23). Immediately after Pentecost the newly empowered believers were in perfect harmony with each other sharing, rejoicing, worshiping, and witnessing together. Their unity bore great fruit in their ministry to each other, in their witness to the world, and in their pleasing and glorifying God. 

The first need of the Corinthian church was for that sort of harmony. And so Paul made a plea for doctrinal agreement, for repenting of their tendency to form factions around high profile personalities, and for remembering the great priority of the church: preaching the gospel. - John MacArthur, 1 Corinthians : Godly Solutions for Church Problems, pg 23-24

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. In this section of verses, Paul calls the Corinthians ‘brothers’ twice. The Reformer Theodore Beza made this comment :

“In that word [brothers] too there lies hidden argument.” What do you think Beza meant by this; what is the hidden argument in the word ‘brothers’?

2. Paul asks three rhetorical questions in verse 13 which we could paraphrase this way:

. Christ is not divided, so how can his people be?

. No church leader was crucified for sin, so why would any Christian exalt mere human authorities?

. Christian baptism is into the name (which implies power/authority) of Jesus, so why would a Christian act as if their allegiance is to Paul, Apollos, Cephas, etc.?

 Explain what he means by these questions in your own words. Do you think these questions are effective? In what way are they good arguments for Christian unity?

3. One commentator says that I Corinthians teaches us that cooperation, mutual concern, peaceful coexistence, and edification in love are all antidotes for divisiveness. How can we employ this in truly Christ centered ways? In other words, how do we do these things in such a way that the gospel is the driving force for us to ‘get along’?

4. The real key Paul gives here to promote unity and avoid factionalism is to focus on Christ instead of exalting human leaders or agendas. List 2 - 3 practical ways your local church can achieve this within its community.

5. What can you personally do to help bring more gospel unity to our church? Are there people you need to make a better effort towards being unified with in the Lord? What steps will you

take to help forge great unity with these people?