Paul Stressed Unity

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Much can be learned by examining Paul’s instructions to various congregations he was overseeing.

The Corinthian congregation had many problems—including terrible division and disunity. Paul strongly admonished them to stop entertaining other doctrines and to quit playing favourites with ministers. Notice: “Now I beseech you, brethren … 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.… Now this I say, that every one of you says, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas [Peter]; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided?” (1 Cor. 1:10, 12-13).

Do not miss the intent of this passage. Paul was inspired to describe, in five different ways, how completely all of God’s people in every age should be unified and in agreement. And these verses cannot be “spiritualized away” by deceptive human reasoning. Later, in the same letter to Corinth, Paul recorded that the Church had many separate members (brethren), yet was like various parts of a human body, in that these members were connected. Carefully study chapter 12. I Cor 12:12, 14 state, “For as the body is ONE, and has many members, and all the members of that ONE body, being many, are ONE body: so also is Christ. For by ONE Spirit are we all baptized into ONE body.… For the body is not one member, but many” (1 Cor. 12:12-14).

The context uses the analogy of hands, feet, eyes, ears, and the mouth to show how different parts of a human body are connected within the same person. Paul continues, “But now has God set the members every one of them in the body, as it has pleased Him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but ONE body” (1 Cor. 12:18-20).

These verses also cannot be “spiritualized away” by human reasoning. They do not describe an amorphous, disconnected, “spiritual” supposed “body” of disagreeing people and organizations throughout professing Christianity. Any foot, eye, or ear that is taken from a human body dies! No severed body part can live for very long without blood supply and the connective tissue necessary to secure it to the body. God created the human body, so He obviously understands the analogy that He inspired. We will return to this momentarily.

For further proof of the meaning of body, consider two additional scriptures, written to two separate congregations under Paul’s leadership. Notice his statement to the Colossian congregation: “And He [Christ] is the head of the body, the Church” (Col. 1:18). The Bible definition of the body of Christ is the same as the Church! Paul admonished the Colossians to be “knit together in love, and … the full assurance of understanding,” and “rooted and built up in Him, and established in the faith, as you have been taught” (Col. 2:2, 7). There is no misunderstanding the total unity Paul describes here. Brethren walk “together,” assured of the right “understanding” that they “have been taught.”

Now see his instruction to the Ephesian congregation. Speaking of what God placed under Christ’s control, Paul wrote, “… and gave Him [Christ] to be the Head over all things to the Church, which is His body” (Eph. 1:22-23). In chapter 4, Paul admonished the Ephesians to be “Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is ONE BODY [Church], and ONE Spirit, even as you are called in ONE hope of your calling; ONE Lord, ONE faith, ONE baptism, ONE God and Father” (Eph. 4:3-6). Again, there must be no confusing the all-encompassing unity and agreement that this passage requires of God’s people. Recall how Christ prayed for this kind of oneness and unity.

A few verses later, Paul described the importance of a faithful ministry, actively working with and teaching Christ’s Church. Carefully read and understand the following lengthy, important passage: “And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the TRUTH in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the Head, even Christ: from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, makes increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love” (Eph. 4:11-16).

The Church is Christ’s Body and, as its Head, He governs, directs, and builds it, adding to it daily. These verses describe it as being UNIFIED in both doctrinal truth and love. In phrase after phrase, this passage demonstrates that the entire Church (“whole body” and “every part”) must be walking together in complete doctrinal agreement under Christ’s authority. And He works through His true ministers to keep the Church from drifting into “every wind of [other] doctrine.”

Now consider Paul’s admonition to the Philippian congregation: “… stand fast in ONE spirit, with ONE mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; and in nothing terrified by your adversaries” (Phil. 1:27-28). And, “Fulfil you my joy, that you be likeminded, having the same love, being of ONE accord, of ONE mind” (Phil. 2:2). These passages teach that complete unity in the Church is the only condition acceptable to God!

The local Roman congregation was experiencing a problem with false doctrines entering the Church. Notice how Paul instructed them to address this: “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark[take note of] them which cause DIVISIONS and offenses contrary to the doctrine which you have learned; and AVOID THEM. For they … by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple” (Rom. 16:17-18).

Protecting Unity

This is strong language. But it demonstrates how important it is to God that His people not stray from the truth into manmade teachings and traditions.

Peter also taught the all-important need for Church unity and oneness. He wrote, “But you area chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people” (1 Pet. 2:9). The four phrases in this verse are in the singular—meaning one, not several, of each term referenced. For instance, if a nation is split into several nations, no one would consider it to be a single nation—it would be multiple nations, not “a” nation. The same is true of God’s Church.

There is but one!

Also, Christ Himself taught this on the matter of Church unity: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand[survive]” (Matt. 12:25). Recall that Paul asked in 1 Corinthians 1:13, “Is Christ divided?” This is CHRIST’S answer. His instruction is even more fascinating when the reader considers that He is describing Satan’s kingdom in this account! Jesus taught that even the devil is smart enough to know that his kingdom cannot be divided and survive! Surely, the great God of heaven and Jesus Christ are at least as intelligent as Satan the devil. Of course, they are infinitely wiser! They both understand that their Church also cannot be divided and expect to survive (“stand”).

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