The church at Corinth had a unity problem (1 Cor. 1:10-17). The division seems not to have been over doctrine but personalities (vv. 12-13). Some said, “I am of Paul.” Some said, “I am of Apollos.” Some said, “I am of Cephas.” Others said, “I am of Christ” which is the right position, but perhaps it was said out of the wrong motivation. After identifying these four factions in the church, Paul asked, “Is Christ divided?” The answer is “No!” In fact, the church’s unity is in Christ! Christ is the One Who was crucified for us; it is in His name we were baptized.
People in the church at Corinth seemed to be unifying around their favorite minister rather than Christ. It was probably the minster who baptized them given the fact that Paul thanked God he had baptized only a few of the Corinthians (vv. 14-16). He seemed glad not to have baptized many in Corinth, “…lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name.” In verse 17, Paul gave the ultimate reason why he had baptized only a few. “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.”