Darin-isms (1 Corinthians 4)

Picking up where the Sunday morning text left off…

1 Corinthians 4:8-13

Paul assesses the scene in the church at Corinth and compares that to his own experience as a steward of the secret things of God (v.1-2).

v. 8 They, the believers in Corinth, thought that they had all they want. They should have been thirsting for more in the way of intimacy with Christ, righteousness, holiness, etc. They considered themselves rich, and to be kings – the truth is that they were a king like the naked emperor in the children’s story The Emperor’s New Clothes.

v. 9 Paul’s perspective is, that as followers of Christ, suffering should be the norm. But by contrast, these believers in Corinth had found their place comfortably in the stands to watch the spectacle unfold. Paul’s perspective: Life will become no easier and life no kinder to the follower of Christ.

v. 9-13 This passage should be considered in chorus with that statement of Paul in 1 Cor. 15:19 – “If our hope in Christ is only for this life than we should be pitied” that we considered last week on Easter Sunday.

v. 10 In contrast, Paul recognizes that he is considered foolish for Christ, while they bask in self-assurances that they are wise; Paul realizes himself to be weak and needing of Christ, whereas the Corinthian believers count themselves self-sufficient.

v. 11-13 Paul lists a number of conditions that he experiences as the ‘norm’ being a steward of the gospel, contrasting that with the relative comfort and affluence the church in Corinth boasts: poverty, need, a necessity to work, a willingness to suffer and forgive, etc.