1Corinthians Chapter Four

 

Paul is responding to the criticism of himself by the Corinthians, and their comparison of Apollos and himself as ministers of God’s word. He is contemptible of their attitudes of criticism of him, not because he is above evaluation, but  he just will not accept any judgment by them of his heart attitudes, which he cannot even judge himself - as he leaves this to The Lord. He is not justifying himself here because he admits in verse one that as a steward of God’s word he is accountable. He draws the line between the appropriate kind of competency evaluation and their kind of character evaluation.

This is where his wit and humor come to the fore, a he caricatures the self satisfied image they have of their own success as Christians. He says to them in verse 8 ‘Now you act as if you have everything you need, and you’re wealthy and you live like kings. I wish to God that you were kings so that we could share in some of your royal treasure. ‘

Paul then contrasts his rag tag lifestyle of hardship to their lifestyle of opulence and self satisfaction. He is not so much recommending his lifestyle as being more sanctified as he is warning them not to judge inner qualities by external perceptions of success.

He follows this by saying that his inner life of contentment in his currently tough lifestyle (it wasn’t always like that - Philippians 4:12 ‘…I know how to be abased and how to abound etc…’), reflects the inner strength of being in partnership with Jesus. And this is what he recommends to them. He states this clearly in verse 17 ‘To help you to be able to live this way I have sent Timothy to you, who is like a son in The Lord to me. He will remind you of how I think and believe and live out my faith, which is a life of partnership with Jesus. And that is what I teach people everywhere I go.’

The chapter finishes with Paul warning the Corinthians that when he comes to them he will see just what they are made of, compared to their high sounding talk. He throws down the gauntlet and offers them the option of changing their hearts and accepting him as their ‘father’ in Christ who will be kind and gentle to them. Or, he tells them, they can harden their hearts towards him, in which case he will bring fatherly discipline to bear on them when he comes.

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1  CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 4- CONTEMPORARY ALIGNED VERSION (SPIRITCODE)



1. People should consider us as being commissioned by Christ to manage and convey the revealed mysteries of God.


2. And we are well aware that we have to be seen as being faithful and competent in fulfilling that task.


3. But I am not concerned in the least about your personal criticism of my character, or anyone else’s criticism of me. I don’t even try to judge myself.


4. Because I am not the judge of my own heart - and this is not meant as a self justification. But the one who judges me is The Lord.


5. So the right thing is not to judge anything before the time of final judgment when The Lord returns and brings everything into the open that is now under cover. He will make it clear to everyone as to what is in their hearts. Then everyone will be assessed accurately and approved of accordingly.


6. I have used Apollos and myself as examples for you in this illustration so that you can learn from the way we think about ourselves, not to esteem men so inappropriately, so that none of you become proud by attaching yourself to this person or that person.


7. After all who created you different to other people? And where did you get whatever you have that sets you apart? And if that had to be given to you, why do you become proud and arrogant because of that, as if you created any of the personal distinctives that you might possess.


8. Now you act as if you have everything you need, and you’re wealthy and you live like kings. I wish to God that you were kings so that we could share in some of your royal treasure.


9. Because I think that God has put us apostles at the end of the line, as if we were destined to be picked out for killing off, because we look like clowns in the eyes of the world, in front of the angels and in front of men.


10. We appear as stupid because of Christ, but you look intelligent. We look pathetic but you look stunning. People honor you but they despise us.


11. Even as I write this we have been without proper food and drink and can scarcely clothe ourselves. We have even been beaten up, and we have no place to live.

12. We work hard with our hands, and when we get ridiculed by people we just bless them back. If they persecute us we just put up with it.


13. When we are insulted by people we speak kindly back to them. We are treated like trash and the leftover scraps all the time.


14. I’m not saying all this just to make you feel ashamed, but as people who are like family to me I am reminding you


15. That though you might have ten thousand people who can teach you wise principles, you don’t have many who can be like fathers to you, because the Word of God that I brought to you brought you into the faith of the new life you now live.


16. So I urge you to live out your lives with the same mind and heart that I do.


17. To help you to be able to live this way I have sent Timothy to you, who is like a son in The Lord to me. He will remind you of how I think and believe and live out my faith, which is a life of partnership with Jesus. And that is what I teach people everywhere I go.


18. I hear that some of you are on your high horse, saying that I can’t be bothered coming to see you.


19. But I will come as soon as I can, and as The Lord makes way for me. Then I will hear more than just the words of those that are high and mighty, but I will see what you are really made of.


20. For the Kingdom of God is not just talk, it is a dynamic force.


21. What would you prefer – that I come to discipline you, or that I come in love and gentleness? It’s up to you.

                                                                                                                                                   
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