3 1st Corinthians 1.10-
November 19th 2017
Milk
ON BOARD
Before we continue on our verse by verse of 1st Corinthians I want to read the words of Paul in the first nine verses which we have already studied.
I’ve written them out on the board. I want you pretend that First Corinthians is the only book we have from the Bible – like we are all from Corinth, perhaps, and this epistle from Paul is the content of our New Testament.
God that? Now I’m not going to do anything but underline the phrases Paul provides. Ready?
1st Corinthians 1:1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;
5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;
6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:
7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Summary:
GOD (six references)
Through the will of God
The Church of God
From God our Father
I thank my God
The grace of God
God is faithful
Jesus Christ (nine references)
Apostle of Jesus Christ
Sanctified in Christ Jesus
The name of Jesus Christ our Lord
AND from the Lord Jesus Christ
By Jesus Christ
The testimony of Christ
Lord Jesus Christ
Our Lord Jesus Christ (twice)
Of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord
Okay, so at this point Paul gets into giving some direction. Verse 10
10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
So after this introduction Paul now gets to the reason he wrote and says
10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
We recall that Paul had been told of some of the problems happening there in Corinth among the believers.
And so he begins to address the first problem – that of divisions among the believers.
And he says, “Now, I beseech you,”
I invite you . . . I exhort you to consider the following:
It’s not a word (parakaleo) that means, “I command you or rebuke you,” but it’s a gentle entreatment which is the prescribed way scripture instructs us to engage with each other.
What is he speaking to?
Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
(verse 11)
11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
Paul will address these things up to verse 17 – and quite frankly, the rest of the epistle could be a response to all that was dividing them.
Generally speaking, Paul will explain that the Gospel is not in the hands of one man, that it is not owned by the wise and learned.
He will come to the point in this first chapter to explain that it is actually the weak and broken and beggarly of the world who God uses to bring about His will and ways as philosophy and the power of Man has entered in and not only influenced people but is apparently causing division.
Folks we are living in this very thing presently in the body. This letter and its introductory comments are so very apropos today as the wisdom and philosophies of Man have taken the simplicity of the faith and made man-made mountains out of molehills.
The contributing factors are almost innumerable but hear me clearly –
The Good News is that God so loved us that He gave us His only Human Son, who was born of a woman, born under the Law, lived a perfect sanctified life, was put to death, and rose on the third day, overcoming sin, the flesh, satan and death on our behalf.
ANYTHING ELSE – ANYTHING – including opinions on the Trinity or non-Trinity, water baptism, spiritual gifts, eschatology of any sort, grace, works – whatever – are NOT included – and must take a second fiddle to the Good News OR Men will divide over them – which is not good news.
I know we teach and talk about a lot of biblical topics here in our verse by verse studies but do not EVER forget that when MEN decide to wax philosophical, and begin to make mandates outside of the Good News – then we will find ourselves in the same place as the believers in Corinth.
Because of our Tuesday night show I am having conversations with some highly trained Christian intellectuals – I mean the top of the heap – and most of them are Calvinists (which is fine). But EVERYTHING in the conversation is philosophically based. Logically welded together, and have all the makings for division.
Paul is gently beseeching the saints at Corinth toward the following – that –
they all speak the same thing, and
that there be no divisions among you;
but that ye be perfectly joined together
in the same mind and
in the same judgment.
I strongly suggest to you right here and now that the ONLY way this is possible among human beings is for the superfluous subjects orbiting around the faith – the debatable issues – get removed, and then all people can united comply with what Paul suggests.
Introduce something in addition to the Good New or Gospel and divisions will occur.
I want to point out a passage that the writer of Hebrews writes that indirectly points to what I am suggesting. It is rarely read or commented upon.
The basis for it begins in Hebrew 5 where the writer tells his reader that he would like to speak to them about Melchizedek but says (verse 11)
11 Of whom we have many things to say but are hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. (In other words we can’t peak to you about Melchezidek because you are dull of hearing – you have limited ability to understand)
12 For (he says) when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
(You are having to be taught and retaught the same things – and like a baby you can’t handle the meatier things of the faith and so we are forced to feed you more of a steady diet of milk). Then the writer adds:
13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Another way to say that last verse is:
“But solid food (remember this term – solid food) belongs to those who are mature who through practice of their faculties are able to discern good and evil.”
This is a direct appeal to spiritual maturity being possessed and allowing for people to Discern what is good and what is evil.
Built into this discussion is the idea that the milk of the Word is a diet for babes and while it has its place and is founded on the essentials of the faith, believers ought not remain on such a diet but should instead get to the point in their spiritual maturity where they can actually discern good and evil because they have exercised or practiced doing so.
Got all that?
Now listen to the next verse in the epistle (which is the first verse of chapter 6)
Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
3 And this will we do, if God permit.
Leaving . . . the principles . . . of
the doctrine of Christ,
let us go on unto perfection;
not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works,
and of faith toward God,
of the doctrine of baptisms
and of laying on of hands
and of resurrection of the dead
and of eternal judgment.
Between what Paul will say here in first Corinthians chapter 3 about Milk drinkers being bent on divisions and therefore strife, and then what the writer of Hebrews says here about believers becoming meat eaters and leaving behind the basics of the faith, we can clearly see and say that
The ability to
all speak the same thing, and
that there be no divisions among you;
but that ye be perfectly joined together
in the same mind and
in the same judgment.
Comes when people move on to perfection, which means letting divisions over the disputables die and letting perfect LOVE abide beyond them – that as LONG as believers are on a diet of theological milk they will not be united.
Jumping out to chapter three, let’s just read what Paul will say along the same lines
1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
Again, the thinking is like this:
If the doctrine is milky, you are drinking it because you are still operating in the carnality of your flesh.
And when you are still carnal, still a babe in the faith drinking milk, there will be envying, and strife and divisions because you are still eating the diet of men – milk.
When you are able to mature and can eat and digest the meat of the Word – the carnality of your human mind will take a back seat to the inner man of the Spirit, and when that occurs LOVE – the perfection of Man – steps in and reigns.
Get it?
So when you and I find ourselves in strife with others over things in the body – ideas, beliefs, doctrines, practices – and the result of such things is division, we KNOW – KNOW that we are being carnal, immature, milk drinkers in the faith and NOT people who have established the foundation then moved ON to perfection – which is love.
This is why here we allow and engage all thoughts – because we want love to abide, not strife or division.
I am personally convinced that by taking the Word and making it the manual of definitives that we have opened the door to people who should be lovers becoming lawyers.
And therein we stand.
Now, amidst leaders in the faith – there is a biblical justification for confrontation – but that is another story. But even then it is not to end in strife or division but in growth and betterment.
So beseeching these believers Paul says he hopes that they FIRST
“all speak the same thing.”
Now, we have to ask ourselves, how is this even possible? Is it possible if every point of doctrine is examined or is it possible if only the essentials are highlighted and the non-essentials are left out of the conversation?
I would suggest that the latter is the only way.
We will read in the very next chapter that Paul will say:
2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
Today we – you and me – have allowed ourselves to take other things and make them topics to speak about, but here Paul says that he was determined in his walk among them not to know anything among them but Jesus Christ and Him crucified.,
And that he did this in weakness and in fear and in trembling. Meaning He humbly approached the subject. Why?
Remember the backstory of Corinth – it was a hotbed of everything under the sun – sin, commerce, philosophy – and therefore Paul’s response to this setting was to bring it all back down to the core basics of the faith –
Jesus Christ and Him crucified, and in so doing was able to lead the believers into the same approach to the faith.
1Co 1:17 “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
Peter admits in his 2nd epistle:
1:16 “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
Paul preached the Gospel, and the cross of Christ, and the resurrection. Peter refused cunningly devised fables but preached the power and coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Taking all of scripture once those things are in place, leave them behind and learn to walk in love.
Paul adds, “And that there be no divisions among you.’
Now this is an important line based on four important words for dividing or divisions in scripture.
One is diameritzo (DEE-AH-MERIT-ZO) one is Or -THOT-O- MAYO, One is MERISMOS and the other is SCHIDZO.
Deeahmeritzo is a term to mean a pretty straight cut. To take a loaf of bread and try to divide it among four hungry children is to deeahmeritzo the bread into quarters (so nobody will feel unjustly treated).
In first aid there are various types of wounds catergorized by the acronym APAIL
Abrasion
Puncture
Avulsion
Incision
Laceration
A laceration would be more akin to deeahmeritzo as the sides of the cut are not perfect but the better than a rent.
The second type of division is or-thot-omeo. This is an exactly clean cut like and incision.
It is only used one time in all of the New Testament – in 2nd Timothy 2:15 where it says
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
This means with exactness – like a surgical incision.
Then we have a word similar in meaning to dee-ah-meritzo – its merizos – related to deeahmertizo and it means “to part.”
Close.
But then we have the other term schidzo.
In first aid that would be more like an avulsion where an ear is ripped from the head.
These wounds are far more difficult to stitch together because they were caused by a violent division of the two parts involved.
Of course we know the term schitzophrenic simply means a torn or ripped apart (schitzod) phrenia (mind) – a torn mind.
When the Jews in the presence of Paul in the last chapters of Acts had a violent division between them that was schidzo, and then the men wanted to part the coat of Jesus they were fearful of renting it – with the Greek word being Schidzo).
Typically speaking schidzo is the work of darkness. It’s what happens at Thanksgiving dinner when the family gets into a huge argument and it is so explosive that the group is torn apart violently.
The God of love is not about such a rent unless it is once and for all – but human beings are very quick to enter into schitzo situations – and in them we can see evil at work.
So what is Paul saying here –
Or-thot-omeao
Deehameritzo
Merizos or
Schitzo.
That’s right – that there be no schitzo.
No schitzoing among you.
Now think about it – when the spirit of God is present, and there is an absence of the flesh, it’s really hard to schitzo from anyone – no rent, no avulsion – they are too hard to heal for most involved.
This is possible only when people refuse to get their hackles up over disputations of doctrine, practice, or whatever molehill that they are making more important than the mountain of God’s love.
The overt thriving attempts at schitzoing the body has been present since the Lord established His church.
And we have justified – in the name of our important molehills – to divide into sects and denominations ad nauseum.
This is the strategy of darkness – to divide and conquer.
‘But that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind.’
The word here rendered “perfectly joined together,” best means mended or restored or repaired of something that was once torn apart – so Paul is calling for healing of the brethren.
Of what? Of the same mind. NOOCE in the Greek – we note that the word brain is not used. We are not talking about intelligence or even opinion. We are talking about the “understood goal.”
In a group of ten Corinthian Christians when asked the favorite food there would be normal and even respectable differences of opinion. They were not to all have the same opinion of what is the better lunch.
However, being of the same understood goal – to walk and be like Christ in love and the Spirit of love – they would know NOT to argue about what to have for lunch.
Same with various opinions. Be of one understood goal.
There are a number of passages in the New Testament that speak to this state or condition for which Paul is hoping.
Romans 15:5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In a littler longer and deeper explanation, Paul says in chapter 12 of the same book:
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
At this point Paul sort of articulates what this renewed mind or understood goal starts to look like, saying:
3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
These words could very easily be assigned to the 1st Epistle to the church at Corinth.
To be of the opposite understood goal would be to
Think of themselves more highly they ought to think
To not think soberly
To not think of all as in the body but to think of each other as more important than others
the measure of faith.
To not be merciful to each other
And not be cheerful with each other
To be unkindly affectioned one to another
without brotherly love
not preferring one another;
being slothful in business;
lazy in spirit
serving themselves;
Rejoicing in hopelessness;
impatient in tribulation
never praying;
not helping with the necessity of saints;
inhospitable
retaliating against those that persecute them
Refusing to rejoice with them that do rejoice, or to weep with them that weep.
And not being of the same mind or understood goal one toward another.
But minding high things
And mocking men of low estate.
And wise in their own conceits.
Rendering every man evil for evil
Being dishonest
And refusing to live peaceably with all men.
See feel and hear the differences between Christians who are of the same understood goal and those who are not?
Paul adds a line that means almost the same thing as the same mind,
”And in the same judgment. “
The word here is gno-may and not krino so it does not mean judgement but better the same mind – as in gnosko – the same opinion of objective.
So, having read all of this, all of the stuff about unity, same goals and understanding, how to rightfully and wrongfully divide – and the heart of those who are carnally divisive and spiritually unified . . . let me now ask:
What is your mind AND what is the mind of CAMPUS? What is you understood goal as an autonomous human being. And then what do you perceive the understood goal to be of CAMPUS?
The goal I hope we all understand is to love all people in the name and cause of Christ. This is the meaty mind of CAMPUS and it means that we stridently try to avoid milky carnality.
That we recognize that there are thriving and abiding differences existing between all believers and followers of Christ – even among ourselves – but we are seeking to understand (and therefore exude) the same goal – an ability to love by and through the power of Christ in us.
11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
We know from chapter 7 here that the church had sent a letter to Paul but apparently they did not mention there were contentions in the faith among the believers. So Paul tells them that this fact was brought to his attention by those who were of the house of Chloe.
At this point we begin to get some insight to the cause of the divisions or the schitzophrenic behaviors of the believer there as Paul says:
12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
This is a revelatory couple passages folks.
Obviously there was a problem with people parking themselves in camps.
Some in the camp of Apollos. Some in Camp Cephus, some in camp Paul and (listen to this one) some in camp Jesus.
Did you notice that Paul does NOT allow the believers in Corinth to even make a camp on Jesus alone? This is really difficult for some of us – especially here – because we are all about Jesus, right?
We’ll remember the mind – the understood goal of even Jesus – to love. And since we live in a world with other people, the need to love each other as we love Him is necessary.
What I mean by this is a person cannot claim to love and respect Jesus who does not love and respect His or her brothers or sisters in the Lord.
It does not work that way. So Paul plainly explains to those in Corinth who were picking sides and trying to align themselves with one person over another that it is not possible.
That if someone was to love Jesus they would love Paul, and if Paul then Peter, and if Peter then Apollos.
I’ve said this before and I mean it – we have to reject the notion that one person in the body is preferable or more respectable than another; this is a concept that is hard for some to swallow but I am a teacher to all followers in Christ, and Terry Long is a pastor to all followers, and Paul Robie is my pastor and I am a pastor to someone who attends a church say, in Magna.
When we start to prefer this person in the faith OVER others the unity is broken – and division will occur.
Now listen, this does NOT mean Christ is equal to Paul and Peter and Apollos – all it means is IF a group of people reject others in Jesus name then division will ensue and then the nightmare of schisms.
Of course Christ is our Lord and Savior. But even in His case, if the believers at Corinth refused to hear Paul and would only follow Jesus then there would be a problem with the fact that Jesus called Paul to serve the body.
As a means to show that they were all on the same team Paul then asks:
13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
And I think we will leave off here to pick up next week.
Q and A
Prayer
Testimonies?
ON BOARD
ye all speak the same thing, and
that there be no divisions among you;
but that ye be perfectly joined together
in the same mind and
in the same judgment.
