Comments of Church Fathers and Exegetes on the Schism in the Church of Corinth

ანოტაცია

The aim of this article is to investigate the causes of the divisions that emerged in the newly founded Church of Corinth (1 Cor. 1:12), based on the commentaries of Church Fathers and exegetes from different historical periods. The study draws upon a wide range of patristic exegesis and scholarly literature, examining a substantial body of sources from antiquity to the modern era.

It is argued that the divisions within the Corinthian Church arose from a misinterpretation of baptismal and catechetical issues, which in turn led to the formation of various “groups.” The research demonstrates a consensus among the Church Fathers (consensus patrum) on this matter. At the same time, it becomes evident that the majority of Orthodox and non-Orthodox theologians of later centuries understood the issue differently from the early Fathers. Whereas the Fathers offered a spiritual interpretation of the passage, most later authors tended to read it literally—a tendency that continues to the present day.

The article presents examples of both literal and spiritual interpretations of Scripture, using 1 Corinthians 1:12 as a case study. The findings show that all the Church Fathers who addressed this issue unanimously emphasised that the grouping of the four names mentioned in 1 Corinthians 1:12 did not, in fact, exist in Corinth at that time.

On the basis of exegetical homilies and treatises, the study offers a systematic overview and synthesis of this specific problem. The value of the article lies in its consolidation, analysis, and objective resolution of the issue through a comprehensive engagement with patristic interpretations preserved within the early Christian tradition.