1:12 Now {k} 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.
(k) The matter I would say to you is this.
1:12 Now this I say. I explain more fully what I mean. He shows that there were four existing parties:
Of Paul. A Pauline party, clinging to the founder of their church (Ac 18:1-11);
Of Apollos. A party of Apollos, who were probably carried away by their admiration of his Alexandrian philosophy (Ac 18:24);
Of Cephas. A party of Judaizer, who claimed to be following Peter, called here by his Hebrew name of Cephas (Joh 1:42); and
Of Christ. A fourth party, who claimed to turn away from all these human leaders, and to be only of Christ.
1:12 Now this I say - That is, what I mean is this: there are various parties among you, who set themselves, one against an other, in behalf of the several teachers they admire. And I of Christ - They spoke well, if they had not on this pretence despised their teachers, 1Cor 4:8 Perhaps they valued themselves on having heard Christ preach in his own person.
1:10-16 In the great things of religion be of one mind; and where there is not unity of sentiment, still let there be union of affection. Agreement in the greater things should extinguish divisions about the lesser. There will be perfect union in heaven, and the nearer we approach it on earth, the nearer we come to perfection. Paul and Apollos both were faithful ministers of Jesus Christ, and helpers of their faith and joy; but those disposed to be contentious, broke into parties. So liable are the best things to be corrupted, and the gospel and its institutions made engines of discord and contention. Satan has always endeavoured to stir up strife among Christians, as one of his chief devices against the gospel. The apostle left it to other ministers to baptize, while he preached the gospel, as a more useful work.
