_Let a man so account of us as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God._ THE MINISTRY So keenly alive is Paul to the danger and folly of party-spirit, that he has still one more word of rebuke to utter. I. Paul and the rest were servants and stewards. 1. The question the... [ Continue Reading ]
_But with me it is a very small think that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment._ JUDGMENT I. Is the prerogative of God. 1. It belongs not to man. 2. Not to ourselves. 3. But the Lord. II. Is premature in this life. Because-- 1. Many things are hidden. 2. There is no universal and... [ Continue Reading ]
_And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes._ APOSTOLIC DELICACY AND TACT St. Paul means that in the preceding passage (from 1 Corinthians 3:5) he has presented, while applying them to himself and Apollos, the principles regarding the ministry... [ Continue Reading ]
_For who maketh thee to differ from another?_ and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? HUMAN DIFFERENCES Why cannot we write poetry like John Milton, or paint like Raphael? One man seems to be good without an effort; another man says he cannot be good do what he will. We differ intellectua... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now ye are full … rich … as kings._ THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE COUNTERFEIT AND THE REAL CHRISTIAN I. The counterfeit-- 1. Is so replenished with Divine knowledge that he needs no teacher. 2. Is so rich in grace that he exalts himself above the spiritually poor. 3. Is so confident in himself th... [ Continue Reading ]
_We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ._ THE FOLLY OF PAUL The better to serve Christ, Paul refrained from making acquirement of knowledge his chief aim. And many others have renounced a path which might have led to literary eminence in order to devote their entire energies to... [ Continue Reading ]
_I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you._ PAUL AN EXAMPLE TO PARENTS AND TEACHERS He proceeds-- I. With love. 1. Not as a schoolmaster, but as a father. 2. Not to shame, but to warn. 3. Not to threaten, but encourage (1 Corinthians 4:16). 4. Not to punish, bu... [ Continue Reading ]
_For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus._ THE VISITATION I. The visitor. 1. Known. 2. Beloved in Christ. 3. Tried. II. His worn;. 1. To remind-- 2. Of old truths. 3. In Christ. III. The design. To secure unity. (_J. Lyth, D. D_.) NOW SOME ARE PUFFED UP, AS THOUGH I WOULD NOT COME T... [ Continue Reading ]
_For the kingdom of God is not in word, hut in power._ THE KINGDOM OF GOD NOT WORD, BUT POWER The kingdom of God-- I. Is not in word. It is one of the leading features of the age to make the gospel consist in phrases. It is a kind of pious fashion to formulate religious truths like the definitions... [ Continue Reading ]