Living As What Is Written In Scripture: Context, Context, Context

Now these things, brethren,

I have figuratively transferred

to myself and Apollos for your sakes,

that you may learn in us not to think

beyond what is written, that none of you

maybe puffed up on behalf one against the other.

1 Corinthians 4: 6

            There is amazement, or rather a matter of concern that even after reading and hearing the word of God so many turn to other doctrines and false teachings.  Adding to this concern and amazement is the fact that within the churches the influx of the wisdom of this world and its culture has turned many churches to teach what seems by the ear so good and yet it is not Scriptural: "O foolish Galatians!  Who has been with you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?  This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?  Are you so foolish?  Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh" (Galatians 3: 1 -- 2)?  Paul was writing directly to the churches in Galatia as well as the church in Corinth and other churches.  There was a moving away from the truth as it was preached and taught to them for what could be seen in some cases was a senseless moving away from more important things to minor matters, in that they began in a spiritual manner but now approached in any fleshly manner.  There was a turning aside from the depths of the truth in a striving after the higher things stating that they can either be accused of a stupidity by which they cannot distinguish the spirit of the law and the letter of the law.  Furthermore, they were being misled by defect so that they were becoming unteachable, mad, and quite sluggish in respect of wisdom.  The Greek word that is translated bewitched: "έβάσκανεν" carries the meaning to fascinate by false representations primarily a means to slander, and to bring evil on a person by feigned praise, or mislead by an evil eye, so as to charm. This done in many churches today by men who are preaching a message that is simply a misleading even though what is being said sounds so good.  Nothing has changed from the days of Paul and the early church for sin is sin.Those things dividing and leading Christians away from true faith is the same things that are happening in our church today.  Men are going beyond that which is written and as I pointed out in my last blog there are what may be best said as those books that are pretending to be scripture when they are nothing more than a paraphrase. Best use may be to give some thoughts but are not to be used as a teaching tool.

            In Chapter 4 of 1 Corinthians Paul is taking a moment of trying to tell the Corinthian church that they are following the wisdom of the world and becoming divisive.  The Christians pointing to various differences and if they are only a difference of indifference: i.e., should one celebrate the Lord's supper every Sunday or once a month, or use wine, or use grape juice, should it be shaped this way for the building, so on and so on and so on: well, those difference or of little importance.  This is not true if the division has to do with things that are of difference according to Scripture: the differences are matters of importance.  It seemed as though among the Christians there in Corinth one group was pointing to their differences as being more godly than another churches differences: "For who makes you differ from another?  And what do you have that you did not receive?  Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you post as if you had not received it?  You are already full!  You are already rich!  You have reigned as kings without us -- -- and indeed I could wish you did reign, that we also might reign with you" (1 Corinthians 4: 7 -- 8)!  As Paul spoke to the Galatians about being foolish because Paul had preached to them the truth and they heard about what it means to have proof they and this faith was truly experienced.  Now, by becoming in the presence of the Messiah Jesus Christ and there also came the Holy Spirit and the fact that there in invitation to faith with new, the presence of the Holy Spirit was manifested with sensible miracles as recorded in acts chapter 2:4; 10:40 4 -- 46; 13:9 -- 11; 19:1 -- 6; and other Scripture.  The Corinthian church has taken what the Holy Spirit had in part to them in the way of gifts and began to misuse them as will be seen as we continue this study in this letter.  Now some came to subvert the Corinthian church, such men as the Judaizers that were demanding circumcision and Paul had to address that to the Galatian churches.  Now Paul was also had to address the subversion that had come into the Corinthian church.  This is very important: if your salvation were in the works of the law, and or works without true faith, the Holy Spirit would not be granted to you.  If you are not following Scripture how then could one expect to have the Holy Spirit speak to them and showed them what they are not looking for or are willing to follow?

            These are hard words and not easy to read or to hear but this does not eliminate the need to have them spoken and written.  Paul along with other apostles and most importantly Jesus Christ packed that which was in error, false teaching, and those things that were in fact being Christians and leading them to practices and beliefs that were not Scripture.  We are to examine what we are being taught and we are to hold fast to that which is true.  Are you willing to do so?  I pray that that is true!

Your testimonies are wonderful;

            therefore my soul keeps them.

The entrance of Your words gives light;

            it gives understanding to the simple.

                                    Psalm 119: 129 -- 130

True wisdom is from God: snatch it!

Richard L. Crumb