14 I’m not writing this to shame you, but to warn you as my dear children. 15 For you may have countless instructors in Christ, but you don’t have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me. 17 This is why I have sent Timothy to you. He is my dearly loved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you about my ways in Christ Jesus, just as I teach everywhere in every church.
18 Now some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk, but the power of those who are arrogant. 20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. 21 What do you want? Should I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?
Reflection
Many times, I find myself using the internet to access biblical resources. Years ago, I used real bibles that you can hold in your hands, differing translations, Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, books, and multiple dictionaries. For this scripture I picked The New Interpreter’s Study Bible, NRSV, with Apocrypha for some background. Nice for a change.
In 4:7-13 Paul speaks to the irony of the Corinthian’s vainglory asking rhetorically, “who says that you are better than anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you received it, then why are you bragging as if you did not receive it? We are fools for Christ, but you are wise through Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, but we are dishonored!
Up to this very moment we are hungry, thirsty, wearing rags, abused, and homeless. We work hard with our own hands. When we are insulted, we respond with a blessing; when we are harassed, we put up with it; when our reputation is attacked, we are encouraging. We have become the scum of the earth, the waste that runs off everything, up to the present time.”
Paul became the Corinthians’ father in the faith when he first came and preached to them. That some of the Corinthians were now acting like they were going to reign over others less prominent, or wealthy, and as super believers, was simply wrong minded. They were placing their personal satisfaction above faithfulness to God. They were not saying, I follow Christ first and foremost and for that reason you can trust and follow me as an example.
God’s Kingdom is accompanied with visible power and authority not merely verbal declarations (4:20). Paul’s desire for the Corinthians was that they be convinced by the truth of his words and the conviction of the Holy Spirit so that he did not have to resort to extreme disciplinary measures.
by Clarence Beverage
For Pondering and Prayer
Is your assessment of what it means to live as a disciple of Christ based on the Bible? Or is it based on worldly assumptions and viewpoints?
Are you willing to be dishonored for Christ?
If you are put down or looked on as foolish or silly for your Christian faith, do you respond graciously or might you repay evil with evil?
Prayer: Holy Lord God, strengthen us with power through your Spirit. Help us to grasp how wide, long, high, and deep is the love of Christ. Through the strength of your Spirit may our love become stronger, our knowledge greater, and our insight deeper, as we follow you. Amen.
