Factions
The definition of faction is as follows:
A small organized dissenting group within a larger one, especially in politics:
"the left-wing faction of the party"
Synonyms:
clique · coterie · caucus · cabal · bloc · camp · group · grouping · side · sector · section · wing · arm · branch · division · contingent · set · ring · lobby · pressure group · splinter group · ginger group · fringe movement · minority group
a state of conflict within an organization; dissension:
In 1 Corinthians 1:10-14, it reads, "I appeal to you, brothers, by the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions (factions) among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment, for it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. What I mean is that each one of you says, "I follow Paul," or "I follow Apollos," or "I follow Cephas," or "I follow Christ." Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the Name of Paul?
There were divisions in the church. The word division in Greek means "to rent or tear off," in other words, to rip apart. Ripping apart something is severe when you realize that renting and tearing it apart can have dire consequences or the exact opposite effect.
For example, a beautiful handmade quilt sewn together by its maker may have numerous blocks of different colors and patterns, but the quilt is one creation serving a specific purpose. The blocks are strong together. Rip the quilt apart, and it no longer serves its original purpose. By hand, it's difficult to rip a quilt, and when torn apart, it is no longer useful.
The other type of ripping apart is necessary, although painful. The veil in the temple was ripped apart when Jesus died on the cross. Renting our garments symbolizes ripping out our sins and repenting before God. But in the scriptures above, the division, factions, and tearing apart are not good.
What were the divisions or factions about, and how did they come into being in the church at Corinth? Four factions were mentioned: the Paul, Apollos, Cephas, and Christ camps. According to H. Bremne, on the Bible Hub Website, the factions were as follows:
1. The Paul party would consist mostly of those who were the first fruits of the apostle's labors at Corinth, and who asserted his full apostolic authority. Not content with this, they had ranged themselves under his Name in opposition to others. They seem to have boasted of their liberty in respect of some things which gave offence to more scrupulous consciences, such as eating things sacrificed to idols, and to have treated uncharitably the more contracted views of the Jewish Christians.
2. The Apollos party is named after Apollos, who came to Corinth shortly after Paul's departure. He was "a Jew, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the Scriptures" (Acts 18:24); from his education in his native city, he was probably well acquainted with Greek philosophy and literature. Hence his teaching style was more learned and rhetorical than Paul's, and it attracted the more cultured among the Corinthians, who began to contrast it with the simple, unadorned style of the apostle. Agreeing in doctrine and spirit, the two teachers differed only in gifts and manner of teaching; but this did not prevent the would be philosophers and rhetoricians of Corinth from using the eloquent Alexandrian's Name as a party watchword.
3. The Cephas party was mainly composed of Jewish converts, unlike the two previous parties, which were made up of Gentiles. In it we recognize the representatives of that Judaizing tendency which Paul had so frequently to combat. Bringing with them their notions of Jewish prerogative, they sought to impose the Law of Moses even on Gentile converts and to bind the yoke of legalism about the neck of Christianity. It was natural for this party to call themselves after the apostle of circumcision and to contrast his eminence among the twelve with the position of Paul; while they sought to make compulsory the stricter practice of their favorite apostle in opposition to the greater freedom allowed by the apostle of the Gentiles.
4. The precise character of the Christ party is more difficult to determine. The most likely view is that they rejected all human authority, refusing to acknowledge Paul, Apollos, Cephas, or any other eminent teacher and calling themselves simply by the Name of Christ. They did this, however, in such a way as to degrade that Name to the shibboleth of a sect and were thus as guilty as the others whom the apostle here condemns. Among the parties of our day, there are not wanting those who disparage an accredited ministry and call themselves simply "Christians." [1]
The factions separated over freedom in Christ, culture and philosophical views, traditional views and doctrine, and authority issues. Many of these conflicts exist in the Christian community today. Why do factions remain? You can read about that in part two next week. Until then, share this article and invite others to subscribe to this substack.
[1] https://biblehub.com/sermons/auth/bremne/the_factions_at_corinth.htm