The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Corinthians — Section 27

personal qualities or position. A polios was eloquent and captivating; Paul spiritual ancl ~imple; Cephas had peculiar charm through his long association with Christ, ancl represented the Jewish element to the minds of the Corinthians. Instead of enjoying all the teachers in common, folly suggested division and monopoly, and thus loss all round. (2) In respect of real or supposed doctrinal tendencies. Some at Corinth, having a love for "wisdom of words'' and the philosophies of men, would with their old and only half-discarded beliefs pleading powerfolly, incline towards the brilliant scholar .0 f Alexandria, who might seem to favour a more rationalistic system than that of Paul. Others, with Jewish prejudices still strong, might shelter themselves under the .name of Cephas, as they attempted to combine Christianity and Judaism by a large .sacrifice of the former. Then, as now, men asked themselves what doctrines they liked, .and held to these. Instead of seeking "the mind of the Lord," we are very prone to seek -0ur own minds; and then, what wonder if there be "divisions among us" ? If truth were aought instead of manufactured, how much more unity of doctrine and practice there would be in the Church of Christ I (3) Through the carnal disposition to exalt the servant unduly, losing sight of the Master. It is easier to follow men than to follow Christ. There is a good deal of the heathen in us: we love to have a god whom we -can see. We are much like the Israelites when Moses went up into the mount; and it is not, therefore, very surprising if we soon discover that our new teacher and guide is a _gorgeous and resplendent calf. Only Christ is fit to be supreme in our life. Directly we put men in his place, we begin to follow that which is imperfect, and we draw its imperfection upon and into ourselves. 2. Sometimes, as with one section at Corinth, from repudiation of all eartl.ly leaders. "We are not of Paul, or of A polios, or of Cephas ; we are of Christ." 'fhis position has been assumed in later times. It possesses not .a little plausibility, but investigation discloses its true character. One has well said of the Corinthian section, "It was in no Christian spirit that they set up their claim to be -0f Christ." That love to Christ is more than suspicious which ignores his accredited 1,ervants. It is no great compliment to a king to reject his ambassador. The apostle -could say," We are ambassadors for Christ." Christ has a ministry which is not to be ignored. As Christ's servants are never to be put in Christ's place, so the place of Christ's servants is not to le made void. Not improbably these who claimed to be" of -Christ" claimed to be the only Christians in Corinth. It is possible to cry, "Loni, Lord!" very loudly, and to have none of the Spirit of Christ. That man could know uothing truly of Christ who failed to recognize in the Apostle Paul a true servant of the ,:?;reat Master. III. How TO BE DEALT WITH. 1. In a spirit of meekness. "I beseech you "-not "I command you." ·Assumption and arrogance widen the breach. 2. In love. " Brethren " -not reprobates, outcnsts, heretics. Hard words make hard hearts. 3. With dis- cretion. Paul shows discretion in not mentioning Cephas or A polios after ver. 12. He -does not object more to the parties under their names than to the one uniler his own. It is most sug,qestive that he appears to castigate his own party chi,fly. lie objected to all parties. For hir;nself, he wanted only bis legitimate position. To rebuke our owu followers for following us unduly and factiously is indeed a sign or grace in the heart, and of heavenly wisdom too. 4. With candour. "Concealment and mystery sow distrust and destroy love." 6. By turning thoughts towards Christ. A hidden Christ makes a divided Church. If we saw the Master more clearly, we should see the right place of the servants better. Paul beseeches, not for his own sake, but for Christ's sake. He did not fear that this would encourage those who said," We are of Christ." He showed them the real Christ. This was the best medicine for their spiritual ailment. 'They had been ma.king a Christ to go before them. Many false Christs are wor- shipped and served. 6. By argument. 'l'he reasonableness of unity. Paul urges that ·Christ is not and cannot be divided, and that if the Corinthians are Christ's, they should not be divided either. As there is only one Head of the Cliurch, there should be only one body. By divisions Christ will seem to be rent asunder. Teachers are not centres ()f unity; for perfect unity there can be but one centre-that is, Christ. 7. By taking a blameless course one's self. Paul will do nothing to foster di vision. In his condem- nation, as we have seen, he sacrifices his own party first, and rillicules the idea e,f the 1mdne exaltation of himself: " Was Paul crucified for you?" Many try to heal Church -divisions by abasing their opponents and exalting themselves. Paul is singularly clear 2G THE FmST EPISTLE 'l\) THE CORINTHIANS. [en. 1. 1-:Jl.