|
|
|
| .1
¶ Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards
of the mysteries of God.
2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. 4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. |
1 -
Account of us Those who know Christ and the word have a responsibility.
Paul is a bit defensive.
1 - Ministers From huperetetai. Here it describes those who serve those serve high ranking military officers. 1 - Mysteries From nusteria. See on ro1125. |
| .5
Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both
will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest
the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
.6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another. 7 ¶ For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? |
5 - Before the time Because God knows everything, some assume that there will be no future judgment. Good logic but this is not how He works. Judgment is not so God can find out. It is so His decisions will be understood by those looking on. |
| .8
Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us:
and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.
8 Every one of you already has all that heart can desire; already you have grown rich; without waiting for us, you have ascended your thrones! Yes indeed, would to God that you had ascended your thrones, that we also might reign with you! (Weymouth). |
8 - Now ... full ... rich "Irony. Translate, 'Already ye are filled full (with spiritual food), already ye are rich, ye have seated yourselves upon your throne as kings, without us.' The emphasis is on 'already' and 'without us'; ye act as if ye needed no more to 'hunger and thirst after righteousness,' and as if already ye had reached the 'kingdom' for which Christians have to strive and suffer. Ye are so puffed up with your favorite teachers, and your own fancied spiritual attainments in knowledge through them, that ye feel like those 'filled full' at a feast, or as a 'rich' man priding himself in his riches: so ye feel ye can now do 'without us,' your first spiritual fathers." v15. They neglected the cross they were to carry with Christ lu0923. |
| .9
For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed
to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and
to men.
10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. 11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; 12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: 13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day. |
9 -
Spectacle Leaders are generally under fire from someone or some
faction.
13 - Defamed There must have been a hate campaign against Paul. His readers understood but we don't have the whole picture. This prompts many of his statements in this epistle. And for us? If it's someone we don't like or who has fallen into sin then we consider hate talk okay. I'm thinking of the flood of words demeaning a recent American president. We need to remember the counsel in v5. |
| .14
¶ I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I
warn you.
.15 For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. |
14
- Warn Or "admonish." The message for us in the context is to be
careful in sharing our concerns about someone's poor behavior. We are not
to embarrass or to speak harshly ro1410
but to act in love ga0601, ja0520.
15 - Fathers Perhaps Paul stepped over the line a little mt2309. Prophets make mistakes even though God guards their spiritual counsel, certainly when we consider the larger picture. Paul is a giant of faith. |
| .17
¶ For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved
son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of
my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.
18 Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you. .19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power. 20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. 21 What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness? |
17
- Timotheus Or "Timothy." A trusted associate.
17 - Son Or "child." Paul saw great potential in the young man. See ac1601, 1ti0102. Compare v14. |
|
|
|
|
|