Quote:
Originally Posted by UntoHim
No serious student of the NT would ever deny that there was one church per one city back 2,000 years ago. They also didn't have running water or electricity or fancy sound systems or flat screen TVs to display verses and the words to the songs and hymns.
Let's discus these notions in the here and now.
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Serious students of the NT weigh in:
I Corinthians 1:10: “Now I beseech 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.”
Ellicot —
Now I beseech you, brethren.—With these words the Apostle introduces the topic which is indeed one of the chief reasons of his writing this Epistle (see Introduction), viz., the PARTY-SPIRIT existing in the Corinthian Church.
Matthew Henry —
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.
Matthew Henry is very much aligned to Witness Lee’s “Satan’s strategy against the church”. He sees that “Satan has always endeavored to stir up strife among Christians” — so the strife we see today is not unique or new. He saw that the church in Corinth had broken up into parties.
Barnes —
The first of which he had incidentally learned, was that which pertained to the divisions and strifes which had arisen in the church.
Gill —
The apostle having observed the many favours and blessings bestowed on this church, proceeds to take notice of the divisions and contentions which were fomented in it;