1 Corinthians 1:10 Meaning and Explanation
“Now I beseech you, brethren, by 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 perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Paul pleads, for the sake of Jesus, that His people would be knit together instead of torn apart.
The Context of 1 Corinthians 1:10
This is the first thing Paul takes up after greeting the church. Word had reached him that the Corinthians were splitting into factions, lining up behind different leaders. Before any other concern, he appeals to them to be one.
What Does 1 Corinthians 1:10 Mean?
Paul does not open with a command but with a plea, beseeching them as brethren, family. And he makes his appeal by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, grounding the whole request in the One they share. He longs for them to speak the same thing and to let the divisions among them heal, to be perfectly joined together. That last phrase carries the picture of mending, the way a torn net is repaired or a broken bone is set so it can knit and hold. A church pulling itself into rival camps is like a net coming apart at the seams, and Paul aches to see it made whole.
Their unity rests on a name, the name of Jesus, who prayed on the night before He died that His followers would be one (John 17:21). We are not joined together by sharing the same opinions on everything, but by belonging to the same Lord. He is the One who holds His people together, and our oneness is meant to show the world something true about Him. Where He is at the center, the torn places can be mended.
1 Corinthians 1:10 in the Original Language
katartizo (καταρτίζω), 'perfectly joined together' -- to mend or restore, used of repairing nets and setting broken bones.
How to Apply 1 Corinthians 1:10 Today
Division among God's people is an old and painful thing, and Paul pleads for it to be mended rather than deepened. Our unity does not rest on agreeing about everything; it rests on belonging to the same Lord Jesus. With Him at the center, even torn relationships can be set and made whole again.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 1:10
What does 1 Corinthians 1:10 mean?
Paul pleads, for the sake of Jesus, that His people would be knit together instead of torn apart.
What is the context of 1 Corinthians 1:10?
This is the first thing Paul takes up after greeting the church. Word had reached him that the Corinthians were splitting into factions, lining up behind different leaders. Before any other concern, he appeals to them to be one.
How can I apply 1 Corinthians 1:10 today?
Division among God's people is an old and painful thing, and Paul pleads for it to be mended rather than deepened. Our unity does not rest on agreeing about everything; it rests on belonging to the same Lord Jesus. With Him at the center, even torn relationships can be set and made whole again.