1 Corinthians 4:14-21

 

 

Ashamed  = ̓ντρέπω = entrepō = to invert, that is, (figuratively and reflexively) in a good sense, to respect; or in a bad one, to confound: - regard, (give) reverence, shame.

1 Corinthians 4:14 ESV
I          do not write             these things

to make you ashamed,

Admonish = νουθετέω = noutheteō= to put in mind, that is, (by implication) to caution or reprove gently: - admonish, warn.

but                                                           to admonish you

 

 

as my            beloved children.

 

Guide = παιδαγωγός = paidagōgos = a boy leader, that is, a servant whose office it was to take the children to school; (by implication [figuratively] a tutor [“paedagogue”]): - instructor, schoolmaster.

 

 

1 Corinthians 4:15 ESV
For though    you     have              countless      guides           in Christ,

you     do not have   many             fathers.

For                I          became                              your father    in Christ Jesus

through the gospel.

 

1 Corinthians 4:16 ESV

I          urge              you,

then,                                                        be imitators              of me.

1 Corinthians 4:17 ESV

That              is        why    I          sent

you     Timothy,

my      beloved

and                                                                               faithful           child   in the Lord, to remind                                you     of                  my ways       in Christ,

as                            I          teach             them             everywhere

in every church.

1 Corinthians 4:18 ESV

Some            are                arrogant,

as though                I          were not coming                to you.

1 Corinthians 4:19 ESV

But                                     I will come                                     to you            soon,

if the Lord wills,

and                                    I will find out            not the talk   

of these arrogant people

Talk = λόγος = logos = something said (including the thought); by implication a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive; by extension a computation; specifically (with the article in John) the Divine Expression (that is, Christ): -

but their power.

 

 

1 Corinthians 4:20 ESV

For the          kingdom of God       does not consist      in talk

Power = δύναμις = dunamis = force (literally or figuratively); specifically miraculous power (usually by implication a miracle itself

but                                                                                in power.

 

 

1 Corinthians 4:21 ESV

What do you wish?            Shall I come to you            with a rod,

or                                                                                  with love

in a spirit of gentleness?

Paul make some bold statements in these few verses.  Can we follow him with similar statements of our own.

Statement #1:  Be imitators of me. 

How many of us can make such a statement without trepidation.  God sends us as light to the world.

Matthew 5:14 ESV
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.

Can we, in all honesty, say that we bring light and truth to the world around us.  If the people we encounter imitate us will they be walking in the light or will their lives be just as dark as if they had never met us?  Do we have the ability to say to those around us, live your life as I do and God will be pleased with you.

Statement #2:  I have sent Timothy to teach you my ways.

Again, how many of us can make such a bold statement.  How many of us can say, send someone to teach them how to live as a live.  We have whole groups of individuals, denominations of churches who have lost their way and are unable to say such a thing with any integrity. 

2 Timothy 3:8 ESV
Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith.

Following such people leads, inevitably, into spiritual darkness.

Statement #3: I will come to you soon to bring discipline

How many pastors, how many deacon boards, how many churches are able and willing to make this statement.

We live in a live and let live world.  It is a world of many shades of gray.  We are timid in our response to those doing wrong because we believe that their situation is only a shade or two darker than ours and so we have no justification or need to correct their behavior.