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Timothy: I Corinthians 4:14-21
Admonition on Obedience

14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.

15 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.

16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.

17 For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.

18 Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you.

19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.

20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

21 What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?

[King James Version]

Dear God, my Beloved Father, I respectfully offer my praise and gratitude to You for all the blessings You have bestowed upon my family. I eagerly await the coming of Christ every day. I am exhausted by the increasing prevalence of sin everywhere, and also by the frailty of my own physical body. I am grateful to You for providing me with the Eternal Living Word of God every day, which has encouraged and comforted me. I pray for Christ to give me renewed strength, and for the Holy Spirit to grant me enlightenment so that I may contemplate the Word of God. I am thankful to Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Dear Father, I would like to present my reflection on 1 Corinthians 4:14-21 as follows:

Verses 14-15: Paul wanted the people of God in Corinth to understand that he saw them as his own children and that his love for them was like that of a father for his own children. Although there were many pastors and elders in the Church in Corinth who had the responsibility of caring for and teaching them about holy living in Christ, Paul was the only one who was their spiritual father. He explained why he was their spiritual father: it was because he had preached the Gospel of Christ to them and led them to be born again in Christ.

I understand that the Holy Spirit, through the Apostle Paul, taught the people of God this truth: the one who preaches the Gospel to another person, and that person believes and is saved, becomes their spiritual father or mother. This relationship can endure forever. This is not contrary to the teaching of the Lord Jesus, recorded in Matthew 23:9. Paul did not require the people of God in Corinth to call him by the title “father,” nor did he refer to himself as such. He only emphasized the intimate relationship between the Gospel preacher and the believer, like a father-child relationship in the flesh.

Verse 16: Children learn from their parents and imitate them. Therefore, Paul advised the people of God in Corinth to imitate him. He gave this advice sincerely, knowing that he lived entirely for the Lord, followed His Word, and was willing to die for Him. Thus, he boldly encouraged the Church in Corinth to imitate him, that is, to become like him in living for the Lord, following His Word, and being ready to die for Him. Afterward, he called on them once again to imitate him as he imitated Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1).

Verse 17: To encourage the people of God in Corinth and remind them of his ways of life and teachings, Paul sent Timothy to them. He called Timothy his beloved son because not only had he led Timothy to Christ, but Timothy had also accompanied him on missionary journeys, like a son working with and caring for his father. He called Timothy a faithful servant in the Lord, meaning that Timothy was a person of strong faith in the Lord, who lived according to the Word of God and fulfilled all duties.

Verse 18: The arrogant ones are those who consider themselves intelligent and cause division in the Church through factions. They do not repent of their sin. They are arrogant and want to hold power in the Church. They think that Paul, who is busy with the spiritual work of preaching in other places, will not have the time or opportunity to return to Corinth.

Verse 19: Paul clearly states that he will soon return to Corinth if the Lord wills it. At that time, he will see what power those arrogant people have besides their boastful and empty words.

Verse 20: Paul affirmed that the Kingdom of God is built and developed by the power of the Holy Spirit, which is the divine power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the one who grants to the apostles, pastors, elders, deacons, and every member of the Church the necessary spiritual gifts and graces to build and develop the Church together.

Verse 21: Paul intended to ask the believers in Corinth whether they would obey his advice in the letter, so that when he returned to Corinth, he could come to them with love and a gentle spirit, or whether they would choose to disobey him and continue in their wrongdoing, so that when he returned to Corinth, he would have to discipline them severely. Discipline may lead to painful excommunication. A gentle spirit is a caring, gentle, and affectionate attitude.

Dear Father, I pray that you grant me the grace to always have a deep love for the people whom you have entrusted me to shepherd. I pray that you help me to live a faithful life in Christ, worthy of being a role model for others. Thank you, Father. I pray this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!

In the grace of Jesus Christ, my Lord.

Timothy Christian Huynh
04/28/2023