Let it go, Paul! It’s been four chapters already. Point made. Move on!

Of all the things that were hamstringing the Corinthian church, does division merit this much discussion? Evidently. How I need ears to hear.

If you’re familiar with the Corinth church you know that, while they were “not lacking in any gift” (1Cor. 1:7a), these beloved saints of the Lord were also not lacking in some pretty serious delusion and dysfunction. Tomorrow, I’m going to be reading about how they were proud of “graciously” allowing sexual immorality within their church family, “and that of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans” (1Cor. 5:1). Crazy! Right? But before getting to that — as a seemingly higher priority in dealing with their lack of church health — Paul’s gonna talk about the division in their midst . . . and talk . . . and talk . . . and talk.

The division in their church wasn’t theological and it wasn’t political. It was celebrity-ical. There was quarreling among them as each pledged their allegiance to a well-known preacher. Some followed Paul, some Apollos, and some Cephas, and some pledged faithfulness to just Jesus. And all were guilty of “cutting into pieces” (literal translation) Jesus (1Cor. 1:11-13a). Brothers and sisters hitching their carts to their chosen superstar and pulling apart the body of Christ. Each picking their preferred personality and pummeling the other for picking theirs. And it ends up at the top of Paul’s list to deal with because it was at the core of what would destroy the church’s witness.

And something I read in 1Corinthians 4 this morning sheds light on at the heart of division’s destructive dynamic.

After reiterating the preeminence of the cross preached and not the preachers preaching it; after rebuking the people for their infantile, spiritually immature posture towards proclaimers of the gospel; and after reinforcing that preaching the gospel, as shown by Paul and the other apostles, was about stewardship and not showmanship, Paul exposes the underlying motive of making much of others.

I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers [and sisters], that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another.

(1Corinthians 4:6 ESV)

That none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another . . . that’s what I’m chewing this morning.

Here’s Wuest’s literal translation:

. . . to the end that you do not bear yourselves loftily, one on behalf of one individual as against another of a different character.

And here’s how Philips captures it, I think, most clearly:

. . . avoid the pride which comes from making one teacher more important than another.

Avoid the pride . . .

Paul knew that boasting in their favorite superstar was a prideful play to supercharge their own standing. That to be a follower of [pick your favorite preacher, teacher, or theologian] over [pick another exalted preacher, teacher, or theologian] was intended to say more about them as the follower than they as the celebrities.

That when saying, “I am of Apollos” or “I am of Paul” or “I am of Cephas” or “I am of Christ” (as more literally translated), the emphasis was not really on Apollos, Paul, or Cephas, or even Jesus, but on “I am.” On me. On the depth of my spirituality shown by the proclaiming of my allegiance. The intent behind separating celebrities one from another was really to separate their followers from the pack. Thus, causing division. Thus, “cutting into pieces” the body of Christ. Thus, being worthy of Paul’s priority attention and long-form rebuke.

Oh, the sin of pride. Manifest even as we pick a tribe led by our favorite gospel-proclaimer, as too often — if we’re honest with ourselves — we really just want to promote ourselves. And promoting ourselves only leads to division in the church. And division in the church hamstrings one of the greatest “proofs” for the gospel.

“By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” ~ Jesus

(John 13:35 ESV)

Avoid the pride.

Okay, Paul. Four chapters. I think I get it. Oh, that I would get it.

By God’s grace.

For God’s glory.