1 Corinthians 4:6&7 “What Is Written”

1 Corinthians 4:6&7 “What Is Written”

This couple of sentences are packed with information. In your study Bible it may say “what is written” refers to scripture, but the New Testament has not been written. So what is Paul talking about. Paul is talking about the Gospels of Mark and Luke. Luke tells us that some have written an account of Jesus, Luke 1:1-4. We know that Luke uses Mark as his base to write his account of Jesus. Luke is written before 1 Corinthians, while Luke is with Paul. So “what is written” is taking about the Gospels.

Written is important, Paul does not say what has been told you, he says “what is written”. This makes it clear that the Gospels are in writing not just passed on by word of mouth, often referred to as an oral tradition. In fact, Paul is warning them about accepting “new teachings of Jesus” that do not have the approval of one of the apostles.

One of the great problems in Corinth is the acceptance of off the wall teachings. The subjects of this letter are these false teachings. False teachings and practices the range from sex to the ministry of the Holy Spirit, from lawsuits to the Resurrection of the dead. Paul has a list of their messed up ideas and will address each one. But first Paul tells them to not add to the things that have been written, the Gospels.

People will just make stuff up, to justify their sin, stroke their ego, extort money from believers, and a whole host of other reasons. Paul urges the church to stick with what you know to be true, the Gospels.

Paul says “I apply this to me, and I apply this to Apollos”, and everyone else. We need to apply this to ourselves today. Great cults have been built on false teaching from people who say they have new teachings. Whole denominations have been led astray by false teachings. As we study 1 Corinthians we will see that most of these modern false teachings are addressed by 1 Corinthians. It seems the “New Revelations” are just the old false teachings repackaged.

As we apply this to ourselves we are to stick with what is written. The scripture we have is based the Apostle’s teaching. Books were placed in the New Testament only if their connection to the 12 Apostles could be verified. We would do well to make sure all that we learn and teach is based on Scripture. By this we mean Scripture as it was written not edited, and Scripture plainly read without special interpretations.

2 Timothy 2:15-18
¹⁵  Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
¹⁶  But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness,
¹⁷  and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,
¹⁸  who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some.

 

Matthew 24:21-24
²¹  For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.
²²  And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.
²³  Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it.
²⁴  For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.

In the history of the Church there have been many creeds and confessions to help counter false teachings. These creeds can never replace scripture.

When we do not understand something we read we go to other scriptures to get understanding.

The Protestant Reformation was based on the idea that everyone can read and understand the Bible and the Bible means what it says when plainly read.

Second when we apply this to ourselves we will avoid pride. Every preacher and teacher who is rightly teaching is giving only what they have received from God. Some may be more talented, some more understandable, some more eloquent, and some more exciting, but all can only give what they have been given.

2 Timothy 2:2
 ²  and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

2 Timothy 2:15-18
¹⁵  Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
¹⁶  But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness,
¹⁷  and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,
¹⁸  who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some.

People all sorts of false preachers and teachers are out there. They write books, have tv shows, radio shows, and are on the internet. 1 Peter 5:8 says ⁸  Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Jesus said in Matthew 7:15-16 ¹⁵  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
¹⁶  You shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

 

Paul’s message to the Corinthians and to us in this passage is to stick with the Word of Truth. Study your Bible and know what it says. Avoid those who have secret revelations that are not plainly read in scripture.