How Rich Are We, In Christ, Right Now? (1 Corinthians 4:1-21, Part 2) Series

Last week, we worked through 1 Corinthians 4. Admittedly, I didn't really explain the last half of the chapter at all.

I think I had three reasons for this. None of which are very important, but here they are: (1) Chapter 4 hangs together as a single argument, and I wanted to catch the force of that argument; (2) I try really hard to keep sermons to about 4,000 words. A lot of weeks, at this point in my life (when I'm not actively teaching) these sermons are really more for me than anyone else. They are a major part of how I set my mind on the things of the Spirit (Romans 8:5-6; ESV) and on the things above (Colossians 3:2). But I try to keep them to a manageable length, so that if/when I teach, I'm prepared. Life is busy, and it'd be stressful trying to have something every week, for that week, when I work as much as I do. (3) I wasn't sure how to explain part of it.

But in passing very high over part of chapter 4 last week, I deliberately avoided talking about something that's core to understanding Christianity as a religion of power and of victory. So I'd like to back up, and introduce you to something that's maybe quite new. I maybe tried to explain part of it before, but it usually takes me a couple times before it starts to come out right (#nephilim).

Paul begins chapter 4, by talking about how the Corinthians should view people like himself, and Apollos. How should you view people in the church, that you want to call "leaders"-- the people who are your teachers, pastors, and elders?

(4:1) Everyone must consider us in this way: as Christ's assistants

and stewards/administrators of God's mysteries.

(2) In this connection, moreover, it is sought in the stewards,

that faithful, one may be found.

So this is the Corinthians' basic problem with Paul. They thought he was an unfaithful steward. Not because he was secretly living in unrepentant sin. Not because he was stealing from them, or taking advantage of them. Not because he taught heresy. They thought he was unfaithful because he failed to teach them about Spiritual things. And these Spiritual things are so amazing, they have decided that Paul-- the man who led them all to Christ, and who founded the church-- is a total failure. He's unfaithful.

(3) Now, to me a trivial matter it is,

that by you I may be examined/appraised,

or by a human court,

but I don't myself examine/appraise.

For nothing against myself I am aware of,

but not by this I am made right.

Now, the one examining/appraising me, the Lord he is,

(5) so then don't before the time anything judge,

until the Lord comes,

who both enlightens the hidden things of darkness

and will reveal the desires of the hearts,

and then praise will come to each one from God.

(6) Now, these things , brothers, I have disguised about myself and Apollos for your benefit,

in order that by us, you may learn not [to go] beyond what has been written,

in order that no one may be made proud against the other.

(7) For who judges that you surpass others?

Now, what do you have that you didn't receive?

Now, if indeed you received, why are you boasting as if you didn't receive it?

Here, I'd like to start unpacking this. Because this, I didn't really explain last week. The Corinthians are boasting about the Spiritual things that they've learned about. They speak in tongues. They have healings. They have words of knowledge. They have prophecy. If you walked into their church on a Sunday morning, I think you would've been overwhelmed by the power and the presence of the Holy Spirit.

And they brag about all of this. They look at themselves, and they think, "Look how far we've come." But they would say it nasty-- "Look how far we've come since we had only Paul teaching us."

Paul begins his challenge to them here, by asking them two questions. The first one is this:

(1) What do you have, that you didn't receive?

They are bragging about Spiritual things. Capital S. Spirit things. Which of these things from the Spirit do they have, that they didn't receive from the Holy Spirit? Is speaking in tongues something you learn, like you'd learn Russian or Chinese? Do you wake up one morning, and suddenly have prophecies to edify the church?

No. Of course not. If you have any Spiritual things, it's because you received them from the Holy Spirit.

Paul then asks a follow up question:

Now, if indeed you received, why are you boasting as if you didn't receive it?

In his commentary, Richard B. Hays talks about this verse by using an (apparently) old joke I'd never heard: