The Apostle Paul’s experience shows that remaining in Jesus’ own teachings has always brought tension, and often the deepest pressure comes not from the world but from within the believing community. In 1 Corinthians he reminds the church that they were called into fellowship with God’s Son, not into allegiance to human systems or admired teachers. Fellowship is centered on Christ himself, just as Jesus said when he urged his disciples to remain in him and let his words remain in them. That simple, direct relationship is the core of discipleship.
Yet, as in Paul’s time, those who cling to that simplicity often meet resistance. Corinth questioned his authority and preferred eloquent teachers; Galatia suspected his gospel; and entire regions turned away from him. His most painful wounds came from believers who sincerely thought they were right, but who had drifted into other loyalties. This makes his letters feel very contemporary. Anyone who chooses to follow Jesus’ teachings straightforwardly rather than embrace the weight of inherited theological or philosophical structures can find themselves in the same position—faithful to Christ but at odds with communities that have adopted different foundations.
This is why Paul warns that minds can be led away from the simplicity and purity that belong to Christ. In 1 Corinthians 1–3 he sees believers becoming enamored with human wisdom, polished speech, and systems of thought that sound deep but overshadow the plain message of Christ. He keeps calling them back to the center: Christ is not divided; faith must rest on God’s power rather than human sophistication; and believers must learn to think with the mind of Christ rather than through the lens of worldly systems. His concern is not that thinking is bad, but that any kind of wisdom—religious or philosophical—that shifts attention away from Christ’s own teaching creates confusion and division.
For Paul, the antidote is simple and radical: only Christ is the foundation. No teacher, tradition, or philosophy can replace him. This conviction sustained Paul when churches rejected or misunderstood him. It is the same conviction that sustains anyone who wants to understand Jesus the way Jesus understood himself, and to treat the Father as Jesus treated Him. Fidelity to Christ is found not in the approval of groups but in listening to the Master and doing what he says.
In the end, fellowship with Jesus is lived, not theorized. Paul didn’t gain fellowship by aligning with the most respected schools of thought but by obeying Christ, sharing in his sufferings, and letting his mind shape every decision. Today, too, true fellowship is experienced by remaining in Jesus’ teachings even when others move in different directions. That is why returning to Jesus’ own words remains the safest and most faithful path, just as it was for Paul.
AI with Stephen D Green
