MINISTERS OF CHRIST; not of man; whose main business therefore is not to please man, but God-compare verse 1 Corinthians 4:3 -and who are not to be set up as the heads of parties. STEWARDS OF THE MYSTERIES OF GOD; stewards were appointed by the head of a family to provide for them and superintend t... [ Continue Reading ]
Fidelity to God and to the souls of men, in rightly dispensing the truths of the gospel, and in enforcing them by a uniformly holy and consistent example, is required of all ministers of Christ.... [ Continue Reading ]
JUDGED OF YOU; in regard to my fidelity as Christ's steward. I JUDGE NOT MINE OWN SELF; he was not to be approved or condemned in the day of judgment according to his own decision, any more than that of his fellow-men.... [ Continue Reading ]
I KNOW NOTHING BEFORE THE TIME; namely, when the Lord shall come to judgment, as immediately afterwards stated. In the mean time they were not to decide upon and condemn the character of one another. HIDDEN THINGS OF DARKNESS; those which are not seen by men. COUNSELS OF THE HEARTS; desires, inten... [ Continue Reading ]
Our own judgment or that of men is not a sure or safe test of our fidelity. We may not see any violations of duty, and yet He who is omniscient may see many. Hence we have need to pray, each for himself, Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicke... [ Continue Reading ]
THESE THINGS; what I have said about glorying in men. IN A FIGURE TRANSFERRED TO MYSELF AND TO APOLLOS; to illustrate the facts and evils of their divisions into parties, he had named only Apollos and himself as set up for leaders among them. This he did to avoid giving offence by naming others who... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO MAKETH THEE TO DIFFER? as to talents, condition, character, or influence. RECEIVE; from God. WHY DOST THOU GLORY; in thyself or other men? For whatever excellence any one has, he is indebted to the grace of God; and he has no just cause to glory in himself, or to be gloried in by others.... [ Continue Reading ]
FULL-RICH; in their own estimation. REIGNED AS KINGS WITHOUT US; they imagined themselves possessed of great spiritual riches, knowledge, and power; able without the help of the apostles to succeed and prosper in their own way. YE DID REIGN; that ye were indeed as spiritually rich, great, powerful... [ Continue Reading ]
LAST; assigned to the lowest place as it regards shame and suffering, as if we were the vilest of men; "the filth of the world," and "the offscouring of all things," verse 1 Corinthians 4:13. APPOINTED TO DEATH; doomed to the endurance of trials and martyrdom. A SPECTACLE; of conflicts and sufferi... [ Continue Reading ]
WE ARE FOOLS; accounted fools by those who boast of their wisdom. FOR CHRIST'S SAKE; because we devote ourselves faithfully to the work of preaching Christ crucified, and seek only his honor. YE ARE WISE IN CHRIST; in your own esteem. It is not safe to judge of character by outward condition or by... [ Continue Reading ]
TO SHAME YOU; the apostle's severity had not for its object to overbear the Corinthians and put them to shame, but to correct their errors, as children dear to him.... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU; his preaching was the means of their regeneration; and as their spiritual father, it was proper for him to reprove, rebuke, and exhort them with affectionate plainness.... [ Continue Reading ]
BE YE FOLLOWERS OF ME; imitate my example as your spiritual father.... [ Continue Reading ]
MY WAYS; of teaching and living, in which he proposes himself as their example.... [ Continue Reading ]
SOME ARE PUFFED UP; elated with their imaginary importance and power, as if Paul would not dare to come to them.... [ Continue Reading ]
WILL KNOW; make trial of their power to withstand his teaching and influence.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE KINGDOM OF GOD; the reign of God in the hearts of men and in the church. IS NOT IN WORD; or continued by pompous declaration and vain boastings. BUT IN POWER; it consists in the power of God as manifested both in miraculous gifts, and in the awakening, enlightening, and renewing influences of... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT WILL YE? would they, by disregarding his instruction, make it needful to visit them with discipline; or would they, by complying with those instructions, open the way for him to commend them and share in their joy? Christian discipline should be maintained in all Christian churches. If any of t... [ Continue Reading ]