1 Corinthians 1:11
in 1 Corinthians 1My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For it hath been signified unto me concerning you, my brethren, by them that are of the household of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
KJV
For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
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This verse in 1 Corinthians 1
Commentary
12 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
For it hath been declared unto me - Of the contentions existing in the church at Corinth, it is evident that they had not informed him in the letter which they had sent; see 1Co 7:1, compare the introduction. He had incidentally heard of their contentions. My brethren - A token of affectionate regard, evincing his love for them, and his deep interest in their welfare, even when he administered a needed rebuke. Of the house of Chloe - Of the family of Chloe.
This site's exposition
Now I beseech you, brethren
on 1 Corinthians 1:10-12
Paul's appeal comes by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that they speak the same thing and suffer no divisions, perfectly joined together in the same mind and the same judgment, the standard against which the report from Chloe's household is measured. The contentions surface as four slogans, I am of Paul, and I of Apollos, and I of Cephas, and I of Christ, and the commentators note that even the last slogan, sound as it looks, was a party badge the moment it set itself against the other three. The bench reads the division as personality allegiance rather than doctrinal heresy at this stage, since all four names belong to the same gospel, which is exactly what makes the sin harder to see and Paul's rebuke necessary.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
Some people think that "Chloe's people" are those who remain faithful and bear fruit in the faith of Christ. Others think that Chloe is a place, as if one were to say "Antioch's people," for example. But others think that she was a woman devoted …
A commentator
Theodoret of CyrusCOMMENTARY ON THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 168 · Written before 458.
proposed
Perhaps there was a family at Corinth called Chloe, but Paul does not give any details so as not to reveal their identity and start more quarreling.
But seeing that whoso is blamed is unabashed so long as he hath no witnesses, observe how, not permitting them to deny the fact, he adduces some to bear witness. "For it hath been signified unto me concerning you, my brethren, by them which are of the household of Chloe." Neither did he say this at the very beginning, but first he brought forward his charge; as one who put confidence in his informants. Because, had it not been so, he would not have found fault: for Paul was not a person to believe lightly. Neither then did he immediately say, "it hath been signified." Consider also his prudence in not speaking of any distinct person, but of the entire family; so as not to make them hostile towards the informer: for in this way he both protects him, and fearlessly opens the accusation. For he had an eye to the benefit not of the one side only, but of the other also. Wherefore he saith not, "It hath been declared to me by certain," but he indicates also the household, lest they might suppose that he was inventing. What was "declared?" "That there are contentions among you." Thus, when he speaks, he relies upon the informants.
But they roll back an objection from that apostle himself, in that he said, "For Christ sent me not to baptize; " , as if by this argument baptism were done away! For if so, why did he baptize Gaius, and Crispus, and the house of Stephanas? However, even if Christ had not sent him to baptize, yet He had given other apostles the precept to baptize.
The Medieval Church1 voice
"For it has been made known to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of the household of Chloe." Lest they begin to deny it, he brings forward witnesses, and lest it seem as though he is inventing them, he names them, saying: "from the …
5 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
Then when he says, It has been reported, he shows why it was necessary to warn them, namely, because they were burdened with the vice of contention. As if to say: It is necessary to induce you to this, because it has been reported to …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
It hath been declared to me by them of the family of Chloe - Whom some suppose to have been the wife of Stephanas, and the mother of Fortunatus and Achaicus. By these three the Corinthians had sent their letter to St. Paul, chap. xvi, 17. That there are contentions - A word equivalent with schisms in the preceding verse.
For it hath been declared unto me, of you, my brethren,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
That information reached Paul by other quarters. Hence his language about those evils is, "It hath been declared unto me," &c.; "It is reported commonly" (1Co 5:1, 2).
By them which are of the house of Chloe - This was doubtless some very religious matron at Corinth, whose family were converted to the Lord; some of whom were probably sent to the apostle to inform him of the dissensions which then prevailed in the Church at that place. Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, mentioned 1Co 16:17, were probably the sons of this Chloe. Contentions - Εριδες, Altercations; produced by the σχισματα, divisions, mentioned above. When once they had divided, they must necessarily have contended, in order to support their respective parties.
The words behind it
15 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ἐδηλώθη | edelothe | It was shown | G1213 → | |
| γάρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| μοι | moi | to me | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| περὶ | peri | concerning | G4012 → | 332 times |
| ὑμῶν, | humon | you, | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ἀδελφοί | adelphoi | brothers | G80 → | 343 times |
| μου, | mou | of mine, | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| ὑπὸ | hupo | by | G5259 → | 219 times |
| τῶν | ton | those | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Χλόης | chloes | of Chloe | G5514 → | |
| ὅτι | hoti | that | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| ἔριδες | erides | quarrels | G2054 → | |
| ἐν | en | among | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| ὑμῖν | humin | you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| εἰσιν. | eisin | there are. | G1510 → | 2333 times |
ἘδηλώθηIt was shown
edelotheG1213 →
γάρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
μοιto me
moiG3165 →1936 times
περὶconcerning
periG4012 →332 times
ὑμῶν,you,
humonG4771 →2973 times
ἀδελφοίbrothers
adelphoiG80 →343 times
μου,of mine,
mouG3165 →1936 times
ὑπὸby
hupoG5259 →219 times
τῶνthose
tonG3588 →19766 times
Χλόηςof Chloe
chloesG5514 →
ὅτιthat
hotiG3754 →1292 times
ἔριδεςquarrels
eridesG2054 →
ἐνamong
enG1722 →2738 times
ὑμῖνyou
huminG4771 →2973 times
εἰσιν.there are.
eisinG1510 →2333 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Galatians 5:26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying one another.
it leads to
- James 3:14–16
But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth.
- Philippians 2:1–3
Therefore if you have any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,
- James 4:16
As it is, you boast in your proud intentions. All such boasting is evil.
- 1 Corinthians 3:7
So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.
- Luke 14:10
But when you are invited, go and sit in the last place, so that your host will come and tell you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in…
- James 3:14–16
Through
1 Timothy 6:4he is conceited and understands nothing. Instead, he has an unhealthy interest in controversies and semantics, out of which come envy, strife, abusive talk, evil suspicions,
it leads to
- 2 Timothy 2:23
But reject foolish and ignorant speculation, for you know that it breeds quarreling.
- 2 Timothy 3:4
traitorous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
- 1 Timothy 3:6
He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same condemnation as the devil.
- 2 Timothy 2:23
Where this verse is studied
About 1 Corinthians
This page draws on 13 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Frederic Godet, Commentary on First Corinthians; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Corinthians 3; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Tertullian, On Baptism; Theodoret of Cyrus, COMMENTARY ON THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 168; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 1 Corinthians.