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Question 4

In 1 Corinthians 3:1–4, Paul calls Christians “carnal” because of envy, strife, and party-spirit (“I am of Paul…Apollos”)—what does it look like today to “behave like mere men” in the way we align with teachers, conferences, networks, or labels, even when we think we’re defending truth?

Another way to ask: Paul says believers were acting “worldly” because they formed rival groups around leaders (1 Corinthians 3:1–4). What does that look like today with favorite teachers, conferences, networks, or labels, even when we think we’re defending truth?

Direct Answer Today, “behaving like mere men” looks like building identity around preferred leaders and groups and then letting that produce envy, strife, and division—while still thinking this is normal for “committed” Christians.

Support from Transcript:

Bercot quotes 1 Corinthians 3 where Paul links carnality to “envy, strife, and divisions,” and the slogans “I am of Paul… I am of Apollos.”
He applies it broadly: “even though we accept it as perfectly normal to have these kind of divisions… when there is strife and divisions among Christians, then we are carnal.”
He warns against prideful comparison with other churches: we shouldn’t imagine ourselves on a “lofty pedestal above all of these… churches.”
He ties party-spirit to “envying other members, usually over a position of power” (from his Galatians 5 discussion).
He observes how weak our unity has become: modern Christians “have trouble staying united in a house church as small as five or six families” or conferences of “5,000 to 10,000,” unlike the early church.

Discussion Follow-ups What labels or alliances most shape your sense of “us” vs. “them,” and what kinds of envy or anger tend to follow from that?

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