1 Corinthians 1:10

Now. beseech you, brethren, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

'beseech' -'exhort' (NASV). 'does not mean "I beg", but rather "I call upon you,. summon you,. admonish you." This word is tactful and brotherly, and yet Paul is not forgetting that he writes as an apostle of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:1). The authority he would exercise is the same whether it speaks softly or finds itself compelled to speak sternly.' (Lenski p. 38)

'brethren' -'The apostle does not forget that, though guilty of promoting separations, all of the body are brethren. In using this word, Paul is appealing to their better senses; the Corinthians recognize that they are all born again of the same Father. Why, then, should they be divided?' [Note:. Willis pp. 25-26]

'through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ' -'the name of Christ indicates all that Christ is known to be, as Saviour and Master and Lord.' (Erdman p. 28) 'By all that the Lord Jesus means to you.' (Phi) 'A voice of authority, enforced by threatened judgement (1 Corinthians 4:21)..thus emphasizing its virtue before he uses it as the symbol of supreme authority: as Chrysostom says, "he nails them to this name."' (McGarvey p. 52)

'This name, this solitary name would stand in contrast to all the party names. This is the only name under heaven and among men that carries redemption in it (Acts 4:10).' [Note:. McGuiggan p. 28]

Christ was certainly against such divisions. (John 17:20)

'that ye all speak the same thing' -'to agree in what you profess' (TCNT) In contrast to what they were saying in 1 Corinthians 1:12. 'To present. united front' (Barclay p. 15)

'divisions' -4978. schisma skhis'-mah; from 4977;. split or gap ("schism"), literally or figuratively: -division, rent, schism. 'Split up into parties' (Phi)

'The word he uses to describe them..is the word for rents in. garment. The Corinthian Church is in danger of becoming as unsightly as. torn garment.' (Barclay pp. 15-16)

'perfected' -2675. katartizo kat-ar-tid'-zo; from 2596 and. derivative of 739; to complete thoroughly, i.e. repair (literally or figuratively) or adjust: -fit, frame, mend, (make) perfect(-ly join together), prepare, restore.

A word used for the mending of torn fishing nets (Matthew 4:21; Mark 1:19). 'But that you be well and surely adjusted.' (Gr. Ex. N.T. p. 763)

'Twentieth century Christians have been exposed to. divided Christianity so long that they not only accept it but also praise it. Some see virtues arising out of denominationalism (e.g., competition in evangelizing,. religious group fitted to every man, etc.). God does not appreciate rifts in Christianity anymore today than He did in 58 A.D. The church must never forget that preserving and restoring the unity of the body of Christ is still. part of its divine mission.' [Note:. Willis pp. 27-28]

'mind' -'unity of right understanding' (Lenski p. 40). 'Disposition..or way of thinking' (Fee p. 53)

'Judgement' -that which is the outcome of "mind" (frame of mind, state of mind), judgement, opinion, sentiment. (Robertson pp. 72-73) 'Being in the same realm of thought, they would judge questions from the same Christian stand-point, and formulate their judgement accordingly.' [Note:. Vincent p. 188]

Point to Note:

When one reads these verses, the question always arises to what extent must Christians agree? Romans Chapter 14 certainly reveals an area of opinion,. realm of morally neutral issues in which allows Christians to have differing practices and responses to the same subject. In his commentary, McGuiggan agrues that this verse applies to "fundamental truths", he then says, 'And what are fundamental truths? They are those the Bible links explicity or clearly implicitly with such categories as remission of sins, salvation, union with Christ, eternal life, forgiveness, justification, redemption, propitiation, washing away of sins, reconciliation, and the like..' (pp. 29-30)

The Apostle John declared that we cannot have fellowship or unity with any teaching that is in conflict with what Christ taught (2 John 1:9). Paul agreed (Galatians 1:6) These verses suggest that the "basis" of unity is the word of God. Hence involved in this "same mind", is to accept the word of God as the final authority in settling religious questions. (1 Corinthians 14:37)