I Corinthians 4:6-14 (Part 21) Service Without Pride

• A command—4:6

• An argument—4:7 (pertains to pride)

• A rebuke—4:8 (sarcasm comes in)

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 . . .

• 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: 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

• The two viewpoints of the apostles and the Corinthians are contrary to truth (remember they are self-deceived)

• Listing of items . . . 1) Items of poverty; 2) Items of physical abuse; 3) Items of personal abuse: a) Lists what happened; b) Lists how he responded

Principle—we as believers are responsible for action and reaction

The apostolic authority—v. 14

• The idea of fatherly correction

• Shaming is an intermediate aim—v. 14a

• The ultimate aim is to warn—v. 14b

“Warn”

• Noutheteo

• Nous—the mind

• Theteo—to put in place

• To place in the mind

• Denotes three things . . .1) Instruction; 2) Father-son relation (Eph. 6:4); 3) Sternness—a strong word

Fatherly instruction

• Intent—v. 14

• Basis—v. 15

• The model—vv. 16-17: 1) Its pattern; 2) Its implementation

• A visit—vv. 18-21

Imitate

• Paul—I Cor. 4:16

• God—Eph. 5:1

• Other churches—I Thess. 1:13-14