1 Coríntios 4
Bob Utley · Citado em PreceptAustin
1 Coríntios 4
Utley - Believers must evaluate or consider the status of leadership. (NB: Evaluate = YES, Criticize and compare = NO). For the Kingdom of God leadership is servanthood/stewardship (cf. Mark 10:42–44+). Paul’s theology follows Jesus’ words. (1 Corinthians 4 Commentary) Let a man regard us in this manner - Regard (logizomai) is an accounting term that brings to mind balancing books and getting things in order. While the world may rank pastors in terms of popularity and outward success, God's "balance sheet" gives us two "assets" that characterize His true messengers. The KJV picks up this sense translating it "Let a man so account of us." Let a man take inventory. Us in context refers to Paul, Apollos and Cephas (1 Cor 3:22+). Man is a general allusion to all believers, not to a specific person or persons. Let...regard is not a suggestion but a command in the present imperative calling for his readers to give the following truth their continued attention -- to reckon, to esteem, to consider on Paul, Apollos, Cephas, et al, understanding their appointed roles in the Body of Christ, which would serve to counter placing one man above another (factionalism leading to divisions). One writer said "This not now, nor has it ever been about us. It is about Christ." (Charles Keen) When God's men exalt themselves, they subvert the work of the Master. When God's people exalt one minister over another, they also detract from the One, Christ Jesus, Who Alone is to be exalted and followed. Paul's point is that the aspect of their service that the Corinthians should continually "reckon" was that he, Apollos and Cephas were servants of Christ, their Master. Glenn Spencer - Paul is telling the Corinthians how to think of him. Paul wasn’t playing the bigshot like many of the teachers in Corinth. The people had put their leaders rather than Christ on the pedestal. They missed the whole thing. The Corinthian believers were preferring one leader above the other. They were focusing on their intellect and oratory skills and bragging about them. They were magnifying the messenger over the Master. So as Paul begins this chapter, he tells the Corinthians how regard him and the other leaders. (Expository Pulpit Series – 1 Corinthians: Divine Help for a Divided Church) Pulpit Commentary - Since it is inevitable that Christians should form some estimate of the position of their ministers, he proceeds to tell them what that estimate should be. Ministers are not to be unduly magnified, for their position is subordinate; they are not to be unduly depreciated, for if they are faithful they may appeal from frivolous human prejudices and careless depreciations to that only Judge and Master before whom they stand or fall ILLUSTRATION - Someone asked an elderly Scotswoman what she thought of Robert Murray McCheyne's preaching. She hesitated for a moment, then replied, "He preaches as if he was a-dying to have you saved." Is that our spirit? Those who watch us will know. How appropriate was Spurgeon's advice to a young minister who complained of the smallness of his congregation: "It is as large a one as you will want to give account for in the Day of Judgment."
1 Coríntios 4
Utley - These verses reflect Paul’s own experience (cf. 2 Cor. 4:7–12; 6:3–10 and 2 Cor 11:23–30; also notice Heb. 11:34–38). Paul gives a good summary of his lifestyle and experiences in the Second letter Are they servants of Christ?–I speak as if insane–I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. 24 Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. 26 I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; 27 I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches. (2 Cor. 11:23-28) Arnold - The Apostles underwent all kinds of hardships, even being physically beaten and homeless, while the Corinthians sat back in pure comfort and luxury and did nothing to further the cause of Christ. That the Apostles would subject themselves to these hardships to preach Christ was indeed foolishness in the eyes of the world. Today a Christian will be thought of as stupid if he yields everything to Christ. Those who will think him most stupid are professing Christians with no inward reality of Christ. (Conceit: The Root Of Divisions) Hunger (verb) (3983)(peinao from peín = hunger) means to feel the pangs of lack of food. The majority of the NT uses speak of literal hunger. Jesus elevated feeding the hungry to high level in His teaching in Mt 25:35, 37, 42, 44. The figurative use as in Mt 5:6 signifies to have strong desire to attain some goal with the implication of an existing lack. Other passages that use hunger with this figurative sense are Luke 1:53, 6:21, 25, John 6:35, possibly Rev 7:16 (could refer to literal and/or spiritual hunger). In summary, peinao may refer to hunger for earthly produce (eg. Lazarus hungering for crumbs - Lk 16:19-31) or to an intense desire for spiritual nourishment which is also necessary for the continuance of life. Roughly treated (harshly treated) (2852) kolaphizo from kolaphos = the knuckles or a closed fist and kolapto = to strike) means to beat or strike with the fist. To strike with clenched hand. Figuratively it means to cause harm, treat roughly or harshly (1Cor 4:11).Kolaphizo is in the present tense indicating continuous action, signifying that it was the habit of the lost world to treat the apostle's harhly. 1 Corinthians 4:12 and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; Amplified - And we still toil unto weariness [for our living], working hard with our own hands. When men revile us wound us with an accursed sting], we bless them. When we are persecuted, we take it patiently and endure it. NET 1 Corinthians 4:12 We do hard work, toiling with our own hands. When we are verbally abused, we respond with a blessing, when persecuted, we endure, NLT 1 Corinthians 4:12 We work wearily with our own hands to earn our living. We bless those who curse us. We are patient with those who abuse us. ESV 1 Corinthians 4:12 and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; NIV 1 Corinthians 4:12 We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; GNT 1 Corinthians 4:12 καὶ κοπιῶμεν ἐργαζόμενοι ταῖς ἰδίαις χερσίν· λοιδορούμενοι εὐλογοῦμεν, διωκόμενοι ἀνεχόμεθα, KJV 1 Corinthians 4:12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: YLT 1 Corinthians 4:12 and labour, working with our own hands; being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer; ASV 1 Corinthians 4:12 and we toil, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; CSB 1 Corinthians 4:12 we labor, working with our own hands. When we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; NKJ 1 Corinthians 4:12 And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; NRS 1 Corinthians 4:12 and we grow weary from the work of our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; NAB 1 Corinthians 4:12 and we toil, working with our own hands. When ridiculed, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; NJB 1 Corinthians 4:12 we earn our living by labouring with our own hands; when we are cursed, we answer with a blessing; when we are hounded, we endure it passively; GWN 1 Corinthians 4:12 We wear ourselves out doing physical labor. When people verbally abuse us, we bless them. When people persecute us, we endure it. BBE 1 Corinthians 4:12 And with our hands we do the hardest work: when they give us curses we give blessings, when we undergo punishment we take it quietly; labour: 1Co 9:6 Ac 18:3 20:34 1Th 2:9 2Th 3:8 1Ti 4:10 reviled: Mt 5:44 Lu 6:28 23:34 Ac 7:60 Ro 12:14,20 1Pe 2:23 3:9 Jude 1:9 persecuted: Mt 5:11 1Pe 3:14 4:12-14,19 And we toil (kopiao) , working (ergazomai) with our own hands - As above, every one of the verbs in this verse (toil, working, reviled, bless, persecuted, endured) is in the present tense indicating that this was their lifestyle, their continual experience! Greeks despised manual labor, but Paul gloried in it. Toil means they were doing hard work, working to the point of utter weariness and exhaustion (so much for my complaining when I feel like I have labored a bit for Jesus!) So what was the apostle's secret? Paul gives it in this letter writing... For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted (dioko - now he is the one being persecuted for Christ!) the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain (useless, futile); but I labored (kopiao) even more than all of them (HUMAN RESPONSIBILITY), yet not I, but (GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY) the grace of God with (sun/syn = not just besides him for that is meta, but intimately with him!) me. (1 Co. 15:9-10+) (See the "Paradoxical Principle of 100% Dependent and 100% Responsible" 100/100) THOUGHT - So what's Paul's secret for toiling to the point of exhaustion (and all of the other descriptions in this section)? What's the KEY WORD in the passage and probably in his life (other than the word Christ!) Obviously it is grace, amazing grace, superabundant grace upon grace in Christ (2 Ti 2:1+) and dispensed by His Spirit of grace (Heb 10:29+), which is more evidence that Paul was continually a Spirit filled/controlled man (Eph 5:18+). This is the example that Paul would command the Corinthians to imitate in 1 Cor 4:16. So it was not about Paul, but about Who empowered Paul, who walked like Christ walked enabled by the Spirit of Christ. It seems so plain and simple, yet sadly I fear so few in the church have discovered Paul's great secret! Related Resources: The Holy Spirit-Walking Like Jesus Walked! Filled with His Spirit/Richly Indwelt with His Word - Chart Comparing Utley has an interesting observation on toil...working - This reflects the Jewish emphasis on the appropriateness of manual labor (cf. Acts 18:3; 20:34; 1 Thess. 2:9; 2 Thess. 3:8). This was depreciated by Greek culture, including the church at Corinth. Arnold - Paul did hard labor with his hands to help support himself in the ministry. Now that was the depth of humility to the Greek because a Greek would not condescend to do manual labor. For that was the work of a slave. In their conceit and pride, the Corinthians would never dirty their hands in work, but the humble spirit of the Apostles shamed the Corinthians. (Conceit: The Root Of Divisions) Toil (2872)(kopiao from kopos = labor, fatigue) This root word kopos (word study) is used in secular Greek of “a beating,” “weariness” (as though one had been beaten) and “exertion,” was the proper word for physical tiredness induced by work, exertion or heat. Kopiao means to to exhibit great effort and exertion, to the point of sweat and exhaustion. To physically become worn out, weary or faint. To engage in hard work with the implication of difficulty and trouble. Figuratively kopiao means to become emotionally fatigued and/or discouraged and thus to lose heart and/or give up. Kopiao speaks of intense, hard, wearisome toil even to the point of utter exhaustion if necessary. The work described by kopiao was left one so weary it was as if the person had taken a beating. Kopiao describes not so much the actual exertion as the weariness which follows the straining of all one's powers to the utmost. Kopiao was sometimes used to refer to athletic training. It is not surprising that kopiao was also a verb commonly used in descriptions of the down-trodden masses of the Roman world. Used 21 times in NT - Matt. 6:28; Matt. 11:28; Lk. 5:5; Lk. 12:27; Jn. 4:6; Jn. 4:38; Acts 20:35; Rom. 16:6; Rom. 16:12; 1 Co. 4:12; 1 Co. 15:10; 1 Co. 16:16; Gal. 4:11; Eph. 4:28; Phil. 2:16; Col. 1:29; 1 Thess. 5:12; 1 Tim. 4:10; 1 Tim. 5:17; 2 Tim. 2:6; Rev. 2:3 When we are reviled, we bless - Both in present tense! In 1 Cor 11:1+ Paul commands the Corinthians "Be (present imperative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ." It was a common practice of speakers and politicians to insult and abuse their opponents Here we see him imitating Jesus, following "in His steps" (1 Peter 2:21+) for "while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously." (1 Peter 2:23+). Paul enabled by the Spirit obeyed Jesus' charge in Matthew 5:44+ “But I say to you, love (agapao in present imperative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey - don't try to obey this depending on your fleshly "strength" or resolve!) your enemies and pray (proseuchomai in present imperative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) for those who persecute you." Paul practiced what he preached in Romans 12:14+ commanding believers to "Bless (eulogeo in present imperative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) those who persecute you; bless (eulogeo in present imperative) and do not curse (kataraomai in present imperative with a negative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey)." and (Ro 12:19+) "Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord." Arnold - Terrible things were said about and to the faces of the Apostles, yet they spoke well of their opponents, even giving a prayer for them. They followed the example of Christ. “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly" (1 Pet. 2:23). In their pride and conceit, the Corinthians fought back and said awful things when attacked verbally by their opponents because they had to defend their Greek honor and protect their egos. (Conceit: The Root Of Divisions) Reviled (3058) (loidoreo from loidoros = reviling, railing, one who reviles as in 1 Cor 5:11+) means to subject one to verbal abuse, and thus to reproach, vilify, speak in a highly insulting manner, insult strongly. Revile implies a scurrilous, abusive attack prompted by anger or hatred. Rail (against) means to scold someone using harsh, insolent, or abusive language. Note the present tense indicating that the apostles weres continually reviled and railed against by their devil-inspired protagonists. Even continuous suffering at the hands of the angry mob did not elicit from the apostles any retaliatory words. To show the strong character of the word loidoreo, Moulton and Milligan cite Calvin on the use 1Co 4:12 - "Loidoria (derived from loidoreo is used in 1Ti 5:14, 1Pe 3:9, "insult for insult") is a harsher railing, which not only rebukes a man, but also sharply bites him, and stamps him with open contumely (harsh language or treatment arising from haughtiness and contempt). Hence loidoreo is to wound man as with an accursed sting." Calvin defined revile as "a harsher railing, which not only rebukes a man but also sharply bites him, and stamps him with open contumely. It is to wound a man with an accursed sting." (Note: "Contumely" means harsh language or treatment arising from haughtiness and contempt) When we are persecuted, we endure - Note "when" not "if" -- there was no doubt they would be persecuted and Paul accepted it as "gospel truth" (aka truth for preaching the gospel!) Both in present tense! As with all the responses by Paul and the apostles to mistreatment verbally or physically, the fact that he says we (continually) endure is clear evidence that these men were continually filled with the Holy Spirit, Who Alone could enable such supernatural, "superhuman," responses. In fact one might even look back over this list and see it in a sense as manifestations of the "fruit of the Spirit."
1 Coríntios 4
Utley - Paul is reflecting the teachings of Jesus (cf. Matt. 5:10–12; 1 Pet. 2:23). The term “reviled” (loidoreō) is also included in the list of sins in 1 Cor. 5:11 and 6:10 (loidoros). Vincent, in Word Studies, says this term refers to personal verbal abuse, while the term “slandered” (dusphēmeō, cf. v. 13) means public defamation (cf. 4:13; 2 Cor. 6:8). I have not been able to confirm this distinction. They both are part of a large number of Koine Greek terms used in the semantical category of “insult and slander” (cf. Louw and Nida, Greek-English Lexicon, vol. 1, pp. 433–434). Arnold - The Apostles tried to console and pray for those who said evil things about them. They did not try to defend or justify their actions, but committed the slanderers to God. When we bless, endure and answer kindly to our opponents, we are acting in the way Christ acted. We cannot control how people act towards us but we can control how we react to people when they treat us badly. (Conceit: The Root Of Divisions) We have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now - Scum refers to that which is cleansed all around, that which is removed—dirt and filth—as a result of a thorough cleansing and figuratively was an absolute base insult when applied to humans! The word was also used of condemned criminals of the lowest class who were sacrificed as offerings for the cleansing of a city in the sense of a ransom! The word dregs refers to "that which is removed by the process of cleaning dirt off, scouring, scum. The previous word indicates a rinsing, this word a scraping of a dirty vessel (TLNT). It was used in the papyri in a letter conveying the greeting; “your humble and devoted servant” (MM). It was used in the baths as an ironical form of greeting, “your offscouring,” meaning “your humble servant”" (New Linguistic Key) Spicq renders 1 Cor 4:13, "We have become as the filth (Gk perikatharmata) of the earth, the refuse (Gk peripsēma) of all, up to the present . . . ". Greeks used perikátharma "of criminals kept at the public expense, to be thrown into the sea, or otherwise killed, at the outbreak of a pestilence, etc. It is used in 1 Cor 4:13 much in this sense."
1 Coríntios 4
Utley - To put this truth in an American proverb, “actions speak louder than words” or “the proof is in the pudding.” Kingdom of God in Corinthians - 1 Co. 4:20; 1 Co. 6:9; 1 Co. 6:10; 1 Co. 15:50 Arnold - When God’s spiritual kingdom is truly in one’s heart, the evidence will be a life of good works. If there is no power, no good works, no evidences, then there is a good possibility there is no salvation. The fourth cure for conceit is to live consistently -- to make our lives match our words and to operate on divine power. This produces true Christlike humility. Jonathan Edwards said, "There is no man so much out of Satan’s reach as a humble man.” (Conceit: The Root Of Divisions) Charles Hodges - Romans 14:17, “The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit”—which is equivalent to saying that true religion does not consist in external observances, but in inner graces. This is the form of the idea that seems best suited to the passage before us. “God’s reign—His dominion in the heart or in true religion—does not consist in professions but in reality.” Paul spoke of the association of words and power to the Thessalonians -- 1 Thessalonians 1:5 for our gospel did not come to you in word only (OBVIOUSLY IT WAS PROCLAIMED IN WORD), but also in power (dunamis) and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. Power (Miracle producing power) (1411) dunamis from dunamai = to be able, to have power) power especially achieving power. It refers to intrinsic power or inherent ability, the power or ability to carry out some function, the potential for functioning in some way (power, might, strength, ability, capability), the power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature. Vine - (In 2Ti 1:7 dunamis) denotes the ability requisite for meeting difficulties and for the fulfillment of the service committed to us. 1 Corinthians 4:21 What do you desire? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness? Amplified - Now which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod of correction, or with love and in a spirit of gentleness? NET 1 Corinthians 4:21 What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline or with love and a spirit of gentleness? NLT 1 Corinthians 4:21 Which do you choose? Should I come with a rod to punish you, or should I come with love and a gentle spirit? ESV 1 Corinthians 4:21 What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness? NIV 1 Corinthians 4:21 What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a whip, or in love and with a gentle spirit? GNT 1 Corinthians 4:21 τί θέλετε; ἐν ῥάβδῳ ἔλθω πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἢ ἐν ἀγάπῃ πνεύματί τε πραΰτητος; KJV 1 Corinthians 4:21 What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness? YLT 1 Corinthians 4:21 what do ye wish? with a rod shall I come unto you, or in love, with a spirit also of meekness? ASV 1 Corinthians 4:21 What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness? CSB 1 Corinthians 4:21 What do you want? Should I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness? NKJ 1 Corinthians 4:21 What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness? NRS 1 Corinthians 4:21 What would you prefer? Am I to come to you with a stick, or with love in a spirit of gentleness? NAB 1 Corinthians 4:21 Which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love and a gentle spirit? NJB 1 Corinthians 4:21 What do you want then? Am I to come to you with a stick in my hand or in love, and with a spirit of gentleness? GWN 1 Corinthians 4:21 When I come to visit you, would you prefer that I punish you or show you love and a gentle spirit? BBE 1 Corinthians 4:21 What is your desire? is my coming to be with punishment, or is it to be in love and a gentle spirit? Shall I come to you with a rod : 1Co 5:5 2Co 10:2,6,8 12:20,21 13:2 3:10 with love and a spirit of gentleness: 2Co 10:1 1Th 2:7 Jas 3:17 Related Passages: 1 Corinthians 5:5 I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. IT'S YOUR CHOICE! CORRECT YOUR BEHAVIOR OR ELSE! What do you desire (thelo)? - Amplified - "Now which do you prefer?" Will you heed the admonishment and will you imitate me? Or will you continue in your fleshly, puffed up way? It is your choice. What is the desire of your heart, to obey God or to obey your fallen flesh? If the latter, you must be disciplined! A T