Why did some Corinthians say 'I am of Paul'?
Some Corinthians claimed 'I am of Paul' because Paul was the one who had entered their idolatrous city and preached the Gospel, establishing a nucleus of believers there. Since he was the instrument God used to bring them to faith, they naturally clung to him, which contributed to the division Paul later addressed.
Les explains that the Corinthians were carnal, still spiritual babes, and not growing. Their major problem was division. In the chapter 3 passage, verse 4, one said, 'I am of Paul.' Les notes this naturally followed because Paul had come into that idolatrous city, preached the Gospel, and left a nucleus of believers. They stuck to Paul because he was the one instrumental. After Paul got many congregations off the ground, God used other men.
For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
More Questions
Was 'I follow Christ' one of the divisions in the Corinthian church?
In the Corinthian situation there was a third faction made up of those who said 'we follow Christ,' alongside the groups that followed Paul and Apollos.