5. The ‘subjective’ unity of the Spirit in love and hope has an ‘objective’ counterpart in the service of a common Lord, confessed by a common Creed sealed by a common Sacrament of incorporation.

εἶς κύριος. Cf. 1 Corinthians 8:6; 1 Corinthians 1:2 (where the confession of a common faith in Jesus Christ as Lord is recognized as a link between men ‘in every place’) and Romans 10:12 (where the distinction of Jew and Gentile is done away on the same ground).

μία πίστις. Cf. Titus 1:4 and 2 Corinthians 4:13. See also 2 Peter 1:1. Here ‘faith,’ which is one as resting upon and directed towards a common object, is practically identical with ‘Creed.’ See Westcott’s note in loc.

ἔν βάπτισμα. Baptism is seen as a unifying power in 1 Corinthians 12:13, and indirectly, but none the less effectively, in the indignant disclaimer in connexion with the rise of party divisions in 1 Corinthians 1:13.

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Old Testament