In
verses 8-13, Paul set out to compare himself and the believers in Corinth. He
sarcastically used a series of rhetorical statements to help them see their
foolish boasting. In verse 8, Paul scornfully told them that they were already filled
and rich, and had become kings. That was probably how they were thinking and
acting. Where did they get such ideas that they were already rich and were
kings? The Corinthians apparently were influenced by the culture of their day.
That’s how some sectors of philosophy of their day promulgated. To them a wise
man was not only labeled as judicious,
fair and courageous, he was also dubbed as an orator, a poet, a general, a rich
man, and a king. It’s safe to conclude then that Paul was here chiding the
Corinthians for being too influenced by the philosophies of their day. They
were cherishing some puffed up idea of themselves that were foreign to the
Gospel. Paul then used an end-times idea to make them aware of their arrogance
and self-sufficiency so that they could change. Cynically, he said he wished
they were already reigning so that he could also reign with them. From this, we
see the inference that believers would co-reign with Christ ultimately.
From verse 9 on, Paul then point to his
own life as an alternative for the Corinthians to consider. In contrast to how
the Corinthians’ self-designated position as reigning kings, Paul showed
himself and the other apostles as prisoners sentenced to death. Paul was
describing a Roman’s triumphant march. In this march, the victorious general
would lead a parade down the streets in a chariot. He would be at the forefront
while the leaders and the defeated army would be trailing at the rear end of
the possession. They were exhibits of the triumphant general. This was done to humiliate
and make a public spectacle out of the defeated foes who were being led to
prison or to be executed. Paul pointed out that it was God who had won the
victory and made a public spectacle out of the apostles. In contrast, the Corinthians
thought themselves to be rulers and victorious kings leading the possession but
were in reality not subjected to the authority of God.
The Corinthians saw themselves as wise,
strong and held in honor but the apostles were fools, weak and without honor. Paul
was making the point that the apostles’ manner of life was in agreement with
the cross whereas the lifestyle of the Corinthians and what they aspired to
attain was in total and exact opposite to the cross.
In verses 11-13 Paul went on to describe
their suffering as apostles. They were hungry and thirsty, poorly clothed,
roughly treated and homeless. Not only that, they had to laboriously toil with
their hands. When they were abhorred, they reciprocated with blessing. When
they were persecuted, they endured. Even when they were maligned, they would mollify.
People even considered them to be rubbish of the world and would despise them perpetually.
Paul’s inference is this: these negative experiences were not hardships or
trials that he had to overcome. They were distinct marks that revealed the authenticity
of his apostleship. They demonstrated his conformity to Christ’s sufferings.
Paul had shared Christ’s destiny of being scorned and rejected by the world. In
all that he had said, Paul was basically giving the Corinthians a challenge. He
had demonstrated by his life what following Christ would entail. Hence he was
telling the Corinthians and also us today: if you want to be a true follower of
Christ, take a good look at him (Paul). This is what following Christ really looks
like!
If we come to Christ just to be
successful and rich, we should take another look. He would certainly supply all
our needs according to His riches in glory but to truly follow Him is to adopt
His lifestyle. To be like Him in thoughts, words and action!
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