Springs in the Hills, Rivers Parted by Continents

The Corinthian church fractured itself into competing factions—some claiming Paul, others Apollos—yet Maclaren observes that these two teachers were devoted friends whose admirers had become bitter enemies. He uses a striking geographical image: 'The springs lie close together up in the hills, the rivers may be parted by half a continent.' What begins as unity at the source becomes division at the mouth.…