None of these evidently was that which is called a revelation; but the Holy Ghost inspired the writers of the book to give us exactly what each of these said, or revealed what was in the mind of God about them. Now this is full of meaning and importance practically at all times. It indicates a Christian’s punishment, opposition, or death was and still is like a performance (i.e. 4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. . In order to gain what they thought they already had, they would have to become the kind of people who would have no reason to divide into factions. And to see them getting involved in pledges and getting involved in promotional dinners and things like this, it really hurts down deep. the very foundation of Christianity. Hence too, in the cross, the Jew found his stumbling-block; for he expected a Messiah in power and glory. I do it all the time, man," you know. Note, All Christians are not alike exposed. (14-21). God is the one who is emphasized in this verse. More than this, prophesying is not simply teaching. Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness? We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website. Again, it is plain from this that there are certain modifications of the chapter. It is good to submit ourselves "unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us and laboureth." The word occurs no where else in the New Testament. 9 For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. In the eyes of the unsaved, Paul was a fool (this same word is used in 1:25, 27; 3:18). The love of Christ proves its greatness by serving others. Self-conceit contributes to produce undue esteem of our teachers, as well as of ourselves. How remarkable is such a reproach! It is a danger for the saints of God to be tinctured by the atmosphere of the world outside when the first fervour of grace cools, and they begin to take up their old habits. c. Each thing described in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 is a good thing. Thus so far it is true that if anything has, through the will of God, terminated (for instance, miracles, tongues, or revelations), it is evident that such workings of the Spirit ought not to be looked for; but this does not in the smallest degree set aside the Christian assembly or the exercise according to God's will of what the Spirit still distinctly gives. This was a source, and a main source, of the difficulty and disorder at Corinth. The second clause to angels and to men, I take to be expository in this sense — “I am made a sport and spectacle, not merely to earth, but also to heaven.” This passage has been commonly explained as referring to devils, from its seeming to be absurd to refer it to good angels. Now some of you are [upset] puffed up, as though I would not [personally] come to you ( 1 Corinthians 4:18 ). Commentary on 1 Corinthians 11:17-22. It was the early rise of the church of God, if I may so say, among the Gentiles. We are suffering for Christ's sake" (so being weak plainly signifies, 2 Corinthians 12:10), "when you are in easy and flourishing circumstances." Children are apt to be struck with novelty . They had the sound of the truth ringing in their ears; and assuredly there are few sounds sweeter than the liberty of the Christian. To deal with the matter they owed to the Lord Jesus. [Note: Barclay, p. For I think - It seems to me. They seem to have reasoned in a petty way at Corinth, that because a woman has a gift no less than a man, she is free to use the gift just as a man might. Prophesying and the rest are brought in as all pertaining to the Christian assembly. "Well, I thank God I'm not like he is." He puts it on the ground of their being prospered in any degree, and connects it with the special day of Christian enjoyment, when they gather together for the communion of saints. Just think of the great apostle of the Gentiles, on the immortality of the soul, giving free rein to the mighty spirit that was in him! This was just the feeling of the Corinthian plaintiff. They suffered in their persons and characters as the worst and vilest of men; as the very dirt of the world, that was to be swept away: nay, as the offscouring of all things, the dross of all things. How do I humble myself? Well, then, if it was given to you, why are you boasting as though it wasn't given to you? Angels and human beings denote the universe, as gazing upon the conflicts and struggles of the apostles. The thought that many eyes are upon believers, when struggling with difficulties or temptations, should encourage constancy and patience. On the other hand, it would appear from what follows, that they reproached the apostle in their hearts, not, of course, in so many words, with not being enough of a gentleman for their taste. First of all, he rebukes the unseemly way in which it was done the woman forgetting that she was a woman, and the man that he is responsible not to act as a woman. The church at Corinth had soon failed most gravely far and wide. The cross writes total condemnation on the world. I stand before the Lord and He is my judge, and that is the judgment that I am concerned with, what is the Lord's opinion of me and what I have done. It was far from his mind in the least to deny it. There is a day coming, that will bring men's secret sins into open day, and discover the secrets of their hearts. The Book of 1 Kings; The Book of 2 Kings; The Book of Job; The 119th Psalm; The Book of Ecclesiastes; The Song of Solomon; The Book of Isaiah; The Book of Jeremiah; The Book of Daniel; New Testament. "Now you are full, now you are rich, now you are reigning without us." 1 COR. Three powerful contrasts are given in verse 10. He was the image and the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 3. He reminds them of another point that he was himself diligent in keeping his body in subjection. 20. Thus poor and despised was he in his life and ministry. We are made a spectacle - Margin, “theater” θέατρον theatron. What these trials were he specifies in the following verses. In their boasted liberty, and because they knew an idol was nothing, they considered that they might go anywhere, and do what they pleased. Man requires a divine power to work within him, just as he needs the Saviour outside himself. Enduring Faith (2 Corinthians 4)By Bro. Men. vii. Paul had been bred up in Jewish learning; but the plain preaching of a crucified Jesus, was more powerful than all the oratory and philosophy of the heathen world. Blessed is he who is given. In 1 Corinthians 5:1-13 we enter on another and more painful part of the epistle. What reflecting spiritual mind could doubt that God sees His saints are not able to bear it? Let there be zealous and vigilant exercise of soul, and enquiry how to carry out right objects in right ways, and so much the more, if indeed a simpler, fuller knowledge of God's grace and of Christ's glory has been given us. The apostle points out that if there were different services, if distinct gifts to one and another, it was for the common good of all. This was a great comfort, but it was also a serious caution. It is a comfort that men are not to be our final judges. And surely the time will come, and they would all reign together when Christ reigns over the earth. There is no degree in the matter. . 45.]. Of course, it implies exclusion from the Lord's table, but from their table too "with such an one, no, not to eat." The Book of 1 Kings; The Book of 2 Kings; The Book of Job; The 119th Psalm; The Book of Ecclesiastes; The Song of Solomon; The Book of Isaiah; The Book of Jeremiah; The Book of Daniel; New Testament. There is a physical contrast (“weak” versus “strong”). There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man; but God is faithful." What would a man do without a heart, or liver, or lungs? Faithful man as he was, he allowed himself none of these licenses. His speech and his preaching was "not in enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power." It is to give up the distinctive power and place that belongs to us; for does not Christianity show us man judged, condemned, and set aside? Paul used the word fool for several reasons. But the assembly of God is addressed, those sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints called, "with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord." 1 Corinthians 14:34. The departure from what may be called the historical order makes the emphasis incomparably greater. : "In the morning men are exposed to lions and bears; at mid-day to their spectators; those that kill are exposed to one another; the victor is detained for another slaughter; the conclusion of the fight is death. He was free but watchful; and he was jealous over himself, the greater the grace shown him. The former fighting compared to this was mercy; now it is mere butchery: they have nothing to cover them; their whole body is exposed to every blow, and every stroke produces a wound," c. We are made a spectacle — Ὁτι θεατρον εγενηθημεν, We are exhibited on the theatre to the world we are lawful booty to all mankind, and particularly to the men of the world, who have their portion in this life. To the Corinthians the Christian life meant flaunting their pride and their privileges and reckoning up their achievement; to Paul it meant a humble service, ready to die for Christ." Nay, they were made as the filth of the world, and the off-scouring of all things,1 Corinthians 4:13; 1 Corinthians 4:13. In this epistle, written to the founders of the church in Rome, he sets out some of his ideas on the importance of faith in overcoming mankind's innate sinfulness and in obtaining redemption. With an introduction by Ruth Rendell Some think Paul had in mind the first century games. The word of God is the best rule by which to judge as to men. This in both its parts is exactly as it should be; and faith sees and receives it in Christ's cross. As you take the Word and as you wait upon the Spirit, may your heart be instructed in the things of God that you might grow up into that fully matured person that He wants you to be. Though cast off by the world as vile, yet we may be precious to God, gathered up with his own hand, and placed upon his throne. Not in the smallest degree was the pride of the Corinthians met by pride on his part, but by keeping the Lord and His will before his soul. This, then, is evidently an immense advance in dealing with the subject. Such is the genuine effect. If I do not know that the food has been connected with idols, the idol is nothing to me; but the moment I know it, it is no longer the question of an idol but a demon; and a demon, be assured, is a very real being indeed. 2 They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. error gains empire over the mind of man, he is ready to embrace others just to make all consistent. What an admirable instruction for us who have no longer an apostle! These were ends worthy of God--noble views, fit to animate them to the combat. of now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? (Read 1 Corinthians 14:15-25) There can be no assent to prayers that are not understood. Directs them how to account of him and his fellow-ministers, and therein, tacitly at least, reproves them for their unworthy carriage towards him ( v. 1-6 ). So here the heart of the apostle hurt over the attitude of the Corinthians. Paul is not concerned about the Corinthians’ assessment of him. Commentary on 1 Corinthians 13:8-13. Shake the resurrection and Christianity goes. 1 Corinthians 4:1-21. We're a spectacle." Yet this is certainly true that this effect of faith looks like pride to a man who merely views things on the surface. 1 Corinthians 3 - Carnal Christians and Godly Ministers A. Carnality in the Corinthian church. And there was not wanting an astonishing sample of the power of the Spirit in witness of the victory that Jesus had won over Satan. For such is the meaning of the word exhibited — as those who on occasion of a triumph were led round (235) for the sake of show, and were afterwards hurried away to prison to be strangled. At the end of that procession came the captives of war who would die in the arena. Another contrast between Paul and the Corinthians is found in the words “we are weak, but ye are strong.” In this verse weak (asthenes) means Paul’s appearance and manner of speaking were not overly impressive. They were so in the esteem of men, for their close attach merit to a crucified Christ; and for preaching the doctrine of salvation by him; and for enduring so much reproach, affliction, and persecution, for his sake and the Gospel's: but ye are wise in Christ. Ministers of Christ, the Greek word there is the under-rowers. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. Do we sufficiently make it a matter of personal responsibility to the Lord, everyone of us, to give, and that in connection with the first day of the week and its blessed surroundings and objects, when we meet at His table? All Christians are not alike exposed. They were abusing all the comfort that Christianity brings, to live at ease and play the gentleman, if one may speak according to modern language. Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. Some suffer greater hardships than others who are yet engaged in the same warfare. He affirms the everlasting principles of God, and he adds that which has so brightly been revealed in and by Christ. They have not so learned, Jesus Christ. Up to this it was not made known, It was a New Testament truth, as this indeed is what is meant by a "mystery." Man not only wants a new life or nature, but the Holy Ghost. That's what's going on in their minds, Ezekiel. A fearful instance of sin had come to light, so gross, indeed, that the like was not even named among the Gentiles. All the word is inspired; there is no difference as to this. Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. The apostle puts the truth of the case before their souls as he had it vividly before his own. Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place ( 1 Corinthians 4:10-11 ); Poor Paul, if he had only known how to make his positive confessions, he would not have had to be this way. But O glorious charity and devotion, that would carry them through all these hardships! The Nature of True Apostleship. Paul said, "I don't even judge myself. For more than a century, Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible has served as an invaluable guide for pastors and students the world over. Herein lay the sad failure of these saints. They valued those that were wise, scribes, or disputers of this world. Through a series of unexpected events I found that what I prepared for myself as teaching notes was helpful to some others as Bible commentary. 1 Corinthians 13:13. the greatest of these is love: God is from eternity to eternity, and his foremost quality is love. There is no such closeness of application, nor intimacy, nor confidence in a really intrinsically holy character. Here we find what lay at the bottom of the matter. Yes, walking as men is a departure from Christianity. He presses upon them that which was proper to them as Christians. We are under disgrace for delivering the plain truths of the gospel, and in as plain a manner: you are in reputation for your eloquence and human wisdom, which among many make you pass for wise men in Christ. By "angels" may be meant the devils, who stirred up the princes of this world against the apostles, to persecute and afflict them; than which nothing was a greater pleasure to these envious and malicious spirits: though good angels may be also included, as witnesses of the faith, courage, and constancy of the saints, and as comforters of them in all their tribulations; but evil angels seem chiefly designed: and by "men" are meant wicked men, who are as much pleased to behold the barbarities and butcheries committed upon the people of God, as the Romans in their theatres were to see the tragical scenes that were acted there. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful ( 1 Corinthians 4:2 ).
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