Why did the Corinthian believers have an affinity for Peter?
The Corinthian believers likely had an affinity for Peter because they were Jews steeped in their heritage and the kingdom economy. Peter epitomized the Jew who had lived under that economy, so they were comfortable with him and adhered to him, causing a division in the church.
Les teaches that these Corinthian believers, who he feels must have been Jews and even elect, were more prone to adhere to Peter. Although Peter may have stopped by Corinth on his way to Rome, Peter never had a ministry among the Gentiles according to Scripture. Their affinity for Peter arose because Peter was the epitome of the Jew who had been under the kingdom economy. They were comfortable with Peter, and the Jewish people had hang-ups about him they could not get over. This created division in the church: some adhered to Peter, some to Apollos, some to Paul, and some claimed to follow Christ alone. Les notes the same argument exists today when people refuse Paul’s epistles and say they follow only what Jesus said, even though Jesus spoke to the Jew under the law.