Father,

You, within us as our father, give us your mind as a wonderful gift. Please encourage us to do your will with all of our conscience thought. We love you and lay down our lives for you as a willing servant. You are the Alpha and Omega the beginning and the end of our lives, and you watch over us with all diligence and grace. Amen

Key word: power

Summary: 1 Cor 4 15-21

Paul speaks her in these verses about his relationship with the Corinthians as a father. He requires them to follow him in example in word and in deed. He asks them a question that is easy to say and difficult to apply…from a father’s point of view.

He claimed a paternal or fatherly relationship to them, and called them his sons. They might have other instructors, but he was their father; for in Christ Jesus he had begotten them by the gospel. They became Christians by his ministry. He had laid the foundation of a church among them. Others could only build upon it. Whatever other teachers they had, he was their spiritual father. He first brought them out from pagan idolatry to the faith of the gospel,l and the worship of the true and living God

Follow me as far as I follow Christ. Come up as close as you can to my example in those instances wherein I endeavor to copy after His pattern. Be my disciples, as far as I manifest myself to be a faithful minister and disciple of Christ, and no further. I would not have you be my disciples, but his. I hope I have approved myself a faithful steward of the mysteries of Christ, and a faithful servant of my master Jesus; so far follow me, and tread in my steps."

Here, he tells them of his having sent Timothy to them, to bring them back into remembrance of his ways in Christ, as he taught every where in every church to remind them of his ways in Christ, to refresh their memory as to his preaching and practice, what he taught, and how he lived among them. He did not have one doctrine for one place and people, and another doctrine for some other group.

What he received of the Lord, he delivered, 1 Cor 11:23. This was the gospel revelation, which was the equal concern of all men, and did not change. He therefore taught the same things in every church, and lived after the same manner in all times and places. Christ and Christian truth are the same yesterday, today, and for ever, Heb 13:8.

Timothy was given respect to the highest form when he states that timothy is his son. He was his beloved son, a spiritual child of his, as well as they themselves. It is a great commendation of any minister that he is faithful in the Lord.

He rebukes the pride of those who thought he would not come even though he had sent Timothy, to do some preliminary work. We should not try to see how much evil we can get away with, but rather how much good we can do for the kingdom of God.

He says he will come, but he adds, the Lord will. It seems, as to the common events of life, apostles knew no more than other men do. He sets a good example to us by saying this. All our plans must be formed with a dependence upon Jesus, and a respect for the overruling purposes of God. If the Lord will, we shall live, James 4:15.

He lets them know what would happen with his coming to them: I will know, not the speech of those that are puffed up, but the power. He would bring the great self-appointed leaders among them to trial so to speak. He would know what they were, not by their rhetoric or philosophy, but by the authority of what they taught. Could they confirm what they said by miracles, and was it accompanied by divine influences?

For, he adds, the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. It is not set up, or established, in the hearts of men, by logical reasoning, but by the external power of the Holy Spirit in miraculous operations.

He gives them a choice in how he should come among them, whether with a rod or in love and the spirit of meekness. If they continued doing perverse things among themselves and with him, it would be necessary to come with a rod; that is, to exert his apostolic power in chastening them. Stubborn offenders must be treated with severity. In families, in Christian communities, paternal pity and tenderness, Christian compassion, will sometimes force the use of the rod. This is far from being desirable, if it can be prevented. Therefore, the apostle adds that it was in their own power, whether he should come with a rod or in love and the spirit of meekness. He would rather come and display the tenderness of a father among them than assert his authority.