Whose Team Are You On? (Hint: It’s Not Paul’s)
In 1 Corinthians 1–4, Paul spends a great deal of time addressing a very human issue: division within a community. The Corinthians were forming groups based on their loyalty to different leaders—some followed Paul, others Apollos, and some Peter. Paul’s response is direct: “Has Christ been divided into factions? Was I, Paul, crucified for you?” (1 Corinthians 1:13, NLT). His words push the reader to question why we’re so quick to align ourselves with personalities rather than principles.
When Leaders Become Labels
This tendency to divide over leaders feels familiar. Whether in politics, work environments, or even social circles, it’s easy to rally behind a person rather than an idea. Leadership naturally creates admiration, but Paul warns that elevating individuals risks distorting the bigger picture. In this case, he emphasizes that the message of Christ—not the messenger—is what matters.
Paul also draws a fascinating contrast between human wisdom and God’s wisdom. “The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18, NLT). The Corinthians, like many of us, seemed caught up in displays of status, intelligence, and eloquence. Paul’s reminder is that truth isn’t always dressed in sophistication. Sometimes what’s profound looks unimpressive on the surface.
Paul: The Anti-Influencer
Another striking point is how Paul describes leaders like himself and Apollos: “We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us” (1 Corinthians 3:5, NLT). This is a sharp contrast to the celebrity culture we often see today, even in spiritual spaces. Paul seems uninterested in building a brand around himself, focusing instead on collaboration and service.
What makes this section particularly thought-provoking is Paul’s warning against arrogance: “So don’t boast about following a particular human leader. For everything belongs to you” (1 Corinthians 3:21, NLT). The Corinthians were narrowing their view of faith by latching onto one teacher. Paul expands their vision, suggesting that wisdom, leaders, and even the future all belong to them through Christ. It’s a perspective that challenges scarcity thinking and encourages humility.
Followers or Fan Clubs?
Reading these chapters raises a lot of questions about how we approach leadership today. Do we sometimes give too much power to charismatic figures, expecting them to embody values for us rather than cultivating them ourselves? How do we appreciate and learn from leaders without putting them on pedestals? Paul’s words invite us to consider the possibility that division often comes from misplaced focus, not just disagreement.
1 Corinthians 1–4 doesn’t read like a simple reprimand; it feels like a challenge to rethink how we view influence and community. Paul reminds the Corinthians—and us—that leaders are only part of the story, not the center of it. The core message transcends personalities, inviting readers to examine whether loyalty to a leader has overshadowed loyalty to deeper values.