Hi.<\/p>\n
I’m seeking clarification on why, in I Corinthians 1:10, Paul condemns division and pleads them to “speak the same thing” and be of the “same mind and the same judgment.” But ten chapters later, in I Corinthians 11:18-19, Paul seems to say that divisions are a “must” since they show who is approved among them.<\/p>\n\t
“Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment<\/em>” (I Corinthians 1:10).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
I Corinthians 1:10 is talking about what should<\/strong> take place. The core of the problems in Corinth was the teaching of different doctrines. This cannot exist when Christ is the head of the church (Galatians 1:6-10). They were not to divide into different parties and schisms because of teaching variations. Paul’s point is that there should be no divisions among the brethren. This point is repeated in I Corinthians 11:18-19\u00a0and\u00a012:25.<\/p>\n
“For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you<\/em>” (I Corinthians 11:18-19).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
I Corinthians 11:18-19 is an acknowledgment of reality. Paul would like to think that what he heard could not be accurate, but he remembers the people well enough that he isn’t completely surprised by what he has heard. Sadly, factions will always exist among the Lord’s people. Not because it is desired or wanted but because there will always be some unwillingness to follow the Lord’s commands. Division should not exist among God’s people (I Corinthians 1:11-16;\u00a0Romans 16:17). But at the same time, Christians will always be dealing with false teachers and the divisiveness of their doctrine (I John 4:1;\u00a0II Peter 2:1-2). Factions will occur when someone attempts to bring in false doctrine. The division demonstrates that some are willing to oppose it. Such divisions demonstrate and separate the faithful Christian from the false.<\/p>\n
“That there should<\/strong> be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another<\/em>” (I Corinthians 12:25).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Question: Hi. I’m seeking clarification on why, in I Corinthians 1:10, Paul condemns division and pleads them to “speak the same thing” and be of the “same mind and the same judgment.” But ten chapters later, in I Corinthians 11:18-19, Paul seems to say that divisions are a “must” since they show who is approved…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[20],"tags":[301],"class_list":["post-70896","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-division"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":36228,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/im-all-alone-because-i-cant-find-anyone-with-the-same-beliefs-as-mine\/","url_meta":{"origin":70896,"position":0},"title":"I’m all alone because I can’t find anyone with the same beliefs as mine","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 23, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I have been searching for a group with this concept for years. I hope this is really it. I strongly believe in I Corinthians 1:10. It seems like I am all alone because I cannot find anyone with the same beliefs as mine. Answer: If you make your personal\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1234,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/why-are-there-different-denominations\/","url_meta":{"origin":70896,"position":1},"title":"Why are there different denominations?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 2, 2004","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Why are there different denominations between Christians? Answer: A denomination is a division and, yes, among those calling themselves \"Christian\" there are a great many divisions. Even among a particular denomination, there are divisions as evidenced by the Episcopals' arguments over their homosexual bishop, the United Methodists' arguments on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":30794,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/why-are-there-denominations\/","url_meta":{"origin":70896,"position":2},"title":"Why Are There Denominations?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 16, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Corinthians 1:10-15 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0I was asked by a gentleman in Nigeria why there were so many denominations \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A denomination simply means a division. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Among those who call themselves Christians, there are a great number of divisions \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Even within various divisions, there are divisions \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":42577,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/isnt-it-divisive-to-claim-all-denominations-are-wrong\/","url_meta":{"origin":70896,"position":3},"title":"Isn’t it divisive to claim all denominations are wrong?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 17, 2001","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I just read the article about why you left the Nazarene denomination. On the latter point of baptism, I will not comment now, but I think your first listed reason is a rational mistake. You said, \"yet the Nazarene Church exists, as does any denomination, because man disregards the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":95508,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-same-mind\/","url_meta":{"origin":70896,"position":4},"title":"The Same Mind","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 9, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"by Terry Wane Benton There is a command in I Corinthians 1:10 that deserves our attention. How do you get a group of people who are divided in their affections and interests and preferences to be of the \"same mind and the same judgment\"? And, by extension, how would we\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":10289,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/are-you-a-jehovahs-witnesses-church\/","url_meta":{"origin":70896,"position":5},"title":"Are you a Jehovah’s Witnesses church?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 8, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Would you consider your church to be a Jehovah's Witnesses church? I really enjoy reading the question and answer section of your website. It is very enlightening. Keep up the great work. P.S. I mean no disrespect. I'm just curious. God bless you brother. Answer: The Jehovah's Witnesses are\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70896","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=70896"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70896\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=70896"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=70896"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=70896"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}