1 Corinthians 1:10 kjv

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.

1 Corinthians 1:10 nkjv

Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

1 Corinthians 1:10 niv

I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.

1 Corinthians 1:10 esv

I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.

1 Corinthians 1:10 nlt

I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.

1 Corinthians 1 verses

1 Corinthians 1 10 Meaning

The Apostle Paul opens his first epistle to the Corinthian church with a heartfelt plea for unity, grounded in the ultimate authority of Jesus Christ. He urges the believers to overcome internal divisions, which manifested in factions and disputes, and instead strive for complete harmony in their collective expression, thought, and practical application of faith. The core message is a passionate call to abandon sectarianism and be thoroughly re-integrated as a unified body, sharing a common spiritual understanding and purpose, thereby reflecting the unifying power of Christ's name.

1 Corinthians 1 10 Context

1 Corinthians 1:10 marks a significant transition in Paul's letter. Having established his apostolic authority and offered thanks to God for the Corinthians' spiritual gifts (1:1-9), Paul immediately addresses the severe problems plaguing the church in Corinth, starting with their profound disunity. The city of Corinth itself was a vibrant, multicultural, and notoriously immoral Roman colony, heavily influenced by Greek philosophy and rhetoric, where citizens often aligned themselves with specific philosophical schools or prominent figures. This worldly practice seems to have infiltrated the Corinthian church, manifesting as partisan loyalty to human leaders (Paul, Apollos, Cephas) or even a self-proclaimed "party of Christ," which paradoxically led to further division rather than genuine unity. Paul introduces the issue of division as the very first and foundational problem because it undermined the church's testimony, weakened its spiritual life, and hindered its mission, setting the stage for subsequent correctives throughout the epistle.

1 Corinthians 1 10 Word analysis

• Now: (Greek: de, δέ) A transitional particle indicating a shift from the initial commendation and thanksgiving (vv. 4-9) to the main subject of concern and the exhortation. It signals the critical nature of what is to follow.
• I plead: (Greek: parakalō, παρακαλῶ) A strong, personal appeal; not a mere request or a command, but an earnest exhortation that carries the weight of spiritual authority coupled with pastoral love and concern. It implies inviting someone to one's side, urging them to take action.
• with you: Direct address to the Corinthian believers.
• brethren: (Greek: adelphoi, ἀδελφοί) Emphasizes the familial and spiritual bond shared among believers, underscoring that division is a tearing apart of what should be intimately connected. Paul appeals to their common identity in Christ.
• by the name of: (Greek: dia tou onomatos, διὰ τοῦ ὀνόματος) Signifies the authority, person, power, and character of "Our Lord Jesus Christ." Paul's plea is not his own invention but carries the weight of Christ's very essence and mandate, making unity a Christ-centered imperative.
• Our Lord Jesus Christ: Identifies the ultimate authority and foundation for unity. The unity sought is not based on human wisdom or preferences but on the supreme Lordship of Jesus, who is the Head of the church.
• that you all speak the same thing: (Greek: to auto legēte, τὸ αὐτὸ λέγητε) Refers to unity in doctrinal confession and outward verbal expression. It means agreement on essential truths and common purpose, avoiding contradictory or divisive speech that creates factions. It doesn't imply absolute uniformity of opinion on minor issues but core agreement.
• and that there be no divisions: (Greek: kai mē ē en hymin schismata, καὶ μὴ ᾖ ἐν ὑμῖν σχίσματα) Schismata (σχίσματα) literally means "rips" or "tears," as in a torn garment. It refers to open breaches, factions, or disunity within the church, highlighting the destructive nature of their disputes, which were literally tearing apart the fabric of the community.
• among you: Specifies that these divisions are internal to the Corinthian church body, rather than from external threats.
• but that you be perfectly joined together: (Greek: alla ēte katērtismenoi, ἀλλὰ ἦτε κατηρτισμένοι) Katartizō (καταρτίζω) means to mend, restore, equip, prepare, or make complete what is broken or out of joint. It was used for mending nets, setting bones, or making something fit for its purpose. Here, it implies that the church is currently in disrepair and needs active spiritual "mending" to be fully functional and unified. It points to a process of spiritual repair and alignment.
• in the same mind: (Greek: en tō autō noi, ἐν τῷ αὐτῷ νοΐ) Refers to unity in intellectual understanding, inner disposition, and rational thought. It means having a common way of thinking about the foundational truths of the gospel and how they apply to the church's life.
• and in the same judgment: (Greek: kai en tē autē gnōmē, καὶ ἐν τῇ αὐτῇ γνώμῃ) Refers to unity in practical conviction, purpose, or settled opinion. It moves beyond intellectual agreement (noi) to shared intention, moral resolve, and a common course of action within the community. It speaks of a shared direction and agreement on practical decisions.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ": This entire opening phrase sets the tone of profound spiritual gravity for Paul's appeal. It signifies that the call for unity is not a mere suggestion from a human leader, but a passionate exhortation empowered by and deriving its authority from the very person and salvific work of Jesus Christ. It elevates the discussion from mere social discord to a matter of allegiance to the Head of the Church.
• "that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you": These two clauses articulate the outward manifestations of unity that Paul seeks. "Speaking the same thing" suggests a unity in common confession, testimony, and avoidance of contradictory teachings or factional slogans. The direct negation, "no divisions," then clarifies the dire consequence of failure in the first; a lack of common speech directly results in ruptures within the community, visibly tearing it apart.
• "but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment": This final grouping delves deeper into the desired internal state of unity, moving from outward expressions to the core spiritual and intellectual alignment. "Perfectly joined together" indicates a complete restoration or mending from a broken state, implying deep repair rather than superficial agreement. The twin concepts of "same mind" and "same judgment" distinguish between shared intellectual understanding of truth and shared practical application, conviction, and purpose based on that understanding. This reflects a holistic unity that encompasses both belief and behavior, thinking and acting in alignment with the Spirit of God.

1 Corinthians 1 10 Bonus section

The concept of unity addressed in this verse lays the crucial groundwork for understanding many of the subsequent problems Paul addresses throughout 1 Corinthians, including issues concerning wisdom (chapter 2), immaturity and carnality (chapter 3), immorality (chapter 5), lawsuits (chapter 6), abuses of the Lord's Supper (chapter 11), and the misuse of spiritual gifts (chapter 12-14). In each case, disunity, or the lack of proper "joining together" in mind and judgment, undergirds the problematic behaviors. The term katartizō (perfectly joined together) also has eschatological implications; it’s used in other contexts (e.g., Heb 13:21) for God making believers "complete" or "perfect" in every good work, signifying a restoration and equipping for His will. Thus, the unity Paul seeks is not merely social cohesion, but a divinely purposed wholeness that prepares the church for its mission and ultimate conformity to Christ.

1 Corinthians 1 10 Commentary

In 1 Corinthians 1:10, Paul confronts the Corinthian church's deep-seated problem of factionalism and disunity directly. His opening is not a gentle suggestion but a profound pastoral plea, emphasized by "I plead" (parakalō), rooted in the supreme authority of "the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." This means the demand for unity is not arbitrary but flows from the very nature and Lordship of Christ, who is the singular head of the body.

The problem in Corinth wasn't necessarily outright heresy at this stage, but personal loyalties to leaders—Paul, Apollos, Cephas—and even an elitist claim to belong solely to "Christ." These preferences, fueled by human pride and a worldly fascination with rhetorical skill, were tearing the church apart, causing "schisms" (schochismata), literal rents or tears in the fabric of the Christian community.

Paul's remedy is two-fold: unity in outward expression ("speak the same thing") and deeper unity in internal understanding and resolve ("the same mind and in the same judgment"). "Speaking the same thing" means presenting a united front concerning the core gospel message and practical application of Christian living, avoiding conflicting public statements or doctrines. The negative "no divisions" reinforces the urgency to cease destructive quarrels. The solution of being "perfectly joined together" (katērtismenoi) suggests an active mending process, restoring what has been broken or dislocated back into proper alignment and function. This spiritual repair work requires shared conviction (mind) and common practical purpose (judgment). It does not demand uniformity in every minor detail, but rather essential agreement on the gospel and the Spirit-led direction for the church, ensuring they function as one cohesive body rather than disparate factions. This plea establishes unity as the foundational virtue without which other Christian graces and effective ministry cannot flourish.

Practical examples:

• A church deeply divided by worship styles (traditional vs. contemporary) to the point where groups refuse to fellowship.
• Believers separating into factions based on loyalty to particular pastors or teachers, creating rival groups within the same congregation.
• Congregations where political or social viewpoints override gospel unity, causing strife and leading to church splits.