Servants and Stewards of God
Study note
Paul defines how the Corinthians should regard him and the other apostles: as servants of Christ and stewards entrusted with God's mysteries. What matters in a steward is faithfulness, not popularity. Paul cares little about human judgments, even his own self-assessment, because the Lord alone will judge rightly when he comes and brings to light hidden motives. This teaching undercuts all faction-forming based on human evaluation.
1 Think of us this way: we are servants who work for Christ and have been put in charge of sharing God's hidden truths. Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
2 The one thing expected of someone in charge of something is that they be trustworthy. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
3 Whether you judge me or any human court judges me, it does not bother me much. I do not even put myself on trial. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.
4 My conscience is clean, but that alone does not prove me innocent. The Lord is the only one who can truly judge me. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.
5 So stop judging things ahead of time. Wait until the Lord returns. He will bring everything hidden in the dark out into the open and will show what people were truly thinking and wanting deep down. Then each person will get the recognition they deserve from God. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
The Danger of Pride
Study note
Paul applies these principles to himself and Apollos as examples, urging the Corinthians not to go beyond what is written or to become puffed up in favor of one leader against another. He uses biting irony: the Corinthians already feel full, rich, and kingly, while the apostles are like condemned men on display, hungry, beaten, homeless, and despised. When cursed, the apostles bless; when persecuted, they endure. This vivid contrast exposes the Corinthians' misplaced arrogance.
6 Friends, I have been using Apollos and myself as examples so you can learn a lesson from us: do not go beyond what the scriptures say. That way, none of you will get a big head and pick one leader over another. And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.
7 What makes you think you are better than anyone else? Everything you have was given to you. And if it was given to you, why act like you earned it yourself? For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?
8 You already think you have everything you need! You already think you are rich! You already think you are ruling like kings -- and without us! I wish you were ruling, so we could rule with you. Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.
9 But the way I see it, God has put us apostles on display like prisoners at the end of a parade, sentenced to die. The whole universe is watching us -- angels and people alike. For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.
10 We look like fools because of Christ, but you think you are so wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You get respect, but we get treated like dirt. We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.
11 Right up to this very hour, we go hungry and thirsty. Our clothes are worn out. We get beaten up. We have no place to live. Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;
12 We work hard with our own hands to earn a living. When people curse us, we respond with a blessing. When people attack us, we take it. And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
13 When people trash our names, we respond with kind words. Even now, we are treated like the garbage of the world -- like the goods people scrape off the bottom of their shoes. Being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.
Paul's Fatherly Appeal
Study note
Softening his tone, Paul explains he writes not to shame them but to warn them as his beloved children. Though they may have many instructors, they have only one spiritual father, since Paul brought them to Christ through the gospel. He urges them to imitate him and announces he is sending Timothy to remind them of his ways. He warns the arrogant that he will come soon to test not their words but their power, for the kingdom of God is demonstrated in power, not mere talk.
14 I am not writing this to make you feel bad. I am writing it because you are like my own children and I want to steer you in the right direction. I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.
15 You might have ten thousand tutors who teach you about Christ, but you do not have many fathers. Through the good news, I became your father in your relationship with Christ Jesus. For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
16 So I am asking you: live the way I live. Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
17 That is exactly why I am sending Timothy to you. He is like a son I love and trust in the Lord. He will remind you of the way I live for Christ, the same way I teach it in every church everywhere. For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.
18 Some of you have gotten truly full of yourselves, thinking I am not going to show up. Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you.
19 But if the Lord wants me to, I am coming soon. And when I get there, I will not listen to what those arrogant people say -- I will see if there is any real power behind their words. But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.
20 Because God's kingdom is not built on fancy speeches. It is built on power. For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
21 So what do you prefer? Should I come ready to discipline you, or should I come with love and a gentle spirit? What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?