"For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you." 1 Corinthians 1:11
Little is known about Chloe, but Paul called her by name. She was well known within the Corinthian community. The scripture that speaks her name supports the fact that Paul had many women as friends and that he esteemed them as co-heirs in the gospel. Even though women did not hold high places in secular society they were considered valuable and influential in the building up of the Christian church.
The city of Corinth was the political capital of Greece and the seat of its commercial and intellectual life. The city had a reputation not only for luxury but also for sexual immorality. Ancient Corinth had been the site of a temple of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, where hundreds of temple prostitutes exercised their trade. Many years after Corinth had been destroyed the Romans rebuilt the city with an influx of the Jewish population building a synagogue to worship God. It became a bustling cosmopolitan center with an excess of peoples, cultures, and religions.
The city grew extremely fast with people of many different ethnicities, cultures and beliefs, you can imagine the differences within the church and the conflicts that Paul faced in addressing the Corinthians. Through his letter to them he addresses the influences of their pagan culture. Paul was disturbed in hearing from some of the members of Chloe's household about believers disputes that threatened to divide the local body at Corinth.
The people in Chloe's home could have meant immediate members of her family, fellow-worshipers of the church meeting in her house, or servants belonging to her. Whether those in her home were involved in the disputes or relating details about the group to Paul is uncertain.
The more I study the women of the Bible it is clear to me the importance that they had in being a large part of helping in the building or rebuilding and caring for the people of God. Chloe was a respected member of a large community and also an active member of the church. That should motivate and encourage us as women to find our role in the body of Christ and work to make a difference in supporting our church family and community.
I love you & He loves you more!
Lord, Thank You for Chloe and her steadfast spirit. I pray that I would be a worker of Your people and help grow our church through love and compassion to anyone who visits. Thank You for blessing me with a warm and inviting home church that I love dearly. In Jesus' name. Amen.