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"There are contentions among you."

Text: 1 Corinthians 1:11

STRIFE WITHIN THE CHURCH

Information had reached the Apostle Paul from a concerned church member that problems were brewing in Corinth. This deeply disturbed Paul and he felt moved to deal with the problems that had surfaced.

“For it has been declared to me concerning you,
my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household,
that there are contentions among you.”
1 Corinthians 1:11

1. “It has been declared to me”

a) This was not gossip.

b) The word “declared” was used well.

i) The word may be translated “made clear”.

ii) The information given to Paul had been clarified already.

iii) This was not a mere personal opinion.

iv) Clear facts had been forwarded to Paul’s attention as their founding pastor and Apostle.

2. “Concerning you, my brethren”

a) There was a direct reference to the Church at Corinth.

b) But this information did not affect Paul’s loving regard for the Church.

i) He still loved them as “brethren”.

ii) They were still personal and dear hence the phrase, “my brethren” was still used.

3. “By those of Chloe’s household”

a) Chloe was obviously not afraid to be mentioned by name.

b) She and her household were obviously members of the Corinthian church.

c) They loved their Church and they were deeply concerned by what they had noticed.

d) It is good and right to be unafraid to be valiant for truth.

4. “That there are contentions among you”

a) The word “contentions” has the following nuances:

i) There were “arguments”.

ii) There were “quarrels”.

b) The unity of the Corinthian Church had been affected adversely.

c) Instead of unity there were now factions in the Church.