For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.
Ver. 18. There be divisions] Gr. σχισματα, schisms, rents, yea, and that about the sacrament of the Lord's supper (that bond of love), through Satan's malice. Now there can be no greater sin committed, saith Chrysostom, than to break the peace of the Church. Cyprian saith, It is an inexpiable blemish, such as cannot be washed off with the blood of martyrdom. a The error of it may be pardoned (saith Oecolampadius in his epistle to the Lutherans of Snevia) so there be faith in Christ Jesus; but the discord we cannot expiate though we should lay down our lives to do it.
a Hom. 11. ad Ephes.