1 Corinthians 3:4 Commentary and Bible Study

What was this envying and strife, and divisions? Well, has told us earlier at the beginning of the epistle, and he tells us again here: ‘I am of Paul, I am of Apollos.’ The people in Corinth were not disliking each other, or quarrelling with each other so much over small things; they were forming parties or groups, because they had their favourites preacher, their favourite person. Some would say, Paul, some, Apollos: he was quite an orator; he could impress their Greek community, so they thought. Now this is not about the efficiency of the preacher. This is not about whether the preacher is apt to teach. We need to exercise discernment about that. This is about some human traits that he has, which they are singling out and saying: ‘That will work; that will make an impression upon people; that person is the person to win souls, to do a work here, to build up the church. It was human considerations that divided them. So one chose Paul, another Apollos, another the apostle Peter, and so on.