The apostles felt the necessity of strict unity, and they labored earnestly to this end. Paul exhorted his brethren in these words: “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” {4T 19.3}

Apostlene erkendte nødvendigheden af streng enhed og de arbejdede med alvor mod dette mål. Paulus formanede sine brødre med disse ord: »Men jeg formaner jer, brødre, ved vor Herre Jesu Kristi navn, at I alle skal være enige indbyrdes og at der ikke må findes splittelser iblandt jer, men at I skal være fuldt ud forenede i samme sind og samme overbevisning."