JUSTIFIED FOOLS For CHRIST-V—1Corinthians 4:1-21
Attention:
I was in the barber shop one Friday & Christine showed me a you tube video of an unusual scene in Rockaway, NJ. A black bear family—a mother & 5 cubs!—decided to enjoy themselves in an above-ground pool! They were splashing in the pool & swimming & looking as if they were having a grand ole time! At one point the mother was even leaning over the edge(like she was conversing with her kids!)!
Now suppose the owners were to see the ‘cute little bears’ & let their kids have fun in the pool with them!
Such would be JUSTIFIED FOOLS would they not!!
‘Fools for Christ’ are such because they know from experience with certainty, that they must join with 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—Fools for Christ are justified thru their...
FOOLISHNESS(:9-13)
Explanation:(:9-13)Narrow-minded
:9—“For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels & to men.”
Paul feels that God exhibited/openly displayed(with an intent of exposure to others)/ His apostles.
For Roman entertainment the grand finale consisted of the most egregious, hated criminals who were brought into the arena to be slaughtered by wild animals(lions). Their death was certain.
God’s apostles are intended as a spectacle(yeatron). Their exposure was to the world(all creation/universe). Apostles are paraded before both angels & men.
“Think”—dokew—1) To be of opinion, think, suppose; 2) To seem, to be accounted, reputed; 3) It seems to me—3a) I think, judge: thus in question, 3b) It seems good to, pleased me, I determined. Dokew refers to the subjective judgment, which may or may not conform to the fact. Strong—To think; by implication--To seem (truthfully or uncertainly).
“Displayed/Exhibited”—apodeiknumi—1) To point away from one's self, to point out, show forth, to expose to view, exhibit; 2) To declare, to show, to prove what kind of person anyone is, to prove by arguments, demonstrate. Strong—from apo[Off/Away from] & deiknuw[To show(literally or figuratively)]; To show off, i.e. Exhibit; figuratively--To demonstrate, i.e. Accredit Used 4X.
“Apostles”—apostolov—1) A delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders. Strong—A delegate; specially--An ambassador of the Gospel; officially--A commissioner of Christ[“apostle”](with miraculous powers).
“Last”—escatov—Adj.—1) Extreme—1a) Last in time or in place, 1b) Last in a series of places, 1c) Last in a temporal succession; 2) The last—2a) Last, referring to time, 2b) of space--The uttermost part, the end, of the earth, 2c) of rank--Grade of worth, last i.e. Lowest. Strong—a superlative probably from ecw[To hold](in the sense of contiguity); Farthest, final(of place or time). “Condemned to Death/Appointed to Death”—epiyanatiov—Adj.—1) Doomed to death. Used 1X.
From—epi—a primary preposition; properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution [with the genitive case], i.e. Over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the det.)--At, on, etc.; of direction(with the accusative case)--Towards, upon, etc.—&—yanatov—from ynhskw[To die(literally or figuratively)] (properly, an adjective used as a noun)--Death(literally or figuratively).
“Been made/Become”(See :16; :5—“Come from”; :13—“Made”)—ginomai—1) To become, i.e. To come into existence, begin to be, receive being; 2) To become, i.e. to come to pass, happen; 3) To arise, appear in history, come upon the stage; 4) To be made, finished; 5) To become, be made. Strong—To cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e. reflexively--To become(come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.).
“Spectacle”—yeatron—1) A theatre, a place in which games & dramatic spectacles are exhibited, & public assemblies held(for the Greeks used the theatre also as a forum); 2) A public show—2a) metaph.--A man who is exhibited to be gazed at & made sport of. Strong—A place for public show (“theatre”), i.e. General audience-room; by implication--A show itself(figuratively). Used 3X.
“World”(See :13)—kosmov—1) An apt & harmonious arrangement or constitution, order, government; 2) Ornament, decoration, adornment, i.e. The arrangement of the stars, 'the heavenly hosts', as the ornament of the heavens. 1Pet. 3:3; 3) The world, the universe; .....Strong—Orderly arrangement, i.e. Decoration; by implication--The world(in a wide or narrow sense, including its inhabitants, literally or figuratively [morally]).
“Angels”—aggelov—1) A messenger, envoy, one who is sent, an angel, a messenger from God.
“Men”—anyrwpov—1) A human being, whether male or female; Strong—from anhr[A man(properly as an individual male] & wq(the countenance; from optanomai); Man-faced, i.e. A human being.
:10—“We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored!”
The apostles are unyielding “fools” for the sake of Christ. willing to give all for Christ uncompromisingly. Christ is the center of their lives regardless of the outcome of such devotion.
Though the apostles are “foolishly” dedicated to Christ, teaching & living out such devotion for the sake of the church(es), the Corinthians ironically consider themselves to be “wise”/intelligent.
The apostles are “weak” in the eyes of the world. However the Corinthians in ironic contradistinction consider themselves to be “strong.” If they were truly dedicated to the Lord God in Christ, then they would know the strength of Christ is found in “weakness.”
2Cor. 12:8-10—“Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
The apostles are absolutely without “honor”/unrecognized in the world but they should not be treated as such by the one’s to whom they minister. However the Corinthians ironically consider themselves to be “distinguished.” If the apostles are exhibiting such contrasting relationships to the Corinthian church, godly wisdom would be revealed in the reconsideration of their current stance which opposes God.
Lk. 7:33-35[Mat. 11:18-19]—[Jesus said...]““For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, & you say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man has come eating & drinking, & you say, ‘Look, a glutton & a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors & sinners!’ “But wisdom is justified by all her children.”
The Corinthian Christians are worldly!!
As are the apostles, so is(or should be!) the church!!
“Fools”—mwrov—Adj.—1) Foolish; 2) Impious, godless. Strong—Dull or stupid(as if shut up), i.e. Heedless, morally--Blockhead, apparently--Absurd. Used 13X.
“For...Sake”(See :6; :15—“Through”)—dia—
**“Wise/Prudent”—fronimov—1) Intelligent, wise; 2) Prudent, i.e. Mindful of one's interests. Not necessarily skilled/expert[sofov] nor merely intelligent[sunetov], but rather ”prudent”, denotes primarily one who has quick & correct perceptions, hence, “discreet, circumspect.” Strong—Thoughtful, i.e. Sagacious or discreet (implying a cautious character; while sofov denotes practical skill or acumen; & sunetov indicates rather intelligence or mental acquirement); in a bad sense--Conceited(also in the comparative).
**“Weak”—asyenhv—Adj.—1) Weak, infirm, feeble. Strong—from A(as a negative particle) & the base of syenow[To strengthen, i.e. figuratively--Confirm(in spiritual knowledge & power)]; Strengthless (in various applications, literal, figurative & moral).
**“Strong”—iscurov—Adj.—1) Strong, mighty. Strong—Forcible(literally or figuratively).
**“Distinguished”—endoxov—1) Held in good or in great esteem, of high repute. Strong—from en & doxa; In glory, i.e. Splendid, figuratively--Noble.
**“Dishonored/Without honor”—atimov—1) Without honor, unhonored, dishonored; 2) Base, of less esteem. Strong—from A(as a negative particle) & timh[A value/Valuables/Esteem/Dignity]; negatively--Unhonored or positively--Dishonored. Used 4X.
:11—“To the present hour we both hunger & thirst, & we are poorly clothed, & beaten, & homeless.”
The apostles themselves live with hunger & thirst, needing to be supplied by the compassion of the church.
The apostles readily live with being “poorly clothed,” not providing a service for the sake of monetary gain. They prefer to do without so that others may benefit.
The apostles are even treated violently being physically abused, treated as those who are hatefully disdained.
Paul was once stoned & left for dead...
Acts 14:19—“Then Jews from Antioch & Iconium came there[Lystra]; & having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul & dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.”
The apostles are “homeless.” They have no true place to call ‘home’ as did Jesus...
Mat. 8:20—“And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes & birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
Php. 4:11-13—“Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, & I know how to abound. Everywhere & in all things I have learned both to be full & to be hungry, both to abound & to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
1Cor. 9:1-6—“Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. My defense to those who examine me is this: Do we have no right to eat & drink? Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, & Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas & I who have no right to refrain from working?”
“Present”(See :13)—arti—Adverb—1) Just now, this moment; 2) Now at this time, at this very time, this moment. Arti denotes“Just, now, even now”, marks time closely connected with the present; later, strictly present time. Strong—adverb from a derivative of airw[To lift up](compare artov[Bread/Loaf]) through the idea of suspension; Just now.
“Hour”—wra—1) A certain definite time or season fixed by natural law & returning with the revolving year; 2) The daytime (bounded by the rising & setting of the sun), a day; 3) A twelfth part of the day-time, an hour, (the twelve hours of the day are reckoned from the rising to the setting of the sun); 4) Any definite time, point of time, moment. Strong—apparently a primary word; An "hour"(literally or figuratively).
“Hunger”—peinaw—1) To hunger, be hungry—1a) To suffer want, 1b) To be needy; 2) metaph.--To crave ardently, to seek with eager desire. Strong—from the same as penhv[Starving/Indigent] (through the idea of pinching toil; "pine"); To famish(absolutely or comparatively); figuratively--To crave.
“Thirst”—diqaw—1) To suffer thirst, suffer from thirst—1a) figuratively--Those who are said to thirst who painfully feel their want of, & eagerly long for, those things by which the soul is refreshed, supported, strengthened. Strong—To thirst for(literally or figuratively).
“Poorly clothed/Naked”—gumnhteuw—1) To be lightly or poorly clad; 2) To be a light armed soldier. Strong—To strip, i.e. reflexively--Go poorly clad. Used 1X.
“Beaten/Buffeted/Roughly treated”—kolafizw—1) To strike with the fist, give one a blow with the fist; 2) To maltreat, treat with violence & contumely. Strong—To rap with the fist. Used 5X.
“Homeless/Have no certain dwellingplace”—astatew—1) To wander about, to rove without a settled abode. Strong—from A(as a negative particle) & a derivative of isthmi[To stand]; To be non-stationary, i.e. figuratively--Homeless. Used 1X.
:12—“And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;”
The apostles toil at manual “labor.” They do this not requiring the work of others, but applying their “own” effort, to the very best of their ability. They work so as not ‘to put others out,’ knowing that their abundance is to be used to build up others. They are no ‘slackers.’
The apostles even “bless” the very ones who vilify or rail against them. Prayer & work for those who are against us heaps burning coals upon them(Prov.25:21-22; Rom. 12:20).
The apostles “endure” personal “persecution.” They suffer through “persecution” “enduring” it with stalwart faith in God.
These contrasting descriptions are to be applied among all Christians regardless of their being apostles or not.
Steven died in his service to the Lord as a deacon(Acts 6:3-5; 7:57-58).
“Labor/Toil/Work hard”—kopiaw—1) To grow weary, tired, exhausted(with toil or burdens or grief); 2) To labor with wearisome effort, to toil. Strong—To feel fatigue; by implication--To work hard.
“Working”—ergazomai—1) To work, labor, do work; 2) To trade, to make gains by trading, "do business”; 3) To do, work out; 4) To work for, earn by working, to acquire. Strong—To toil(as a task, occupation, etc.), by implication--Effect, be engaged in or with, etc..
“Reviled”—loidorew—1) To reproach, rail at, revile, heap abuse upon. Strong—To reproach, i.e. Vilify.
“Bless”—eulogew—1) To praise, celebrate with praises; 2) To invoke blessings; 3) To consecrate a thing with solemn prayers—3a) To ask God's blessing on a thing, 3b) Pray God to bless it to one's use, 3c) Pronounce a consecratory blessing on; 4) of God—4a) To cause to prosper, to make happy, to bestow blessings on, 4b) Favored of God, blessed. Strong—from a compound of eu[Good/Well] & logov[Something said]; To speak well of, i.e. religiously--To bless(thank or invoke a benediction upon, prosper). “Persecuted”—diwkw—1) To make to run or flee, put to flight, drive away; 2) To run swiftly in order to catch a person or thing, to run after(positive or negative); 3) in any way whatever--To harass, trouble, molest one; 4) without the idea of hostility--To run after, follow after: someone; 5) metaph.--To pursue—5a) To seek after eagerly, earnestly endeavour to acquire. Strong—To pursue(literally or figuratively); by implication--To persecute.
“Endure”—anecomai—1) To hold up; 2) To hold one's self erect & firm; 3) To sustain, to bear, to endure. Strong—To hold oneself up against, i.e. figuratively--Put up with.
From—ana—properly--Up; but (by extension) used distributively--Severally, or locally--At(etc.)—&—ecw—To hold(used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possessions; ability, continuity, relation, or condition).
2Cor. 6:3-11—“We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand & on the left, by honor & dishonor, by evil report & good report; as deceivers, & yet true; as unknown, & yet well known; as dying, & behold we live; as chastened, & yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, & yet possessing all things. O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open.”
2Cor. 11:22-27—“Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. Are they ministers of Christ?--I speak as a fool--I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night & a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness & toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger & thirst, in fastings often, in cold & nakedness--”
:13—“being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.”
The apostles attempt reconciliation/beseech when others slander them.
The apostles are as “filth”/scum of the world(undesirable stuff—that which is removed upon rinsing; filth).
The apostles are as the “offscouring”/dregs(that are removed upon scouring/a deep seated stain).
—Think of washing dishes—you ‘rinse’ the plate of any obvious & easily removable surface material left from the meal(sauce, juice, gravy, strings of string beans, bones, fat, etc.). Then the dish is thoroughly scrubbed(either by hand or dishwasher) using dish detergent & a scouring pad to remove the unseen nastiness(saliva, germs, etc.).
The “world” allocates the same place, to the blood-bought Christian/believer, as the stuff which we trap in our kitchen drains after a meal. The “world” allocates the same place to Christians as pestilent remains which are painstakingly & laboriously removed.
“If the Corinthians embodied that wisdom[of the cross], they would begin to live peaceably among themselves. though they may invite the ridicule of outsiders.”—BECNT
“Defamed/Slandered”—blasfhmew—1) To speak reproachfully, rail at, revile, calumniate, blaspheme; 2) To be evil spoken of, reviled, railed at. Strong—To vilify; specially--To speak impiously.
“Entreat”/Conciliate”(See :16—“Urge”)—parakalew—1) To call to one's side, call for, summon; 2) To address, speak to, (call to, call upon), which may be done in the way of exhortation, entreaty, comfort, instruction, etc.. Strong—To call near, i.e. Invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation).
“Made/Become”(See :9, :16; :5—“Come from”)—ginomai—
**“Filth/Scum”—perikayarma—1) Off scouring, refuse; 2) metaph.—2a) The most abject & despicable men, 2b) The price of expiation or redemption, because the Greeks used to apply the term “katharmata” to victims sacrificed to make expiation for the people, & even to criminals who were maintained at the public expense, that on the outbreak of a pestilence or other calamity they might be offered as sacrifices to make expiation for the state. Strong—from a compound of peri[Through/Around] & kayairw[To cleanse/Prune/Expiate]; Something cleaned off all around, i.e. figuratively--Refuse. Used 1X.
“World”(See :9)—kosmov—
**“Offscouring/Dregs”—periqhma—1) What is wiped off; 2) Dirt rubbed off; 3) Off scouring, scrapings. The Athenians, in order to avert public calamities, yearly threw a criminal into the sea as an offering to Poseidon; hence the term became used for an expiatory offering, a ransom, for our child, i.e. in comparison with the saving of our son's life let it be to us a despicable & worthless thing. It is used of a man who in behalf of religion undergoes dire trials for the salvation of others. Strong—from a comparative of peri[Through/Around] & qaw(To rub); Something brushed all around, i.e. Off-scrapings(figuratively--Scum) Used 1X.
“All things”—pav—Adj.—1) individually—1a) Each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things, everything; 2) collectively—2a) Some of all types. Strong—apparently a primary word; All, any, every, the whole.
“Until”(See :5)—ewv—Conjunction—
“Now”(See :11)—arti—Adverb—
Argumentation:
**2Cor. 11:28--12:15—“besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. Who is weak, & I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, & I do not burn with indignation? If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity. The God & Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me; but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, & escaped from his hands. It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions & revelations of the Lord: I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago--whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows--such a one was caught up to the third heaven. And I know such a man--whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows-- how he was caught up into Paradise & heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities. For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me. And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. I have become a fool in boasting; you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; for in nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles, though I am nothing. Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs & wonders & mighty deeds. For what is it in which you were inferior to other churches, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong! Now for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be burdensome to you; for I do not seek yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. And I will very gladly spend & be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.”
**Mk. 8:34-37—“When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, & take up his cross, & follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake & the gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, & loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”
Illustration:
something/someone chosen or prioritized to the exclusion of others
‘Narrow-mindedness’ regarding the things of God in Christ is a complement/To be told that my-your-ourChristian belief is ‘out of sync’ with the vast majority of popular opinion is expected & is telling!/FOOLISHNESS
Bob decided that there is a point to point easier & faster way to get to St. George Island from Carrabelle than the bridge at Eastpoint!/Bob decides that he is going drive our car right past ‘2 Als’(now--‘2 brothers’) & onto the beach & into the water!/He can see the end of the island from there & it is a straight shot!/It’s only 3-3.5 miles that way—The other is ~40 miles/Bob is convinced that he is able & has everything needed to get there that way because he sees himself as privileged above others—He affirms, “My car won’t sink!”/However my Foolishness will actually allow me to enjoy St. George Island, whereas Bob’s will not!/FOOLISHNESS
Some of you hold Jesus to be just as foolish a trust...You wouldn’t dare be definitive about Jesus, preferring instead to talk in generalities about God!
Our country has & is(& has been) in the process of choosing the ‘slippery-slope’ of separation from God in Christ, going its own way regardless of revealed truth/FOOLISHNESS
An alcoholic-drug addict-sex addict has chosen their preferred brand of life to the exclusion of any alternate(& better) reality/Refusing to care that not only themselves are hurt but others close & distant are hurt by their daily decisions/FOOLISHNESS
Application:
?Are You a Justified Fool for Christ thru your FOOLISHNESS?...
...OR...Are You just a Fool?
?Are You a Fool for Christ?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
Joining the black bear family’s pool outing!
Action:
Fools for Christ are justified thru their...
6. FOOLISHNESS(:9-13)
1. STEWARDSHIP(:1)
2. FAITHFULNESS(:2)
3. DISCERNMENT(:3-5)
4. GROUNDING(:6)
5. RECEPTION(:7-8) “Without us”
Pt. 6 only! Presented 08/23/2015am to:
FBC Cbelle
209 A Ave SE(Storrs Ave)
Carrabelle, FL 32322
