Now I urge you, brothers, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you should all speak in agreement and that there should be no divisions among you, but that you may be completely united in the same mind and in the same line of thought. (1 Corinthians 1:10)
Albert Barnes on 1 Corinthians 1:10
“That ye all speak the same thing – “That ye hold the same doctrine” – Locke. This exhortation evidently refers to their holding and expressing the same religious sentiments, and is designed to rebuke that kind of contention and strife which is evinced where different opinions are held and expressed. To “speak the same thing” stands opposed to speaking different and conflicting things; or to controversy, and although perfect uniformity of opinion cannot be expected among people on the subject of religion any more than on other subjects, yet on the great and fundamental doctrines of Christianity, Christians may be agreed; on all points in which they differ they may evince a good spirit; and on all subjects they may express their sentiments in the language of the Bible, and thus “speak the same thing.”
And that there be no divisions among you – Greek, σχίσματα schismata, “schisms.” No divisions into contending parties and sects. The church was to be regarded as one and indivisible, and not to be rent into different factions, and ranged under the banners of different leaders; compare Joh_9:16; 1Co_11:18; 1Co_12:25.
But that ye be perfectly joined together – ἦτε δὲ κατηρτισμένοι ēte de katērtismenoi. The word used here and rendered “perfectly joined together,” denotes properly to restore, mend, or repair that; which is rent or disordered Mat_4:21; Mar_1:19, to amend or correct that which is morally evil and erroneous Gal_6:1, to render perfect or complete Luk_6:40, to fit or adapt anything to its proper place so that it shall be complete in all its parts, and harmonious, Heb_11:5; and thence to compose and settle controversies, to produce harmony and order. The apostle here evidently desires that they should be united in feeling; that every member of the church should occupy his appropriate place, as every member of a well proportioned body, or part of a machine has its appropriate place and use; see his wishes more fully expressed in 1Co. 12:12-31.
In the same mind – νοΐ̀ noi; see Rom_15:5. This cannot mean that they were to be united in precisely the same shades of opinion, which is impossible – but that their minds were to be disposed toward each other with mutual good will, and that they should live in harmony. The word here rendered “mind,” denotes not merely the intellect itself, but that which is in the mind – the thoughts, counsels, plans; Rom_11:34; Rom_14:5; 1Co_2:16; Col_2:18. Bretschneider.
And in the same judgment – γνώμη gnōmē. This word properly denotes science, or knowledge; opinion, or sentiment; and sometimes, as here, the purpose of the mind, or will. The sentiment of the whole is, that in their understandings and their volitions, they should be united and kindly disposed toward each other. Union of feeling is possible even where people differ much in their views of things. They may love each other much, even where they do not see alike. They may give each other credit for honesty and sincerity, and may be willing to suppose that others “may be right,” and “are honest” even where their own views differ. The foundation of Christian union is not so much laid in uniformity of intellectual perception as in right feelings of the heart. And the proper way to produce union in the church of God, is not to begin by attempting to equalize all intellects on the bed of Procrustes, but to produce supreme love to God, and elevated and pure Christian love to all who bear the image and the name of the Redeemer.” (Albert Barnes)