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Epiphany Season · Third Sunday in Ordinary Time · Year A

1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17

Paul's Appeal for Unity in a Divided Corinth

January 25, 2026

Saint Paul Writing His Epistles, Valentin de Boulogne
Saint Paul Writing His Epistles, Valentin de Boulogne, c. 1618–1620Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
A French follower of Caravaggio working in Rome. Paul is lit from one side at a table strewn with paper, caught mid-thought with the pen stopped.It has been reported to me … that there are quarrels among you … each of you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos” … For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel.Valentin de BoulogneA French painter in Rome and the most committed of Caravaggio's followers, who died at thirty-eight after a night out in the cold.Museum of Fine Arts, HoustonThe oldest art museum in Texas, grown very large on oil money, and free on Thursdays.Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Roman Lectionary
GospelMatt. 4:12-23Mt 4:12-23 orMatt. 4:12-17Mt 4:12-17
Second Reading1 Cor. 1:10-13, 171 Cor 1:10-13, 17
First ReadingIsa. 8:23–9:3Is 8:23–9:3
Responsorial PsalmPs. 27:1, 4, 13-14 (1a)Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14 (1a)

Overview & Insights

"Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you?" (1 Corinthians 1:13)

Paul confronts factions in Corinth who have rallied around rival leaders' names. He insists that baptism binds the church to Christ alone and that his own commission is to preach the cross, not to display rhetorical skill.

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Take it further: 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17

Commentary

Commentary on 1 Corinthians 1:10-18Commentary on 1 Cor 1:10-18 Working Preacher

Luther Seminary commentary on Paul's appeal against factions built around Apollos, Cephas, and Paul himself.

1 Corinthians 1:10-18 Commentary1 Cor 1:10-18 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching

Reformed preaching commentary on Paul begging the Corinthians toward one mind and purpose.

1 Corinthians 1 Commentary1 Cor 1 Commentary Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik's verse by verse reading of the quarrels in Corinth and Paul's refusal of clever speech.

1 Corinthians 1 Commentary1 Cor 1 Commentary Precept Austin

Deep verse by verse study notes gathering many conservative scholars on the divisions in the Corinthian church.

1 Corinthians 1:10 Commentaries1 Cor 1:10 Commentaries BibleHub

Aggregated classic commentary on Paul's plea for agreement among believers who belong to Christ.

1 Corinthians 1 - Barnes' Notes1 Cor 1 - Barnes' Notes StudyLight

Barnes' Notes verse by verse on the party spirit at Corinth and the centrality of the cross.

The Third Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year A Catholic Productions · Brant Pitre

Dr. Brant Pitre's Catholic exegesis of the Sunday's readings, including Paul's call to unity in Christ.

Background & Word Study

1 Corinthians 1:10 Interlinear1 Cor 1:10 Interlinear BibleHub

Greek word by word with parsing for divisions, united, and the preaching of the cross.

The Church Fathers

1 Corinthians 11 Cor 1 Catena

Verse-by-verse comment from the Fathers on 1 Corinthians 1.

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