Theological Commentary: Click Here
First of
all, in this chapter we are reminded of the context of the letter. Paul is not happy with the Corinthian
church. He is planning a visit to them,
and he wants them to know that he can either come in fury or in peace. If they continue to behave the way that they
are, Paul will need to come and correct them with a firm hand.
We’ve spoken
about what they are doing wrong. They
are choosing up sides and fighting amongst themselves. They are favoring those of power and status
while disfavoring those who are of lower status or insignificant in power. They are basing the strength of their faith on
the status of the person who helped bring them into the faith. They have the wrong perspective. The have the wrong priorities.
In contrast
to this, look at how Paul talks about himself and those who work with him. They are called to live opposite to the
world. When the world scorns them, they
bless the world. When the world looks
upon them, they look like fools. When
the world is handing out honor, Christ’s followers get disrepute. When they are hungry and tired, the world
treats them as though they are homeless and don’t belong. The list goes on, but the point is clear.
To follow
Christ means to embrace His ways. It
means to prioritize life according to what He values. It means to embrace the same kind of scorn
and abuse from the world that Christ took on the cross. It means to be looked at by the world in the
same way that world looked at Christ.
That’s what apostleship is all about.
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