Father,

We give you praise. All of our experiences are so small compared to your eventual plan for our lives. Even though we do not know what you have in store for us, we trust you. We give you adoration and worship for who you are no matter what we go through, or where you lead us. Bless us with your mind and heart. Amen

Key word: honorable

Summary: 1 Cor 4: 9-14

These few verses speak about the way in which we should regard apostles, then and now while living a proper Christian life. When we have a high opinion of their wisdom, we must be careful to look and consider whether we respect them for their deeds and those of our Savior and Maker Jesus Christ. Paul states his form of living, and the trials of his life as an a apostle

1 Corinthians 4: 9-14

Paul and his brethren were exposed to great hardships. Never were any men in this world so hunted and worried. They carried their lives in their hands. There is an allusion made here to some of the bloody spectacles in the Roman amphitheatres, where men were exposed to fight with wild beasts. They were condemned people and might be properly called epithanatioi-persons devoted or appointed to death. They are said to be set forth last, because the meridian or primary gladiators, those who fought one another in the afternoon, were more exposed, being obliged to fight naked; (so that as Seneca says, epistle. 7) this was perfect butchery, and those people exposed to beasts in the morning were treated mercifully in comparison with these.

The general meaning is that the apostles were exposed to the continuous danger of death, and that of the worst kinds, while being an ambassador for Christ. God had brought them into view, as the Roman emperors brought their gladiators into the arena, though not for the same purposes. The apostles were shown to manifest the power of divine grace, to confirm the truth of their mission and doctrine, and to propagate their religion in the world. Angels and men are witnesses to our persecutions, and sufferings by the power of divine grace. Ours is hard work, but honorable; it is hazardous, but glorious.

We can pass for fools in the world, and be despised as such, so that the wisdom of God and the honor of the gospel may, by this means, be secured and displayed. Faithful ministers can bear being despised, so that the wisdom of God and the power of his grace can be displayed. Their reputation for eloquence and human wisdom, which, among many, made them pass for wise men in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. We are suffering for Christ's sake. Some Christians suffer greater hardships; more than others, who are yet engaged in the same warfare. The standard-bearers in an army are attacked the most. Therefore, ministers during a time of persecution are commonly the first and greatest sufferers. We pass upon the world for persons of ordinary endowments, mere striplings in Christianity; but they looked upon themselves, and are looked upon by others, as men with much more advanced growth and strength. The Corinthians may think themselves, and be respected by others, as wiser and stronger men in Christ than the apostles, yet how huge a mistake!

Theirs was a voluntary poverty; it was a pleasing deficiency. They were forced to labor with their own hands to get subsistence, and with so much greater business in their mind that they could not attend to getting a comfortable livelihood, but were exposed to hunger, thirst, and nakedness. Many times, they wanted meat, and drink, and clothes. They were driven about the world, without having any fixed housing, any stated residence. These were poor circumstances indeed, for the prime ministers of our Savior's kingdom to have no house nor home, and to be destitute of food and raiment! They were yet no poorer than He who had nowhere to lay his head, Luke 9:58.

How vehemently did they love God, how ardently did they thirst for the Kingdom of God! They thought they had rich rewards for all the outwardly good things they lacked, if they could serve Christ. Even though they were considered the filth of the world. They were treated as men not fit to live, perikatharmata. They suffered in their persons and characters as the most vilest men, or else as the very dirt of the world, that was to be swept away. They were the common sewer into which all the reproaches of the world were to be poured. The apostles resembled their Master, and filled up that which was left behind of his afflictions, for his body's sake, which is the church! Col 1:24.

They returned blessings for insults, and kind exhortations for the rudest slanders and defamation, and were patient under the sharpest persecutions. Those people are very dear to God, and honorable in His esteem, whom men may think unworthy to live, but God sees not as man sees, 1 Sam 16:7. They suffered for him, and they suffered after his example. Every one who wants to be faithful in Christ Jesus must prepare for the same kind of life.

Here Paul challenges their regard to him as their father. He tells them, that what he had written was not for their reproach, but admonition; not with the bitterness of an enemy, but the bowels of a father.