Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.

1 CORINTHIANS 1:12KJV
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1 Corinthians 1:12 (KJV)

What does 1 Corinthians 1:12 mean?

1 Corinthians 1:12 describes how members of the church in Corinth were dividing themselves into groups based on which Christian leader they preferred, saying things like “I am of Paul,” “I am of Apollos,” “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” Paul is pointing out these divisions to show that the church was splitting into factions based on personalities rather than staying united.

Paul is writing to the Christians in Corinth, addressing a problem he has heard about: people in the church are aligning themselves with different teachers or leaders. By listing Paul, Apollos, Cephas (another name for Peter), and Christ, Paul shows that the church’s loyalty was becoming fractured. This sets up his argument that the church should be united, not divided by personal loyalties or preferences for certain leaders.

The Greek behind 1 Corinthians 1:12

  • “Ἐγώ” (egō, “I”): This word is repeated before each name, emphasizing how each person is personally claiming allegiance to a specific leader. The repetition highlights the strong sense of personal identity tied to these divisions.
  • “Παῦλος” (Paulos, “Paul”), “Ἀπολλώς” (Apollōs, “Apollos”), “Κηφᾶς” (Kēphas, “Cephas”), “Χριστός” (Christos, “Christ”): These names show the range of leaders the Corinthians were following, from apostles to Christ himself, underlining how widespread and deep the divisions were.

Why 1 Corinthians 1:12 matters

  • This verse clears up that the early church was not always perfectly united; even in the first generation of Christians, people were tempted to form cliques around favorite leaders.
  • Paul’s mention of Christ alongside human leaders highlights that no one, not even the apostles, should take the place of Jesus as the center of Christian faith.
  • The verse sets up the main theme of the next section, where Paul urges the Corinthians to remember their unity in Christ rather than dividing over personalities or preferences.

Where else these words appear

“Cephas” Greek G2786 · used in 6 verses

  • John 1:42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.
  • 1 Corinthians 3:22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;
  • 1 Corinthians 15:5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:

“Apollos” Greek G625 · used in 10 verses

  • Acts 18:24 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.
  • 1 Corinthians 3:5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
  • 1 Corinthians 4:6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.

“one” Greek G1538 · used in 78 verses

  • Matthew 16:27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
  • Romans 2:6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
  • Galatians 6:4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.

“am” Greek G1510 · used in 137 verses

  • Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
  • John 7:29 But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me.
  • Acts 13:25 And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose.