Disqualified Fans

Paul did not get along with his fans.

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Transcript

DISQUALIFIED FANS

Paul did not get along with his fans.

In a previous episode, "Tossed by Cunning Craftiness", I commented one part of Scripture with another. I commented King Nebuchadnezzar's first dream in the Book of Daniel with passages from Ephesians. I've since seen that I can also comment on a couple of passages in 1 Corinthians with parts of that passage from Ephesians.

One of the problems Paul addressed in 1 Corinthians was a rampant fandom among believers in Corinth. It was becoming customary to argue about who the greatest minister was in Corinth.

Paul had some things to say about that kind of rivalry. Here's one.

1 Cor 3

Verse 4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?

5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? 

6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 

One of Paul's remedies to rampant fandom was to ask Apollos himself to go visit Corinth.

(1 Corinthians 16:12)

Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to come to you with the brethren, but he was quite unwilling to come at this time; however, he will come when he has a convenient time.

(1 Corinthians 16:12)

Please note that Paul trusted Apollos and didn't accuse him of rampant fandom. There were other divisive leaders who were referencing Paul and Apollos without permission.

In other words, discipleship is not being a fan. Depending on how you said, "I follow Paul" Paul might have said, "You aren't following me."

Here's the passage I quoted out of Ephesians 4 in that previous episode:

Verse 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

I CAN COMBINE 1 CORINTHIANS WITH THE ABOVE EPHESIANS PASSAGE with almost no changes.

Look at the continuity when I add Ephesians 4:14 to 1 Corinthians 3 

"4 For when one says, 'I am of Paul,' and another, 'I am of Apollos,' are you not carnal?" Let us "no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting."

I think the two passages complement each other.

Here is how the passage of Ephesians about "edifying the body" sounds in between 1 Corinthians chapters 12 and 13:

//(Eph 4: 15-16)

But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

Speaking the truth in love, we may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

WHATS THE POINT?

The principles for avoiding evil and growing God's kingdom are cross cultural and timeless.