Immediately after having reminded the church of the riches that they possess in Christ, Paul goes on to address the problem of divisions among them. The word that is translated here as appeal is the word parakaleo. It contains the idea of calling on someone, whether to encourage, admonish, teach, comfort or ask something from him.

When Paul asks the brothers to agree and to be united in the same mind and the same judgment, he does not mean that their opinion on every matter should be the same. Rather, he wants them to speak about things that are truly important, and to be united in their view of these things. He draws their attention to the one on whom their unity should be based: our Lord Jesus Christ.