1 Corinthians 4:6-13 (Part 20) Service Without Pride
A command—4:6
• None of you be puffed up (pride)
• Do not exceed what is written
An argument—4:7
• Pertains to pride
• Idea of superiority—who makes thee to differ?
• What do you have you did not receive?
• Why do you boast as if you did not receive it?
• His argument—God’s grace levels believers
A rebuke—4:8 (sarcasm comes in)
• A manifestation of carnality—the belief you have arrived (sense of sufficiency)
• You are full
o You are not hungry—I can’t feed you
• You are rich
o Nobody can give them anything
• You are kings
o He can’t motivate them with a crown
Suffering and faithfulness in this world are inseparable—v. 9
• The world is no friend to God
• If you are faithful there is a definite relation to suffering
The tone shifts
• Corporate dissension is due to incorrect view of . . .
o Christ
o Cross
o Gospel
o Self
o Wisdom
o Service
• Then he gets personal—4:9 and following
The apostolic example of service—4:9-13
• Treated as filth
• Believer maintains sanity in the midst of mistreatment by seeing the primary cause
o Ultimate sign of a Christian’s maturity is the ability to see the face of God in all situations
• Historical context points to Paul being “entertainment” (spectacle/theater—v. 9) to the city
Observed by angels—4:9
• Unless stated otherwise angels in the NT are always “good” angels
• God’s angels observe the activity of Christians
Why are they a “spectacle”?—4:10-13
• They two viewpoints of the apostles and the Corinthians are contrary to truth (remember they are self-deceived)
• Listing of items . . .
o Items of poverty
o Items of physical abuse
o Items of personal abuse
• Lists what happened
• Lists how he responded
Principle--we as believers are responsible for action and reaction