A STUDY OF FIRST CORINTHIANS

Chapter 4

Introduction: Previously Paul highlighted the type of preachers most people in the world would cozy up to. In this chapter Paul highlights what the true estimation of a preacher of God’s word ought to be.

Stewards of God's Wisdom 

Verse 1-2. Paul considered the preacher of the gospel as a servant of Christ. In that capacity the preacher is to exercise stewardship over the mysteries of God. As stewards they must exercise care in the proclamation of truth. God entrusted the gospel to them and wants such to be presented as He intended.  In this respect the preacher as a steward must be faithful. The message is not his, the glory is not his, and thus he must take care to show forth that such is the power of God (Rom. 1:16). This he does by using that which he has been entrusted properly.

Verse 3. What ever judgments the Corinthians had of Paul, he thought very little of. Some judged him too highly as head of the sect when they said “I am of Paul.” Others judged him to lowly when they denied his apostleship (1 Cor. 9; 2 Cor. 11:5-15). The world had passed judgment upon him. Some called him mad (Acts 26:24). Some said he was the cause of dissension and one who profanes sacred things (Acts 24:5-6). Paul insinuated that he did not trust human judgments, not even his own. Some preachers can be easily moved by the criticisms of men to alter their approach to preaching. Some would even compromise the truth of the gospel.

Verses 4-5. Paul was not aware of anything that he had done contrary to his charge as a steward of the gospel. Yet, he was not going to rely of his own good conscience to justify him. He deferred to the Lord’s judgment of him. Paul told the Corinthians to stop judging (not a total prohibition against judging as we see the need for judging conduct – Matt. 7:20). They were not to judge the intrinsic worth of a preacher. Such could only be known by looking at the heart. Some preachers do what they do out of covetousness (Tit. 1:10-11; 2 Pet. 2:3) and some with impure motives (Phi. 1:15-16). However, only God can know the true estimate of a preacher (1 Sam. 16:7). He will search the hearts and expose the deeds of darkness as He unveils the secrets of the heart. If there is any praise for the preacher, it will come from the Lord. He is the true and decisive Judge. His judgment is what really matters. Too often, people are moved by what other people think and say about them and care nothing about what God thinks or says about them.

Fools for Christ

Verse 6. The things that Paul had been mentioning up to now he had figuratively applied to himself and Apollos. This he did so as not to name the real troublemakers in Corinth. From that example the Corinthians needed to learn to stay within the confines of God’s own revelation. Those men who tried to beguile them with philosophy and the wisdom of men, they brought dissension by creating an atmosphere where pride and arrogance could be born. Such led to the division that was taking place in Corinth. Such division saw them pitting one man up against another.

Verses 7-8. Paul is asking the Corinthians a question they need to consider carefully. The following things Paul introduced to deflate their over blown egos. Some of them were puffed up one against the other. We will see how this manifested itself in greater detail later in the epistle. I believe that Paul is referring to the spiritual gifts that the Corinthians received. Included would be the various talents that each possesses. Not all preachers are eloquent and capable speakers. They have different abilities. The same is true for the other members in the congregation. In that context the question is asked. Who was it that differentiated them in gifts and abilities? If such came from their own personal efforts and hard work, they had reason to boast. Because such gifts and abilities were given by the will of the Spirit, the saints did not have any reason to boast, (1 Cor. 12:11). In their own minds, the Corinthians thought that they were spiritually full. They were becoming like the Laodiceans (1 Cor. 3:14-17). They were acting as if they had already arrived. Paul then exaggerates the sarcasm when he says that they reigned as kings without them. Here were people that began to think more of themselves spiritually than they should and looked down on the apostles and especially Paul. Paul was instrumental in their salvation and had to have laid hands on them to receive this miraculous power. In their minds they had surpassed the distinction of the apostles. Paul lets them know he wished they really were reigning so that he and the other apostles could reign with them.

Verses 9-10. In contrast to the Corinthians estimation of themselves, Paul gives an estimation of the apostles. Paul said that God has presented the apostles as lowly and doomed. In a way Paul is not exaggerating. The apostles had to endure hostilities, persecutions, beatings and even death. If they had this kind of exposure it is because God allowed it. The appointment for death is a way of saying that they were doomed. The Phrase “appointed for death” is translated from a single Greek word. The word often referred to condemned prisoners who went into the arena’s to fight the gladiators unarmed. If they survived one battle, they had to fight in the next. They were doomed. In this capacity, the apostles were made a spectacle to both men and angels. Spectacle is translated from a word from which we get our word “theater.” The apostles were a place for all to see their persecutions, trials and even deaths. All of this was happening to the men instrumental in bringing the gospel to the world while the Corinthians in their minds were sitting pretty. The apostles became fools for Christ. How? They left all to follow Him. They endured trials, persecutions and death. The world hated them. The world would consider what these men did to be apostles and teacher for Christ as foolish. Now while the apostles from a world view displayed foolishness, the Corinthians considered themselves wise. While the apostles displayed weakness, the Corinthians were strong. While the apostles subjected themselves to dishonor, the Corinthians considered themselves as people of distinction.

Verses 11-13. Because of the limited resources the apostles had, they had to do without. They went hungry and thirsty. They did not have adequate clothing. They were always being beaten and were without anywhere they could call home. Paul and his company often had to do secular work because he wanted to avoid the possibility of someone attaching false motives to his preaching. In all of this they continued to let Jesus be their shining example (1 Pet. 2:21-23). All in all the apostles were contemptible.

Paul’s Paternal Care

Verses 14-15. Paul’s intentions were not to embarrass or humiliate the brethren in Corinth with his admonishment of them. Such is similar to a parent’s reprimand of his child that may have subsequently brought embarrassment to the child, yet was intended to produce more acceptable behavior. Paul’s aim was the Corinthian’s repentance. He saw them as his own children and not as enemies. He sarcastically addresses the fact that they have been following and giving honor to a host of different teachers. However, they have but one father. In this illustration Paul intends to remind them of their origin. He insinuates that he should be given more respect than they are giving to him and the lessons that he is trying to teach them.

Verses 16-17. Paul wants them to imitate his ways in Christ (see 11:1). He is not saying to them to follow him as opposed to Cephas, Apollos, etc. He insinuates that his manner of life is consistent with the revelation of Christ. Thus, the Corinthians can learn of that way not  only by reading the things Paul wrote, but also by observing his conduct. For this reason Paul sent Timothy unto them. By hearing Timothy’s teaching and observing Timothy’s conduct they will understand the kind of conduct the Lord intends for them to have. Such conduct should be characteristic of all of God’s people. Though there were many congregations of Christians, God intended that they have uniformity in doctrine. Such is what made them churches of Christ (Rom. 16:16).

Verses 18-19. The Corinthians used the fact that Paul was not there as license to run wild. They were getting used to the idea that some among them were exercising control over the development of the congregation. They may have even used Paul’s delay as a source of greater pride and arrogance over the situation in Corinth (Matt. 24:45-51). Paul does not what them to get comfortable in their arrogance. He warns them that he will be coming to them shortly, if it is within the will of the Lord. At that time he will be able to distinguish those who truly demonstrate the power of God in their lives from those behave arrogantly.

Verse 20. The kingdom of God is established and expanded with the power of the gospel (Rom. 1:16; 1 Cor 1:18). It does not move forward with human wisdom nor does it progress with persuasive speech.

Verse 21. The Corinthians were able to determine the state of mind in which Paul would come to them. Would he have to deal strongly with them in the language of discipline or would he be gentle in his approach? The Corinthians would decide this by either heeding the things that Paul wrote or not. A congregation today can determine the manner in which a preacher might preach to them. As they progress in truth and abide in the word they would be privy to gentler sermons than if they continued to do things contrary to the word and will of God.