From the teaching 3/31/2012
Apostle Paul’s Letter to The Corinthians part IV
I Corinthians 4:1: Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
Steward (defined):
A. Administrators of the gospel truths of God.
B. Managers or overseers authorized to distribute
secret truths of God.
C. Trustees to handle God's uncovered truth.
2Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
The first and final requirement is that they should prove
trustworthy.
3But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.
4For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.
5Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
6And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.
A. I have used myself and Apollos above as an illustration.
B. So that you might learn from us what I have said about
us to keep to what is written.
C. So that you may stop boasting of one teacher against
another.
7For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?
A. What do you possess that has not been given you?
B. Why boast of it as if it were something you had
achieved yourself?
8Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.
A. Have you ascended your thrones without us to join you?
B. Have you already taken possession of your kingdom
without our help?
9For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.
Spectacle: GK. Theatron pronounced: (theh-at-ron)
-theater
-a place of public show
a. God has exhibited us Apostles at the very end of the
procession like criminals, condemned to die in the arena
like doomed gladiators.
b. For we are to be gazed upon in a theater by the
whole world, both men and angels.
10We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.
11Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;
12And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
13Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.
Offscouring:
A. We are considered the scum of the earth.
14I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.
15For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
Though you have many who offer their services as your
instructors, you have only one by whom you were converted
and who has parental feelings for you.
16Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
17For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.
18Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you.
Some are filled with self importance because they think I am
afraid to come and deal with you.
19But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.
I'll find out if these proud men are just big talkers
or whether they really have God's power.
20For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
For the kingdom of God does not consist
in talking empty words, but in Power.
21What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?
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