1 Corinthians 1:10-13

Divisions in the Church

1:10 I urge you, brothers and sisters, ¹  by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to agree together, ²  to end your divisions, ³  and to be united by the same mind and purpose. ⁴  1:11 For members of Chloe’s household have made it clear to me, my brothers and sisters, ⁵  that there are quarrels ⁶  among you. 1:12 Now I mean this, that ⁷  each of you is saying, “I am with Paul,” or “I am with Apollos,” or “I am with Cephas,” or “I am with Christ.” 1:13 Is Christ divided? Paul wasn’t crucified for you, was he? ⁸  Or were you in fact baptized in the name of Paul? ⁹ 

[1:10]  ¹ tn Grk “brothers,” but the Greek word may be used for “brothers and sisters” or “fellow Christians” as here (cf. BDAG 18 s.v. ἀδελφός 1, where considerable nonbiblical evidence for the plural ἀδελφοί [adelfoi] meaning “brothers and sisters” is cited).

[1:10]  ² tn Grk “that you all say the same thing.”

[1:10]  ³ tn Grk “that there be no divisions among you.”

[1:10]  ⁴ tn Grk “that you be united in/by the same mind and in/by the same purpose.”

[1:11]  ⁵ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:10.

[1:11]  ⁶ tn Or “rivalries, disputes.”

[1:12]  ⁷ tn Or “And I say this because.”

[1:13]  ⁸ tn Questions prefaced with μή (mh) in Greek anticipate a negative answer. This can sometimes be indicated by using a “tag” at the end in English (here the tag is “was he?”).

[1:13]  ⁹ tn This third question marks a peak in which Paul’s incredulity at the Corinthians’ attitude is in focus. The words “in fact” have been supplied in the translation to make this rhetorical juncture clear.