I Corinthians 4: 6-13: "Fighting Pride"
Paul gets to the root of the Corinthians' problem by calling out their pride. The reason for the factionalism and division in the church was the individual pride of the members of the church. MacArthur writes, "They were proud of their human wisdom and proud of their human leaders. It was the worldly, carnal pride that caused the serious divisions that plagued the church". To begin, Paul writes, "Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes". By "these things", Paul is referring to the illustrations of farmers, builders, and servant-stewards he had mentioned throughout the beginning of this letter. What he is trying to do is build a picture for them of what a true godly leader is supposed to look like. He is writing for their sakes, and wants them to imitate them. His desire is "that in us you might learn not to exceed what is written, in order that no one of you might become arrogant in behalf of one against the other". Although we are to have respect for those that God puts in authority over us, and we are to honor those men that lead us spiritually, we are never to let them attain a place of glory and worship that belongs to God. The Corinthians had exceeded what was written, they had gone beyond what scripture had told of them in regards to praising their leaders. MacArthur writes, "When loving gratitude and legitimate loyalty are contaminated with pride and conceit, Christ's church is fractured and weakened. What God intends as a means of unity Satan turns into a means of division". Factions had been born in Corinth from an unscriptural regard for the leaders. The individuals at Corinth had let pride enter their church and their hearts and caused them to lift up their leaders above the proper place. MacArthur points out, "The leaders were not a party to their glorification but were simply used as a focal point for the Corinthians' own pride. In fact, the humble example of their leaders was rejected; thus Paul had to remind them of his own humility and that of Apollos".
Paul then goes into a series of questions which will lead them to understand their pride. He begins, "for who regards you as superior?". Paul probes with the question of why they think they are better, or more superior than everyone else. What makes them think that their leader is better than anyone else. Haven't you all been redeemed by the same God? Don't you think it is foolish to think that somehow you are inherently better than others who have been created by the same God? Paul goes on to ask, "And what do you have that you did not receive?" Could the Corinthians honestly say that anything they had came from human effort? As a believer, they would have to understand that all they have is from God and is ultimately owned by God. MacArthur writes, "Christians have been given even more. We have salvation, eternal life, God's presence within us, His Word, His spiritual gifts, His love, and countless other blessings for which we have done nothing and can do nothing". Lastly, Paul confronts them with this question, "But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it". Paul is assuming that the Corinthians would have to honestly answer his previous question with the understanding that all they have comes from God. With that being the case, Paul is asking them how foolish it would be then to act as if they had earned it, or created it. Why are they boasting about things which they had no control over? MacArthur explains, "the whole foundation of their boasting was nothing more than a fabrication of their pride. Nothing is more self-deceitful than pride. We are inclined to believe almost anything about ourselves if it is favorable". Therefore, what we see is Paul getting them to see how foolish their behavior is. He can get them to agree at each point with him and then take them on a journey to look themselves in the mirror and have to admit they had been prideful and foolish, just as Paul was accusing them.
To further his point, and possibly show some of his abhorrence of their behavior, Paul will not drive his point home even more with some sarcasm. He begins, "You are already filled, you have already become rich, you have become kings without us". They had been acting like they already knew it and had it all, so Paul talks with them as if they did know everything. The Corinthians did not hunger and seek after more of God and of righteousness, rather, they were quite happy with their current state. They had arrived, according to themselves. The sarcasm continues as Paul writes, "and I would indeed that you had become kings so that we also might reign with you". Again, since the Corinthians had apparently done it all and had everything they needed without Paul and Apollos, Paul refers to them as Kings. MacArthur writes, "At that point the sarcasm is modified, and Paul changes from reprimand to reflection. I would indeed that you had become kings so that we also might reign with you. Paul wished that it were really coronation time for all of them. if the Millennium had truly begun, they would have had true glory, shared with them by the Lord, and would truly be reigning with Him-- and with Paul and Apollos. But that was not the case. The Corinthian believers were not reigning, and they had no cause at all to glory".
To humble them, and convict them of their actions Paul wants them to see the humility of the one's who had lead them in the truth. He writes, "For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death". God had made examples of these godly men who had brought others to know him. As if sentenced to die and made as a show to others, God has brought these men out to reveal His glory and power. The apostles were great examples of what it truly means to die to self and take up their cross. He continues, "we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men". MacArthur writes, "During the millennial kingdom the twelve apostles will reign with Christ on earth. They will 'sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel' (Matt. 19:28). But when they ministered on earth they did anything but rule. They became a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. They were ridiculed, spit upon, imprisoned, beaten, mocked, and generally treated like criminals. Then they were last; but in Christ's coming kingdom they will be first".
Not only were they made spectacles before men, Paul writes, "we are fools for Christ's sake, but you are prudent in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor". To further show them their foolishness and convict them of their sinful ways, Paul exclaims that those they had followed and learned about Christ under are the one's who had been treated as fools for following Christ. They had been made week and mocked. The Corinthians, however, loved human wisdom and philosophy, they tried to maintain their dignity and not look foolish in the sight of the world. They went out of their way to maintain their social standing and their pride, while the apostles became fools for the sake of Christ. Paul was continuing to heap the embarrassment and guilt on them they probably had already felt by this time.
Paul also brings suffering to their attention. "To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless". Again, Paul is showing them the apostles lowly standards. They are the examples, they are the ones suffering for Christ. MacArthur points out, "While the Corinthian believers were living like kings, the apostles were living like slaves. The apostles had come to know firsthand the meaning of Jesus words, 'the foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head' (Matt. 8:20)". Paul continues, "we toil, working with our own hands". Paul and the other leaders of Corinth had worked hard, they had given their all in the work of Christ, and here the Corinthians were boasting and bragging about their leaders and who brought them to Christ. Paul is showing them that if they truly were honoring and lifting up the very leaders who brought them to Christ, they would follow in their example of them, which was to die to self, be humble, and suffer.
Paul brings their conduct and actions into the light, "When we are reviled we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; when we are slandered, we try to conciliate". The concern of the apostles was to do Christ's will. They understood that when they became followers of Christ they must respond as He did. Whenever they faced tough circumstances they did everything in their power to respond properly. This was another cut into the hearts of the readers as they know they had responded poorly when they had been persecuted or slandered. The very fighting and division among them had proven that. Lastly, Paul hits rock bottom and writes, "We have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now". Paul was contrasting himself, Apollos, and the other apostles with the Corinthian believers. They looked to be on top and boast of what they had, while the apostles recognized their true condition as scum apart from Christ. MacArthur writes, "We are not scum and dregs in God's sight, but we are nevertheless servants and stewards. Therefore neither in the world's eyes nor in God's eyes do we have reason to boast in ourselves. That which the Lord loves in His servants, and that which eventually will bring them reward and glory, is a humble and obedient spirit". At this point, the Corinthian readers, as well as ourselves, should feel convicted and ashamed for our behavior. We should truly recognize our pridefullness and see ourselves for what we truly are, and by that be both humbled and thankful to God for giving us all He has.
Paul then goes into a series of questions which will lead them to understand their pride. He begins, "for who regards you as superior?". Paul probes with the question of why they think they are better, or more superior than everyone else. What makes them think that their leader is better than anyone else. Haven't you all been redeemed by the same God? Don't you think it is foolish to think that somehow you are inherently better than others who have been created by the same God? Paul goes on to ask, "And what do you have that you did not receive?" Could the Corinthians honestly say that anything they had came from human effort? As a believer, they would have to understand that all they have is from God and is ultimately owned by God. MacArthur writes, "Christians have been given even more. We have salvation, eternal life, God's presence within us, His Word, His spiritual gifts, His love, and countless other blessings for which we have done nothing and can do nothing". Lastly, Paul confronts them with this question, "But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it". Paul is assuming that the Corinthians would have to honestly answer his previous question with the understanding that all they have comes from God. With that being the case, Paul is asking them how foolish it would be then to act as if they had earned it, or created it. Why are they boasting about things which they had no control over? MacArthur explains, "the whole foundation of their boasting was nothing more than a fabrication of their pride. Nothing is more self-deceitful than pride. We are inclined to believe almost anything about ourselves if it is favorable". Therefore, what we see is Paul getting them to see how foolish their behavior is. He can get them to agree at each point with him and then take them on a journey to look themselves in the mirror and have to admit they had been prideful and foolish, just as Paul was accusing them.
To further his point, and possibly show some of his abhorrence of their behavior, Paul will not drive his point home even more with some sarcasm. He begins, "You are already filled, you have already become rich, you have become kings without us". They had been acting like they already knew it and had it all, so Paul talks with them as if they did know everything. The Corinthians did not hunger and seek after more of God and of righteousness, rather, they were quite happy with their current state. They had arrived, according to themselves. The sarcasm continues as Paul writes, "and I would indeed that you had become kings so that we also might reign with you". Again, since the Corinthians had apparently done it all and had everything they needed without Paul and Apollos, Paul refers to them as Kings. MacArthur writes, "At that point the sarcasm is modified, and Paul changes from reprimand to reflection. I would indeed that you had become kings so that we also might reign with you. Paul wished that it were really coronation time for all of them. if the Millennium had truly begun, they would have had true glory, shared with them by the Lord, and would truly be reigning with Him-- and with Paul and Apollos. But that was not the case. The Corinthian believers were not reigning, and they had no cause at all to glory".
To humble them, and convict them of their actions Paul wants them to see the humility of the one's who had lead them in the truth. He writes, "For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death". God had made examples of these godly men who had brought others to know him. As if sentenced to die and made as a show to others, God has brought these men out to reveal His glory and power. The apostles were great examples of what it truly means to die to self and take up their cross. He continues, "we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men". MacArthur writes, "During the millennial kingdom the twelve apostles will reign with Christ on earth. They will 'sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel' (Matt. 19:28). But when they ministered on earth they did anything but rule. They became a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. They were ridiculed, spit upon, imprisoned, beaten, mocked, and generally treated like criminals. Then they were last; but in Christ's coming kingdom they will be first".
Not only were they made spectacles before men, Paul writes, "we are fools for Christ's sake, but you are prudent in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor". To further show them their foolishness and convict them of their sinful ways, Paul exclaims that those they had followed and learned about Christ under are the one's who had been treated as fools for following Christ. They had been made week and mocked. The Corinthians, however, loved human wisdom and philosophy, they tried to maintain their dignity and not look foolish in the sight of the world. They went out of their way to maintain their social standing and their pride, while the apostles became fools for the sake of Christ. Paul was continuing to heap the embarrassment and guilt on them they probably had already felt by this time.
Paul also brings suffering to their attention. "To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless". Again, Paul is showing them the apostles lowly standards. They are the examples, they are the ones suffering for Christ. MacArthur points out, "While the Corinthian believers were living like kings, the apostles were living like slaves. The apostles had come to know firsthand the meaning of Jesus words, 'the foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head' (Matt. 8:20)". Paul continues, "we toil, working with our own hands". Paul and the other leaders of Corinth had worked hard, they had given their all in the work of Christ, and here the Corinthians were boasting and bragging about their leaders and who brought them to Christ. Paul is showing them that if they truly were honoring and lifting up the very leaders who brought them to Christ, they would follow in their example of them, which was to die to self, be humble, and suffer.
Paul brings their conduct and actions into the light, "When we are reviled we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; when we are slandered, we try to conciliate". The concern of the apostles was to do Christ's will. They understood that when they became followers of Christ they must respond as He did. Whenever they faced tough circumstances they did everything in their power to respond properly. This was another cut into the hearts of the readers as they know they had responded poorly when they had been persecuted or slandered. The very fighting and division among them had proven that. Lastly, Paul hits rock bottom and writes, "We have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now". Paul was contrasting himself, Apollos, and the other apostles with the Corinthian believers. They looked to be on top and boast of what they had, while the apostles recognized their true condition as scum apart from Christ. MacArthur writes, "We are not scum and dregs in God's sight, but we are nevertheless servants and stewards. Therefore neither in the world's eyes nor in God's eyes do we have reason to boast in ourselves. That which the Lord loves in His servants, and that which eventually will bring them reward and glory, is a humble and obedient spirit". At this point, the Corinthian readers, as well as ourselves, should feel convicted and ashamed for our behavior. We should truly recognize our pridefullness and see ourselves for what we truly are, and by that be both humbled and thankful to God for giving us all He has.
posted by amesfam | 5:24 PM
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