The Troubles of Paul (1)
—1Corinthians 4
Paul wished the Corinthian church to understand the worries, hardships, and challenges, he and his companions experienced in the ministry. These were extreme challenges, yet they embraced them all. In this chapter (1Corinthians 4) Paul cites five of the many troubles they faced. Here in part one, we look at five of these troubles.
1 Responsibility of Stewardship
Verses 1-2
Paul was a prominent apostle, yet saw himself as a servant of Jesus Christ and steward of the mysteries of God. A steward is a servant, but one charged with looking after something important.
Paul did not seek acclaim. He was a responsible servant, humbly proclaiming the gospel, revealing things long hidden. He felt his responsibility intensely. By being dedicated to his stewardship, Paul brought much trouble upon himself. Nevertheless, he didn't give up. He had a confident hope in Jesus Christ, the Judge of all mankind, that he would be "found faithful. We can be like Paul. In spite of all our troubles we can be found faithful by Jesus."
2 Being Unfairly Judged
verses 3-5
Paul cared about pleasing the Lord. That was partly because the Lord would be his judge. Paul took a "couldn't care less" attitude when men and courts presumed to judge him. That was not to say, however, that those who judged him caused him no trouble, or that he did not have to defend the gospel.
Between Jesus Christ, the many who judged Paul, and Paul's own judgment of himself, it was the judgment of Christ that counted. Even Paul’s guilt-free conscience, a precious asset, did not count. He acknowledged, "It is the Lord who judges me".
3 Bothered by Boasters
Verses 6-7
Paul talked about himself and Apollos, because the Corinthians might not have grasped the issues personally, had he written in a less personal way.
Paul wanted the Corinthians to have everything needful in teaching so that they could keep within what he wrote to them, along with other Scripture confirmed as inspired by God. There was no authority to go beyond that.
By keeping to Scriptures they would minimise teachers bringing in heresies, boasting about their superiority, and starting factions. Paul could add heretics and boasters to his list of troubles. He threw a nice kockdown argument at them —any good thing they had was a gift they received from God. So why did they boast about it, as though it were not a gift and they could take credit for it?
4 Made a Spectacle
Verses 8-9
One big problem with the Corinthians was that some of them thought they were already at the pinacle, without further need for Paul to be among them. Paul uses a little sarcasm saying that they had become rich kings already before he came to them!
Then Paul wrote, with passion, that he wished they really were reigning as kings, so that he and Apollos could reign as kings in fellowship with them. Paul was not referring to worldly rulers, of course, but to believers in Christ being made "kings and priests to His God and Father..." (Revelation 1:6).
Paul knew that the world did not see that ideal. With all the intrigue and trouble the apostles of Christ faced, they appeared to the world, even to angels, as those who rank last like prisoners condemned to death.
5 Made Fools for Christ
Verses 10-11
The Corinthians seemed, with their wisdom and strength, to distinguish themselves in the eyes of polite society. On the other hand, Paul and his fellow apostles seemed to be fools, weak and without honour, suffering many deprivations and troubles including beatings, homelessness, hunger and thirst.
The Lord Judges Me
¶ I know of nothing against myself, yet that doesn't justify me. Rather, the Lord is the one who judges me.(1Corinthians 4:4).