1 Corinthians 4:8-21

8 The sharp contrast between the carnal Corinthians and the faithful apostle loses none of its force if we compare him with the church of today. We need not go outside of Protestantism to find churches sated, rich, and avowedly endeavoring to influence the world by political means. Every charge against the Corinthians in this passage is tenfold more applicable today. Those organizations which are not strong and glorious make every effort to become so. We have drifted far from our true place in the world. The world that hated our Lord and put Him to the accursed death, that hounded His apostle until he, too, was ready to be offered up, has not changed. It still persecutes those who want to live godly.

11 What a contrast between Paul and the dignitaries of the church today! Though loaded with the care of all the churches among the nations, he lacks every sign of such an exalted position. In actual want at times, and toiling for his subsistence at others, without sufficient clothing for comfort, undergoing all sorts of indignities, with no settled habitation, the apostle presents an abject, almost pitiable picture. Nothing could be worse than his own summary: "We became as the off-scourings of the world, the scum of the universe."

15 It was a custom among the higher classes to employ a slave in escorting the boys to and from school, and some families had learned Greek slaves for tutors. It would seem that the apostle is using this term to characterize those who had followed him in leading the

Corinthians. They could not take the place of the one who had first brought them to the knowledge of Christ.

16 We need not stumble at Paul's putting himself forward for imitation, rather than the example of Christ. Since the Lord's ascension and the call of Paul there has been a radical change in the character of God's dealings with the nations. Paul's pattern call, and his later conduct, is the example for us to follow in this day of grace. The Circumcision follow in our Lord's steps. If we followed the example given by our Lord to His disciples we would proclaim the gospel to none but Jews (Act_11:19).

21 It was some time before Paul came to Corinth. This epistle was probably written at Ephesus, whence Paul went to Macedonia. While there he wrote the second epistle to them Corinthians in which he lays aside the rod and manifests that spirit of love and meekness which he longed to show toward them.

1 Even when we remember the extreme laxity of morals which prevailed in many of the large and luxurious cities of the Roman empire at that time, the corrupting influence of the heathen deities which they had so recently served, and the eagerness with which they sought to right this wrong, we can hardly see how such a state of affairs could exist in Corinth, and, at first sight, it seems even more difficult to see why it should have been incorporated in Holy Writ, to be the butt of infidels and the sport of the ungodly. Yet such is all of God's word. It is a light which does not shun to expose all the shame and dishonor of the very ones who are declared to possess the righteousness of God. And it is full of comfort for those who fall, for if His grace was sufficient in such a case, it will suffice for all.

5 It will be noticed that the punishment, of being given up to Satan, was with a view to salvation. Thus are all of God's judicial acts. They are not vindictive, without any consideration for the welfare of those involved, but are of such a nature as to correct the evil.

9 The apostle had already written on this subject to the Corinthians. The state of society may well be imagined when he tells them that, should they refuse to have dealings with all such immoral persons, they would need to leave the world entirely. Now he makes it clear,

however, that immorality will not be tolerated among those in the ecclesia. All such should be excluded. They are subject to the judgment of their brethren. Immorality outside the ecclesia is not a matter for the saints. God is judging those who are outsiders.

13 There is a striking contrast between the methods of dealing with moral evil and doctrinal heresy. There were those in Corinth who held fundamental error, for they denied the resurrection. The apostle reasons with them and shows them the consequences if their heresy were true, but he never suggests their excision. But when the behaviour of a brother became such that he brought reproach upon the holy brotherhood of believers, he was summarily expelled. This was the surest way of bringing him to repentance.

By sending him back into the world, he realized the gravity of his misconduct.