1 Corinthians 1:11

The appeal above made implies a serious charge; now the authority for it: “For it has been signified to me about you, my brothers, by the (people) of Chloç”. ἐδηλώθη (see parls.) implies definite information, the disclosure of facts. οἱ Χλόης, “persons of Chloç's household” children, companions, or possibly slaves (cf. Romans 16:10): there is nothing further to identify them. “Chloç is usually considered a Cor [139] Christian, whose people had come to Eph.; but it is more in harmony with St. Paul's discretion to suppose that she was an Ephesian known to the Cor [140], whose people had been at Cor [141] and returned to Eph.” (Ev [142], Hf [143]). “Chloç's people” are distinct from the Cor [144] deputies of 1 Corinthians 16:17, or Paul would have named the latter here; besides, Stephanas was himself the head of a household. Χλόη (Verdure) was an epithet of the goddess Demeter, as φοίβη of Artemis (Romans 16:1): such names were often given to slaves, and. may have been a freedwoman of property (Lt [145]). “That strifes exist among you” (cf. 1 Corinthians 3:3; 2 Corinthians 12:20) was the information given; these ἔριδες, the next ver. explains, were generating the σχίσματα (see note on 10).

[139] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.

[140] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.

[141] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.

[142] T. S. Evans in Speaker's Commentary.

[143] J. C. K. von Hofmann's Die heilige Schrift N.T. untersucht, ii. 2 (2te Auflage, 1874).

[144] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.

[145] J. B. Lightfoot's (posthumous) Notes on Epp. of St. Paul (1895).