What divided the congregation in Corinth according to 1 Corinthians?
The Corinthian congregation was divided by party loyalties to different leaders. Some separated themselves, insisting they listened only to Peter; others claimed they listened to Apollos. Those competing allegiances fractured the little congregation, though the letter also addresses moral and relational problems within the church family.
Les explains that some in this little congregation had separated themselves, saying they only listened to Peter, while others said they listened to Apollos. Those were things that divided the congregation, but they were not the only problem. The church also had a moral problem, problems of morality, and problems of relationship within the church family. The whole letter of Corinthians deals with a series of problems that had come to the apostle in the form of a letter asking how to handle them. In this same section, Paul is defending his apostleship because some were saying he was a fake or imposter, while Peter had authority since he walked with Jesus for three years. Les stresses that Paul had to constantly defend his apostleship, and he says Paul is judged by no man except Jesus Christ, who sent him out as the apostle of the Gentiles.