Paul wanted the Corinthian church to consider him and the rest to be servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God (v.1).
Moreover. it was required in stewards that one be found faithful. Paul considered a small thing that he was judged by them in a human court while he himself did not judge much nor judged himself. For he knew of nothing against himself, yet he was not judged by that, but by the Lord who judges all things (v.2-3).
Therefore the brethren should not judge anything before the time until the Lord comes, who will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each man’s praise will come from God (v.4-5).
Those things Paul had figuratively transferred to himself and Apollos for the Corinthians’ sake that they may learn in them not to think beyond what was written, that none of them may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other. For who made one differ from another? What did they have that they did not receive? If they did receive it, why should they boast as if they had not received it? (v.6-7).
The Corinth brethren were already full and already rich. They reigned as kings even without Paul and the rest. Sarcastically Paul said that he hoped that they were really rich, so that he and the rest might reign with them. Paul knew that God had displayed them apostles, last as men condemned to death, for they had been made a spectacle to the world both to angels and to men. They were fools for Christ’s sake but the Corinth brethren were wise and strong.
The Corinth brethren were distinguished but the apostles were dishonoured. The latter ones were hungry and thirsty and poorly clothed, being beaten and made homeless. They laboured, working with their own hands. Being reviled they blessed, being persecuted they endured, being defamed they entreated. They were made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things up to that time (v.8-13).
Paul did not write those things to shame the Corinth brethren but to warn them. For though they might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet they did not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus, Paul had begotten them through the gospel.
Therefore, he urged them to imitate him. For that reason, Paul sent Timothy to them, who was his beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who would remind them of Paul’s ways in Christ, as Paul taught everywhere in every church (v.14-17).
Some of the Corinth brethren were puffed up as if Paul was not coming to them, whereas he would come shortly if the Lord wills. He then would know not just the word of those who were puffed up but the power. For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. Paul asked them, “What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love a spirit of gentleness?” (v.18-19)
COMMENTARY
The church at Corinth had questioned the apostleship of Paul but he was called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God (1:1). Therefore Paul wanted the brethren to consider him and the rest as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God (v.1).
Stewards of the mysteries of God are those with the commission to preach and make the word fully known and fulfill the ministry which God entrusts to them (Col.1:25-26; Acts 20:24).
It was a small thing for Paul to be judged by the Corinth brethren; he himself did not judge himself though he knew of nothing against himself and yet was not justified. It was not for the brethren nor for himself to judge. For it is the Lord who judges him.
When He comes, He will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then shall each one’s praise come from Him. Therefore judge nothing before the time (v.2-5).
The Corinth brethren made self-centred comparison between Paul and Apollos, and favoured one against the other. Hence Paul and Apollos figuratively transferred the judgment of men in human courts to them because of such behaviour of theirs.
It seemed alright for them to judge both Paul and Apollos. But Paul said he did not even judge himself though he knew of nothing against himself, yet he was not justified. For it is the Lord who judges him. He shall bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts, when He comes. Then each one’s praise shall come from God.
In Paul and Apollos, the Corinth brethren should learn not to be puffed up on behalf of one against the other. For who made them differ from another? And what did they have that they did not receive?
If they indeed had received it, why did they boast as if they had not receive it? Often times when we show allegiance to a minister of Christ more than to another, we are puffed up on behalf of him against the other. Yet it is God who made us differ from another. And everything we have is received, so we ought not to boast as if we have not received it.
The Corinth brethren in their willingness to attribute wisdom and honour to themselves and their readiness to discriminate between their teachers were acting as if the kingdom of God was already complete. They were full and rich. They reigned as kings without the apostles.
But Paul used the fact that the apostles were presented as spectacle to the world as men condemned to death to tell that it was not so. The brethren were wise but the apostles were fools for Christ’s sake. They were strong but the apostles were weak. They were distinguished but the apostles were dishonoured.
Being both hungry and thirsty, and poorly clothed, beaten and made homeless, the apostles laboured, working with their own hands. Being reviled they blessed, being persecuted they endured, being defamed they entreated, and made as the filth of the world the off-scourging of all things (v.8-13).
Paul wrote those things not to shame the Corinth brethren but as a father to them in Christ through the gospel, he had written to them in an act of compassionate correction to warn them of the dangers inherent in their self-centred attitudes and to urge them to grow out of their immaturity by imitating him.
Furthermore he was sending Timothy his son whom he loved to them that they might learn to imitate him. Timothy will remind them of Paul’s way of life in Christ Jesus which agrees with the life-style he commends for all his children in every church (v.14-17).
Lest some among the brethren who were puffed up thought that Paul would not return to Corinth to confront and hold them accountable for their arrogance, he wrote that he will come to them shortly if the Lord wills. It was not just to know the word they said but to behold the power of God in the church. Would they want him to go to them with a rod or in love and a spirit of gentleness
TEACHINGS
Do not judge before the time. Leave all judgment to the Lord Jesus who shall judge all things with righteousness when He comes on the last day (Ps. 98:9; Rev. 20:11-15).
Examine ourselves in our faith and conduct. Even if we do not see anything evil and sinful in us, we should not deem ourselves as justified. Instead seek the Lord Jesus in prayers to search our hearts and see if there are any sin is us (Ps. 139:23-24). Pray that he will keep us from presumptuous sins (Ps. 19:12-13).
Do not be puffed up on behalf of one church minister against another, showing allegiance to one and not to the other. This self-conceited attitude and arrogance results in divisions among the brethren and causes splits in the household of God (I Cor. 1:11-13; 3:3-9).
Do not reckon that the kingdom of God is complete nor the church is already perfect. If we are rich and powerful with authority, and successful in our faith and careers, do not think we have run the race to completion and that we have gained the crown. Be humble to strive to enter the narrow door (Luke 13:24-30; 21:34-36).
Be wary of arrogance and self-conceit developing in us just because we attend an established Church and are taught the word by a learned minister. Do not boast on behalf of the church or the minister over the others nor have any superiority complex to judge the lack of spirituality and knowledge of the brethren from a less established church.
