King James Version

What Does 1 Corinthians 1:11 Mean?

1 Corinthians 1:11 in the King James Version says “For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentio...” — study this verse from 1 Corinthians chapter 1 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

“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.”

1 Corinthians 1:11 · KJV

Context

9

God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

10

Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. divisions: Gr. schisms

11

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.

12

Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.

13

Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
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 (emenythe gar moi, ἐμηνύθη γάρ μοι)—The verb menyomai (μηνύω, "to inform, report") indicates Paul received credible intelligence, not vague rumors. The house of Chloe (ἡ Χλόης) likely refers to a household that included slaves, freedpersons, and family members—possibly a house church or business contacts who traveled between Corinth and Ephesus. That Paul names them publicly suggests they were willing to be identified, lending weight to the report.

That there are contentions among you (erides en hymin eisin, ἔριδες ἐν ὑμῖν εἰσιν)—The noun eris (ἔρις, "strife, quarrel, contention") appears in Paul's vice lists (Rom 1:29, Gal 5:20) alongside jealousy, anger, and dissension. These were not theological debates but sinful quarrels—the "works of the flesh" manifesting in a Spirit-filled church. Paul addresses this as sin, not legitimate diversity.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Chloe was likely a woman of some means (possibly a businesswoman or patroness) whose household had contact with both Corinth and Ephesus. In a culture where women rarely appeared in public documents, her naming is significant. That her household reported the factions suggests they were concerned Christians, not gossips—and Paul trusted their account enough to act on it.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does Paul's willingness to name his source (Chloe's household) model transparency and accountability in addressing church conflict?
  2. What is the difference between healthy theological debate and sinful "contentions" or factions?
  3. How do we discern when church conflicts are worth addressing publicly versus handling privately?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 15 words
ἐδηλώθη1 of 15

“it hath been declared”

G1213

to make plain (by words)

γάρ2 of 15

“For”

G1063

properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles)

μοι3 of 15

“unto me”

G3427

to me

περὶ4 of 15

“of”

G4012

properly, through (all over), i.e., around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time (with the genitive cas

ὑμῶν5 of 15

“you”

G5216

of (from or concerning) you

ἀδελφοί6 of 15

“brethren”

G80

a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like g0001)

μου7 of 15

“my”

G3450

of me

ὑπὸ8 of 15

“by”

G5259

under, i.e., (with the genitive case) of place (beneath), or with verbs (the agency or means, through); (with the accusative case) of place (whither (

τῶν9 of 15

“them which are of the house”

G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

Χλόης10 of 15

“of Chloe”

G5514

"green"; chlo, a christian female

ὅτι11 of 15

“that”

G3754

demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because

ἔριδες12 of 15

“contentions”

G2054

a quarrel, i.e., (by implication) wrangling

ἐν13 of 15

“among”

G1722

"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc

ὑμῖν14 of 15

“you”

G5213

to (with or by) you

εἰσιν15 of 15

“there are”

G1526

they are

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of 1 Corinthians. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

1 Corinthians 1:11 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to 1 Corinthians 1:11 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Proverbs 18:62 Timothy 2:23-251 Timothy 6:4Galatians 5:262 Corinthians 12:20Genesis 37:2

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