Articles
Not Man's Authority - 1 Cor. 9
Not Man's Authority - 1 Cor. 9
When Paul came to Corinth, many of the Corinthians "heard, believed, and were baptized" (Acts 18:8). They accepted Paul's preaching as the message of God. As he preached not with persuasive words of man's wisdom but "with demonstration of the Spirit and of power," they believed His preaching was the very word of God.
He came not as an itinerant teacher or philosopher, but as an apostle of God (1:1). The Theological Dict. of the NT says of the word apostle: "In the NT ἀπόστολος never means the act of sending, or figuratively the object of sending. It always denotes a man who is sent, and sent with full authority" (Logos edition).
Notice how he basis his various instructions upon the foundation of the authority of God and not of himself:
2:1 - He preached the testimony of God.
2:4 – Along with his teaching, he gave demonstration and power of the Spirit
2:7 - He affirmed, "we speak God’s wisdom…"
2:10 - The things that he taught, God had revealed them through the Spirit.
2:12-13 - The words that he taught were not found by human wisdom but were taught by the Spirit.
5:4 - His command to withdraw from the adulterous brother was commanded "in the name of our Lord Jesus."
7:10 - He claimed that as he gave instructions, it was not HIM but the Lord.
9:14 - In teaching that it was right to support those such as himself who were preaching, he affirmed that "...the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel."
11:2 - He instructed the brethren to "keep the traditions, just as I delivered them to you". This was because he received from the Lord that which he delivered unto them" (vs. 23).
14:37-38 - He declared: "If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord. If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized."
Paul's teaching was NOT based upon man's authority, but upon the very authority of our Lord. Do you accept Paul's teaching as the very word of God?
Hugh DeLong
