AS CHRIST'S SERVANTS. Paul goes back to the question of how much honor should be given to Christian teachers. Because of the almost divine honors which Greeks gave to the philosophers who were their leaders, Paul must tell them strongly that the apostles are only servants, not rulers. "Just clerks w... [ Continue Reading ]
IS THAT HE BE FAITHFUL. Paul was faithful in giving out God's secret truths, and he did this on the basis of their ability to understand (1 Corinthians 3:1; Hebrews 5:11-14). God's servant must be faithful (James 3:1). The false teacher accused Paul of being unfaithful, because after teaching the fi... [ Continue Reading ]
ABOUT BEING JUDGED BY YOU. It is God who will decide who has been faithful, not the Corinthians or any human being. ON MYSELF. That is, he himself has no right to set up a standard by which to pass judgment on himself. Only God has that right! [However, Paul does intend us to measure ourselves by Go... [ Continue Reading ]
MY CONSCIENCE IS CLEAR. He has no reason to feel unfaithful in what he has done at Corinth. But that DOES NOT PROVE. His self-approval is not proof. THE LORD. Only He has the right to judge! See Romans 14:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
SO YOU. This statement is not to be applied in general to everything, since neither church nor state could maintain order and peace, if rulers did not pass judgment on the disobedient. Two things stand out here: (1) The Corinthians were not to pass judgment on Paul's work as an apostle, until Jesus... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR YOUR SAKE, BROTHERS. To teach the lesson of humility, and to show how much honor ought to be given to a teacher, Paul used himself and Apollos as examples (see note on 1 Corinthians 3:5). OBSERVE THE PROPER RULES = Do not go beyond what is written. Paul gives the proper rules in 1 Corinthians 3:... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO MADE YOU SUPERIOR TO THE OTHERS? _MacKnight_ understands Paul to be speaking to the false teacher. "What gift do you have that wasn't given to you by God through we apostles? How, then, can you brag that you are superior to us?... [ Continue Reading ]
ALREADY YOU HAVE EVERYTHING! Paul speaks in _irony!_ "Your followers have made you rich with their gifts to you. You have ruled as a _king,_ and despise us. I would be happy if you were real kings and priests with Christ." SO THAT WE COULD BE KINGS TOGETHER. So that together with the apostles, they... [ Continue Reading ]
THE VERY LAST PLACE. Paul's experiences at Ephesus (1 Corinthians 15:32) probably make him think of this. See also 2 Corinthians 2:14. Paul is showing the Corinthians the contrast between the false teacher and the apostles. The false teacher had riches (1 Corinthians 4:8), while the true apostles su... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR CHRIST'S SAKE. What the apostles did, can only be explained by their LOVE for Christ! Paul speaks in irony, as he repeats what his enemies at Corinth were saying about him. In the same spirit of irony, he _honors_ them. If the apostles are_ fools,_ the Corinthians are _wise;_ if the apostles are... [ Continue Reading ]
TO THIS VERY HOUR. Compare what Paul says in these verses with Hebrews 11:32-40. He tells more about his suffering in 2 Corinthians 6:3-10.... [ Continue Reading ]
WE WORK HARD. See note on 1 Corinthians 9:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN WE ARE INSULTED. Paul always returned good for bad, as Jesus said to do (Matthew 5:44_; compare_ Romans 12:17-21). GARBAGE. SCUM. Paul is still using the symbolism of "men condemned to die in public" (1 Corinthians 4:9). It was the custom in Athens to offer a human sacrifice in times of crisis,... [ Continue Reading ]
I WRITE THIS TO YOU. Paul says he has not made this contrast between himself and the false teacher just to make them ashamed. Rather, he writes as a father to his own dear children, to instruct them in the truth.... [ Continue Reading ]
YOU HAVE ONLY ONE FATHER. PAIDAGOGOS = guardian, one who took care of a child from the time it was a baby, feeding, clothing, and teaching it, and taking it to and from school when it is that age. Paul is gently scolding them (compare Galatians 3:25). I HAVE BECOME YOUR FATHER. The teachers of the L... [ Continue Reading ]
FOLLOW MY EXAMPLE. Children imitate their parents. They should imitate their spiritual father, by humility and unselfishness.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THIS PURPOSE. Timothy was Paul's "son in the Lord" (Acts 16:1-3). Probably he was already on the way to Corinth (1 Corinthians 16:10), but this letter would arrive first. OF THE PRINCIPLES WHICH I FOLLOW. Paul's _new life in Christ Jesus_ was based upon the things taught in the Good News. Paul c... [ Continue Reading ]
SOME OF YOU. There were some at Corinth (in the church) who were hostile to Paul. He warns them not to see any weakness in the fact that he sends Timothy to them.... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THE LORD IS WILLING. We all should say THIS! Compare James 4:13-17. I WILL COME TO YOU SOON. Compare 1 Corinthians 16:7-8. Paul intends to come in person and to punish those who will not turn away from their sin [repent].... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD. Note the identity of church and Kingdom (compare Matthew 16:18). BUT OF POWER. As an apostle, Paul had the miraculous gifts from the Spirit, which included the power to punish.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH DO YOU PREFER? He is speaking to the false teacher and the group which follows him. The choice is theirs!!!... [ Continue Reading ]