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? 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! 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. 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! 11 To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. 12 And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; 13 being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.
Commentary
Vs. 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."
Looking back on what he had written to the Corinthians on their aligning themselves around their leaders in the church, the Apostle Paul now says that he has figuratively transferred all these things to himself and Apollos, rather than naming everyone, and thus opening the door for their factions and infighting over through their saying they belonged too this one or that one. Clearly then the Corinthians aligning themselves under those in leadership whom they esteemed more highly than the others in the church had gone well beyond their doing so with just Paul or Apollos. Yet until the time of the Apostle Paul's writing to them he had no knowledge of it all, until he was informed of their doing so, which was one reason which precipitated his writing this epistle to them.
Looking back on what he had written to the Corinthians on their aligning themselves around their leaders in the church, the Apostle Paul now says that he has figuratively transferred all these things to himself and Apollos, rather than naming everyone, and thus opening the door for their factions and infighting over through their saying they belonged too this one or that one. Clearly then the Corinthians aligning themselves under those in leadership whom they esteemed more highly than the others in the church had gone well beyond their doing so with just Paul or Apollos. Yet until the time of the Apostle Paul's writing to them he had no knowledge of it all, until he was informed of their doing so, which was one reason which precipitated his writing this epistle to them.
Now in transferring these things to himself and Apollos, Paul says he did it for their sakes, so that they may learn in them not to think beyond what is written, that is written in the Word or by him, or by the other Apostles, and his already having quoted the Scripture to them which says we are only to glory in the Lord. And thus we are not to glory in men and their Spirit giftedness or anything else about them. All which comes from God alone, which God gives men for His Son's praise, glory, honor and exaltation, not theirs. And thus the Corinthians should not have been placing Paul or Apollos or any other Apostle or prophet or evangelist on "pedestals", elevating one above another, and thus themselves above each other by their saying they belonged to this one or that one. For their doing so only became an occasion for their pride, by which they became puffed up one against the other, something which is contrary to Christian unity, love and peace.
Vs. 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?"
Since Christ makes no carnal distinctions with any of us. Neither then should any of us try to make distinctions amongst ourselves (consider Gal. 3:26-29). For if we are in the Body of Christ than we are members of one another (1 Cor 12:18-26). For salvation by faith in Christ unites us all who believe under one Head, Jesus Christ the only Lord and Savior (Acts 4:12).
Ultimately then what do we have that we did not receive? Salvation came to us only by God's grace as a gift of His love for us. Just as His Spirit gifts are also a gift from Him to us, and to all, when we use them for His glory and the church's edification in love. Therefore who can boost? All that we have and are comes from God alone. For we neither saved ourselves, nor have we re-made ourselves as new creations in Christ, all that we have and are only comes from God. Therefore since all that we have and are only comes from God, why boast as if we had not received it? In other words why boost as if we have somehow procured our salvation or standing with God through ourselves.
Vs. 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!"
The Corinthians carnal thinking and living according to this world's "wisdom" not only caused them to make some pretty wrong assessments of the Apostle Paul's person, but also of themselves, and just what Christian discipleship could entail in following Jesus Christ faithfully. And so here with a bit of wit and sarcasm Paul essentially says of their self assessments of themselves, and him: “You Corinthians brag about one another and compare one man with another, as though you were kings on a throne! How wonderful it must be to reign as kings and look down on others! I wish I could reign with you. But, no, I must be a hated apostle, a spectacle to the world, a fool for Christ’s sake.” Wiersbe
Vs. 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."
In contrast to the Corinthians who were living and acting as though they were victorious kings returning from the battle with their loot and captives in hand (something Paul alludes to in the original language in verse eight when he says they have "reigned as kings" without him). The Apostle Paul now paints a far different picture of himself, and the other apostles. Saying that God has displayed the Apostles last, as men condemned to death; "for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men." Thus the Apostle Paul likened himself not to a victorious king triumphantly returning from the battle, but rather as one of the captives, as a man condemned to death, put on display as a spectacle before all, both to angels and to men. Now Paul's saying as much about himself, and the other Apostles, is not some sort of hyperbole. For in many ways, as Christ Himself was first put on public display to bear the reproach of the cross for us all, so must we all also bear our own reproaches and humilations and disgraces for His Names sake (consider Acts 14:22, 20:23; 2 Thess. 1:4; Heb 10:32-38), before we are glorified together with Himself (Rom. 8:16-17).
Vs. 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!"
In saying that, "We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ!" Paul is saying that he and the other apostles were "fools" only according to this world's "wisdom", because they left all the comforts and privileges and certainties of their past lives, for lives of trials, and tribulations, and hardships and persecutions. Now this they did not as a means to salvation, but rather because of having believed Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior they gave their lives to Him so that He could build through their re-born persons and lives, not only the Corinthians faith in the Lord Jesus, but also through them Jesus Christ would build and establish a doctrine of faith for countless of generations to come. And so though the Apostle Paul, and all the Apostles were "fools" for Christ's sake. Yet their "foolishness" was the means by which the Corinthians (and us all) were being made wise.
"We are weak, but you are strong!"
Though some of the the Corinthians may have disdained Paul's bodily presence, even questioning his apostleship based upon it (consider 1 Cor 2:3-5; 2 Cor 10:10). Yet it was through Paul's own weaknesses, and his enduring all things for the Gospel's sake (2 Tim 2:10), that the Corinthians were made strong.
"You are distinguished, but we are dishonored!"
In contrast to the Corinthians who were distinguished (or at least thought themselves as much), the Apostle Paul and the other Apostle's were truly bearing the reproach of Christ, being held in dishonor and reproach by Corinthians cultures Godless values. For no one who is faithful to Christ will find themselves being honored through the Godless values of this world (consider John 7:7; John 15:19).
Vs. 11 "To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless."
Even though Paul was an Apostle of Christ, his lifestyle was not one of ease and privilege, rather one of enduring hunger and thirst, being poorly clothed and beaten and homeless. Thus enduring all manner of hardships and needs and reproaches and beatings and even imprisonments for the Gospels sake (consider Phil 3:17-19). And so hunger and thirst, poorly clothed, beaten and homeless, these were the things that "distinguished" the Apostle Paul and his apostleship for Christ.
Vs. 12-13 12 And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; 13 being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.
The Apostle Paul continues his declaration of his Apostleship for Christ, saying that he and those with him labor with their own hands. And so rather than making demands as an Apostle, Paul always sought to keep himself from being a burden to anyone, lest he hinder the Gospel of Christ (see 1 Cor. 9:11-12; 2 Cor 11:9, also 1 Thess 2:5-6). Thus by doing so, Paul set forth the example that we all must follow (consider Acts 20:35; 2 Thess 3:10-12).
"Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure"
Paul when reviled did not return the their insults or slander with the same instead he blessed (consider Matthew 5:44). Or when persecuted Paul did not "fly off the handle" but patiently endured.
"being defamed, we entreat."
Similarly when Paul was "blasphemed" (i.e., cursed, slandered, maligned etc.), he entreated those who did so to believe the Gospel and receive Christ while they can.
"We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now."
If some of the Corinthians thought little of the Apostle Paul's person because of the way this world viewed him, and all the Apostles, they should consider it was in God who made them so. Now if you were looking for a Biblical Apostle what would you be looking for? Would it be by the "externals", i.e. handsome appearance; well dressed; dynamic personality; highly educated; succesful individual; wealth and stature? What characteristics would say to you that this man is an Apostle of Christ?
Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. (1982). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
Additional Resources Consulted
MacDonald, William. Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. Edited by Arthur Farstad. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995.
Vs. 9-10 Wiersbe, W. W. (1992). Wiersbe’s expository outlines on the New Testament (p. 429). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
Walvoord, John F., and Roy B. Zuck, Dallas Theological Seminary. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985.
Ultimately then what do we have that we did not receive? Salvation came to us only by God's grace as a gift of His love for us. Just as His Spirit gifts are also a gift from Him to us, and to all, when we use them for His glory and the church's edification in love. Therefore who can boost? All that we have and are comes from God alone. For we neither saved ourselves, nor have we re-made ourselves as new creations in Christ, all that we have and are only comes from God. Therefore since all that we have and are only comes from God, why boast as if we had not received it? In other words why boost as if we have somehow procured our salvation or standing with God through ourselves.
Vs. 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!"
The Corinthians carnal thinking and living according to this world's "wisdom" not only caused them to make some pretty wrong assessments of the Apostle Paul's person, but also of themselves, and just what Christian discipleship could entail in following Jesus Christ faithfully. And so here with a bit of wit and sarcasm Paul essentially says of their self assessments of themselves, and him: “You Corinthians brag about one another and compare one man with another, as though you were kings on a throne! How wonderful it must be to reign as kings and look down on others! I wish I could reign with you. But, no, I must be a hated apostle, a spectacle to the world, a fool for Christ’s sake.” Wiersbe
Vs. 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."
In contrast to the Corinthians who were living and acting as though they were victorious kings returning from the battle with their loot and captives in hand (something Paul alludes to in the original language in verse eight when he says they have "reigned as kings" without him). The Apostle Paul now paints a far different picture of himself, and the other apostles. Saying that God has displayed the Apostles last, as men condemned to death; "for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men." Thus the Apostle Paul likened himself not to a victorious king triumphantly returning from the battle, but rather as one of the captives, as a man condemned to death, put on display as a spectacle before all, both to angels and to men. Now Paul's saying as much about himself, and the other Apostles, is not some sort of hyperbole. For in many ways, as Christ Himself was first put on public display to bear the reproach of the cross for us all, so must we all also bear our own reproaches and humilations and disgraces for His Names sake (consider Acts 14:22, 20:23; 2 Thess. 1:4; Heb 10:32-38), before we are glorified together with Himself (Rom. 8:16-17).
Vs. 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!"
In saying that, "We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ!" Paul is saying that he and the other apostles were "fools" only according to this world's "wisdom", because they left all the comforts and privileges and certainties of their past lives, for lives of trials, and tribulations, and hardships and persecutions. Now this they did not as a means to salvation, but rather because of having believed Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior they gave their lives to Him so that He could build through their re-born persons and lives, not only the Corinthians faith in the Lord Jesus, but also through them Jesus Christ would build and establish a doctrine of faith for countless of generations to come. And so though the Apostle Paul, and all the Apostles were "fools" for Christ's sake. Yet their "foolishness" was the means by which the Corinthians (and us all) were being made wise.
"We are weak, but you are strong!"
Though some of the the Corinthians may have disdained Paul's bodily presence, even questioning his apostleship based upon it (consider 1 Cor 2:3-5; 2 Cor 10:10). Yet it was through Paul's own weaknesses, and his enduring all things for the Gospel's sake (2 Tim 2:10), that the Corinthians were made strong.
"You are distinguished, but we are dishonored!"
In contrast to the Corinthians who were distinguished (or at least thought themselves as much), the Apostle Paul and the other Apostle's were truly bearing the reproach of Christ, being held in dishonor and reproach by Corinthians cultures Godless values. For no one who is faithful to Christ will find themselves being honored through the Godless values of this world (consider John 7:7; John 15:19).
Vs. 11 "To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless."
Even though Paul was an Apostle of Christ, his lifestyle was not one of ease and privilege, rather one of enduring hunger and thirst, being poorly clothed and beaten and homeless. Thus enduring all manner of hardships and needs and reproaches and beatings and even imprisonments for the Gospels sake (consider Phil 3:17-19). And so hunger and thirst, poorly clothed, beaten and homeless, these were the things that "distinguished" the Apostle Paul and his apostleship for Christ.
Vs. 12-13 12 And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; 13 being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.
The Apostle Paul continues his declaration of his Apostleship for Christ, saying that he and those with him labor with their own hands. And so rather than making demands as an Apostle, Paul always sought to keep himself from being a burden to anyone, lest he hinder the Gospel of Christ (see 1 Cor. 9:11-12; 2 Cor 11:9, also 1 Thess 2:5-6). Thus by doing so, Paul set forth the example that we all must follow (consider Acts 20:35; 2 Thess 3:10-12).
"Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure"
Paul when reviled did not return the their insults or slander with the same instead he blessed (consider Matthew 5:44). Or when persecuted Paul did not "fly off the handle" but patiently endured.
"being defamed, we entreat."
Similarly when Paul was "blasphemed" (i.e., cursed, slandered, maligned etc.), he entreated those who did so to believe the Gospel and receive Christ while they can.
"We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now."
If some of the Corinthians thought little of the Apostle Paul's person because of the way this world viewed him, and all the Apostles, they should consider it was in God who made them so. Now if you were looking for a Biblical Apostle what would you be looking for? Would it be by the "externals", i.e. handsome appearance; well dressed; dynamic personality; highly educated; succesful individual; wealth and stature? What characteristics would say to you that this man is an Apostle of Christ?
Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. (1982). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
Additional Resources Consulted
MacDonald, William. Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. Edited by Arthur Farstad. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995.
Vs. 9-10 Wiersbe, W. W. (1992). Wiersbe’s expository outlines on the New Testament (p. 429). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
Walvoord, John F., and Roy B. Zuck, Dallas Theological Seminary. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985.
No comments:
Post a Comment