Justified Fools For Christ-7 Series

JUSTIFIED FOOLS For CHRIST-VII—1Corinthians 4:1-21

Attention:

In the area of NC where I grew up, there seems to be at least one BBQ(pork) joint in every town(incorporated or not)! These are local ‘Mom & Pop’ businesses. These locals give every ounce of their energy to that business. It is the bread & butter of their family & oftentimes of their extended family. The owners & managers of these BBQ meccas usually don’t get holidays or vacations off. They serve the public & their business thrives when others are on vacation! Their lives are built around the patterns of those to whom their business caters. They generally serve only breakfast & lunch. They are passionate about their recipes, their offerings & they labor incessantly to present a consistent product(especially the BBQ!) & atmosphere. They are so tied to the ‘Q’ that they find no satisfaction outside of ‘the business.’

You could say that these are ‘Fools for BBQ.’

Likewise, ‘Fools for Christ’ are such because they know from experience with certainty, that there really is nothing worthwhile outside of Christ!

Paul admonished the Corinthian Church regarding his apostolic ministry.

The church must regard apostolic authority rightly...as those who are fools for Christ!

How/When are Fools for Christ Justified?

11 justifiers regarding Fools for Christ.

We discovered last time that

Fools for Christ are justified thru their...

1. STEWARDSHIP(:1)

2. FAITHFULNESS(:2)

3. DISCERNMENT(:3-5)

4. GROUNDING(:6)

5. RECEPTION(:7-8) “Without us”

6. FOOLISHNESS(:9-13)

7. WARNING(:14)

8. PARENTHOOD(:15-16)Birth

9—Fools for Christ are justified thru their...

REMINDINGs(:17)

Explanation:(:17)

:17—“For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved & faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.”

Given that Paul—as the Corinthian Christian’s father—cannot be there in flesh but only by word, he commissions Timothy to their aid. Timothy’s mission is to “remind the church of Paul’s “ways in Christ.”

It is pertinent to this church in particular that Paul’s “ways” are not different in different churches. His message is not swayed by personal preference or cultural baggage. There is therefore neither bias nor prejudice regarding Paul’s working with any church.

Though they may exhibit secular cultural autonomy the church is also autonomous—beyond yet subject to cultural boundary—being all one in Christ. The Corinthian Christians have already displayed a penchant for division based on personal preference & ‘deserving’ but Paul will not encourage such(1:10--4:5) & expends much energy discouraging such. Being ordained of God, Paul’s teaching & preaching consists of God’s message/teaching.

Thus his message is never culturally derived, but is culturally relevant because it is derived from God & is thereby universally applicable.

Likewise those whom Paul sent—here Timothy—also preach, teach & apply a universal message originating & emanating from God.

“For this Reason”—dia touto—Literally= ‘Through this’

“Sent”—pempw—1) To send—1a) To bid a thing to be carried to one, 1b) To send (thrust or insert) a thing into another. Pempw is the general term & may even imply accompaniment(as when sent from God). Strong—apparently a primary verb; To dispatch(from the subjective view or point of departure), (whereas ihmi[as a stronger form of eimi] refers rather to the objective point or terminus ad quem, & stellw[To set fast] denotes properly, the orderly motion involved), especially--On a temporary errand; also--To transmit, bestow, or wield.

“Timothy”—Timoyeov—= ‘Honoring God.’ 1) A resident of Lystra, apparently, whose father was a Greek & mother a Jewess; he was Paul's traveling companion & fellow laborer. Strong—‘Dear to God.’

“Beloved”(See :14)—agaphtov—

“Faithful”—pistov—1) Trusty, faithful; 2) Easily persuaded. Strong—objectively--Trustworthy; subjectively--Trustful.

“Son”(See :14—“Children”)—teknon—

“Lord”—kuriov—1) He to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord. Kuriov has a wider meaning[than despothv], applicable to the various ranks & relations of life & not suggestive of either property or of absolutism. Strong—from kurov (supremacy); Supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun)--Controller; by implication--Mr.(as a respectful title).

“Remind”—anamimnhskw—1) To call to remembrance, to remind, to admonish; 2) To remember, to remember & weigh well & consider. Strong—from ana[Up/At/Severally] & mimnhskw[To remind, i.e. (middle voice)--To recall to mind]; To remind; reflexively--To recollect. Used 6X.

“Ways”—odov—1) properly—1a) A way—1a1) A traveled way, road, 1b) A travelers way, journey, traveling; 2) metaph.—2a) A course of conduct, 2b) A way (i.e. Manner) of thinking, feeling, deciding. Strong—apparently a primary word; A road; by implication--A progress(the route, act or distance); figuratively--A mode or means.

“Teach”—didaskw—1) To teach; 2) to teach one—2a) To impart instruction, 2b) Instill doctrine into one, 2c) The thing taught or enjoined, 2d) To explain or expound a thing, 2f) To teach one something. Strong—a prolonged(causative) form of a primary verb daw(to learn); To teach(in the same broad application).

“Everywhere”—pantacou—Adverb—1) Everywhere. Strong—genitive case(as adverb of place) of a presumed derivative of pav; Universally.

“Every”—pav—Adj.—

“Church”—ekklhsia—1) A gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly. An assembly, but including only those specially called together out of a larger multitude, for the transaction of business. They were summoned out of the whole population... Strong—A calling out, i.e. concretely--A popular meeting, especially a religious congregation.