You can read the text here.
In the next section Paul addresses one of his major concerns in the letter, one which he has already hinted at, namely, unity. The issue here isn't theological, so when Paul says he wants them all to be in agreement, he isn't talking about some doctrinal issue. The word has more political overtones. He wants them to all take the same side, or be on the same team, working towards a common goal.[1]
The Corinthians had been at odds with one another. They had split into factions that magnified one spiritual leader or another.[2] No matter how great the teacher, s/he is not to replace Jesus as the one to follow. Schism elevates the teacher over Jesus.[3] Our unity is in Jesus, not in a teacher or person. Same with our status. It is God who confers our status as co-heirs with Christ. It is a status that is given freely and makes relative all other statuses that we possess.
Paul's role was to preach the gospel of Jesus, and not in a way that sought to get people to follow him over others, and certainly not in a way that took the focus off of Jesus and put it on himself and what he could do for the Corinthians.[4]
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[1] Thiselton hammers this point home.
[2] See Thisleton's very lengthy excursus on the different factions. In the end we really don't know much about them.
[3] I know that Paul is not referencing doctrinal differences, but most new denominational movements started as a following of a charismatic and gifted individual, and to that extent are under the condemnation of this text.
[4] In terms of them attaining status by patronizing and following a gifted teacher.
In the next section Paul addresses one of his major concerns in the letter, one which he has already hinted at, namely, unity. The issue here isn't theological, so when Paul says he wants them all to be in agreement, he isn't talking about some doctrinal issue. The word has more political overtones. He wants them to all take the same side, or be on the same team, working towards a common goal.[1]
The Corinthians had been at odds with one another. They had split into factions that magnified one spiritual leader or another.[2] No matter how great the teacher, s/he is not to replace Jesus as the one to follow. Schism elevates the teacher over Jesus.[3] Our unity is in Jesus, not in a teacher or person. Same with our status. It is God who confers our status as co-heirs with Christ. It is a status that is given freely and makes relative all other statuses that we possess.
Paul's role was to preach the gospel of Jesus, and not in a way that sought to get people to follow him over others, and certainly not in a way that took the focus off of Jesus and put it on himself and what he could do for the Corinthians.[4]
---------------------------
[1] Thiselton hammers this point home.
[2] See Thisleton's very lengthy excursus on the different factions. In the end we really don't know much about them.
[3] I know that Paul is not referencing doctrinal differences, but most new denominational movements started as a following of a charismatic and gifted individual, and to that extent are under the condemnation of this text.
[4] In terms of them attaining status by patronizing and following a gifted teacher.
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