“The Kingdom of Heaven is Not a Matter of Talk” by Daniel Jolliff

In 1 Corinthians chapter 4, the apostle Paul is concluding his argument regarding the schisms that have taken place within the Corinthian Church.  They have divided over people, gifts, grace, fellowship meals and just about everything else.  The problem is that God is all about encouraging unity and community.  The gospel of Jesus Christ is supposed to bring about reconciliation between both God and human beings and between human beings.  Thus, what is going on within the Corinthian Church is simply unacceptable and completely contrary to what the message of the Church is all about!
Not only are there many divisions among the Corinthian Christians, but there are clearly some there who do not think too highly of the apostle Paul himself.  They have obviously been maligning his name and diminishing his contribution to the initiation of the Church in Corinth.  Nothing could be more hurtful to the Apostle Paul.  Though many have come to encourage the Church at Corinth, Peter and Apollos to name a couple, there is clearly only one person who has the distinction of beginning that Church.  Paul was the initiating missionary that first brought the gospel to Corinth.  That makes his relationship with that congregation very unique.  As Paul states in 1 Corinthians 4, he is their “father” in the faith.  As one who has planted new congregations in new areas in and around the coastal city of Mombasa, Kenya, I know what Paul is saying.  As a minister, I try to encourage Christians everywhere I go.  But I have a very unique relationship with those congregations that I helped bring into existence.  I must admit that I spend a little more time in prayer for those congregations that I do others.
Paul is trying to appeal to those in Corinth who somehow feel it is necessary to put Paul down as less than the other teachers that they have been exposed to.  Rhetoric was a highly respected and valued art form at that time and apparently Paul was not particularly gifted in this area.  Paul’s detractors were quick to point out that Paul’s teaching was not rhetorically eloquent and thus they did not feel it was as valuable to listen to versus the more refined speaking of Apollos.  Paul lets them know that he is coming back to visit them and then there will be a confrontation.  Paul has always been quick to point out that he is what he is by the grace and power of God.  It is that God empowers Paul that he is able to teach, preach, and plant new Churches all over the Roman empire.  Thus, his comment at the end of 1 Corinthians 4, “the kingdom of heaven is not a matter of talk, but of power!”  Paul knows that he has the power of God on his side and therefore knows that that his opponents do not stand a chance in a confrontation with him.  Like any loving father, Paul is ready to us the power of God to both rebuke and encourage.  He leaves the choice up to the Corinthian Christians.
So that leaves us with just one question…do we have the power?

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