1 Corinthians 4:16 - Printer Friendly

Little children often develop by imitating their fathers. Paul has compared his role in the spiritual lives of the Corinthians as that of a father. He sees them as his beloved children. He is writing harsh words to them about their attitudes and behavior because of his fatherly concern for them.

Now Paul urges them to pattern their lives after his. This is not pride and ego at work. Paul is not trying to set himself up as a kind of cult leader. He is not asking to be called by the title of "father," or demanding any other honor. He does not want to take the place of Christ in their lives. Instead, he is describing the pattern of Christian discipleship. He is saying to the Corinthians, "I have taught you what to believe, now follow my example of how to live it out."

Paul mentions Timothy in the following verse, a man discipled by Paul who has joined in Paul's ministry. Paul wrote to Timothy that he should be, to those under his care, an example "in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity" (1 Timothy 4:12).

More specifically, though, Paul wants the Corinthians to follow the example of his lifestyle described in the previous verses. There he described himself and the other apostles as leading lives of poverty, considered as foolish by the world for Christ's sake, and mistreated for their association with Him. Instead of retaliating or running away, though, they followed Jesus' example by doing good to those who treated them badly.

Paul wants the Corinthians to do as he did, to give up chasing wealth and trying to gain the respect of the unbelievers in their culture and to serve Christ first and above all.

First Corinthians 4:14–21 focuses on Paul's role as spiritual father to the Corinthians, since he is the one who led them to Christ. He urges them to change their attitudes and behaviors and to imitate his example in living out the gospel. He sent Timothy to show them what that looks like, and he hopes to come himself to confront their arrogant talk with the power of God. Do they want him to come with the rod of correction or in love with the spirit of gentleness?

Paul continues to show why the Corinthian Christians must not be divided over loyalties to various Christian leaders. Only the Lord can judge His servants, including Paul. By making themselves judges, they are acting like they have all they need. They are proudly focused on reputation and status while the apostles live for Christ in poverty and under persecution. Paul writes as a father to little children. He urges them to change course and imitate his life. Do they want him to be gentle or come to them with the rod of correction?

First Corinthians 4 continues Paul's insistence to the Corinthian Christians to stop making themselves judges of each other. Only the Lord's judgment matters. They are living as if their wealth and status are all they need, while the apostles serve Christ in poverty and under persecution, imitating Christ. Paul urges them to change course and imitate his life. Paul will continue his increasingly stern tone in chapter 5, where he will confront appalling examples of sin in the church at Corinth.

First Corinthians is one of the more practical books of the New Testament. Paul writes to a church immersed in a city associated with trade, but also with corruption and immorality. These believers are struggling to properly apply spiritual gifts and to resist the ungodly practices of the surrounding culture. Paul's letter gives instructions for real-life concerns such as marriage and spirituality. He also deals with the importance of unity and gives one of the Bible's more well-known descriptions of love in chapter 13.