ACC ~ 1 Corinthians 4 v14 - 21

OVERVIEW:

Paul knew that he was the father of the Corinthians in faith (AMBROSIASTER), as distinguished from all their subsequent guides and mentors (ORIGEN). In this fatherly way he has showed his love for them (CHRYSOSTOM). Out of this relationship, Paul urged them to be humble and to be prepared to suffer (ORIGEN) as he has suffered (THEODORET OF CYR). The surgeon does not cure by leaving the disease alone but by treating its cause, even with the knife (AMBROSIASTER, CHRYSOSTOM). Only insofar as Paul imitates Christ does he exhort the people to imitate him (CHRYSOSTOM, AMBROSIASTER). Paul sent Timothy to correct them and keep them on course (CHRYSOSTOM) and remind them how consistent was their teaching with their way of life in Christ (ORIGEN, PELAGIUS). Some were accusing Paul of weakness (SEVERIAN OF GABALA) or pride. Paul couched his hope of coming to them within the framework of the will of God (AMBROSIASTER). But he warned that when he does come they should be prepared for correction (SEVERIAN). They must have no false expectations (CAESARIUS OF ARLES). Their behavior will speak louder than their words (ORIGEN, CHRYSOSTOM, THEODORET OF CYR). In what mood he will come will be up to the Corinthians to decide (CHRYSOSTOM). Love is hidden in the rod (ORIGEN) of the Spirit (SEVERIAN) in order to lead to comfort (AMBROSE).

4:14 | Admonishing Them as Beloved Children

THE PHYSICIAN’S WORK. AMBROSIASTER: Paul is acting here like a good physician who alleviates the pain caused by his operation to remove the disease, so that the sick person will let himself be cured. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

THE KNIFE AND THE PAIN. CHRYSOSTOM: Not to speak against sins would have been impossible, since they would have remained uncorrected. To have left the wound untended after having spoken would have been harsh. Therefore Paul apologizes for being severe, because so far from destroying the effect of the knife it makes it sink in even deeper, while at the same time it looks toward soothing the pain of the wound. When a person is told that these things are being said in love and not in reproach, he will be more open to receiving correction. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 13.3.

4:15 | Countless Guides, Only One Father

DISTINGUISHING THE TRUE FATHER FROM SUBSEQUENT GUIDES. ORIGEN: The father is the one who has sown the seed of the gospel in their souls. The guides are those who have taken the child later on and helped him develop. COMMENTARY ON 1 CORINTHIANS 2.21.9-11.

I BECAME YOUR FATHER. AMBROSIASTER: Paul is telling the Corinthians that nobody else will ever love them the way he does. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

THE LOVE OF A FATHER. CHRYSOSTOM: Paul is not claiming any dignity here, but rather he is showing the depth of his love. Dignity belongs to the teacher, but love is the mark of the father. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 13.4.

4:16 | Urgings to Imitate Paul

BE HUMBLE. ORIGEN: Paul is saying to the Corinthians: “Be humble as I am humble, suffer as I suffer. It is by your sufferings, not by your gifts, that you will be rated.” COMMENTARY ON 1 CORINTHIANS 2.21.12-14.

IMITATE PAUL. AMBROSIASTER: Paul wants them to be imitators of him in these things, so that just as he has endured many hardships from unbelievers for their salvation and is still doing so as long as he preaches the free gift of God’s grace day and night, so they too ought to remain in his faith and doctrine and not accept the evil teachings of false apostles. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

IMITATE CHRIST. CHRYSOSTOM: Paul’s real aim was that the Corinthians should imitate Christ. But because of their weakness, he presents himself as an intermediate model to follow. It is only because he imitates Christ that he exhorts the people to imitate him. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 13.5.

BE PREPARED TO SUFFER. THEODORET OF CYR: By this Paul meant that if he was humble, they should also be humble. What he was prepared to suffer, they should be prepared to suffer. They were to glory in their hardships, not in their blessings. COMMENTARY ON THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 190.

4:17a | Timothy an Emissary

SENDING TIMOTHY TO THEM. CHRYSOSTOM: Paul shows how much he loves the Corinthians by sending his dearly beloved child, Timothy, to them, choosing thereby to be separated from him for the Corinthians’ sake. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 14.1.

4:17b | Reminders of Paul’s Teachings

MY WAYS IN CHRIST. ORIGEN: By “ways in Christ” Paul means his embodied good deeds. He tells the Corinthians to remember them, because they are self-evident and do not need to be taught. COMMENTARY ON 1 CORINTHIANS 2.21.20-22.

TEACHING AND LIFE. PELAGIUS: Paul’s behavior was completely consistent with his teaching. COMMENTARY ON THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 4.

4:18 | Some Are Arrogant

THE CORINTHIANS’ PRIDE. AMBROSIASTER: Some of the Corinthians were angry that Paul had not come to them, not because they wanted him to but because they were proud and imagined that Paul thought they were unworthy of a visit. In fact, Paul wanted to go but had more important things to do. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

SOME THOUGHT HIM WEAK. SEVERIAN OF GABALA: It is clear from this that what was being said was that Paul and his companions were weak, while the Corinthians were strong. PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH.

4:19 | Paul Will Visit Corinth

PAUL PROMISES TO COME. AMBROSIASTER: Paul couches his promise to come in the will of God, because God knows more than man. If there was some advantage in Paul’s going to Corinth, God would make it known, and if he did not turn up, the Corinthians would know that the Lord had not wanted him to. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

FOR CORRECTION. SEVERIAN OF GABALA: Paul promises to come, so that the Corinthians can prepare themselves for correction. On the one hand he was forced by his irritation to say “I shall come,” but on the other hand he added “if the Lord wills,” because of his sense of dependence on God. PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH.

4:20 | Not Talk but Power

THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND POWER. ORIGEN: It is not smooth talk that reveals the presence of the kingdom of God, but power. When there is power in the words, then the kingdom is present in them. COMMENTARY ON 1 CORINTHIANS 2.22.6-8.

NO HIDING BEHIND A WALL OF WORDS. CHRYSOSTOM: “Actions speak louder than words,” says Paul. “If those Corinthians who are now arrogant want to prove something, let them show me when I come whether they can do the same miracles I can do. I do not want to find them hiding behind a wall of words, for that sort of thing means nothing to me.” HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 14.2.

NOT PREACHING BUT BEHAVIOR. THEODORET OF CYR: It is not enough to preach the kingdom of God in order to be saved; one must also behave in a way which is worthy of the kingdom. COMMENTARY ON THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 191.

NO FALSE SECURITY. CAESARIUS OF ARLES: Let us not deceive ourselves with a false security, believing that a nonresponsive faith lacking good works can deliver us against the day of judgment. SERMON 209.3.

4:21a | What the Corinthians Wish

THE CHOICE. CHRYSOSTOM: Paul leaves it up to the Corinthians to decide how he should come to them. We too have a choice. Either we can fall into hell, or we can obtain the kingdom. But if you say that you are willing to do the right thing but not able, you are mistaken. All that means is that you are not willing strongly enough. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 14.5.

4:21b | Severity or a Spirit of Gentleness?

LOVE HIDDEN IN THE ROD. ORIGEN: The rod does not mean that there is no love, but love is hidden behind its blows and is not perceived by the one who is on the receiving end. COMMENTARY ON 1 CORINTHIANS 2.23.6-8.

FIRST THE ROD, THEN GENTLENESS. AMBROSE: Paul mentioned a rod first, that he might afterward comfort them with the spirit of meekness. SYNAGOGUE AT CALLINICUM 41.4.

THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT. SEVERIAN OF GABALA: By “rod” Paul meant the compelling power of the Spirit, which he had used against Elymas and which God had used against him. PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH.