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1Corinthians 4

Thursday Evening Bible Study

June 25, 2014

Introduction

Do people see Jesus? Is the gospel preached? Does it address the person who is: Empty, lonely, guilty, or afraid to die?  Does it speak to the broken hearted? Does it build up the church? Milk – Meat – Manna Preach for a decision Is the church loved? Target 4400 words / 3500 words

In Paul's day, Corinth was the capitol of the province of Achaia (southern Greece), and was the most important city in Greece.

Corinth was quite the cosmopolitan city.  All merchant traffic flowing north and south, as well as east and west, flowed through Corinth.

Corinth was also the center of the world’s greatest immorality.

The Temple of Aphrodite stood on the hill overlooking the city, and every night 1,000 male and female prostitutes would come down into the city and encourage the citizens to “worship” the goddess of love.

Paul had established the church in Corinth in AD 51 on his second missionary journey.  He had spent 18 months teaching and building the church before moving on.

It is now AD 56, and Paul is across the Aegean Sea in the city of Ephesus.  He’s received a letter telling about the immorality, quarrels, and questions in Corinth.

Paul writes back.

4:1-5 Stewards

:1 Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

:1 consider – logizomai – to reckon, count, compute, calculate, count over

:1 servants – huperetes (“under” + “rower”) – servant; an under rower, subordinate rower; of the attendants of a king, the soldiers of a king

The word implies that another that is higher than you is giving the orders, and accept that this other person is superior to you.

The earliest use of this word was to describe the god Hermes, who was the messenger of Zeus.

Paul saw himself as one who was serving at the command of Christ, his superior.

:1 stewards – oikonomos (“house” + “rule”) – the manager of household or of household affairs

It’s like a money manager.

He takes care of your money, but it’s your money, not his.

It was used to denote a steward or manager to whom the head of the house or proprietor has entrusted the management of his affairs, the care of receipts and expenditures, and the duty of dealing out the proper portion to every servant and even to the children not yet of age

The main idea of a “steward” is someone who has been entrusted to take care of something.

:2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

:2 required in stewards that one be found faithful

faithful – pistos – trustworthy, faithful

If you give all your savings to a money manager, you don’t want him stealing your money.  You want him to make you money.

“Faithful” is the other side of “faith” (pistis).  “Faithful” is the person or thing you should put your “faith” in, someone who doesn’t disappoint you.

It’s someone you can count on.
Illustration

When you came in here tonight, you demonstrated “faith” (pistis) in your chair when you sat on it.  Even though you probably didn’t test it before sitting on it, you sat on it.

Your chair, if it held up under your weight, was “faithful” (pistos) because it proved you could count on it.

Lesson

Wanted:  Faithfulness

God is looking for people who keep their promises.
Video:  The Story of Ian and Larissa
When you are tempted to quit at something you’ve made a promise about, think of Ian and Larissa.
God wants stewards (us) to be faithful.
It’s been three years since they’ve gotten married, and they’re still at it.
I think this is a key to godly leadership.
There are other ways to become a leader in a church – some churches are looking for smart people, others for good looking people, others talented people.

I think the greatest quality is faithfulness.

I thought God had called me to be a senior pastor when I was eighteen.  It didn’t happen until I was 38.  During those twenty years, one of the passages that God used to keep me going was this –

(Luke 16:10–12 NKJV) —10 He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. 11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own?

God is looking for faithfulness.  Can He count on you to follow through and honor your commitments?  This includes your commitments to your spouse, your family, your job, your finances, your walk, and your ministry.

:3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.

:3 that I should be judged by you

:3 judged – anakrino – examine or judge; to investigate, examine, enquire into, scrutinize, sift, question; specifically in a forensic sense of a judge to hold an investigation

Paul was apparently being torn apart by his critics.

They apparently analyzed and scrutinized everything he did or said.
When people are trying to prove that “their pastor” (like the Apollos following) was better than your pastor, they will criticize every little detail.

This kind of criticism wasn’t important to Paul.

He apparently didn’t spend a lot of time reading the bad reviews he got in the newspaper.

:3 I do not even judge myself

Paul did not spend a lot of time worrying and hand wringing about things he did or said.

:4 For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord.

:4 I know – suneido – to see (have seen) together with others; to understand, perceive, comprehend,; to know with another; to know in one’s mind or with one’s self, to be conscience of

:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.

:4 I am not justified by this

justified – dikaioo – to render, show, or declare someone to be righteous or such as they want to be considered.

Though this word is often used by Paul to talk about being “justified” before God, as in being eternally saved, that’s not the only way this word is used.
Here, the issue is about whether or not Paul is justified as a true leader.

The fact that Paul didn’t know anything against himself gives me an indication that he did from time to time invest a little in self-examination.

And in his short time looking in the mirror, Paul was not aware of something that was a problem.
Paul realizes that his own self-examination wasn’t enough to declare him “problem-free”.

Sometimes we have huge blind spots in our lives and we can’t see our own problems.

:5 judge nothing before the time

Lesson

God’s opinion

Ultimately, it’s God’s opinion that counts, not ours.
David prayed,

(Psalm 139:23–24 NKJV) —23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.

I think we can overdo the analysis of people, ministries, and even ourselves.
There is a time to put all our analysis aside and put the judging in God’s hands.
We tend to expect perfection from ourselves and perfection from others.
Don’t get me wrong, God wants us to grow in Him and be more like Him, but God also knows that we are weak.
(Psalm 103:14 NLT) For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust.
Keep in mind that when you start criticizing someone (including yourself) that God has made, you can fall into the trap of finding fault with God.
When God was calling Moses to follow Him and set Israel free, Moses didn’t think he was up to it.  All Moses could see was his own flaws. 

(Exodus 4:11 NKJV) So the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord?

God’s point was that He was Moses’ creator, and if God thought He could use Moses, then Moses should learn to just say, “Yes, Sir”.

4:6-13 Fools

:6 Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other.

:7 For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

:7 what do you have that you did not receive?

Lesson

Gracious Humility

All that we have has been a gift from God.
Grace is what is given despite the worthiness of the one receiving it.
The Corinthians had developed a type of pride in themselves, of all that they had.
Their boasting was based on the thought that the things they had weren’t a result of God’s gracious giving, but that they had done something to earn it.
Paul is pointing out that everything they had was a gift of grace, simply something given to them by God.
It’s not uncommon for some folks who have been believers for a little while to think that they’ve “arrived” and that they know more than everyone else.
Illustration
Years ago I heard a story of a young man who was attending seminary and was asked to preach at a church looking for a new pastor.
As the young man came up to the pulpit to deliver his masterful sermon, he strutted with pride to be sharing his nuggets of wisdom with these poor, simple people.
But as the young man started his message, his notes were out of order, he got confused, then embarrassed, and ended up running from the pulpit in tears without having said anything.
One of the elder men in the church leaned over to his friend and said, “If he had come in like he went out, then he would have gone out like he came in.”
Video:  Indiana Jones – penitent man
It’s the humble man that “passes”.
Humility ought to flow from the knowledge that all we have has been given to us by God because of His grace, not because we deserved or earned it.
(1 Peter 5:5 NKJV) Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”

It’s interesting to see Peter also link “humiity” with “grace”

Lesson

Asking

Not all things given to us are a result of our asking.
Sometimes God gives us much without our ever even thinking of it, let alone asking for it.
But some things come as a result of asking.
Our asking isn’t something based on our merit.
We can’t look back at what we’ve received and think, “Gee, aren’t I important because I asked and God gave to me”.
The true heart of asking and receiving is about total dependence on God, not on us.
(James 4:2 NKJV) —2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.
(Matthew 7:7–8 NKJV) —7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
Learn to ask.  Asking leads to receiving.
When you receive, realize that it’s something that God has given to you.

:8 You are already full! You are already rich! You have reigned as kings without us—and indeed I could wish you did reign, that we also might reign with you!

:8 You have reigned as kings

Paul is being sarcastic here.  He’s addressing the fact that some of the Corinthians have acted as judges and have been looking down their noses at people like Paul.

Paul is going to contrast what life is like for the apostle against how some of the Corinthians have thought of themselves.

:9 For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.

:9 made a spectacle – theatron – a theatre, a place in which games and dramatic spectacles are exhibited, and public assemblies held (for the Greeks used the theatre also as a forum); a public show; metaph., a man who is exhibited to be gazed at and made sport of

:10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored!

:10 fools – moros (“moron”) – foolish; impious, godless

:11 To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless.

:11 poorly clothed – gumneteuo (“naked”) – to be lightly or poorly clad

:11 beaten – kolaphizo – to strike with the fist, give one a blow with the fist; to maltreat, treat with violence

:11 homeless – astateo (“no” + “standing”)  – to wander about, to rove without a settled abode

Do we see homeless people are real people?

Video:  Have the Homeless Become Invisible?

I know that there are a lot of problems wrapped up in homelessness, and there are rarely any easy answers, but it probably wouldn’t hurt if we started by realizing that the homeless are real people.
Paul the apostle considered himself homeless.

:12 And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;

:12 we labor – kopiao – to grow weary, tired, exhausted (with toil or burdens or grief); to labor with wearisome effort, to toil

:12 being reviled – loidoreo – to reproach, rail at, revile, heap abuse upon

:12 we bless – eulogeo – to praise, celebrate with praises; to invoke blessings

:12 being persecuted – dioko – to make to run or flee, put to flight, drive away; to persecute

:12 we endure – anechomai (“up” + “to hold”)  – to hold up; to sustain, to bear, to endure

:13 being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.

:13 being defamed – blasphemeo – to speak reproachfully, rail at, revile, calumniate, blaspheme; to be evil spoken of, reviled, railed at

:13 we entreat – parakaleo – to call to one’s side, call for, summon; to admonish, exhort; to console, to encourage and strengthen by consolation, to comfort

:13 filth – perikatharma (“around” + “to cleanse”) – off scouring, refuse

The price of expiation or redemption, because the Greeks used to apply the term "katharmata" to victims sacrificed to make expiation for the people, and even to criminals who were maintained at the public expense, that on the outbreak of a pestilence or other calamity they might be offered as sacrifices to make expiation for the state

:13 offscouring – peripsoma – what is wiped off; dirt rubbed off; off scouring, scrapings

The Athenians, in order to avert public calamities, yearly threw a criminal into the sea as an offering to Poseidon; hence the term became used for an expiatory offering, a ransom. It is used of a man who in behalf of religion undergoes dire trials for the salvation of others.

:13 filth … offscrouging

The two Greek words used here speaking of the kind of scum that you get when you scrape burnt stuff off the bottom of a pot.

The terms were also used in a specific way in Greece.

The Greeks would often hold on to certain criminals who were deemed worthless to society, solely for the purpose of sacrificing to the gods in case of a dire tragedy like the outbreak of disease.
If some deadly pestilence broke out, they would take one of these prisoners and perform human sacrifice to appease the gods.
The people of Athens would throw a criminal into the sea each year as an offering to Poseidon for the same purpose.

Paul is saying that he and the other apostles were considered to be like these criminals –worthless and expendable.

:9 the apostle, last

Lesson

God’s Treasures

Our society tends to be very interested in famous people.
It was no different in Paul’s day.
When I open up my news app, USA today wants to tell me about what some star wore on the red carpet.  It thinks I want to know what famous person is getting a divorce.  It wants to tell me about who just got wealthy and famous.

The people in Corinth liked to read all those articles.

Yet Paul says that this isn’t what’s important to God at all.
The greatest men in God’s eyes are those who serve Him and are faithful, no matter what the cost.

4:14-21 Papa Paul

:14 I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you.

:15 For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

:14 as my beloved children I warn you

:14 warn – noutheteo – to admonish, warn, exhort

The Corinthians have had lots of leaders and “instructors”, but Paul was the one that had led most of them to the Lord.

In a way, he was their “father”.
Paul is writing to the church as his children, not his enemies.

:16 Therefore I urge you, imitate me.

:17 For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.

:16 imitate me

imitate – mimetes – an imitator

We get our word “mimic” from this word.  He’s asking them to “mimic” him.

Paul’s example was not being a “king” in their midst, it was being a servant.

This passage (vs. 8-17) is one that gives me concern over some of the theology that people teach, saying that we all ought to “claim our inheritance” as children of God, and that we all ought to be healthy and wealthy.
How can you read what Paul has just written to the Corinthians and teach a prosperity doctrine?
Paul’s example was to be “weak”, “dishonored”, “hunger and thirst”, to be “poorly clothed”, “beaten”, “homeless”, “laboring”, “reviled”, “persecuted”, “defamed”, and “filth of the world”.
Paul said to “imitate me”.

:17 remind – anamimnesko – to call to remembrance, to remind, to admonish

Lesson

Setting the example

Paul didn’t just issue commands.
He wasn’t the type of parent that says, “Do as I say, not as I do”.
Paul set an example for them to follow, and example of humility.
Paul was even sending Timothy to them to remind them of Paul’s ways.
Timothy was one of Paul’s close disciples, someone like a son to Paul.

:18 Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you.

:18 puffed up – phusioo – to inflate, blow up, to cause to swell up

Some of Paul’s critics were pretty strong in their criticism of Paul, but only using strong words because they didn’t think Paul would ever come around again.

It’s easy to criticize people who aren’t standing before your face.

:19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power.

:20 For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.

:21 What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?

:21 a rod, or in love

When Paul comes the next time, does he need to come with discipline, or can they be gentle and loving to each other?

:20 not in word but in power

word – logos – word

power – dunamis – strength, power, ability

Even though some of us preachers like to talk about the “dynamite” power of God, I think a better idea of this word has to do with “ability”, what you are “able” to do.

Lesson

Words vs change

Some people think that being a Christian is about learning to say the right things.
Some people nitpick other people’s words, looking for things that aren’t doctrinally perfect.

God cares that we get our doctrine correct, but God’s ultimate goal for us is not that we can pass the highest level seminary Theology class test, but that our lives are demonstrating what God’s ways are like.

James deals with the same issues, but he uses just slightly different language.

James will talk about people who “say they have faith” and contrast it with people who have “works”.

It’s no different than Paul contrasting “word” versus “power”.

(James 2:14–26 NKJV) —14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?

James is not claiming that you are saved by works.  He’s setting up the case for the person who “says” they have faith (like Paul talking about “words”) versus the person who displays a change in their life by their “works” (which Paul is calling “power”)

15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

James is saying that someone claiming to have faith who does not display any changes in their life, who has no good works, simply does not have true faith.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

In a few verses, James will talk about people who are “justified” by their works.  He will be talking about people who “show” or demonstrate their faith with their works.

Salvation always comes by faith, not by works.

We are not saved because we do good works.  We are saved because we trust Jesus.

BUT if our faith is the real deal, it will result in a changed life, a life that does good works.

19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!

Just “saying” you have faith, that you “believe” in God is no different than what demons do, and they are not going to heaven.

20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

Faith that does not result in any changes to your life, faith that does not result in good works is not true faith.  It is a “dead” faith.

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.

James is pointing out that Abraham was “righteous” because of his faith, but his faith displayed itself by his works.

24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

You have to be careful about thinking that the word “justified” always refers to being made right with God and gaining eternal salvation.

The word can mean that, but it’s not limited to that.

Look at the first three times the Greek word is found in the New Testament, and see that none of them refer to salvation/justification:

(Matthew 11:19 NKJV) The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.”

(Matthew 12:36–37 NKJV) —36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

(Luke 7:29 NKJV) —29 And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John.

25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Genuine faith is “justified” or shown to be genuine by a person’s works.

The kingdom of God, being in God’s family, is not demonstrated by what you say, but what you are able (dunamis) to do.
It’s the word (dunamis) used in:

(Acts 1:8 NKJV) But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Some folks like to say that the “power” is about speaking in tongues.

Indeed, the apostles will speak in tongues when the Holy Spirit comes upon them.

But keep in mind what the goal of Jesus’ promise was – for the apostles to have power to be His witnesses.

Power to say no

The power to say no to sin.

(1 Thessalonians 4:3–8 NKJV) —3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. 7 For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. 8 Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.

Paul is going to have a lot to say about sexual immorality to the Corinthian church.

The problem with sexual immorality is that it is something that makes us “unholy”.

When the “Holy” Spirit is at work in our lives, He is at work to make us more like Jesus, to make us more “holy”.

Power to say yes

The power to obey what Jesus asks you to do.

Acts 2 – On the day of Pentecost, Peter got up and was a “witness” of Jesus.

He preached and 3,000 people responded.

Acts 3 – Peter and John see a lame man by the Temple gate and heal the man.

Acts 4 – when Peter and John get into trouble for talking so much about Jesus, they are put on trial before the Sanhedrin.

(Acts 4:8 NKJV) Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel…

Peter goes on to again be a witness of Jesus Christ.

After Peter and John are released, there is a prayer meeting at church …

(Acts 4:31 NKJV) And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

All through the book of Acts we see men and women filled with the Spirit, being used by God.

God has things for you to do, and without His help we don’t do too well.

This is why Jesus told the apostles not to go anywhere until they were baptized by the Spirit:

(Acts 1:4–5 NKJV) —4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

The world needs to see God at work.

It’s important that we use words when we witness.

It’s vital that our lives back up the words we speak.

We need God’s power.

This week we’ve been challenged by these things:

Wanted:  Faithfulness
God’s opinion
Gracious Humility
God’s Treasures
Words vs. change

Is there an area you’d like to grow in this week?