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Scripture Reading : 1 Corinthians 4:6

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 may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other.

To understand this verse, we must understand conditions in the Corinthian church. It was plagued with a malignant party spirit. Some of the members were exalting one leader and some another. From the preceding verses we gather that they were making party leaders out of Paul, and Cephas (Peter), and Apollos. However, our verse explains that this was not so, but that Paul transferred it to himself and Apollos so he would not have to name the actual leaders, and yet could show them the folly of their ways. They were evidently following men who claimed to have super knowledge and were displaying worldly wisdom, but not the wisdom that comes from the Lord. In 2 Corinthians 11:5 Paul says, “For I consider that I am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles.” Without doubt he was referring to these leaders who were posing as knowing more than Paul himself.

Exalting man

The Corinthians were exalting man above that which the Scripture warrants. There is far too much of that same thing being done today in certain areas. We need to be cautious lest we too become hero worshippers and say, "Well, in brother so-and-so's book he says such and such. Therefore, it must be right." We need to be cautious lest we find ourselves saying I am of Campbell , I am of Nichol, I am of Whiteside, I am of Dobbs, I am of Brownlow, I am of Boles, I am of Lanier, I am of Calvin, I am of Luther, I am of Cristwell, etc. Let us be sure that the Christ of God¹ is our center, and the Word of God² our only guide. We read in Ephesians 4:5, "One Lord, one faith, one baptism." "One Lord" should stop all factionalism and hero worship.

Above that which is written

It is surprising that even in a few fundamental congregations of the body of Christ³ some men are still exalted above that which is written. Do you preach the Gospel today? Have you ever quoted what some man has written, in an attempt to explain or prove a point in Scripture? Some of these religious writers are looked up to today as though they were well-nigh infallible. One preacher wrote about preaching on a certain Scripture and drew the attention of a certain pastor. The preacher’s take on the Scripture was plainly contrary to what the pastor or elder had been taught and he said something like this to the preacher, "Brother so-and-so wrote such-and-such on this subject and he was a preacher for many years; long enough that he ought to know." Evidently, what this brother author had written in his book was to be depended on more than the plain Word of God. We do not have to believe anyone, no matter what they say or how outstanding they might be—unless their teaching is firmly grounded on the Bible, and even then we should stay with God's Word completely.

College imparts little or no gift

An interesting thing has taken place in our age. It has taken years to develop it, but today many Christians think we cannot exist without Christian colleges and universities. Sometimes people think that because the preacher has gone to an accepted college or university, and has a degree or two, that everything he says must be true. Our society also puts too much in the way, i.e., the manner, he says it. Is he funny? Is he smooth? Is he personable? The Lord has given His written Word and outside of that the thoughts of even the best man cannot and should not be depended on. The very fact that there is so much difference of opinion between Christians shows that some must be wrong in some things. One man once said, "When men today count on receiving the Holy Spirit⁴ through the laying on of hands because of apostolic succession, you can depend on it being just a case of empty hands laid on empty heads." It is always good to note what the Holy Scriptures do not say on a subject, as well as what is said. Let us not go beyond what is written.

Puffed up

Back of all this hero worship in Corinth was pride. They were puffed up one against another. Pride and self-conceit cause us to laud leaders and this in turn causes the leaders to be puffed up. Let us remember that not all teachers, preachers and scholars are servants of Christ. One way you can determine this is how high they raise the writings of men above God's Word. The term used by the apostles when calling themselves "servants of Christ" is literally "bond-servants of Jesus Christ." If those who profess to be His servants seek honor for themselves instead of for Christ; or place honor on the writings of men equal to or above God's Word; they portray pride. "And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ" (Matt. 23:10). The Scripture everywhere exhorts us to be humble. Let us always be on guard lest we “be puffed up on behalf of one against the other.”

Footnotes:

¹ For more information about the Christ of God, see God the Son in A Religion Library section of StudyJesus.com.

² For more information about the Bible, see God’s Word in A Religion Library section of StudyJesus.com.

³ For more information about the body of Christ, see God’s Church in A Religion Library section of StudyJesus.com.

⁴ For more information on the Holy Spirit, see God the Spirit in A Religion Library section of StudyJesus.com.