Ministry of Grace Church

Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Truth to Learn

Christians must work hard at being united in doctrine.

Behind the Words

“I plead” is translated from parakaleō, which is made up of para, meaning “to the side of” or “near” and kaleō, meaning “to call.” Thus, parakaleō literally means “to call near.” In common usage it means “to comfort, to encourage, or to challenge.”

The Greek word translated “you … speak” is legō, which means “to relate in words” or “to speak.” It is expressed here in the subjunctive mood indicating possibility or probability. So, it could be translated as “you … should speak.”

“Divisions” is from the Greek noun schisma, meaning “a split or a division.”

The words “you be” are from the verb of being, eimi. It, too, is expressed in the subjunctive mood indicating possibility or probability. So, we could translate it as “you should be.”

Katartidzō is the Greek word translated “perfectly joined together.” It is composed of kata, meaning “with” and artidzō, meaning “to adjust, to fit, or to finish.” Thus, katartidzō has the idea of being fit together, being united.

Meaning Explained

Paul now begins addressing some of the issues that existed in the church in Corinth. Specifically, he will now address the divisions that had developed between people who claimed to follow different leaders. As we will see in verse twelve, there were some who said they were followers of Paul, while others said they were followers of Apollos or of Peter (Cephas), and even others claimed they were followers of Christ.

As Paul progresses through the early part of this letter, he will get very direct and stern with the Christians at Corinth. However, he starts off with more gentle words. He says, “I encourage you … to speak the same things” with regard to their divisions. It is imperative for any church body that they have unity in the doctrines that they teach. If one person teaches some doctrinal belief and someone else teaches something different with regard to that doctrine, the followers will be confused, at the very least. In the extreme, it will cause divisions within the church just as were evident in Corinth.

Paul also encourages them to be united (perfectly joined together) and to have the same mind (the same beliefs) throughout the body. People who are not united in their beliefs will not be able to progress onto learning other doctrinal truths because their differences will cause arguments between them. That’s not to say that we should always blindly accept whatever is taught, for discussion is an important part of the learning process.

Application

Divisions within a church is a sure way to destroy the witness of the church to those outside. We are to be united and marching forward with a clear message to the lost.