My Dear Bible Study Friends,
Well, we have opened our study of 1 Corinthians 11, where Paul is tackling the difficult subject of submission. Chapter 11 is the first of 4 chapters dealing with church worship and polity. Every chapter Paul deals with issues and struggles within this fledgling church. Corinth was the most debaucherous city in the Roman Empire, with a slogan known throughout all of Greece – “Everything is permissible.” The culture Paul is fighting against continually compels these young Christians to return to their former lifestyle of polytheism.
As a review, we have studied the Problem with:
Contention in chapter 1, Worldly Wisdom in chapter 2, Carnality in chapter 3, Accountability in chapter 4, Compromise in chapter 5, Infidelity & Pride in chapter 6, Defrauding in chapter 7, Liberty in chapter 8, Authority in chapter 9, Temptation in chapter 10, and now Submission in chapter 11.
The first step of dealing with this difficult subject of submission is establishing Paul’s authority as the apostle to the Gentiles, and founding father of this church. His admonition to these believers is to follow him as he follows Christ. His confidence in who he is in Christ, and the example of his life compels him to make this declaration in verse 1. Why does Paul have the right to compel these believers to follow him?
2 Corinthians 11:23-28: Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
All of Paul’s trials served to temper him in his Christian walk, as silver tried in the fire, and purify him in his leadership role as the apostle to the Gentile world. His admonition to the Corinthians is the same to you and me. We should make it our life’s mission to follow Paul’s leadership and example, and seek to be conformed to Christ. We saw this message in several scriptures this morning, throughout Paul’s writings.
1 Corinthians 4:14-16: I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
2 Timothy 2:2: And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
Philippians 4:9: Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
We are commanded to invest our lives in growing into Christlikeness. Only then will we be able to encourage others to follow our lead, and be a “father” or “mother” to young believers, and not just a teacher. Let us ponder these things this week, and take the steps necessary to grow in grace!