1 Corinthians ~ Part 9

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As I mentioned in my last post, we continue to explore Sha’ul’s Letters to the Corinthians.

Regarding Divisions within the Congregation ~ Part 8

Even Emissaries Are Debased

⁹ For I think God has been placing us emissaries on display at the tail of the parade, like men condemned to die in the public arena: we have become a spectacle before the whole universe, angels as well as men.

Sha’ul’s mention of a spectacle refers to the arena where victims (usually criminals) were led in procession before the last public show of the day and then executed before the eager spectators. But rather than pagan or unbelieving Jewish authorities, Sha’ul knew that ultimately, it was God Himself who had chosen to display the emissaries in a humiliating manner.

¹⁰ For the Messiah’s sake, we are fools, but united with the Messiah, you are wise! We are weak, but you are strong; you are honored, but we are dishonored.

Sha’ul presents an alarming contrast, likely intended to warn the Corinthian congregation. While the Emissaries were made out to be fools as they faithfully dispatched the Gospel, the spiritually immature Corinthians were wise in their escape from ostracism, hardship, and persecution. In short, they were “living like unbelievers” (1 Corinthians 3:3).

¹¹ Till this very moment, we go hungry and thirsty, we are dressed in rags, we are treated roughly, we wander from place to place, ¹² we exhaust ourselves working with our own hands for our living. (Sha’ul was a tentmaker (Acts 18:3). When we are cursed, we keep on blessing; when we are persecuted, we go on putting up with it; ¹³ when we are slandered, we continue making our appeal. We are the world’s garbage, the scum of the earth—yes, to this moment!

Sha’ul describes the lifestyle and character of the Emissaries’ ministry. The world, with its human wisdom, labeled them as garbage and dirt (cp. 2 Corinthians 2:16), which is “the refuse” of chamber pots and “the offscouring” in waste vats and cesspools, respectively. The Romans used these terms to describe the dregs of society.

Sha’ul Appeals As A Father

¹⁴ I am not writing you this to make you feel ashamed, but, as my dear children, to confront you and get you to change.

 

 

¹⁵ For even if you have ten thousand trainers in connection with the Messiah, you do not have many fathers; for in connection with the Messiah Yeshua, it was I who became your father by means of the Good News.

Sha’ul reminded the Corinthian Believers that he was their father by means of the Good News. In contrast to their present trainers, he had founded the congregation in Corinth (see Acts 18).

¹⁶ Therefore, I urge you to imitate me. ¹⁷ This is why I have sent you Timothy, my beloved and trustworthy child in the Lord. He will remind you of the way of life I follow in union with the Messiah Yeshua and teach everywhere in every congregation.

Sha’ul urged the Corinthian Believers to imitate him, which entailed being seen as “fools” for the sake of Yeshua. Thus, Believers are encouraged to identify with “the world’s garbage” (1 Corinthians 4:13). Timothy, as a dispatched “son,” would remind the Corinthians of their father’s ways. Timothy was probably dispatched from Ephesus before the letter was sent (1 Corinthians 16:10–11).

¹⁸ When I didn’t come to visit you, some of you became arrogant. ¹⁹ But I am coming to you soon if the Lord wills, and I will take cognizance not of the talk of these arrogant people but of their power. ²⁰ For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of words but of power.

Sha’ul would examine their teaching from the standpoint of power, the standard for all those genuinely teaching the foolishness of Yeshua crucified – the only wisdom that has the power to save (1 Corinthians 1:18, 22–24).

²¹ Which do you prefer—should I come to you with a stick? or with love in a spirit of gentleness? ^[1]

Stick pictures a father who is faithful to correct his disobedient children. If the Corinthian believers ignored Sha’ul’s rebuke and warning, they would receive the rod of chastisement upon his arrival. If they repented, however, he would come in love and a spirit of gentleness.

In our next post, we will continue to explore Sha’ul’s Letters to the Corinthians and a new Topic: Regarding Immorality beginning in 1 Corinthians 5:1.

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^[1] 1 Corinthians 4:9–21.