| Geneva Study Bible {12} Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that {13} ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be {i} perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. (12) Having made an end of the preface, he comes to the matter itself, beginning with a most grave testimony, as though they should hear Christ himself speaking, and not Paul. (13) The first part of this epistle, in which his purpose is found, to call back the Corinthians to brotherly harmony, and to take away all occasion of discord. So then this first part concerns the taking away of divisions. Now a division occurs when men who otherwise agree and consent together in doctrine, yet separate themselves from one another. (i) Knit together, as a body that consists of all its parts, fitly knit together. People's New Testament 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren. How earnest and imploring is the Apostle's exhortation that they should maintain unity! That ye all speak the same thing. Have no distinctive party declarations. This is violated in the modern sectarian symbols and confessions. That there be no divisions among you. No schisms, in the Greek. If there were none, and all were perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment, all would speak the same thing. There would be no variance in their declarations. It is evident, from what follows, that, while the Corinthians had not separated into various church organizations, they had formed several parties within the church (1Co 1:12). Organized sects, claiming to be branches of the church, were unknown till centuries later. Wesley's Notes 1:10 Now I exhort you - Ye have faith and hope; secure love also. By the endearing name of our Lord Jesus Christ - lnfinitely preferable to all the human names in which ye glory. That ye all speak the same thing - They now spoke different things, 1Co 1:12 And that there be no schisms among you - No alienation of affection from each other. Is this word ever taken in any other sense in scripture? But that ye be joined in the same mind - Affections, desires. And judgment - Touching all the grand truths of the gospel. King James Translators' Notes divisions: Gr. schisms Scofield Reference Notes Margin divisions Gr. schism, a cleft, or rent. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary 10. Now-Ye already have knowledge, utterance, and hope, maintain also love. brethren-The very title is an argument for love. by . Christ-whom Paul wishes to be all in all to the Corinthians, and therefore names Him so often in this chapter. speak . same thing-not speaking different things as ye do (1Co 1:12), in a spirit of variance. divisions-literally, "splits," "breaches." but-"but rather." perfectly joined together-the opposite word to "divisions." It is applied to healing a wound, or making whole a rent. mind . judgment-the view taken by the understanding, and the practical decision arrived at [Conybeare and Howson], as to what is to be done. The mind, within, refers to things to be believed: the judgment is displayed outwardly in things to be done [Bengel]. Disposition-opinion [Alford]. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 1:10-16 In the great things of religion be of one mind; and where there is not unity of sentiment, still let there be union of affection. Agreement in the greater things should extinguish divisions about the lesser. There will be perfect union in heaven, and the nearer we approach it on earth, the nearer we come to perfection. Paul and Apollos both were faithful ministers of Jesus Christ, and helpers of their faith and joy; but those disposed to be contentious, broke into parties. So liable are the best things to be corrupted, and the gospel and its institutions made engines of discord and contention. Satan has always endeavoured to stir up strife among Christians, as one of his chief devices against the gospel. The apostle left it to other ministers to baptize, while he preached the gospel, as a more useful work. | 
