1 Corinthians 4:9-21 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is 1 Corinthians 4:9-21. Let’s go!
1 Corinthians 4:9-13 (NIV)
9 For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men.
10 We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored!
11 To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.
12 We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;
13 when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.
On verses 9-13: Ironically, while the Paul groupies and Apollos groupies were using their alleged connection to Paul and Apollos to boast about themselves to others, Paul and his fellow apostles were themselves suffering a great deal for the gospel – going hungry and thirsty (v11), being treated brutally (v11), working tirelessly (v12) and often being insulted (v13) and persecuted (v12). It’s as if on one hand you have Paul and his fellow apostles who are the real deal, serving Christ and suffering for it, while at the same time there are a bunch of apostle wannabees who are more focused on making a name for themselves, talking about themselves a lot and doing a lot less for the kingdom. In some ways Paul is showing how different these groupies actually are from Paul, Apollos and other apostles.
What can we learn from this? Church planting is not easy. Paul compares being an apostle (a church planter) to being condemned to die in an arena (v9)! It includes living a life where you bless those who curse you, endure through persecution and struggle, and where you answer kindly when slandered (v10-13). I praise God for the brave men and women who went before me to plant the wonderful churches in Vancouver, Taipei and Toronto that I’ve gotten to be a part of. And being a church planter now myself, I can say that church planting is the toughest job I’ve ever done, but it’s also the most joyful and the most rewarding. The only things that give me more joy are being a husband to my wife Sharleen and a dad to my sons. But church planting is certainly not for the faint of heart.
1 Corinthians 4:14-16 (NIV)
14 I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you, as my dear children.
15 Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.
16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me.
On verses 14-16: Here Paul reaffirms his special relationship with the church in Corinth. Though the Corinthian Christians had many guardians, that is, leaders (presumably including pastors and teachers) who watched over them, Paul’s relationship was extraordinary in that he was the one who started the church and who led many of them to faith in Christ in the first place. In this way, he was a spiritual father to many in the church in Corinth. Not forgetting his role and special relationship with the church in Corinth, Paul urges them to imitate him.
What can we learn from this?
- Don’t take for granted the people God uses to lead you spiritually. Those special individuals are not idols to be worshiped, but they are gifts from God to be cherished and to praise God for.
- Being a church planter is a lot like being a parent. That’s why Paul, who planted the church in Corinth, says, “though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Jesus Christ I became your father through the gospel. Therefore I urge you to imitate me.” (v15-16)
- We all need Pauls in our lives, Christian leaders who can speak into our lives and model for us what it looks like to follow Jesus in our generation and culture.
1 Corinthians 4:17 (NIV)
17 For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.
On verse 17: Since Paul could not at the time be with the Corinthians personally, Paul decides to send his disciple and spiritual son Timothy to encourage the church in Corinth and to remind them of how Paul lived.
To me it’s a reminder that not only do we need someone like Paul, but we all also need Timothy’s in our lives, people whom we’re investing in, leading and raising up spiritually (v17), who can carry on the work of the kingdom in ways that we can’t personally.
1 Corinthians 4:18-21 (NIV)
18 Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you.
19 But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have.
20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.
21 What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a whip, or in love and with a gentle spirit?
On verses 18-21: While Paul was away from the church in Corinth, a number of people who loved to talk and who loved to be recognized as leaders had risen up in Paul’s absence. Paul tells the church in Corinth that he will be coming back to them soon, God willing, and can then see for himself if all the talking of these so-called leaders really amounted to anything real or of substance. Paul is essentially warning the church that they better shape up or get ready to be rebuked when Paul gets there.
It goes to show that following Jesus is never an individual pursuit. It’s always done in community, in relationship to people whom you can call spiritual fathers and mothers, spiritual sons and daughters, and spiritual brothers and sisters. That’s why you need to be well connected to a church family – not just by name, but in real life by attending regularly, joining a small group, and serving with your talents. You can talk on your own all you want, but the real power is in your connection with God and your connection with other believers.
Thank You Heavenly Father, for the people You have used in my life to lead me spiritually – the ones who planted the churches I got to be part of, who preached God’s Word to me, who prayed for me, who led me to Christ, and who built me up in my faith. I realize that those special individuals are not idols to be worshiped, but they are gifts from You that I cherish and praise You for. Thank You for making me to grow in a spiritual family. Since the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power, I pray that I would wear Jesus well for others and be used by You to reproduce a new generation of excellent, humble leaders for Your kingdom. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
