1 Corinthians 1:12 (ASV)

Passage

Now this I mean, that each one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos: and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.

Nearby Context

1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, through 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 perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

1 Corinthians 1:11 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.

1 Corinthians 1:12 Now this I mean, that each one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos: and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized into the name of Paul?

1 Corinthians 1:14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, save Crispus and Gaius;

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "mean", "each", "saith", "paul", "apollos", "cephas", and "christ". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "mean" and "each", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 11's "For it hath been signified unto me..." into verse 13's "Is Christ divided was Paul crucified for...", so "mean" and "each" belong inside that flow. In 1 Corinthians context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "mean" and "each" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.