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Self deception is a serious issues, so Paul continues to address the issues of factions and status seeking head on, reminding them that God's values are the opposite of the world's. Worldly wisdom isn't anything to boast about, if anything it's something to be ashamed of.[1] God is the one who bestows status upon them, and the status they possess is co-heirs with Christ, which means that everything belongs to them, since Jesus is Lord of all. That includes teachers whom they have allied themselves with. In this step Paul has relativized the importance of leaders in the grand scheme of things.[2] It also includes things not commonly under human control, like life and death, and the age to come. The status of the Corinthians is actually much greater than they realized, if only they could get their focus off of their petty squabbles.
Paul continues his re-orientation of their perceptions by telling them how to view him and Apollos; like servants - certainly not the type who could raise your status via allegiance to them. They're just trying to do the job that God has given them as faithfully as possible, because faithfulness, not eloquence is what God requires. Since Paul works for God, he doesn't care what the Corinthian's opinion of him was. He's not in their employ, and additionally they don't judge justly the way God judges. He will reward Paul in accordance with his faithfulness.
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[1] Ciampa and Rosner.
[2] Note how vs. 23 seems to suggest subordination on the part of the Son to the Father, something I believe is typical of the NT (even though I don't consider myself a subordinationist - but that's another story).
Self deception is a serious issues, so Paul continues to address the issues of factions and status seeking head on, reminding them that God's values are the opposite of the world's. Worldly wisdom isn't anything to boast about, if anything it's something to be ashamed of.[1] God is the one who bestows status upon them, and the status they possess is co-heirs with Christ, which means that everything belongs to them, since Jesus is Lord of all. That includes teachers whom they have allied themselves with. In this step Paul has relativized the importance of leaders in the grand scheme of things.[2] It also includes things not commonly under human control, like life and death, and the age to come. The status of the Corinthians is actually much greater than they realized, if only they could get their focus off of their petty squabbles.
Paul continues his re-orientation of their perceptions by telling them how to view him and Apollos; like servants - certainly not the type who could raise your status via allegiance to them. They're just trying to do the job that God has given them as faithfully as possible, because faithfulness, not eloquence is what God requires. Since Paul works for God, he doesn't care what the Corinthian's opinion of him was. He's not in their employ, and additionally they don't judge justly the way God judges. He will reward Paul in accordance with his faithfulness.
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[1] Ciampa and Rosner.
[2] Note how vs. 23 seems to suggest subordination on the part of the Son to the Father, something I believe is typical of the NT (even though I don't consider myself a subordinationist - but that's another story).
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