1 Corinthians 1:13 Meaning and Explanation
“Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Paul asks three pointed questions to show that Christ alone, not any human leader, is the church's foundation.
What Does 1 Corinthians 1:13 Mean?
Paul answers the factions with three questions, each expecting an obvious no. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? The very asking exposes how absurd the party spirit is.
Christ is one and cannot be parceled out among competing camps. No human teacher was crucified for them; no one was baptized into a mere man's name. Every believer belongs to the One who died for them and into whose name they were baptized. To rally around any other name is to forget the cross. Paul deflects all glory away from himself and back to Christ, where it alone belongs.
1 Corinthians 1:13 in the Original Language
merizo (μερίζω), 'divided' -- to be parceled out or split into parts.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 1:13
What does 1 Corinthians 1:13 mean?
Paul asks three pointed questions to show that Christ alone, not any human leader, is the church's foundation.