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.  (11) For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you.  (12) Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollo’s,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.”  (13) Is Christ divided?  Was Paul crucified for you?  Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?  (17) For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.

The first letter to the Corinthians was written by the apostle Paul and it is a letter of correction concerning certain behaviors that became apparently the rule rather than the exception in the church in Corinth.   There were contending rivalries  – even hostilities – arising from  cults of personalities in the church there.   This is a perversion of the gospel as these divisions meant various opinions about Jesus. – about His  significance  and authority.  Paul is telling the Christians in Corinth there should be unity of doctrine completely based on Scripture which is the foundation of the church. If this is missing the church is left a foundation of shallow sentimentalism. And, in my opinion, this is true of the Roman Catholic Church today.

Paul is showing how serious a problem it really is to glory in the name of men when the purpose of the gospel is to show Christ’s exclusive and sufficient authority in His church. Christ alone is Lord. Ministers are due honor but all serve Christ – the poison of all churches is the cult of the personality.   The gospel says we are reconciled to God in Christ Jesus and Paul is warning the Christians that they are renouncing the benefit of redemption when attaching themselves to men.  In Christ we are not at liberty to do so.  No one partners with Christ.  Paul then goes further when he maintains that it was given to him to teach and he is not dismissing baptism.  He expands on his role by saying he taught not with the wisdom of words – not as a great orator – but as a minister of the Spirit.  Admiration for the gifts of men is a distraction and the only result is the majesty of God  is not to be seen. And then Paul brings forward the cross which is only understood by rejecting the wisdom of the world.  The cross is our salvation and Paul preaches Christ crucified as God ordered.
The gospel is the key – the basis – for all human relationships. It is incompatible with human pride.