The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1928-09-13
Concerning Contention in the

Church Q:10-13).
1. Elaboration ". 10Y. "That ye
all speak the same thing"
In view of the fact that he besought
them in the name of Jesus Christ, the
one thing which he desired them to
speak was the Lords name. The name
of the Lord stands for all that the
Lord is and does THAT there be no
divisions among you," that u.s.. no fac
lions, no alienation of affection. "That
We be perfectly Joined together in
the same mind and in the same judg-
ment."
2. The reason for this exhortation.
". 1D.
Word had been brought to Paul by
members of the household of Chloe
that wrangling was going on among
the members of the COrinthian church.
He assured them that he had suffi-
cient evidence of the strife which was
going on among them.
3. Nature of the contentious ". 12).
Their disputes were about their
teachers. Their interests were CEN
itering in their favorite ministers.
Some were for Paul, perhaps attract
ed by his logic; some were for Apol-
los, doubtless moved by his stirring
eloquence; others were for Peter.
Doubtless these were Jewish converts
who looked to Peter as their author
al WI ho
as their cry back to Christ" repudi-
ating all human teachers.
A. The grounds of allegiance to
Christ ". 49,.
~ He is Head of the whole church.
The unifying power of the body is
the head. He raised the question, SIS
Christ divided?" The mere raising Of
the question gave the answer.
(2) Redemption accomplished.
By his atoning death He has su-
preme Lordship over all.
(3) Allegiance to Christ acknowl-
edged in baptism. By one Spirit are
we all baptized into one body q Cor.
1913.
II. Concerning Christian Ministers
(3:1-4 ~.
Since the dissensions in the church
gathered around the ministers, Paul
proceeded to cure the evil by exhibit
ing the ministerial office in its true
light. To conceive of ministers as
party leaders or teachers of philOso-
ply tends to divisions. Divisions in
the church occur when men are Oc-
cupied with the messenger rather than
with the message. The cure in such a
case is to get a right conception and
proper estimate of human teachers.
Ministers really are:
1. Servants OF God wv. 5, 6.
They are instruments in His hands
for the execution of His will. They
are men sent to deliver a message,
to do a definite work.
2. Ministers are equal in rank wv.
8, 81.
They are called by the same spirit
to teach the same truth, and there
fore stand in the same relationship.
Official hierarchy in the church has
no foundation in the Scriptures.
3. Every minister must give an ac-
count to God for h. work wv. 10-2I.
If he lay other foundation than
Christ he is not Christian minister
lat all. If he build sound doctrine on
the foundation he will receive a re-
ward. If he build false doctrine on a
true foundation he will suffer loss and
receive punishment. Sorrow and an
iguish will be to him who builds good
material upon wrong foundation,
and likewise to him who builds poor
material upon right foundation.
Truman wisdom has no place in the
solemn work of building the church
oof God.
A. Ministers are the property of the
church wv. %, 23).
Frequently the assumption is that
the church Is owned by the ministers.
Ministers should be followed only as
far as they follow Christ.
s. Ministers are Gods stewards
f4:1-5).
Their business is to dispense His
truth. They do not originate the mes
sage. God demands fidelity on their
part and He will enter into judgment
with them as to their faithfulness.