Chloe
“Verdure, fresh blooming, a tender shoot”
Summary
A woman, presumably a Christian, whose household members informed the apostle Paul about the divisions in the church at Corinth, prompting his first letter to address these factions.
☩Information About Corinthian Divisions
Paul states in 1 Corinthians 1:11 that he received word about contentions in the Corinthian church 'by them of Chloe' (ὑπὸ τῶν Χλόης). While the Corinthians had written to Paul consulting him about marriage, food offered to idols, and church order, they said nothing about the serious divisions plaguing the church. It was through Chloe's household that Paul learned of the factions claiming allegiance to Paul, Apollos, Cephas, or Christ (1 Corinthians 1:12).
☩Identity and Location
The phrase 'them of Chloe' likely refers to members of her household—probably Christian slaves, servants, or family members. Whether Chloe lived in Corinth or Ephesus (where Paul wrote the letter) is debated. If she resided in Ephesus, her people would have brought news after visiting Corinth. Her name (meaning 'verdure' or 'fresh blooming') was a classical Greek name sometimes given to slaves, leading to speculation she may have been a freedwoman of means.
☩Significance
Paul names Chloe's household to show he has authority for his allegations about Corinthian divisions, but he does not identify specific individuals to avoid creating hostility toward them. The report highlights that the church's problems were known publicly, though the Corinthians' own letter to Paul had tactfully avoided mentioning them. This transparency from Chloe's household enabled Paul to address the serious issues threatening the Corinthian congregation.
Related Verses1 mention
1 Corinthians· 1 verse
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Chloe," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. II (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Chloe," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).
- 3.James Hastings (ed.), "Chloe," in Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, vol. I (T. & T. Clark, 1915–1918).