The Corinthian Chronicles

Leye Abiola

The Distinguished Postal Service noticed that a furry of letters were sent from our beloved Apostle to the Church in Corinth . So we caught up with some church elders to discuss what the issue was. Our discourse began with the Chloe Family at Street 1, No. 11. We hope that the Lord open the eyes of your understanding to the lessons in this interview as you read. Amen.

(1 Cor 1:11 For it has been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there be intentions among you)

Dt: Good day Mrs. Chloe. How are you this evening?

Mrs Chloe: I am not even sure about what to say. Even though, it is well.

Dt: Why is that ma? 

Mrs Chloe: It’s the city church o. things are not as stable as it used to be amongst us again. And it is seriously affecting this family big time.

Dt: I’m not quite sure what you mean ma. If I got you right, you’re saying that there is an issue in the Corinthian Church, part of which you and your household are members. Now you say that you seem to be affected by it. Why is that? Is your husband the pastor or something?

Mrs. Chloe: Not at all. we’re just regular members.

Dt: Then why are you so perturbed with this look of concern on your face?

Mrs. Chloe: Why? We are one body. Didn’t you know that? When we got saved, He saved us and brought us into a family- Gods own family here on earth. The church is where heaven and earth meets as God s original plan at creation. Now, in that body we are made up of different members, just as in the normal body. You see, there’s the arm, the eye, the foot as you have it. And these parts all have their various responsibilities with no one greater than the other. When the thumb has whitlow, all the body feels the pain, if the stomach has an upset, the whole body is affected, no matter how ‘small’ they might seem in relation to things. It’s the same thing with the church too.

Dt: Really? Could you please clarify your statement further?

Mrs. Chloe: Of course. You see, in the church there is an order. We are made up of different parts with our Lord as the Head of the Church. Anyone who is saved gets added to this family and becomes a functioning member as responsibilities are assigned. No one is greater or younger than the other in this family. Why? We all have the Spirit of God in us and that makes us one. Don’t we call ourselves Brethren? What does brethren mean?

Dt: Yes, brethren is similar to brothers, family.

Mrs. Chloe: Exactly. So we are family. The way I would be concerned if something was happening to my family members or my brother or sister, the same way, if not even more I should be concerned if something is wrong with a fellow Christian. The gospel has made us of one blood. Are you with me?

Dt: I’m following ma’am

Mrs. Chloe: Now, there are leaders set over us and we must honour them. They have been set over us to watch and see to our growth, doing God’s work amongst us. But I hope you see that this way, whatever happens to the church concerns me, even if I am not directly involved. I am part of the Church, not just here in Corinth, but the called out Ecclesia of God all over the world. That’s why I am worried. Aren’t you also worried when something wrong happens over there in the Church in Nigeria?

Dt: Of course ma’am. So long as my General Overseer is involved, I can kick in and rant on social media- it’s like the notice boards you have here, only bigger. That is what obtains majorly in my age.

Mrs. Chloe: While I don’t understand what you’re saying, I understand Overseer. Well, it’s something similar that is actually happening in the Corinthian Church too. And that is why we- I and my husband had to get across to Brother Paul.

Dt: Before we get to that. What was the issue ma?

Mrs. Chloe: Thank you. You see, the church, which is a body meant to have just One Head and centre of attraction was started to grow many heads and be focused on other people.

Dt: Many heads? As how ma’am?

Mrs. Chloe: You see, Apostle Paul did a major work here amongst us, teaching and preaching. He converted many of us as well. So he was a spiritual father to us and our discipler. Together with Bro Timothy and Bro Silas, he spent about a year and half teaching the word of God among us. Brother Luke documented some of it in his second book.

Dt: I’m guessing the second one would refer to the book of Acts, not the gospel of Luke.

Mrs. Chloe: Yes, you’re right about that. Also, Brother Apollos came along, sometime after Brother Paul had progressed on his missionary journey to Ephesus. He also did a great deal here, preaching the gospel of Christ and further confirming the truth that Apostle Paul had first planed in us. Are you following, Brother?

Dt: I’m very much with you.

Mrs. Chloe: Before the two of them left and furthered with the work of the gospel, they had committed us into the hands of leaders to continue to see to our growth. Brother Stephanas and his household hold a very pivotal role as they were the first to receive the gospel among us and have committed themselves to ministry so much. All was going well until all of a sudden, factions began to rise up in the church.

Dt: Factions? What could be the cause ma?

Mrs. Chloe: Some started to say that Apostle Paul was their leader, since it was he that first did the work amongst us, that he was greater. So they belonged to him. Another set objected and insisted that Brother Apollos was greater. 

Dt: Wow, really?

Mrs. Chloe: That was not all, my dear brother. Not too long ago, when we heard about the exploits of the church in Jerusalem and how brother Peter had been named Cephas- the Rock by the Lord Jesus before his ascension, some of us started to lay claim to the ministry of Peter as superior. After all, Apostle Peter was the head of the church, not Paul or Apollos. 

Dt: Apostle Peter?

Mrs. Chloe: it didn’t end there. Recently, another faction arose and started saying that since it was Christ that called all of them, he must be greater than all of them, so whatever people were claiming to be associated with all these folks were not doing well. 

Dt: How did church meetings go in the midst of all this?

Mrs, Chloe: Church meetings became an avenue to vaunt and boast of who was greater among all four.

Dt: Hmm. Just as a contest.

Mrs. Chloe: Exactly. If Sister Pat was called to lead us in worship, folks from another faction would object and ask why they weren’t the ones to be called. Bible study became endless avenues for arguments that did not edify anyone. Jealousy and strife began to take deep roots that led to other serious issues in the church. Church elders could not correct effectively as it was bound to be misinterpreted as something else. Where offences abound, corrections and instructions become burdensome. 

Dt: Hmm. That was why you reported to Apostle Paul.

Mrs. Chloe: Yes, so that he could help address the issue and rectify.

Dt: Hmm. You know what we would do in my day?

Mrs. Chloe: If something like this was happening in the church?

Dt: Yes, there would be a long release of social media posts and tweets about the issues and how one person was better than the other, inviting media influencers to help us curate the content and judge who was better. My ‘woke’ brethren would have a field day on Instagram and Twitter blasting one another. You would agree with me that it’s a sad trend.

Mrs. Chloe: Oh no! Apostle Paul would later address this with us too -publicising matters that should be solved in the church among unbelievers. He asked us ‘didn’t you know that the saints would judge the world?’ If we knew that, why bring our dirty linen out in public for washing when we have a laundry machine of the word and the Spirit at home. Why try to settle issues amongst people who have the Spirit of God in them among people who don’t. The Spirit of God is sufficient wisdom for us already. There must always be people who can settle the issues that come up in the church. 

Dt: Hmm. To rephrase, issues and conflicts among brethren must be resolved among brethren and in the church! 

Mrs. Chloe: You seem to catch my drift. The other time when the church at Jerusalem had an issue with Gentiles and observance of Mosaic laws, we only sent a delegation from here and together with other believers, we were able to reach conclusions. After all, we are of Christ, who is the Wisdom of God, why solve spiritual people with earthly principles? That was why we called for Apostle Paul to come and address it.

Dt: That’s another lesson gained. You know, there is something I have observed from our conversation so far.

Mrs. Chloe: Oh! What’s that?

Dt: The way you easily delve into certain truths answering every question. Like how you explained the church as a body, how the church should learn to resolve her own issues. In today’s world, talking plainly as such is usually restricted to only Bible and Church. Having it pop up in normal conversations and gists can seem a bit out of place -when we’re not doing Bible Study.

Mrs. Chloe: (chuckles) Out of place? Who should always discuss the word if not us? The word should always be on our lips every time and easy to slip into the things we discuss. If that doesn’t happen at times, how then does witnessing come about? Recall how Philip met the Ethiopian eunuch? It started from just a verse.

Dt: Hmm. Thank you so much for granting this interview. 

Mrs. Chloe: The Lord be praised. You can follow up with Apostle Paul or someone else for more insight into the issues.

Dt: We will do so. Thank you, ma.