1 Corinthians 4:10-13 (WEL) We are fools for the cause of Christ, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honorable, but we are despised. 11 Even at this present hour we both hunger and thirst, are dressed in rags, maltreated, and have no certain place to stay. 12 We work hard, laboring with our own hands. When vilified, we bless. When persecuted, we put up with it. 13 When publicly slandered, we gently reply. We are made out to be the filth of the world and the scum of everything, up to this very day.
V10 We are fools for the cause of Christ, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honorable, but we are despised.
Many of the Corinthian believers have a bad attitude of “I’m right and Paul is wrong.” These are fairly new converts. They still have much worldly thinking and practices. It takes time to grow and mature. We need good spiritual food—the Bible, thus we must read, study, and live it.
The Christian faith is one of humility, not arrogance. God is humble. Being humble is not a weakness but a source of blessing for others and ourselves. The Corinthians need to learn this as we. See Proverbs 3:34.
V11 Even at this present hour we both hunger and thirst, are dressed in rags, maltreated, and have no certain place to stay.
Paul is not complaining (compare 1 Timothy 6:8). Paul and his team are setting an example of priority. Compare the attitude towards the true prophets of God in Hosea 9:7.
V12 We work hard, laboring with our own hands. When vilified, we bless. When persecuted, we put up with it.
These examples are not to shame the believers but to bring them further away from worldly thinking, especially the Greek ideal of wisdom instead of God’s wisdom. Compare Proverbs 27:5 and Ephesians 4:12-14.
Greek wisdom was centered on the intellect and abilities of a human to answer the questions of life, living, and mysteries.
God’s wisdom is centered on God’s knowledge and understanding to answer the questions of life, living, and mysteries.
Compare 1 Corinthians 2:13, Proverbs 21:30, Ecclesiastes 1:13, and Proverbs 1:7.
V13 When publicly slandered, we gently reply. We are made out to be the filth of the world and the scum of everything, up to this very day.
This is how Christians are to react in various situations. If slandered, then gentle replies unlike the world’s way of cursing. It compares and calls manure, by its various terms, then continues and be kind.
We must expect this behavior from unbelievers, but now, as Christians, we do not act like the world anymore.
The Lord Jesus spoke plainly calling evil people foxes, snakes, vipers, fools, etc. This is appropriate occasionally but let us be gentle and not speak in verbal abuse.
We learn:
- Some of the rules from the Law of Christ to various accusations.
- An example of some evil actions against us.
Questions:
- How do you handle criticism and slander?
- How is your Bible studying and prayer life?