1 Corinthians 1-7: “Be Perfectly Joined Together” (August 21-27)

Temple of Apollo and the Acrocorinth (the acropolis overlooking the city of Corinth)

How would you feel if a group of people you had lived with, taught, and loved were slipping into immoral practices and arguing amongst themselves? What would you do about it?

After living in Corinth for about a year and a half (Acts 18:11), Paul traveled east to Ephesus. He was only there briefly (Acts 18:18-21), but after traveling to Jerusalem, he returned to Ephesus, where he stayed for about two years (Acts 19:1, 10). It was probably during this time that he wrote the letter known as 1 Corinthians. In the letter, he answered questions about marriage (chapter 7) and idolatry (chapter 8), clarified doctrines including the resurrection (chapter 15), and urged church leaders to take action on a disciplinary matter (chapter 5). But an overarching theme of the epistle is the need for unity. From the very beginning through his concluding remarks, including a poetic description of charity (chapter 13), Paul makes it clear that he wants the saints, his friends in Corinth, to get over their differences and treat one another with respect and kindness.

For example, after introducing himself and expressing gratitude in the first chapter, Paul gets right to the point:

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.

For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.

1 Corinthians 1:10-11

This reminds me of a passage near the beginning of Mormon’s epistle to his son Moroni: “I speak unto you concerning that which grieveth me exceedingly; for it grieveth me that there should disputations rise among you. For, if I have learned the truth, there have been disputations among you concerning the baptism of your little children” (Moroni 8:4-5).

Representatives of God have always encouraged believers to overcome their differences and build unity. Here are some principles from 1 Corinthians to help us achieve those objectives:

1. Don’t be “puffed up.”

Paul repeatedly encourages the Corinthians to avoid being “puffed up.” (See 1 Corinthians 4:6, 18-19, 5:2, 13:4.) Several Book of Mormon prophets used this same metaphor. (See 2 Nephi 9:42, 2 Nephi 28:9, 12-15, Alma 5:37, 53, Alma 31:27, Moroni 7:45.) We can all relate to this imagery. When part of our body becomes swollen, it may be sensitive and painful to touch. Likewise, when our spirits become puffed up, we may be hypersensitive and less receptive to guidance, including guidance from God. Here is a blog post on this topic:

• What Does It Mean to Be “Puffed Up?”

2. Remember that we are all followers of Christ.

Paul was dismayed to learn that some church members in Corinth considered themselves to be followers of him, while others cited Apollos or Peter. “Is Christ divided?” he asked, “Was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Corinthians 1:13).

Jesus provided similar instruction to his disciples on the American continent. In answer to the question, “What should we call the church?” He asked, “How be it my church save it be called in my name? For if a church be called in Moses’ name then it be Moses’ church; or if it be called in the name of a man then it be the church of a man; but if it be called in my name then it is my church, if it so be that they are built upon my gospel” (3 Nephi 27:8).

In our day, President Russell M. Nelson has reiterated this principle, encouraging us to refer to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by its full name, instead of using nicknames which omit the name of Jesus Christ. (See “The Correct Name of the Church,” General Conference, October 2018.)

Here’s a blog post on this topic:

• “In My Name”

3. Remember how little we know compared with God.

In the epistle, Paul repeatedly contrasts the wisdom of God with human wisdom. “The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God,” he writes, “for they are foolishness unto him” (1 Corinthians 2:14). And the opposite is also true: “The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God” (1 Corinthians 3:19). So we shouldn’t be surprised when He calls people to do His work who seem rather ordinary to us. They may be wiser than we realize. (See 1 Corinthians 1:26-28, 1 Corinthians 4:9-13.)

Paul emphasize that point with several passages from Isaiah, including this one:

Since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.

Isaiah 64:4; see also 1 Corinthians 2:9-10

A paraphrase of this passage appears in the Book of Mormon. After the Savior’s resurrection, He offered a prayer so sublime that it could not be written. The eyewitnesses to that prayer testified, “The eye hath never seen, neither hath the ear heard, before, so great and marvelous things as we saw and heard Jesus speak unto the Father” (3 Nephi 17:16-17).

Here are a couple of blog posts about this passage:

• “Tongue Cannot Speak the Words Which He Prayed” – 3 Nephi 19:32
• If I Had Not Been Born of God – Alma 38:6

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Note: Many people find 1 Corinthians 7 to be a difficult chapter to understand. One challenging element is Paul’s use of inconclusive language, such as “after my judgment,” “I think,” and even, “to the rest speak I, not the Lord.” I’ve found it useful to read this chapter in the same way I read Alma 40, another chapter in which a prophet explores a topic and shares revealed truths alongside personal opinions. In the following post, I discuss how to work with scriptural passages like these, and how they can help us learn more effectively from living prophets:

• “My Opinion”

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