Charles Ellicott 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.—With these words, the Apostle introduces the topic that is indeed one of the chief reasons for his writing this Epistle (see Introduction), namely, the PARTY-SPIRIT existing in the Corinthian Church. The treatment of this subject is discussed up to 1 Corinthians 4:20. It is important to remember that the factions rebuked by St. Paul were not sects that separated themselves from the Church, but groups within the Church that divided themselves into parties, each calling itself by the name of an Apostle whose teaching and practice they most highly esteemed. We will understand the nature and cause of these divisions as we consider the Apostle’s exhortation to unity and his rebuke of the spirit that gave rise to them.

By the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.—By his previous remark that they had been called to “the communion” of this Holy Name, the writer has led up to the mention of Christ’s name—not in the form of an adjuration, but as a reminder to them. That very name adds strength to his exhortation to speak the same thing—i.e., to call themselves by this one name (and not each by a different designation, as in 1 Corinthians 1:12), and that there should be no “schisms” among them.

The word translated “divisions,” literally signifies a “rent.” This is the sense in which it occurs in Mark 2:21 (the rent is made worse), and it is used three times in St. John’s Gospel to mean schism or difference of opinion (John 7:43; John 9:16; John 10:19). (See Note on John 7:43 regarding the moral application of the word, which probably originated from Ephesus.)

This idea of a tear or rent is continued in the words be perfectly joined together, which in the original signifies the mending of something that was torn, just as in Matthew 4:21 we find the word rendered were mending their nets.

The church at Corinth thus presents to the Apostle’s mind the image of a seamless robe, rent and torn into pieces. He desires its complete and entire restoration through their return to a united disposition of mind and judgment in both word and deed.