1 Corinthians 4:12-13

DISCOURSE: 1954
PAUL’S MEEKNESS

1 Corinthians 4:12. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the earth, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.

AS there is a wide difference between the characters of the wicked and the righteous, so there are strong marks of discrimination between those who are truly pious, and those who have taken up a profession of religion without having felt its transforming efficacy. In too many there remains a proud, contentious spirit, amidst all their pretensions to piety: but in the upright Christian there is a meek, patient, and benevolent disposition, which will shew itself in the most trying circumstances, and afford a decisive evidence of his sincerity. Of the former description were those teachers, who, in order to gain over to themselves a party in the Corinthian Church, introduced among them contentions and divisions. But to these the Apostle’s conduct forms a striking contrast: and though he doubtless was peculiarly eminent in his attainments, we may see in him what every Christian, according to the measure of his grace, will surely practise.
We shall take occasion from his words to shew,

I. The treatment which every Christian meets with from an ungodly world—

The people of God have in every age been despised by the world—
[It was the common complaint of all the Prophets [Note: David, Psalms 25:19; Psalms 56:5. Jeremiah, Jeremiah 18:18 and Lamentations 3:62. In reference to all of them, see Acts 7:52.], and Apostles [Note: 1 Corinthians 4:9.], and of Christ himself [Note: John 7:7; John 15:24.], that they were objects of hatred and contempt to all around them. We also are taught to expect the very same treatment at the hands of ungodly men [Note: Matthew 10:22; Matthew 10:24.]. We shall be “defamed” behind our backs, and “reviled” to our face: nor will our enemies be satisfied with injuring us merely by their words; they will also “persecute” us by acts of open hostility [Note: Matthew 5:11 and 2 Timothy 3:12.]: yea, they will account us as the very scum of the earth, and as execrable wretches that are fit only to be sacrificed to devils, to appease their wrath in a time of public calamity [Note: This is the precise idea suggested in the text; and it refers to a custom which obtained in some heathen countries, and was probably well known at Corinth. See Doddridge on the place.]

Strange as this may seem, it may be easily accounted for—
[Christians are not thus detested because they are worse than others (for they are “the excellent of the earth,” “more excellent than any of their neighbours [Note: Psalms 16:3.Proverbs 12:26.],”) but because they exhibit a light which forces men to see their own wickedness [Note: Matthew 5:10; Luke 6:22. John 3:19.]. To this we must ascribe Cain’s murder of his brother [Note: 1 John 3:12.], and the universal opposition which the seed of the serpent make to the seed of the woman [Note: Genesis 3:15.Galatians 4:29; Psalms 38:20.]. If we were of the world, the world would love its own: but because we are chosen out of the world, and walk contrary to its sinful customs, it does, and will, hate us even unto death [Note: John 15:18.]

Doubtless such treatment is hard to be borne; but the Christian distinguishes himself by,

II.

His behaviour under it—

There are two things that characterize a true Christian under all his trials:

1. A passive meekness—

[The saints are men of like passions with others; but, through grace, they are enabled to repress the workings of corruption, and to regulate their tempers by the word of God. Instead of giving loose to a vindictive spirit, they bear with silent resignation the injuries that are inflicted on them, or, if they speak, it is only in words of gentle “entreaty.” David, in his conduct towards Shimei [Note: 2 Samuel 16:5.] and Saul [Note: 1 Samuel 26:8; 1 Samuel 26:18; 1 Samuel 26:24.], exemplifies in both these points of view the Christian’s duty, and the Christian’s experience. There are indeed occasions whereon, through inadvertence or the power of temptation, they may be overcome [Note: e. g. Moses, Numbers 20:10. Psalms 106:32 and Paul, Acts 23:3.]: but, on the whole, they will “possess their souls in patience [Note: Luke 21:19.],” and “shew all meekness unto all men [Note: Titus 3:2.].” Rather than provoke contention they will endure the wrong that is done towards them [Note: 1 Corinthians 6:7.], and, forbearing to notice it in complaint to man [Note: Psalms 38:12.], will commit themselves into the hands of a righteous God [Note: 1 Peter 4:19.]

2. An active benevolence—

[The natural man, under injuries received, is mindful only of his own troubles: but the Christian feels a concern for the souls of those who injure him. He is grieved for them [Note: Psalms 35:7; Psalms 35:11.]; and would be willing to sustain any temporal evils whatever, if by means of his own sufferings he might bring his enemies to a better mind, and avert from them God’s heavy displeasure [Note: Exodus 32:32.Romans 9:1.]. He will even bless his enemies, and pray for them [Note: Luke 6:27; Romans 12:14.], and rendering to them good for evil, he will heap coals of fire, as it were, upon their heads, in order to melt them into love [Note: Romans 12:17; Romans 12:19.]. He will contend indeed; but he will use no weapon except that of love: and in this warfare he will fight strenuously, till, instead of being overcome of evil, he overcomes evil with good [Note: Romans 12:21.]

Infer—
1.

How different is the judgment of God from that of sinful men!

[Men hate and despise the righteous [Note: Psalms 37:32.Isaiah 59:15.]; and would pour out their blood as water, if God should withdraw his restraints from them [Note: Psalms 79:2.]. But God declares that, instead of their being unfit to live in the world, the world itself is not worthy of them [Note: Hebrews 11:38.]; that their blood is precious in his sight [Note: Psalms 116:15.]; that whoso toucheth them, toucheth the apple of his eye [Note: Zechariah 2:8.]; and that it were better for any man to be cast into the sea with a millstone tied about his neck, than that he should offend one of his little ones [Note: Matthew 18:6.]. Moreover the time is fast approaching, when this difference of sentiment shall be made to appear before the whole assembled universe, to the everlasting comfort of his afflicted people, and the eternal confusion of his enemies [Note: Isaiah 66:5.]. Let us then learn to “take up our cross daily,” and to follow the example of our blessed Lord [Note: 1 Peter 2:21; 1 Peter 2:23.]; so shall we approve ourselves his true Disciples [Note: Matthew 16:24.], and obtain a glorious reward in the day of judgment [Note: Matthew 5:12.]

2. How superior are the operations of divine grace to all the suggestions of human wisdom, or all the efforts of human power!

[Philosophy never could devise means to eradicate a vindictive spirit from the heart: on the contrary, it extolled revenge as a virtue, and regarded the temper that is exhibited in the text, as meanness and pusillanimity. If men had even endeavoured to exercise such a disposition as Paul’s, they would have failed in the attempt, because unassisted nature is wholly incompetent to such a work. But what cannot the grace of God effect? It will turn a lion into a lamb; or rather, it will transform the vilest of the human race into the image of our incarnate God. Let us then follow the example of the saints and martyrs that have gone before us [Note: James 5:10.]. Let us exert ourselves in dependence on the Lord Jesus, and not doubt but that “his grace shall be sufficient for us.” Then shall our very enemies be constrained to “glorify God in us [Note: Galatians 1:24.],” and to “confess that God is with us of a truth [Note: 1 Corinthians 14:25.].”]