Albert Barnes Commentary 1 Corinthians 1:10

"Now I beseech you, brethren, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing and [that] there be no divisions among you; but [that] ye be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment." — 1 Corinthians 1:10 (ASV)

Now I beseech you, brethren. In this verse, the apostle begins the discussion concerning the irregularities and disorders in the church at Corinth, about which he had incidentally heard (see 1 Corinthians 1:11). The first of these disorders that he had learned concerned the divisions and strifes that had arisen in the church.

The consideration of this subject occupies him until 1 Corinthians 1:17. Since those divisions had been caused by the influence of philosophy, the ambition for distinction, and the display of popular eloquence among the Corinthian teachers, this fact leads him to discuss that subject at length (1 Corinthians 1:17–31; 1 Corinthians 11). In this discussion, he shows that the gospel did not depend for its success on the reasonings of philosophy or the persuasions of eloquence.

He begins this part of the subject with words of entreaty: I beseech you, brethren—the language of affectionate exhortation, rather than stern command. Addressing them as his brothers, as members of the same family with himself, he implores them to take all proper measures to avoid the evils of schism and strife.

By the name. By the authority of his name; or from reverence for him as the common Lord of all.

Of our Lord Jesus Christ. The reasons why Paul appeals in this way to his name and authority here may be the following:

1. Christ should be regarded as the supreme Head and Leader of all the church. It was therefore improper that the church should be divided into portions, and its different parts enlisted under different banners.

2. The whole family in heaven and earth (Ephesians 3:15) should be "named" after him, and not be named after inferior and subordinate teachers. The reference to "the venerable and endearing name of Christ here stands beautifully and properly opposed to the various human names under which they were so ready to enlist themselves." —Doddridge. "There is scarce a word or expression that he [Paul] uses, but with relation and tendency to his present main purpose; as here, intending to abolish the names of leaders they had distinguished themselves by, he beseeches them by the name of Christ, a form that I do not remember he elsewhere uses." —Locke.

3. The prime and leading thing Christ had commanded his church was union and mutual love (John 13:34; John 15:17); and for this he had most earnestly prayed in his memorable prayer (John 17:21–23). It was well for Paul to appeal in this way to the name of Christ—the sole Head and Lord of his church, and the Friend of union—and so to rebuke the divisions and strifes that had arisen at Corinth.

That ye all speak the same thing. "That ye hold the same doctrine." —Locke. This exhortation evidently refers to their holding and expressing the same religious sentiments and is designed to rebuke the kind of contention and strife that is shown when different opinions are held and expressed. To speak the same thing stands opposed to speaking different and conflicting things, or to controversy. Although perfect uniformity of opinion cannot be expected among men on the subject of religion any more than on other subjects, yet on the great and fundamental doctrines of Christianity, Christians may be agreed. On all points in which they differ, they may show a good spirit; and on all subjects, they may express their sentiments in the language of the Bible, and thus speak the same thing.

And that there be no divisions among you. Greek, scismata—schisms. No divisions into contending parties and sects. The church was to be regarded as one and indivisible, not to be torn into different factions and ranged under the banners of different leaders. (1 Corinthians 11:18; 1 Corinthians 12:25).

But that ye be perfectly joined together. hte de kathrtismenoi. The word used here, and rendered perfectly joined together, properly denotes: to restore, mend, or repair that which is torn or disordered (Matthew 4:21; Mark 1:19); to amend or correct that which is morally evil and erroneous (Galatians 6:1); to render perfect or complete (Luke 6:40); to fit or adapt anything to its proper place, so that it shall be complete in all its parts and harmonious (Hebrews 11:5); and from this, to compose and settle controversies, to produce harmony and order.

The apostle here evidently desires that they should be united in feeling, so that every member of the church should occupy his appropriate place, just as every member of a well-proportioned body, or part of a machine, has its appropriate place and use. See his wishes more fully expressed in 1 Corinthians 12:12–31.

In the same mind. (Greek: noi). This cannot mean that they were to be united in precisely the same shades of opinion, which is impossible. Rather, it means that their minds were to be disposed toward each other with mutual goodwill and that they should live in harmony.

The word rendered mind here denotes not merely the intellect itself, but that which is in the mind—the thoughts, counsels, plans (Romans 11:34; Romans 14:5; 1 Corinthians 2:16; Colossians 2:18).

(Bretschneider.)

And in the same judgment. (Greek: gnwmh). This word properly denotes science or knowledge, opinion or sentiment, and sometimes, as here, the purpose of the mind, or will. The meaning of the whole is that in their understandings and their volitions, they should be united and kindly disposed toward each other.

Union of feeling is possible even when people differ much in their views of things. They may love each other much, even when they do not see alike. They may give each other credit for honesty and sincerity and may be willing to suppose that others may be right and are honest, even when their own views differ.

The foundation of Christian union is not laid so much in uniformity of intellectual perception as in right feelings of the heart. And the proper way to produce union in the church of God is not to begin by attempting to equalize all intellects on the bed of Procrustes, but to produce supreme love to God, and elevated and pure Christian love to all who bear the image and the name of the Redeemer.