May, 1939
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Outline and Exposition I. P roblems C oncerning D ivisions (1 Cor. 1:1-3, 10,11) P AUL wrote to “the church of God which is at Corinth” (v. 2 ). These believers were a part of a larger company. In reality, they were not sep arated from other Christians in other places, but were an integral part of an or ganism, the members of which were found wherever born-again believers were found. This unity of the church—the body of Christ—is largely forgotten in modem times. But Paul reminds us that saints are set apart, or sanctified, in Christ Jesus, not in some doctrine, however true, nor some practice, however correct. Paul referred to believers as saints, not because they were saintly (though this they certainly should strive to be) but be cause they were called (v. 2 ). And he again reminded them of the oneness of the church by including "all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord” (v. 2). Then, in the light of what they were, he besought them to cease their unholy divi sions, and be perfected in the same mind and judgment. The report of the divisions among them had reached Paul, and his solution for such a state was simply to re call to their minds what they were and what they professed. There would be fewer divisions among the saints today if Paul’s advice were heeded. II. T he P roblem of C onduct (4:14-21) Forgetful of what they had been as sin ners, and forgetful also of what they were as saints, the Corinthians became proud of the gifts the Lord bestowed upon them by grace (v. 14). The various groups into which the church at Corinth had divided itself were puffed up because of their knowledge and their human leaders, until the person and purposes of the Lord were almost set aside. Instead of the meekness and lowliness of their Lord, pride ruled among them. Paul reminded them that, whatever they had learned through other instructors, they had only one “father” through whom they were "begotten . . . through the gospel” (v. 15). And he was bold enough, being assured that his own manner of life was pleasing to the Lord, to exhort them to fol low his example, as their spiritual parent. If they remembered Paul’s conduct among them and emulated his example, they would have no time for criticism of their fellow saints. To forestall any plea that they had for gotten just what his manner of life had been, Paul sent Timothy to bring them into remembrance of it (v. 17). Further, Paul intimated that unless their pride and strife be put away, he would come to them and would use the rod of his authority as an apostle. But he preferred to come to them with love and a spirit of meekness (vs. 18- 2 1 ) . The problems of the church today are much the same as those that troubled these Corinthians. These problems arise because •of pride of knowledge, pride of spiritual at
~ T k e J r ie t u ii e r f
Israel Refugee Relief Committee
. . . A p p e a l* . . On Behalf of German Jewry ------•------
Their backs are bowed under a heavier burden than men and women can bear for long without breaking. Their faces are sad with the thoughts of a future that is filled with terror and c ru e lty and p itiless persecution. And yet was suffering ever more bravely borne than by those men and women of German Jewry? P a tien tly they are living amidst the ruins of all they had most dear— their life, at best, a thing of shreds and patches. They are look ing to Ch ris tian s daily for help. One million and a half Hebrew Ch ristian s are in Christian Friend! Only you can help. Your con- President: Joseph M. Steele VIee-President: Frederic M. Palst Secretary: Joseph Taylor Britan, D.D. Treasurer: Allan Sutherland Co-operative Committee: Archer E. Anderson, George W. Arms, D.D., Louis A. Bauman, D.D., Lome H. Belden. Paul L. Berman, William Blederwolf, D.D., Joseph Taylor Britan, D.D., Lewis Sperry Chafer, D.D., G. Allan Fleece, D.D., Norman B. Harrison, D.D., Will Houghton, D.D., Philip E. Howard, LL.D ., Harry A. Ironside, D.D., Albert Sidney Johnson, D.D., Clarence E. Macartney, D.D., Mark A. Matthews, D.D., Walter E. McClure, D.D., John H. McComb, D.D., Stewart P. Mac- Lennan, D.D., Robert C. McQuilkin, D.D., Frederic M. Paist, Bussell Payhter, D.D., T. Rowland Philips, B.D ., Harry Rlmmer, D.D., T. Edward Ross, Wilbur M. Smith, D.D., Joseph M. Steele, Allan Sutherland, Charles G. Trumbull, Litt.D. need. tributions are the means by which they can escape. By emigration their shattered hopes shall be built up again.
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tainments, pride of human leaders, and so forth, and their solution depends upon a re turn to the Lord Himself, who was the meek and lowly One. III. T he P roblem of F ellow B elievers (1 Thessalonians 5:12-15) Concerning leaders, Paul declared they are God’s servants, gifts from Him to the church (vs. 12, 13: cf. 1 Cor. 12:1-31; Eph; 4:7-16; Rom. 12:3-8); Paul said they were “over you” that is, to care for, or to at tend to. The sphere of their authority was “in the Lord” (v. 12)—not in the field of politics, education, nor any other branch of knowledge. Their work in the Lord was to be the ground for esteeming them in love. Concerning fellow believers, various di rections are given (vs. 14, 15). Warning
must be given the “unruly,” or disorderly —a word which means "out of rank,” or out of step with the main body. It is a military term. Comfort is to be given the “feebleminded," that is, the "faint-hearted” (R. V .), or those who are easily discour aged (cf. Rom. 15:1; Gal. 6 :2 ). Support must be given to the weak, that is, to those who are weak spiritually, those who are troubled by vain scruples, fearful of trust ing wholly in the grace of God, and afflicted with a more or less legal conscience (cf. Rom. 14:12). There is to be patience shown to all, that is, long-suffering, which is perhaps the most difficult exhortation to obey. The unruly, the schismatic, and the proud—all these will try one’s patience to the breaking point, but the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is always available to the
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