📖WEB · 1 Corinthians 1:10
What does 1 Corinthians 1:10 mean?
"Now I beg you, brothers, through 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 perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment."
— 1 Corinthians 1:10 (World English Bible)
Surrounding context
so that you come behind in no gift; waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ;
who will also confirm you until the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God is faithful, through whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Now I beg you, brothers, through 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 perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
For it has been reported to me concerning you, my brothers, by those who are from Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you.
Now I mean this, that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” “I follow Apollos,” “I follow Cephas,” and, “I follow Christ.”
Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized into the name of Paul?
Explanation
In this verse, Paul is making a heartfelt appeal to the Christians in Corinth. He urges them, in the name of Jesus Christ, to speak with one voice, to avoid splitting into factions, and to be united in mind and purpose. The word "beg" or "appeal" (parakaleo in Greek) signals that this is not a cold command but an earnest, almost pleading request from a spiritual father to his congregation. He invokes "the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" to remind them that their unity is not merely a matter of social harmony but a matter tied directly to their shared allegiance to Christ himself.
The context is essential to understanding the verse's force. Paul wrote this letter to the church in Corinth, a congregation he had founded, which was struggling with serious internal division. As the following verses make clear (1 Corinthians 1:11-12), reports had reached Paul, through "Chloe's household," that the Corinthians were quarreling and aligning themselves into competing camps — some claiming loyalty to Paul, others to Apollos, others to Cephas (Peter), and still others claiming to follow Christ alone as if that set them apart from the rest. This factionalism likely stemmed from the Corinthians' cultural context, where allegiance to particular teachers or philosophers was common, and from spiritual pride that valued eloquence, status, and personal preference over gospel unity.
Theologically, this verse establishes that unity among believers is not optional or merely practical — it is grounded in the identity of Christ himself. Paul later argues
Compare translations
Go deeper with ScriptureCompanion AI
Ask questions about any verse, follow reading plans, write personal prayers, and track your daily habit — all grounded in verified scripture text.