WEAK AND FOOLISH FOR CHRIST

Passage: 1 Corinthians 4:6-13

Key verse: 10

NIV

6 Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.”(A) Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other.(B) 7 For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive?(C) And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

8 Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich!(D) You have begun to reign—and that without us! How I wish that you really had begun to reign so that we also might reign with you! 9 For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like those condemned to die(E) in the arena. We have been made a spectacle(F) to the whole universe, to angels as well as to human beings. 10 We are fools for Christ,(G) but you are so wise in Christ!(H) We are weak, but you are strong!(I) You are honored, we are dishonored! 11 To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.(J) 12 We work hard with our own hands.(K) When we are cursed, we bless;(L) when we are persecuted,(M) we endure it; 13 when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage(N) of the world—right up to this moment.

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

6 I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers,[a] that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may (A)be puffed up in favor of one against another. 7 For who sees anything different in you? (B)What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?

8 Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you! 9 For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, (C)like men sentenced to death, because we (D)have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. 10 (E)We are fools for Christ's sake, but (F)you are wise in Christ. (G)We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. 11 To the present hour (H)we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and (I)buffeted and (J)homeless, 12 and we (K)labor, working with our own hands. (L)When reviled, we bless; (M)when persecuted, we endure; 13 when slandered, we entreat. (N)We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, (O)the refuse of all things.

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Footnotes
  1. 1 Corinthians 4:6 Or brothers and sisters
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Don't be puffed up (6,7)

Paul reminded the Corinthian Christians who it was that made them different. They bragged about their Bible teachers, and in fact, it was a cause of division in the church. It was like they thought their Bible teacher was what made them different. Paul reminded them of God. It was God who saved them from their lives of slavery to sin and death. In the gospel, God reveals his holiness, his grace, His mercy and his salvation. Through the gospel we are made to be his children. How could the Corinthians boast of their Bible teachers? If they were going to boast, boast in the Lord!

We are foolish and weak for Christ (8-13)

Paul used sarcasm to show the Corinthians that they were, in fact, poor, in comparison with the apostles. In their own minds, the Corinthians wanted to become wise, rich kings. They thought they could obtain these blessings through the gospel. The apostles were weak and foolish in comparison. They were the scum of the earth. But it was the apostles who were rich in the gospel.

Prayer: Father, open my eyes to the gospel. Help me to become weak and foolish for Christ.

One Word: Weak and foolish for Christ