- Introduction:
- Exegetical Analysis Of Corinthians 4:6:
-While Paul had described himself and his fellow Christian laborers as planting the seeds of spiritual conversion in the minds of the unbelieving, he gave all the credit and glory to God for success in ministry (1 Corinthians 3:5-15). While the apostles planted, God had caused the growth.
-It is only by the power of God that the apostles were able to carry out their mission in the efficacious manner as they did. So the Corinthians need not become puffed-up in their minds (1 Corinthians 3:3-4). Paul was addressing issues such as pride, selfishness, worldly wisdom, and even sexual immorality.
-The Corinthian Christians needed to depend on the wisdom of God, not man. Dependence of God leads to humility. They needed to learn how to keep their thinking in alignment with God's revealed will.
-The church as a whole needs to use only the written Word of God as the standard of evaluating leaders in the church. Many professing Christians evaluate ministers on the basis of humor, how they persuade, how they look, and by their intelligence.
-These points of consideration, however, are completely unbiblical standards by which to judge the validity of ministry. Thus, they violate the principle set forth by the Apostle Paul in this text. We should not elevate ministers to a status that is not scripturally warranted. That is precisely the rationale of Paul's phrase: "not to think beyond what is written."
-The King James Version adds the phrase "of men" after the word "think" in an effort to clarify the meaning of this passage. The New International Version translates it as, "Do not go beyond what is written," reflecting the views of some commentators who believe this to be an axiomatic expression. The New Jerusalem Bible says, "Nothing beyond what is written."
-1 Corinthians 4:6 prescriptively assumes the principle of Sola Scriptura as being necessary for the establishment of sound doctrine. It contains a general principle by which we are to observe. Any development that is not contained in Scripture did not originate from the Spirit of God.
- Is The Phrase "What Is Written" Mentioned In 1 Corinthians 4:6 An Allusion To The Book Of Life?:
-The Roman Catholic New American Bible Revised Edition has this footnote on 1 Corinthians 4:6: "That you may learn from us not to go beyond what is written...It probably means that the Corinthians should avoid the false wisdom of vain speculation, contending themselves with Paul's proclamation of the cross, which is the fulfillment of God's promises in the Old Testament (what is written). Inflated with pride: literally, 'puffed-up,' i.e., arrogant, filled with a sense of self-importance. The term is particularly Pauline, found in the New Testament only in 1 Cor 4, 6. 18-19; 5, 2; 8, 1; 13, 4; Col 2, 18 (ch the related noun at 2 Cor 12, 20). It sometimes occurs in conjunction with the theme of 'boasting,' as in vv 6-7 here."
-The text of 1 Corinthians 4:6 is fairly straightforward in that it is referring to Scripture. It is abundantly clear that Paul was assuming the principle of Sola Scriptura. Rome flatly contradicts the scriptural pattern set forth by the apostle in this verse because it elevates the authority of men to unbiblical levels and has throughout history defined the meaning of several dogmas that far transcend the boundaries of written revelation.
- Patrick Madrid Claims That Citing 1 Corinthians 4:6 As Biblical Support For Sola Scriptura Would Also Require (Logically Speaking) Rejecting The Inspiration Of Subsequent Canonical Writings Which Comprise The New Testament:
- Evaluating The Roman Catholic Case For Sacred Tradition:
You did a really good job with this post! :D
ReplyDeleteQuick commentary on the last part: if there were infallible oral traditions being taught with scripture texts, them the Corinthians would have TWO infallible sources of revelation to use: oral tradition and sacred scripture. So it is very clear that 1 cor 4,6 cannot be teaching Sola Scriptura, i.e., ONLY Scripture is infallible, and Tradition are NEVER infallible.
ReplyDeleteKnowing that the interpretation of the verses cannot change within the passage of the years, it is very clear that if the Corinthians could not interpret 1 Cor 4,6 as a "sola scriptura rule", because Paul also used to gave them "infallible oral rules" (see 1 Cor 11,34), so we cannot read this passage as a "sola scriptura" either. The meaning of the bible does not change with the passage of the time, or even with the death of the apostles - and i'm afraid that you are thinking this way.
Tulio Christofoletti,
ReplyDeleteYou made assertions without actually dealing with my last paragraph. Also, a verse certainly can be given an application to broader circumstances if it is contextually warranted. That is not the same as saying its meaning changes over time. Further, you can't produce what those apostolic traditions are. You cannot tell me specifically what Paul had in mind. So a reference such as 1 Corinthians 11:2 is irrelevant. Scripture itself is apostolic tradition preserved in writing.