Category Archives: Corinthians

1 Corinthians 4:6-21                Imitators

January 22, 2016           1 Corinthians 4:6-21

Download discussion questions:  1 Corinthians 4_6-21 imitators

 

One of the first observations about this text in our discussion group was Paul’s tone – harsh, even sarcastic.  We have talked recently about the inspiration of Scripture and how the Holy Spirit used very human writers, with all their experiences and personal quirks.  This is another example.  It is likely we might be offended if someone sent us a letter like Paul sent the Corinthians, at least in parts of the letter.

The point of Paul’s harsh language is the contrast between the arrogant Corinthians (v. 6, 18, 19) and the reality that he and other apostles faced (v. 9-13).  He lists at least fifteen descriptions of harsh treatment, yet the Corinthians seemed to put themselves in the arrogant position of judging which apostles or teachers they preferred (4:3, 5 from last week’s discussion) and even boasted about (3:21).

Instead of examining and judging and boasting regarding the apostles, Paul challenges the Corinthians to imitate him (and presumably the other apostles he has been describing – v. 16).  Our group discussed what exactly he was expecting them to imitate.  Most of the items on the list are circumstances beyond our control:  without honor, roughly treated, reviled.  The common thread through the list seemed to be that the apostles who routinely faced such hardships had to have certain characteristics:  commitment, willing to sacrifice, giving of themselves for others.

Near the end of the list Paul mentions three specific ways the apostles responded to hardships:  “when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; when we are slandered, we try to conciliate” (v. 12-13).  Blessing, enduring, conciliating – three specifics that we are called to imitate along with the Corinthians.  We may not be a spectacle to the world (v. 9) or roughly treated (v. 11), but we will frequently have opportunities to bless, endure and conciliate.  Someone commented on our natural tendencies – to curse instead of bless, to escape rather than endure, to retaliate instead of conciliate.  Another member questioned why Paul used himself as the model to imitate rather than Christ.  (He does that in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.”)  Perhaps Paul was a good choice for an example since he had lived among the Corinthians for a year and a half (Acts 18:11).  Most likely they had seen him in some of the circumstances he describes and they had seen how he reacted.  We agreed in our group that few of us would want to make the blanket suggestion for other to imitate us in difficult circumstances.

Someone suggested that the three – blessing, enduring, conciliating – are parts of a whole.  Sometimes we tend to isolate and misunderstand endurance, putting up with annoyances or difficulties.  But without a conscious effort to bless others and to bring reconciliation in relationships, endurance can degenerate in to self-obsessed bitterness.  We can spend time absorbed in thoughts of what we could have said or the clever remark that would have “gotten even” for the insult or the snub.  Without blessing and reconciliation we are not enduring but only embittering ourselves.

In that context, one participant commented that Paul doesn’t mention forgiveness and confession in this passage, but those qualities are essential parts of the bless-endure-conciliate response he calls us to imitate.  As someone said, endurance is not the same thing as “stuffing” our anger and frustration.

Paul offers himself as an example to imitate for another reason.  He considers himself more of a father than a tutor (v. 15).   We considered the differences.  Tutors are paid, fathers have a family connection.  Tutors give assignments, fathers have a constant influence.  Tutors care about the next lesson plan, fathers care about a legacy for generations.  Tutors pass along information, fathers pass along life.

Maybe because Paul, as a spiritual father, cared about the legacy of his eighteen months in Corinth, he was concerned about the real root of their problem.  Their lives displayed more arrogance than power (v. 19).  The intellectual discussion about which teacher was better and debating fine points of theology were not wrong in themselves, but only because they were displays of arrogance.  Paul’s challenge for them to imitate the Christlike responses seen in the apostles is not natural.  God’s power is essential (v. 21a).  Words are important (Paul used a lot of words to communicate orthodox theology).  But the power demonstrated in blessing and enduring and reconciling in the face of continuous hardships is the true indication of God’s kingdom.

Someone raised the question of our efforts, our attempts to imitate Paul or other Christians we respect, and how that effort fits with the work of the Holy Spirit in transforming lives.  How do those two aspects relate?  In other places Paul makes it clear that God’s work in our lives is the work of His Spirit.  In this passage (and others) he seems to put a significant responsibility on us.  What came out of our discussion is the ways we can quench the Spirit’s work.  Ultimately, He can do what He wants, when He wants, how He wants.  But in many circumstances (as Paul himself acknowledges, 1 Thessalonians 5:19) we may quench the Spirit.  Perhaps imitating more mature believers and seeing how they bless and endure and reconcile gives more opportunity for the Spirit to work in our hearts.  Our natural impulses (to curse, to escape, to retaliate against others) are likely to quench His work.  Certainly those sinful responses will make us less receptive to His work.  From that perspective we can see the challenge to imitate others in a new way.  Imitating others who are farther along in the faith is not just one more duty we are obligated to fulfill.  Imitation is an opportunity to place ourselves in a position to welcome the Spirit’s work in our lives.

HANDOUT   1 Corinthians 4:6-21                Imitators

January 22, 2016           1 Corinthians 4:6-21

Download discussion questions:  1 Corinthians 4_6-21 imitators

 

How are you like your father?  What positive characteristics do you see?  What traits do you wish were not so much like him?  In this passage Paul compares himself to the Corinthians’ father, and urges them to imitate him.  How much effort did you put into imitating your dad?  What parts of his character did you imitate without even trying?

This week we will look at Paul’s appeal to the church to imitate him.  As you read through the passage, ask what exactly Paul wants them to imitate?  How would the Corinthians (and how should we) go about trying to imitate Paul?

1 Corinthians 3:18 – 4:7         Examination

January 15, 2016           1 Corinthians 3:18 – 4:7

Download discussion questions:  1 Corinthians 3_18-4_7 Examination

Paul continues the theme that started this letter (1 Corinthians 1:10), the divisions in the church.  Once again he links that problem to their confusion about the values of wisdom and foolishness (1:18-27).  Our discussion started with the contrast Paul makes between any who “thinks his is wise” and his exhortation to “become foolish” (3:18).  What characterizes a person who considers himself wise?  What characterizes one who considers himself foolish? Continue reading

1 Corinthians 3:8 – 4:1  Building

January 8, 2016             1 Corinthians 3:8 – 4:1

Download discussion questions:  1 Corinthians 3_8-4_1 Building

The beginning of this passage continues with Paul’s agricultural description, comparing God’s kingdom to the work of farmers who plant and water but ultimately depend on God to bring crops.  Then the apostle abruptly changes to a different metaphor (v. 9), “God’s building.”  A logical question would be, “Why?”  What point is he making in this passage that is better illustrated by building construction than by crop raising? Continue reading

HANDOUT   1 Corinthians 3:8 – 4:1  Building

January 8, 2016             1 Corinthians 3:8 – 4:1

Download discussion questions:  1 Corinthians 3_8-4_1 Building

When starting off a new year we often think in terms of goals and fresh beginnings and what we would like to accomplish in the coming months.  In this passage Paul draws our attention to the future a bit farther out than 2016 and what purposes and ambitions we should consider.

Download the handout and think about the passage in preparation for our discussion on Friday morning.

1 Corinthians 2:12 – 3:11       Spirit & Flesh

December 18, 2015                  1 Corinthians 2:12 – 3:11

Download discussion questions:  1 Corinthians 2_12-3_11 Spirit & flesh

After reading through this passage, one of the questions we considered was the “tone” of Paul’s writing here.  What emotional atmosphere comes through in these verses?  Several opinions were offered:  frustration, urging, coaxing, cajoling, even scolding.  Paul sounds like a hopeful parent who knows his child can do better, or a teacher who knows the student is not reaching his full potential.
Continue reading

HANDOUT   1 Corinthians 2:12 – 3:11       Spirit & Flesh

December 18, 2015                  1 Corinthians 2:12 – 3:11

Download discussion questions:  1 Corinthians 2_12-3_11 Spirit & flesh

This passage contains a lot of familiar contrasts – Spirit and flesh, men and infants, milk and solids, planting and watering, foundations and buildings.  Paul seems to be reaching for a wide variety of metaphors to make his point.  Which images are most helpful to you, and why?  How would these different illustrations be understood by the original readers in Corinth?

1 Corinthians 1:29 – 2:13       The Spirit

December 11, 2015                  1 Corinthians 1:29 – 2:13

Download discussion questions:  1 Corinthians 1_29-2_13 spirit
Download translations:  1 Corinthians 2_13 Bible Gateway (selected)

Paul started his letter to the Corinthian church with an immediate concern about divisions and factions and loyalties to different teachers (1:1-17).  Then he addresses the contrast between the world’s view of wisdom and the seeming foolishness of the Gospel (1:14-31).  The tendency seemed to be to boost the attractiveness of the “foolish” Gospel with supernatural signs and philosophical sophistication (1:22).  In fact, the different styles of speaking or the various ways of teaching by Paul and Apollos and others may have been a significant part of the factions causing problems in the church.  In this passage, Paul gets even more specific, pointing to the shortcomings of his own ministry in Corinth. Continue reading

HANDOUT   1 Corinthians 1:29 – 2:13       The Spirit

December 11, 2015                  1 Corinthians 1:29 – 2:13

Download discussion questions:  1 Corinthians 1_29-2_13 spirit
Download translations:  1 Corinthians 2_13 Bible Gateway (selected)

Paul continues his exhortations to the Corinthians about substance and form, or “my message and my preaching” (1 Corinthians 2:4).  Download the handout and see what he says in addition to the passage we looked at last week.

A second handout is also available.  The last phrase of 1 Corinthians 2:13 is interesting (which is usually a way of saying that different translators treat it in different ways).  The handout provides a handy (and hopefully helpful) way to compare ten different translations.  Look at those translations and any others that you find helpful.  What are the nuances of differences between the variety of ways scholars attempt to express Paul’s idea?  What can you learn from comparing the different translations?  Is that a helpful exercise, or just confusing?

Friday morning should be interesting, as always.