1 Corinthians 1:13

Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized into the name of Paul?

'Is Christ divided?' -'Is there more than one Christ?' (Phi) 'Divided: so portioned up that one party may claim Him more than another.' (Vincent p. 190) 'Christ' here may also stand for the body of Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:12) Such groups are dividing the church. This may be. response to the last group mentioned, 'Absurd! Can Christ be made. party in the same breath as the others? or Do you mean to say that Christ has been apportioned out so that only one group has him?' (Fee p. 60)

'was Paul crucified for you?' -Tactfully Paul chooses to use his own name, and yet the same line of reasoning would apply to any name-Apollos, Peter, Luther, etc..

'Call yourself. Paulite? Why, that would require that Paul was crucified for you! That would require that you were immersed into the name of Paul. Would anyone have been fool enough to believe or practice that?' [Note:. McGuiggan p. 30]

'If Christians remember who died for them, and to whom they belong, they will be slow to say that they belong to Paul...' (Erdman p. 30)

Points to Note:

1. Paul gives us. good test. Your religious? What do you call yourself? Did it die for you?

2. Now, if God condemned the religious sects based on the names of Apostles (inspired men), how much more is He against all other names? Was. 'Method' crucified for you? Was 'Luther'? Was the 'Presyberty'? Was 'Baptism'? Was the 'Seventh Day'? Was 'Moroni'?

Martin Luther said, 'In the first place,. pray you to leave my name alone, and not to call yourselves Lutherans but Christians. Who is Luther? My doctrine is not mine!. have not been crucified for any one. St. Paul..would not that any one should call themselves of Paul, nor of Peter, but of Christ. How then does it befit me,. miserable bag of dust and ashes, to give my name to the children of Christ. Cease, my dear friends, to cling to the party names and distinctions; away with them all; and let us call ourselves only Christians, after him from whom our doctrine comes.' [Note:. M. Michelet, The Life of Martin Luther. p. 262]