church under pressure. When under pressure, a church can split into factions. There was no formal clergy or ordination process, so self-styled teachers could emerge, claiming to have wisdom. As each teacher promoted his brand of wisdom and gained a following, the community of believers was divided. In the New Testament church there were many problems with factions or a “party spirit” (see Acts 6; 1 Corinthians 1; see also Philippians 1:17; 2:3). Jesus taught that we would know true teachers from