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First CorinthiansFirst Corinthians“Solving Church Problems”“Solving Church Problems”

Lesson 5, Section SixLesson 5, Section Six

Problem Four:Problem Four:

““Judging Unrighteous Judgment”Judging Unrighteous Judgment”

First Corinthians 4:1-21First Corinthians 4:1-21

Pages 26-31Pages 26-31

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What We Will Study In Chapter 4...What We Will Study In Chapter 4...

There were some church leaders at Corinth, There were some church leaders at Corinth, probably Paul’s converts, who had become probably Paul’s converts, who had become influential and self-importantinfluential and self-important

In Paul’s absence, they were dividing the In Paul’s absence, they were dividing the churchchurch

Their attitude toward Paul had become Their attitude toward Paul had become haughty and disrespectfulhaughty and disrespectful

Paul is now faced with re-establishing his Paul is now faced with re-establishing his credibility as a apostle [one of God’s stewards]credibility as a apostle [one of God’s stewards]

He reminds them that God is the ultimate He reminds them that God is the ultimate judge and they will be accountable to Himjudge and they will be accountable to Him

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Paul, A Servant of ChristPaul, A Servant of Christ1 Corinthians 4:1, 21 Corinthians 4:1, 2

Paul wanted all to think of the apostles as Paul wanted all to think of the apostles as stewards [ministers, servants] of the gospelstewards [ministers, servants] of the gospelo A steward is one that is subordinate to ChristA steward is one that is subordinate to Christo As a steward, Paul was not head of a sect or party As a steward, Paul was not head of a sect or party

in the church, but a servantin the church, but a servanto As a steward, he is responsible for protecting As a steward, he is responsible for protecting

God’s word from those who would alter itGod’s word from those who would alter ito Stewards are appointed and are required to be Stewards are appointed and are required to be

trustworthytrustworthy

All Christians are stewards of the gospel but All Christians are stewards of the gospel but in a more limited way than the apostlesin a more limited way than the apostles

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The Real JudgmentThe Real Judgment1 Corinthians 4:3-51 Corinthians 4:3-5

Paul was accountable to his master onlyPaul was accountable to his master onlyo What others thought about him was of little What others thought about him was of little

concernconcern

He did not pass judgment on himself as a He did not pass judgment on himself as a preacher of the gospelpreacher of the gospelo But, he was not aware of anything he had done But, he was not aware of anything he had done

or said that was wrong, regardless of what others or said that was wrong, regardless of what others may have said about himmay have said about him

o He knew he was defending the truthHe knew he was defending the truth

God is the ultimate judge who will judge the God is the ultimate judge who will judge the hearts of men and also praise menhearts of men and also praise men

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““Judge Nothing Before The Time...”Judge Nothing Before The Time...”1 Corinthians 4:51 Corinthians 4:5

Paul was not referring to judging:Paul was not referring to judging:o Between right and wrongBetween right and wrongo Testing one’s workTesting one’s worko Church disciplineChurch discipline

He is referring to;He is referring to;o Things hidden in the darkness (secrets)Things hidden in the darkness (secrets)o The motives of men’s heartThe motives of men’s hearto When the Lord comes, He will judge these When the Lord comes, He will judge these

mattersmatters

Christ will bring all things to lightChrist will bring all things to light

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Don’t Be Puffed UPDon’t Be Puffed UP1 Corinthians 4:61 Corinthians 4:6

Paul could have named names of those Paul could have named names of those unworthy men in whom some were placing unworthy men in whom some were placing their loyaltiestheir loyaltieso Rather, he used himself, Apollos, and Peter to get Rather, he used himself, Apollos, and Peter to get

their attentiontheir attentiono The Corinthians knew that Paul was not the cause The Corinthians knew that Paul was not the cause

of their factions, or else he would be condemning of their factions, or else he would be condemning himselfhimself

He did not want them to be “puffed up” one He did not want them to be “puffed up” one against anotheragainst anothero Exalting one preacher and pulling down anotherExalting one preacher and pulling down another

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Who Makes You Differ From Another?Who Makes You Differ From Another?1 Corinthians 4:71 Corinthians 4:7

What do you have that you did not receive?What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as And if you did receive it, why do you boast as

though you did not receive it?though you did not receive it? They should have known that it was men, not They should have known that it was men, not

God, who elevated some above othersGod, who elevated some above otherso Only God could have made them “differ” in their Only God could have made them “differ” in their

abilities or giftsabilities or gifts

They could not boast [glory] of something they They could not boast [glory] of something they receivedreceivedo The one who gives gets the gloryThe one who gives gets the glory

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You Are Full, Rich and Kings...You Are Full, Rich and Kings...1 Corinthians 4:81 Corinthians 4:8

With a bit of sarcasm, Paul points to the self-With a bit of sarcasm, Paul points to the self-sufficient state of their leaderssufficient state of their leaders

They had seemingly reached the pinnacle of They had seemingly reached the pinnacle of success “without” Paulsuccess “without” Paul

He is trying to show them how poor and He is trying to show them how poor and immature they really areimmature they really are

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For I Think...For I Think...1 Corinthians 4:91 Corinthians 4:9

Paul sets up a contrast between the low regard Paul sets up a contrast between the low regard some had for him (and the other apostles) and some had for him (and the other apostles) and the high opinion some had for their self-the high opinion some had for their self-appointed leadersappointed leaders

Paul “thinks”:Paul “thinks”:o God set forth the apostles as last - appointed unto God set forth the apostles as last - appointed unto

deathdeatho The apostles were made a spectacle [show] to the The apostles were made a spectacle [show] to the

world, to angels and to menworld, to angels and to meno These comparisons were based on what man “sees”These comparisons were based on what man “sees”

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We Are Fools...We Are Fools...1 Corinthians 4:101 Corinthians 4:10

The ApostlesThe Apostles The False TeachersThe False Teachers

(1)(1) Considered Considered fools fools (1) Considered (1) Considered wise wise

for preaching truth;for preaching truth; for preaching error;for preaching error;

(2)(2) Judged Judged weak weak (2) Judged (2) Judged strong strong

in bodily presence;in bodily presence; in bodily presence; in bodily presence;

(3)(3) Dishonored Dishonored by those by those (3) (3) Honored Honored by thoseby those

they had saved. they had saved. they had deceived. they had deceived.

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Attitudes Toward The ApostlesAttitudes Toward The Apostles1 Corinthians 4:11-131 Corinthians 4:11-13

The ill treatment of him [and the apostles] came The ill treatment of him [and the apostles] came from people for whom he had sacrificed so from people for whom he had sacrificed so much: much: o ““We hunger and thirst, are poorly clothed, beaten, We hunger and thirst, are poorly clothed, beaten,

homeless” homeless” o ““We labor with our hands” [considered by Greeks as We labor with our hands” [considered by Greeks as

unfitting for teachers]unfitting for teachers]o ““Being reviled, persecuted, defamed”Being reviled, persecuted, defamed”o ““Made as the ‘filth of the world’” [useless men used Made as the ‘filth of the world’” [useless men used

by the Greeks only in emergencies]by the Greeks only in emergencies]

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I Beseech You...I Beseech You...1 Corinthians 4:14-161 Corinthians 4:14-16

As my beloved children, I warn youAs my beloved children, I warn youo They may have had many teachers but Paul They may have had many teachers but Paul

converted themconverted them

He had “begotten them through the gospel”He had “begotten them through the gospel” So Paul considered them as his “children” and So Paul considered them as his “children” and

wanted them to consider him as their “father”wanted them to consider him as their “father”o He felt a close relationship with themHe felt a close relationship with them

He urged them to He urged them to imitate himimitate him!!

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Help Is On The WayHelp Is On The Way1 Corinthians 4:17-211 Corinthians 4:17-21

He had sent Timothy to themHe had sent Timothy to themo ““He will remind you of my ways in the Lord”He will remind you of my ways in the Lord”o It would be the same things Paul taught everywhereIt would be the same things Paul taught everywhere

Paul planned to visit them again, if the Lord Paul planned to visit them again, if the Lord willswillso If he has too, he will come with “power” to settle the If he has too, he will come with “power” to settle the

problem of divisionproblem of division

““What do you want?”What do you want?”o Shall I come to you with a rod, or Shall I come to you with a rod, or o With love in a spirit of gentleness?With love in a spirit of gentleness?