1 Corinthians Chapter 4: Stewardship and Judgment and Inflated Egos
Jan 30th, 2010 | By admin | Category: 1 & 2 Corinthians, Verse by Verse --Studies led by Br. Frank Shallieu (Click on Book name)Paul commended those of Berea for hearing with all readiness of mind and then searching the Word of God before judging whether these things were so (Acts 17:10,11). He commended them for critically analyzing his teaching, even though he, an apostle, was doing the instructing. The Bereans tried to square Paul’s teachings with God’s Word. Thus we should not be concerned about what others may think. We need the whole Word of God, including the Old Testament, and should not specialize in just certain books of the Bible. An elder may be blessed with talents along one line, but he should not teach that all Christians are being judged on the level of that specialty.
Paul used constructive sarcasm in speaking of the attitude of the Corinthians—their boastings, their pride, their glory. They felt that they did not need anyone and that they were on their own, whereas there was much they still needed to learn, especially from an apostle. Paul said in effect, “Even now you are reigning as kings, yet at this present hour, we are having the opposite experience.” They thought that they were “full” and “rich” and at the mark of perfect love, and that now they could sit back on their laurels as mature Christians.
