Lutheran Seminary – Moved by the Promise – God Pause - Wednesday,
22 January 2013 – Kehillah in Corinth I 1:10 Now I exhort you, Achim
b’Moshiach, b’Shem Adoneinu Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua, that you all
speak the same thing and that there not be among you machlokot (divisions of
dissension 11:18), but that you may have achdus (unity) in the same mind and in
the same way of thinking.
11 For it was made clear to me about you, Achim b’Moshiach of
mine, by the ones of Chloe, that there is merivah (strife) among you.
12 Now I say this, because each of you says, "I am of
Sha’ul," or, "I am of Apollos," or "I am of Kefa," or
"I am of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach!"
13 Has Moshiach been divided? Surely Sha’ul was not for you the
one talui al HaEtz (“being hanged on the Tree” Dt 21:23)? Surely it was not in
the name of Sha’ul that the Moshiach’s tevilah in the mikveh mayim was given to
you?
14 Modeh Ani Hashem that to not one of you I gave Moshiach’s
tevilah except Crispus and Gaius (Ro16:23),
15 Lest anyone should say that in my name you were given the
Moshiach’s tevilah.
16 Now I gave Moshiach’s tevilah also to Stephanas’ household;
as to the rest, I do not know if I gave Moshiach’s tevilah to anyone else.
17 For Moshiach did not send me to give Moshiach’s tevilah in
the mikveh mayim, but to preach the Besuras HaGeulah, not by means of the
lomdes (cleverness, erudition) of the rhetoric of Bnei Adam, lest the gevurah
(power) of HaEtz HaKelalat Hashem (the Tree of the Curse of G-d—Dt 21:23) of
Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach be buttel (cancelled out).
18 For the message of HaEtz HaKelalat Hashem (the Tree of the
Curse of G-d—Dt 21:23) is narrishkait to the ones perishing. But to us who are
being delivered in Yeshu’at Eloheinu, it is the gevurat Hashem (the power of
G-d). (Orthodox Jewish Bible)
Paul is urging the Corinthian community, which is filled with
many divisions and petty quarrels, to live in peace, united in the same mind
and the same purpose. I remember learning the Hebrew words to Psalm 133 in my
Psalm class at Luther Seminary taught by Professor Jim Limburg. We joined hands
in a circle and sang—He nay ma tov oo ma nahim shevet acheem gam yah
chahd—which translates, "How wonderful it is, how pleasant, for God's
people to live together in unity" (Good News Translation). I've taught
these words in song and dance to many groups through the years. It is indeed
wonderful for God's people to dwell together in unity and to have the same
purpose of proclaiming the good news of Jesus to the entire world. It was what
Paul was praying for the community in Corinth and also for us.
Lord Jesus, take us away from petty quarrels and divisions and
teach us to live together in unity and joy as we belong to you. Amen.
Elisa Schafer Richardson
Pastor, Abiding Savior Lutheran Church, Mounds View, Minn.
Master of Divinity , 1983
1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by
the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that
there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and
the same purpose.
11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there
are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters.
12 What I mean is that each of you says, "I belong to
Paul," or "I belong to Apollos," or "I belong to
Cephas," or "I belong to Christ."
13 Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were
you baptized in the name of Paul?
14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and
Gaius,
15 so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name.
16 (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that,
I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.)
17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the
gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be
emptied of its power.
18 For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who
are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (New
Revised Standard Version)
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Luther Seminary
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Saint Paul, MN 55108 United States
(651)641-3456
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