Episode 179 - "You have countless guides in Christ, but not many fathers" - 1 Corinthians 4:8-21

1Cor. 4:8 Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you! 9 For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. 11 To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, 12 and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; 13 when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.

1Cor. 4:14 I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. 15 For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 16 I urge you, then, be imitators of me. 17 That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church. 18 Some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power. 20 For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. 21 What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?

It’s not too often I handle this much text of Scripture within one episode. However, it seems best to include verses 14-21 because they help us understand what Paul intends in verses 8-13.

Notice in verse 8, Paul begins two statements with “Already.” “Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich!” What? Is that true? Does this sound consistent with anything that Paul has already said? Would there be a problem if they had become rich and had all they wanted? The problem that Paul has been addressing is the arrogance demonstrated by some who act as though they are more important than others. As we will see in the context, it appears some of these people have believed the kingdom of God has already come and are acting like kings over others.

Paul is using sarcasm here. Paul’s use and repetition of “already” reveals a feigned surprise that the kingdom of God had arrived, and somehow, he missed it. He follows these “already” statements with, “Without us you have become kings!” If I could paraphrase Paul’s message, I believe he is saying something like, “Wow! Imagine that! God forgot to include his apostles in the news of the kingdom of God. If only God would have allowed us apostles in on the privileges you amazing Corinthians have attained, we could be rulers too. Instead, God has chosen to consider his divinely called apostles as worthless and expendable people to be entertainment, like those who are sent to fight lions in the Roman Colleseum. Lucky you! But we are nothing but scum.” (My summary paraphrase of verses 8-13)

Do you see the ridiculousness of this? Paul’s point in saying these things is for the Corinthians to see the ridiculousness of their arrogance and to stop their delusional ideas.

If that’s the case, isn’t Paul being mean? The context helps enlighten us. Paul lays off the sarcasm to explain: “I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children.” (v. 14) Paul loves these people. He’s invested much time and energy into their lives, and he’s just trying to get their attention by showing them that their self-elevation over others has no merit or value.

He continues to explain they have had “countless guides in Christ but not many fathers.” (v. 15) Paul reminded them that he had become their father through the gospel. His point to them is that he’s not just a person who was a teacher. He has a deep concern for their spiritual well-being. He is reminding them of this in the hope that it evokes the desired result of them coming to their senses.

In verses 16-17, he encourages them to follow the ways he taught them, not only in words but by example. He’d sent Timothy to them to help them and remind them of Paul’s example.

Paul understands there are some who are defiantly arrogant and think Paul won’t do anything about it. But he assured them he would come to them to find out and, by implication, expose the arrogant talkers. Paul says, “For the kingdom of God does not exist in talk, but in power.” (v. 20) Paul intends to reveal these arrogant talkers have no divine power with their words. He asks them whether he should come to discipline or demonstrate gentleness. (v. 21)

I couldn’t help but be stopped by the words in verse 15: “You’ve had countless guides in Christ but not many fathers.” I can’t help but wonder if that’s a problem we have in our churches in the twenty-first century. We have books and lots of people who will tell us something about God, but there are not enough people willing to lovingly lead others by example in following Christ.

Prayer: Lord - Help us lead others in a walk of faith, not just by words, but by example in humility.