“Fatherly Correction”: 1 Corinthians 4:14-21

¹⁴ I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. ¹⁵ For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. ¹⁶ Therefore I urge you, imitate me. ¹⁷ For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.

¹⁸ Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. ¹⁹ But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. ²⁰ For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. ²¹ What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?  (1 Corinthians 4:14-21)

Paul founded the church in Corinth.  As a result, there is a special connection to the Corinthians for Paul.  He views them as his children in the faith and himself as a spiritual father.  Paul does not take credit for the salvation of the Corinthians.  He recognizes, and acknowledges, that their salvation is a work of Christ and the message of the gospel.

Christian fathers recognize that their children on earth are a gift from God.  The children belong to God above all.  The role of the father is to assist with guiding and teaching the child as they grow physically, intellectually, and spiritually.  The role of the father, and the mother, is a very special role in the life of a child in which there is only one person appointed to this position (according to God’s perfect design).  The role of the earthly father does not replace the role of God, the Heavenly Father, but instead is there to serve as a form of a steward of God in the life of the child.

In a similar fashion, having founded the church in Corinth through preaching the gospel and seeing people enter into a relationship with Jesus, Paul finds himself in the role of a spiritual father to the Corinthians.  As Wiersbe describes this relationship… “A child may have many guardians and teachers, but he can have only one father.  He has a special relationship to his father that must not be preempted by anyone else. There had been no church in Corinth before Paul came, so that even the second-generation believers in the church were the results of Paul’s effective ministry.”

The father has many responsibilities in the life of the child.  One of those responsibilities is to serve as a role model.  As such, Paul exhorts the Corinthians “…I urge you, imitate me.”  Remember that Corinth was a very worldly, pagan, and self-serving place.  Paul is writing this letter, in part, to describe how he has dedicated his life to serving God.  He encourages the Corinthians to use him as a model for how to serve God with their own lives.  Paul sends Timothy to the Corinthians as another teacher of the gospel, but also as a spiritual brother to the Corinthians.  Paul has spent much time with Timothy and they are very much like-minded in their ministry to God.  Timothy will be able to teach the Corinthians as well as serve as another form of a role model for someone who has dedicated their life to serving God.

Another role of the father is to administer discipline and correction.  There is a great deal of pride in the Corinthian Christians.  The Corinthians identify as Christians, talk of their new relationship with God, and gather to study the word and fellowship.  However, many of their actions represented the world.  As relatively young believers, the Corinthians still had a lot to learn.  Only through continued discipleship and open hearts could the Corinthians mature in their new faith and grow in their new relationship with God.  Again quoting Wiersbe… “The contrast in this paragraph is between speech and power, words and deeds.  The arrogant Corinthians had no problem “talking big,” the way children often will do; but they could not back up their talk with their “walk”.  Their religion was only in words.”  This same condition is present in the world today.  We see many who will profess to be Christians and look like the world.  They often hear biblical counsel and reject it to make room for the modern “feel-good religion” prevalent in the world today.  However, while rejecting biblical principles, they maintain the identity of a “Christian” with no works or tangible fruit to support the relationship with Jesus Christ that the identity implies.

A person can label themselves anything and use the associated language to back up that label.  However, the actions of the person betray their self-applied labels in many instances.  Being a Christian is not about accepting a title.  Being a Christian is about entering into a relationship with Jesus and leaving behind a relationship with the god of this world.  It is a change in identity and in purpose.  To Titus, Paul wrote… “They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.” (Titus 1:16)

Paul will be coming to visit the Corinthians.  It is up to the Corinthians as to what Paul sees when he arrives.  Will he find a group or Christians whose actions support their professions of being men and women dedicated to serving God and representing Him in their daily lives?  Or will he find men and women who profess to be Christians, but their actions are no different than the worldly, unsaved individuals that Corinth is known for?  Like a father coming home from a trip, Paul will have to discipline his spiritual children if he finds the latter.  The actions of the Corinthians will determine whether Paul needs the rod of correction or the a spirit of gentleness.  As Wiersbe wrote… “It is not an easy thing to be a minister of Jesus Christ.  As a steward, you must be faithful to our Master no matter what men may say to you or do to you.  You will be treated as refuse by the people of the world.  Your own spiritual children may break your heart and have to be disciplined.”

“Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1)

May your actions serve as a witness your words as you seek to serve God through a life dedicated to Him while living in a world filled with sin.

God Bless,

CountrySlicker