Yes — Les Feldick teaches that the Jewish believers in Corinth were drawn to Peter because of his deep connection to Judaism, while Paul's grace message was hard for them to accept.
Les observes that believing Jews were present in all the early congregations and naturally felt an affinity for Peter, who had been steeped in Judaism and was connected to Jerusalem and temple worship. Paul, on the other hand, taught that the law and temple worship had been set aside, which was unthinkable to people whose identity was rooted in their Jewish heritage. This attachment to Peter, Les says, caused a stark division in Corinth.
1 Corinthians 1:12 — This verse names Peter (Cephas) among the leaders believers in Corinth were claiming, making it the foundational text for the question.
1 Corinthians 3:4 — Paul's follow-up question shows that such party slogans were a sign of carnality, which is why the division over Peter was a problem in the church.
In 1 Corinthians 1:12, Paul quotes the party slogans at Corinth: "Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ." He then asks in 1 Corinthians 3:4 whether saying "I am of Paul" and "I am of Apollos" proves they are carnal. The Bible does not explicitly say that the "Cephas" group in Corinth was made up of Jewish believers; that identification is Les Feldick's teaching. Scripture does, however, show Peter's ongoing struggle with Jewish custom. In Galatians 2:12, Peter withdrew from eating with Gentile believers when certain Jews came from James, "fearing them which were of the circumcision." Acts 15:5 records that certain believing Pharisees said "it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses."
Les Feldick teaches that the Corinthian believers who said "I am of Cephas" were almost certainly the Jewish element in the congregation. He notes that there were believing Jews in all the early churches, and because Peter had been steeped in Judaism and was connected to Jerusalem, temple worship, and their heritage, those Jewish believers naturally had an affinity for him. Paul, by contrast, taught that the cross had set aside the kingdom economy, the law, and temple worship. Les explains that God had spent nearly two thousand years showing Israel they were His separated people, so turning from the law seemed unthinkable to them. Even Peter himself struggled to realize he was no longer under the law, as shown by his withdrawal from Gentile believers at Antioch. Les says this attachment to Peter caused what he calls a stark division in the Corinthian assembly, similar to people today who refuse to follow Paul's doctrine.
Les Feldick observes that believing Jews were present in all the early congregations. Since Peter had been steeped in Judaism and was located at Jerusalem, he was the one they had an affinity for — he was connected to their background. The Jewish believers in Corinth clung to him because he represented the Judaism of Jerusalem, temple worship, and everything they had grown up with.
Paul taught that believers were no longer under the kingdom economy, the law, or temple worship because Christ had died, been buried, and risen from the dead. Les says Jews had been told for almost two thousand years that they were God's separated people, so it was hard for them to get that out of their system. When Paul went to the Gentiles, the Jerusalem believers were upset that these converts were not keeping the Law of Moses. Some believing Pharisees even insisted that Gentile believers be circumcised and keep the law, but Paul refused to make circumcision part of his message.
Peter himself had difficulty leaving the law. Les recounts that when Peter was visiting the Gentile church at Antioch, he ate with Gentile believers until certain Jews came from Jerusalem, and then he withdrew for fear of the circumcision. Paul withstood him to the face. Peter still could not recognize that he was free to eat and converse with Gentiles. Since Peter personified the Jewish believer who was still tied to his heritage, the Jewish believers at Corinth naturally felt more comfortable following him.
Paul's Message to Corinth
Les explains that Paul had taught the Corinthians the cross set aside the kingdom economy, the law, and temple worship — the very things Jewish believers found hard to release.
Jewish Believers' Affinity for Peter
Les identifies the 'Cephas' group in Corinth as the Jewish element and says they had an affinity for Peter because he was steeped in Judaism and connected to their background.
A Stark Division Over Peter
Les says Jewish believers stuck with Peter because he was connected to Jerusalem and temple worship, and this caused a stark division in Corinth.
Paul's Liberty Challenged
Les shows that Paul's gospel was about freedom from the law, which false brethren came in to spy out — revealing how controversial Paul's grace message was to Jewish people.
Israel's Long Separation
Les says God had spent nearly two thousand years proving to Israel that they were His separated people, which made it hard for Jews — including Peter — to accept Paul's Gentile ministry.
Jerusalem Believers Demand Circumcision
Les describes how Jewish believers insisted Gentile converts be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses, while Paul refused; Peter eventually came to Paul's defense after remembering Cornelius.
Peter's Withdrawal at Antioch
Les shows that Peter withdrew from eating with Gentile believers when Jews came from Jerusalem because he could not yet recognize he was no longer under the law.
Jerusalem Church Still Under Law
Les notes the Jerusalem church was still based on law and circumcision, while the Gentile message was based on grace, forcing a reconciliation that Jewish believers found difficult.
1 Corinthians 1:12: Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
It names Peter (Cephas) as one of the leaders believers in Corinth claimed, showing the division Paul addressed.
1 Corinthians 3:4: For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
Paul asks whether such party slogans prove they are carnal, reinforcing that the divisions were a spiritual problem.
Galatians 2:12: For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
It shows Peter withdrawing from Gentile believers out of fear of the circumcision, illustrating his continued struggle to leave the law.
Acts 15:5: But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
It records believing Pharisees insisting Gentile converts be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses — the attitude Les says lay behind the Jewish attachment to Peter.
Scripture records that believers in Corinth said "I am of Cephas" (1 Corinthians 1:12). Les Feldick believes this group was the Jewish element of the congregation — believing Jews who had an affinity for Peter because of his connection to Judaism, Jerusalem, and temple worship.
No. Les does not say Peter was false; he explains that Peter himself struggled to leave the law, as shown by his withdrawal from Gentile believers at Antioch. The Jewish believers in Corinth were not following heresy but were clinging to the apostle who seemed more connected to their Jewish background.
In 1 Corinthians 3:4 Paul asks, "are ye not carnal?" because they were saying "I am of Paul" and "I am of Apollos." Les adds that the division over Peter was stark enough that Paul treated it as a real problem.
Watch the Teaching: Why Carnal Believers Are Still Blameless — 1 Corinthians 1:8-9