A Failure of Judgment - Boasting in Knowledge (Ch 4)4:1-5 - Servants and Stewards are Faithful, Not Prestigious

1. In chapter 1, Paul asked the Church to be of the same mind and the same judgment. Chapters 2-3 explained the mind of Christ in the cross. Chapter 4 calls out their failure to judge (discern) properly.

   
   



2. V1 - Revisiting the “Apollos” arc, he thinks leaders should be viewed as: 

   
   





1. servants (ch 3) and 

   
   



2. stewards of the mysteries of God (ch 2 & 15). 

   
   



3. The leaders in Corinth gathered followers for what they gained and 

   
   



4. The followers believed the leaders led them to greater prestige.

   
   





3. V2 - The leaders take nothing from the followers as their goal is to be considered faithful at the coming of Jesus. Paul’s rhetoric subtly questions how the leaders can be concerned with faithfulness to the truth and commitment to the growth of the people when they have so much to gain by maintaining a following.

   
   



4. V4-5 - While Paul does want the church to honor his authority, he cuts at their ability to make wise discernment (although they brag about it in v7) by saying he isn’t really concerned with their decision to disregard his teaching or criticize him directly because they clearly haven’t displayed the ability to choose leadership based on sound judgment.

   
   

   
   4:6-7 - Boasting in a Knowledge They Aren’t Exercising

   
   

1. V6 - Without the ability to discern through the lens of the cross, our judgments come from a puffed up attitude (which he will contrast in Ch 8 when he says how puffed up knowledge harms the consciences of our neighbors)

   
   



2. V7 - If everything we have is something we have received, wouldn’t that teach us that judgment/discernment is primarily that we might better know how to treat others rather than how we might better serve ourselves (boasting in knowledge)? This is a build up to the arguments he will make in 5-10 - that the judgments made by the church are harming rather than helping one another and they are allowing sin to dominate the body.

   
   

   
   4:8-13 - Rich Corinthians and Poor Apostles
   

   
   

1. Note: This entire section shifts tone and is fully sarcastic. Paul returns to his model of calling things by the opposite of what they really are. Wise/Foolish, Rich/Poor.

   
   



2. V8 - Playing off the boasting in v7, Paul says they don’t need anything anymore. No teaching, no wisdom. They have everything within their own selves and it has made them rich rulers.

   
   



3. V9-13 - Paul gives a long list of things that clearly, anyone with knowledge and wisdom and discernment would avoid at all costs.

   
   





1. Last of all, sentenced to death, spectacle to the world, fools for Christ, weak

   
   



2. Hungry, thirsty, poorly dressed, buffeted, homeless, laboring

   
   



3. When reviled-bless; when persecuted-endure; when slandered-entreat

   
   



4. Scum of the world, refuse of all things

   
   



5. The contemplation here is to ask what is really good for us. If the current leaders seeking gain and followers chasing prestige aren’t Paul’s understanding of properly discerning good and evil, what if Paul is asking the church to reverse what it calls good? Instead of being full, maybe it’s good to be hungry.

   
   

   
   4:14-21 - Be Imitators of Me
   

   
   

1. V14-15 - While we all have many guides, there are few that truly care about our well-being. Paul says everyone pulling them intends to guide them someone, but only he was their spiritual father concerned for their spiritual growth.

   
   



2. V16-17 - The judgment displayed by the church has resulted in the issues Paul will raise in the next 5 chapters. It stems from their boasting in knowledge. “All things are lawful for me.” Paul insists that instead, they imitate him. (vs9-13)

   
   



3. V18-21 - Paul contrasts “talk” and “power”. He views all the philosophies of the world as powerless to initiate the life they want. He knows that the Spirit, teaching them how to properly discern good and evil, will lead them through hunger, thirst, etc, toward self-sacrifice - the cross - and to the true joy and peace of the Kingdom of God.

   
   

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