Wednesday 08 March 2023

Psalm 11:1-5

Background

1 Corinthians in the New Testament is one of the letters written by the apostle Paul, in approximately 55 AD. Corinth is in Greece, and at that time it was a Roman colony and a major trading port.

The Church in Corinth was characterised by divisions and factionalism, with some people favouring Paul and others Apollos. Moreover, many people were prosperous and thought themselves better than others. Paul’s letters frequently addressed the particular context of the churches to which he was writing, yet they are applicable in contemporary society. 

 1 Corinthians 4:6-17 is preceded by Paul’s reference to the importance of trustworthiness and his warning against judgment. It is followed by Paul reassuring the Corinthians that he is not angry with them, but is writing to them as a father.

Verse 7 reminds them that what they have comes from God, that is, grace and therefore it is nothing to boast about; they did not earn it, it was given. Verse 8 comes across as somewhat sarcastic. Paul wanted to express his dismay at the pride of some of the people and that is why he said that he wished they had become kings so that he could reign with them! He then uses a series of contrasts to make the point that God’s standards are different from those of the world. His use of the words 'death sentence' refers to the custom of Roman generals returning from battle parading their captives to show off their victory and later killing the prisoners. And then he uses several contrasts to illustrate the difference between his attitude and the attitude expected of a disciple of Christ, which could result in being ridiculed and insulted.

To Ponder:

• To what extent could this passage apply to the Church in countries where there is freedom of worship and where there is a danger of people becoming comfortable and complacent?
• What message does this passage give to those in leadership in both the Church and government?