I Corinthians 4:14-21

 I Corinthians 4:14-21

Paul will conclude his comments concerning the divisive state of the church and those who are causing it with an invitation and a warning. Church discipline always has as its primary objective restoration, but there is a secondary objective, which is to protect the church as a whole from these evildoers. This will become evident in the next chapter more thoroughly. While the church at Corinth may have a wealth of teachers, many of whom would have been the source of the division, there was only one who cared for them like a father. Paul said they had many “tutors” (NASV) or “guardians” (NIV). A slave most often filled the role of tutor. a reference back to under rower and steward in verse one. This slave’s life was not so demeaning as the under rower and less exalted and honored than the steward. The Greek word for tutor is a compound word that comes from the combination of “boy” and “guide”. The tutor was sort of a mammy, but also a teacher, and did have the authority to discipline; he was nevertheless only a guide for the boy. When the boy was mature, the tutor would have no authority. Paul, in contrast, is their loving father. No tutor ever came close to the father in terms of authority. Paul is calling his children to follow his example, and he is about to address those uppity teachers. First by sending them an older brother, Timothy, which they will ignore, and then by coming to them personally and directly dealing with these troublemakers.

Paul’s absence has prompted some of these teachers to become “arrogant” or literally “puffed up.” They believe they could live without a day of reckoning. They did not expect Paul to come, and if he did come, they did not expect much from him. They were betting everything on Paul’s perpetual absence. Paul warns that, with the Lord's permission, he will in fact come, and when he does, it will not simply be a verbal chastisement. While not specific about what will happen, Paul says there will be a demonstration of the power of these usurpers. He will respond with a demonstration of his power in ministry. Which will prove that these usurpers really have nothing. On two occasions, apostles had, by the power of God, confronted evil people with disastrous results for the evil persons. Ananias and Sapphira, when confronted by Peter, died, and Elymas was struck blind before Paul. When it comes to those who divide the church, way too often we cower and retreat rather than confront and call for repentance. Congregations so infected rarely recover.

“Lord, make me afraid of creating division within the church, knowing there will be a day of judgment.  AMEN”

I Corinthians 4:6-13

 I Corinthians 4:6-13

Neither Paul nor Apollos was head of one of the sects in Corinth. But he is unwilling to even name the scandalous people who are. We are not sure what writings Paul is referring to; perhaps, general advice of scripture for humility. It is worth noting, though, that Paul does view scripture, not human leaders, as the authority to guide disciples.

Paul asked the fundamental question of, “Who regards you as superior?” The inquiry is not to gain a list but to refer to the idiocy of arrogance in the religion of grace. All of our lives are formulated on grace. The free gift of God is why we are saved and part of the community of faith. Since it is by grace, there is no room for the arrogance that drives these divisions.

In the verses that follow, Paul’s irony drips and pours out. He contrasted and compared the Corinthians and apostles with kings and condemned prisoners. If the sect leaders were so great, why don’t they use their influence to release the apostles and make things better for the church? Paul describes the apostles as spectacles. This is a reference to the Romans using POWs as entertainment in the gladiatorial games. A gruesome show for the whole world to watch and mock. The Corinthians were self-appointed big shots; the apostles were disposable entertainment.

Paul describes the hard life of an apostle in verses 11 through 12. Two key descriptions deserve special attention in verse 11. Paul says that we are “roughly treated.” The word literally means to strike with the fist. The word was used to describe the beating of a slave. This was no attempt at physical intimidation but physical abuse and destruction. This was not a metaphor for Paul; this was the reality of the work of an apostle. Later in verse 13, Paul says that we are slandered. While that may not seem like a big deal to us, in Greek culture it was massively important. Aristotle said the greatest virtue was to be great-hearted or to have a great soul. This characteristic is displayed by refusal to bear with an insult. In the culture of the Greeks, an insult was a just cause for war. No doubt this was the source of the great evil of their sect and division. Paul says his response was to “console,” which means to call near to comfort or to plead with a person. Paul expects that in the kingdom, the greater the service, the more you will be treated like scum or dirt by the world. Attempting to climb the world’s ladder of power will not work for the disciple. God's value system is completely different.

“Lord, help me never to imagine I am anyone’s superior. AMEN”

I Corinthians 4:1-5

 I Corinthians 4:1-5

How wicked is division in the church? Of the 16 chapters of this book, four are dedicated to addressing the issue of division, and those are the first four chapters. At the root of this, and every division, is arrogance. You will never find a fractured church without finding an emotionally damaged or immature, arrogant person or two. At Corinth these people were setting themselves up against and over the apostolic authority and leadership in the person of Paul. As Paul asserts his role, he does so not in terms of position but in terms of service. The term he uses, “service,” in verse one literally means under-rower ; it describes a slave on the lowest level of an oar-powered ship. This was one of the worst slave positions in all of the ancient world. It was a death sentence but not a fast death. No slave could ever be lower than the under rower. The other term Paul used was steward. Stewards generally, but not always, were slaves as well. This was the highest position a slave could have. The steward ran the estate, and next to the owner was the ultimate authority. Think of Joseph running Potiphar's house in Egypt. While such a slave enjoyed a relatively good life, they were also responsible for everything. If anything, anywhere, went wrong, it was a steward who would be held accountable. From this, Paul points out who he is in terms of service to God. And He is not concerned about the judgments people may level against Him. As a steward, Paul doesn’t care what public opinion is. As a slave/steward, he doesn’t bother himself with the opinion of anyone other than his master. He doesn’t even care if he feels good about himself. Self-esteem is a fool’s game. The steward, the disciple, Paul, and the Corinthians are to only be concerned about God’s opinion and judgment.

Paul makes a point in verse five about the timeliness of judgments. We are prone to assume that our opinion of the current situation is the fact and the ultimate reality of that situation. The way things appear at any moment may or may not be the reality that is ultimately true. Paul holds up the coming judgment of the Lord as a standard and objective for which we need to wait. On that day we will find many humble servants in very non-prestigious works receiving great praise from God. And we will find more famous and lauded ministers who receive not praise but only condemnation.

“Lord, help me to be both in action and attitude to be a servant. AMEN