1 Corinthians 4:8-21, “The Apostles Disrespected!”

[hmp_player playlist=’1Cor4:8-21′]

Sermon Notes Below:

February 9, 2014,

“The Apostles Disrespected!”

Two weeks ago (1Corinthians 4:1-7), we read Paul’s instruction on how – apostles, prophets, pastor-teachers, and evangelists – were to be viewed. The Corinthians had begun to treat some of them as super heroes, rock stars, each with their own following, and this led to conflict and division within the church. Three points of review:

1) Paul taught how pastors and other servant leaders should be viewed, as slaves of Christ, stewards of God’s Word, accountable to be trustworthy overseers of God’s people, God’s Church.

2) Christ is the one who examines and judges every pastor, every Christian leader who serves in the Church; and therefore, the people of God should stop scrutinizing and appraising them by human standards, for it is Jesus who examines and judges the ministries of these men.

3) We should not go beyond what the Scriptures teach in evaluating these men, for Christ is the standard and anything else will lead to pride and prejudice, causing factions and disorder within the church.

In our Scripture today we’ll see how the Corinthians had begun to believe and act like they didn’t need any instruction or management from God’s apostles. Corinth was a very wealthy cosmopolitan seaport city with trade goods from North Africa, Asia, and Italy, as well as Greece. Many in the church were still practicing the sins of their unsaved days, and so, Paul confronts them. Read 8-13… The Corinthians think they are spiritually rich and reigning like kings, no need for the apostles or sound teaching. Paul says (v. 8) he wishes that were true, but it is not; for they are spiritually poor and sick because of their pride and prejudice, these compounded by their spiritual immaturity (1Corinthians 3:1-4).

Paul says (v. 9) the apostles are examples of Christ to these Corinthians who are displaying both their arrogance and ignorance concerning this. He says, in comparison to the high position these Corinthians hold themselves in, the apostles are in last place in the world, as men who are condemned to die; the apostles have become spectacle to the whole world.

The Corinthians however seek a prosperous and painless life; evidently they are unaware of the life of Jesus Christ (Mark 10:45). Paul describes the apostles as men persecuted and disrespected (although they were probably the most godly men on earth at that time).

The apostles are like gladiators brought into the arena to fight for their lives; they are like prisoners of war being displayed by a Roman general after a victorious conquest, with both men and angels watching.

Whether gladiators fighting to the death or prisoners being displayed at the end of a procession, they are men who are ridiculed rather than respected, by the people.

The apostles (vv. 10-11) are viewed as fools and men to be pitied, while the Corinthians see themselves as wise and admirable. Paul sarcastically says the apostles are weak but the Corinthians are strong; the apostles are without honor, but the Corinthians are distinguished.

But God’s true servants do suffer and struggle, just as did our Lord (James 1:2-4; 1Peter 1:3-7); yet, these Corinthians, are enjoying a life of comfort and plenty.

Although the apostles (v. 12a) work to provide for themselves, they should be financially supported by those in the church, so that they can give their main attention to prayer, to the Word of God, and to teaching and caring for God’s people (1Corinthians 9:3-14).

In the OT, priests who served God at the temple were supported by the giving of the people (Numbers 18:21); the same is true today, as God’s people are to financially support the pastor-teachers, as they serve to lead and care for the Chruch (Galatians 6:6; 1Timothy 5:17-20).

The apostles (vv. 12b-13) were ridiculed, slandered, even persecuted. Paul says they are like the scum of the earth, the dregs of the world, the refuse that is left in the bottom of pot or a cup. The apostles, sent by God, were viewed by many as undesirable, even repulsive.

Read 14-17… Paul declares that he isn’t writing these things to shame the Corinthians, but he is writing in order to warn them, for they are his children in the faith.

Paul is concerned, and rightly so, for their lack of spiritual growth, Paul’s patriarchal and pastoral heart is showing here; for although the Corinthians may have many teachers over the years, Paul is their “spiritual father,” for it was he who led them to faith in Christ.

Therefore, Paul urges them to imitate his life, as he imitates Christ, so that they will grow up in their faith (Ephesians 5:1-2; Philippians 4:8-9).

He exhorts them to obey the apostles, pastors, and teachers and to follow their examples, for they are called and equipped by God to oversee and care for God’s people (Hebrews 13:7-8, 17; 1Peter 5:2-3).

Read 18-21… There were some in Corinth who had become arrogant, even slanderous, when it came to Paul and the other apostles, for they didn’t really think they would come to Corinth and confront them.

Paul did whatever the Lord commanded him to do, and if God sends him to Corinth, he will come in God’s power (1Corinthians 2:1-5; 2Corinthians 10:1-11).

Paul will visit, and in the Lord’s power he will strip away the arrogance of those who speak maliciously against him and the other apostles; he will confront their insolence and disclose their irreverence and impotence.

God’s true Kingdom is characterized by God’s power, not by foolish and haughty words spoken by impertinent men, who, in the absence of God’s apostles, speak out loudly and profusely against those they should imitate.

Paul’s ministry is and always has been clearly authenticated by God’s power, and so, he is saying to them, “do you want me to come with gentleness or do you want me to come with a rod of correction?” The tone of Paul’s visit will depend upon the Corinthians response to the Word of God.

It is true that although we are saved, we are still
sinners, but if we are not confronting sin in our own lives
and in the Church of God, we are neither expressing love
toward God, nor enjoying true fellowship with God.

John 14:23-26, Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. ‘All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.’”

What the church needed in Paul’s time and what the church needs today, is the very same: It needs servant- stewards, men called by God, who are dedicated to prayer and studying the Word, that they might teach accurately and boldly, serving humbly, as examples to those in the church, in order (Ephesians 4:12-13), “to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”