1st Corinthians – Chastising the Corinthians

November 15, 2008

Paul’s indictment of the Corinthian Church reaches new depths in 1 Cor 3:17 as he warns against troublemakers within the Church, "And if anyone destroys God’s temple [the Body of Christ], God will destroy him." He continues, "Let no one deceive himself. If any one among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, ‘He catches the wise in their craftiness,’ and again, ‘the Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile’" (v 18-19). Paul then upbraids the Corinthians for not acting as those who are Christ’s possession (cf v 22-22).

A strong leader, Paul then asks the people to examine his conduct for blame or error, professing a clean conscience (cf 4:3-5a). Knowing that it is the Lord alone who will judge, he stresses that the Christian must never pass final judgment on another in his own heart. Note, however, that the Paul’s Epistles frequently call on the Christian to judge between right deeds and wrong deeds.

In response to the boastful ways of the Corinthians, he asks "What have you that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if it were not a gift?" (v 7). After being blessed with every spiritual gift in the heavens, they are acting like sniveling misers. He calls them to be what they really are, "a spectacle to the world, to angels and to men" (v 9).

Paul teaches that Christians are "fools for Christ’s sake" and thereby possess true wisdom (v 10, cf 3:18). Citing the good example of the Apostolic band, he states "we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become, and are now, as the refuse of the world … I do not write this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children … For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me" (v 12-16).

Paul so steadfastly lives in Christ and Him crucified that he is able to overturn all pride, arrogance, factionalism. He warns the Corinthians he "will come to [them] soon" to pastor those who speak with arrogance and remind them that "the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power" (v 18-19). He forcefully concludes the fourth chapter by asking "What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?" (v 21).

Music: La Maltese from the album Italian Music of the 17th Century, performed by Altri Stromenti. www.magnatune.com

  • /
Update Required
To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin.

Download MP3 (28:30; 16 MB)

Acts Lecture 40 – The Affliction in Asia, Part II

February 1, 2022

Acts Lecture 39 – The Affliction in Asia, Part I

January 25, 2022

Acts Lecture 38 – The Philippian Jailer

January 18, 2022

Acts Lecture 37 – Mission to the Galatians

January 11, 2022

Acts Lecture 36 – The Second Missionary Journey

January 4, 2022

Acts Lecture 35 – The Prohibition of Blood

December 28, 2021

Acts Lecture 34 – The Council of Jerusalem, Part II

December 21, 2021

Acts Lecture 33 – The Council of Jerusalem, Part I

December 14, 2021

Acts Lecture 32 – A Drama of Ideas, Part III

November 30, 2021

Acts Lecture 31 – A Drama of Ideas, Part II

November 23, 2021

Acts Lecture 30 – A Drama of Ideas, Part I

November 16, 2021

Acts Lecture 29 – Paul and Barnabas

November 2, 2021

Acts Lecture 28 – Rejection

October 26, 2021

Acts Lecture 27 – Paul’s Speech

October 19, 2021

Acts Lecture 26 – Bar-Jesus

October 12, 2021

Acts Lecture 25 – The Holy Spirit Speaks

October 5, 2021

Acts Lecture 24 – Barnabas in Antioch

September 28, 2021

Acts Lecture 23 – Herod Agrippa

September 21, 2021

Acts Lecture 22 – Communion of Churches

September 14, 2021

Acts Lecture 21 – Peter and the Gentiles

September 7, 2021

Acts Lecture 20 – Cornelius the God-fearer, Part II

August 31, 2021

Acts Lecture 19 – Cornelius the God-fearer, Part I

August 24, 2021

Acts Lecture 18 – The Christians Disperse

August 17, 2021

Acts Lecture 17 – Paul in Damascus

August 10, 2021

Acts Lecture 16 – The Good Pharisee

August 3, 2021

Acts Lecture 15 – The Ethiopian Eunuch

July 20, 2021

Acts Lecture 14 – The First Heretic

July 13, 2021

Acts Lecture 13 – Saul of Tarsus

July 6, 2021