Apostle Paul supports his call for unity with two basic concepts given by Jesus Christ: the cross of Christ and baptism in the name of the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 3:11, 28:19; John 1:25-33, 14:26). The church of God in Corinth would have known both from the very beginning of their walk with Jesus.
Apostle Paul asks questions, a common teaching method in ancient Greece, to help them logically come to the proper conclusion about why they should remain united. Christ is not divided. Jesus is the only one who was crucified for our salvation. Jesus was the only one they were baptised into.
When Paul arrived in Corinth, he preached the gospel, which they received and on which they took their stand. He did not employ human wisdom, which many in the congregation took pride in. He taught the cross of Christ simply and sweetly. By this gospel they were saved, if they hold firmly to the word. What is the gospel? Paul will repeat the gospel in detail in chapter 15. Here are verses 3-4, “…Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures…”
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