From the recording Paul the Letter of I Corinthians An Intimate Review
Lyrics
Letter of Apostle Paul – I Corinthians
An Intimate Review
Pt 2
By Lawrence DeMetrius
Per [I Cor 2:7-16] those who fail to realize the quality of DIVINE WISDOM will not inherit the understanding or benefits thereof. [Dan 12:3, 10; Pro 4:5, 7; 8:1-12; Rev 3:8b; St Jn 1:5; 3:19, 36; 8:12, 24; 14:1-4; I Cor 1:18] This is because they consider it foolishness and lack SPIRITUAL capacity to receive it. The Holy Ghost only PREPARES and REVEALES DIVINE WISDOM to those who wholeheartedly LOVE Yahweh. Apostle Paul clarifies that the Holy Ghost is a Gift provisioned to born-again believers for many purposes, one of which is to REVEAL to them what they have freely RECEIVED of THE LORD. Apostle Paul also teaches that only SPIRITUAL MINDED people possess the capacity to JUDGE all things without being JUDGED themselves. Those who have yet to be SPIRITUALLY REGENERATED lack the ability to rightly JUDGE i.e., SCUTINIZE, INVESTIGATE or DETERMINE the disposition and nature of those who are SPIRITUALLY REGENERATED. Christ Jesus expounded upon this idea per His conversation with Nicodemus. [St Jn 3:1-21] Therefore, the Elect of GOD are not to expect the SPIRITUALLY UNREGENERATED MIND to embrace them or what they believe and profess. The divine insight decreed by true messengers of Jesus Christ is SPIRITUAL and the means by which divine iconoclasm is made possible. [Mt 28:18-20; Rm 10:14, 15] As mentioned earlier it is the only WORD that is accompanied by the POWER and DEMONSTRATION of the Holy Ghost. Yahweh does not withhold insight required for HIS worshippers.
*prepared Gk #2090 hetoimazo (het-oy-mad-zo) it means to prepare, provide and make ready
*love Gk #25 agapao (ag-ah-pah-o) it means to love in a social and moral sense
*revealed Gk #601 apokalupto (ap-ok-al-oop-to) it means to take off the cover and disclose
*spiritual Gk #4152 pneumatikos (pnyoo-mat-ik-os) it means…
• non-carnal [Rm 8:5-9]
• humanly ethereal as opposed to gross or demoniac [Tit 1:15, 16]
• divinely supernatural, regenerate and religious [St Jn 4:23, 23; Jm 1:26, 27]
*judgeth/judged Gk #350 anakrino (an-ak-ree-no) it means to scrutinize, investigate and determine
In [I Cor 3:1-3a; Rm 8:5-7] Apostle Paul salutes the Saints at Corinth, then lovingly reprimands them for their SPIRITUAL IMMATURITY which he equates to being CARNAL.
*carnal Gk #4559 sarkikos (sar-kee-kos) it means pertaining to flesh, bodily, temporal, animalistic and unregenerate
Apostle Paul considered the nature and power of Christ’s Gospel fundamental knowledge for Christians. Having this is mind Christians are expected to SPIRITUALLY grow and reflect their maturity in their conduct, especially among one another. Per Christ, the expression of brotherly love proves to the world who they are in relationship to Yahweh through Him. [Jn 13:34, 35] Thus, how they engage each other greatly matters in The Kingdom of GOD. [Mt 6:10]
In [I Cor 3:3b-23] Apostle Paul provides a description of conduct that is evident of SPIRITUALLY IMMATURITY.
1. The presence of ENVYING, STRIFE and DIVISIONS.
*envying Gk #2205 zelos (dzay-los) it is…
• heat that is figurative of ardor or zeal in the favorable sense
o zeal is…
fervor for a person, cause or object
eager desire, endeavor and enthusiastic diligence
o ardor is…
great warmth of feeling, fervor and passion
enthusiasm, zeal and burning heat
• In the unfavorable sense it is jealousy which is…
o a feeling of resentment against someone because of that person's rivalry, success and advantage
o characterized by or proceeding from suspicious fears or envious resentment
o being inclined to or troubled by suspicions or fears of rivalry and unfaithfulness as in love or aims
o being solicitous or vigilant in maintaining or guarding something
o intolerance of unfaithfulness or rivalry
*strife Gk #2054 eris (er-is) it is…
• a quarrel, which is…
o an angry dispute or altercation
o a disagreement marked by a temporary or permanent break in friendly relations
o a cause of dispute, complaint or hostile feeling
• wrangling, which is to argue or dispute, especially in a noisy or angry manner
*divisions Gk #1370 dichostasia (dee-khos-tas-ee-ah) it is…
• disunion, which is a…
o severance of union and separation
o disjunction or lack of unity
• dissension, which is…
o strong disagreement, contention or quarrel
o discord, disagreement and difference in sentiment or opinion
2. Letting one’s identity rest in people instead of THE DIVINE GODHEAD. Many Christians struggle with personal regard toward admired religious teachers and denominational affiliations. This ill-placed self-identity often invokes DISSENSION among born-again believers as it did in the Early Church.
While it is good and proper to rightly recognize true leaders of Christ, one’s primary identity should only rest in THE LORD through Christ Jesus. Christ establishes offices of leadership in His Church that are indeed gifts thereto provisioned for spiritual perfecting, work of the ministry and edification. [Eph 4:11-13] However, no person occupying such offices are to be relied upon as if they were Yahweh or Jesus Christ. Apostle Paul reiterates that anyone who attempts to usurp influence in the hearts of Yahweh’s children will be destroyed. THE LORD said,
Thou shalt have no other gods before ME.
[Exo 20:3]
HE also declared,
I am THE LORD: that is MY NAME: and MY glory will I not give to another, neither MY praise to graven images.
[Isa 42:8]
*name Hb #8034 shem (shame) it is an appellation as a mark or memorial of individuality, designation, honor, authority and character
Thus, that which pertains to Yahweh should only be attributed to HIM within the hearts of HIS Elect Ones. Any teaching that perverts this divine law is surely influenced by Lucifer. [Isa 14:12-15] Apostle Paul writes,
Therefore, let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world; Or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; And ye are Christ’s and Christ is GOD’S.
[I Cor 3:21-23]
In [I Cor 4:1, 2] Apostle Paul notes that Christians should rightly recognize true messengers of Jesus Christ as His MINISTERS and FAITHFUL STEWARDS of Yahweh’s MYSTERIES.
*ministers Gk #5257 huperetes (hoop-ay-ret-ace) it is…
1. an under-oarsman, which is one who rows a boat, especially a racing boat
2. a subordinate, which is one who is an…
• assistant is a…
o helper or one who assists or gives aid and support
o one who is subordinate to another in rank and function
o one holding a secondary rank in an office or post
o something that aids and supplements another
• sexton is an…
o official of a church who is charged with taking care of the edifice and its contents, ringing the bell, etc., and sometimes with burying the dead
o official who maintains a synagogue and its religious articles, chants the designated portion of The Torah on prescribed days, and assists the cantor in conducting services on festivals
• constable is an…
o officer of the peace, having police and minor judicial functions, usually in a small town or rural district
o officer of high rank in medieval monarchies, usually the commander of all armed forces, especially in the absence of the ruler
o keeper or governor of a royal fortress or castle
*stewards Gk #3623 oikonomos (oy-kon-om-os) it is a…
• house distributor and manager
• overseer or employee working in this capacity
• fiscal agent or treasurer
• preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
*faithful Gk #4103 pistos (pis-tos) it means worthy or full of trust
*mysteries Gk #3466 musterion (moos-tay-ree-on) it is a…
1. secret, which is…
• something that is or is kept secret, hidden or concealed
• reason or explanation not immediately or generally apparent
• method, formula or a plan known only to an initiated few
2. mystery, through the idea of silence imposed by initiation into religious rites and is…
• anything that is kept secret or remains unexplained or unknown
• any affair, thing or person that presents features or qualities so obscure as to arouse curiosity or speculation
• obscure, puzzling or of mysterious quality and character
• any truth that is unknowable except by divine revelation
• a sacramental rite and an incident in connection with the life of Christ regarded as being of special significance
This insight is significant because it reminds born-again believers that true MINISTERS of Jesus Christ are to be properly recognized, as Yahweh does impart and distribute HIS Word through them. [St Jn 1:12,13; II Jn 5:20; Dan 12:3, 10] HE does by them expound upon the MYSTERY of Christ, His nature and relationship as HIS Son. [II Tim 2:24-26; Rev 2:17; I Cor 2] This revelation also expresses the importance of remaining studious in The Holy Scriptures with guidance of the Holy Ghost. [Jn 8:31, 36; 14:26; 16:13; II Tim 2:15] Divine insight nurtures the PATIENCE of Jesus Christ within His brethren and helps them to preserve their Crown of Eterna Life and inheritance in Him. [Rev 3:7, 8, 10] Although there are many Christian teachers only a few qualify as Christian FATHERS. [I Jn 2:13-14] These worthy honorees learn to accept their office and earnestly strive to be examples of SPIRITUALLY MATURE Christians. They are careful to always lead Yahweh’s flock with HIS LOVE and not as lords over them. [I Pet 5:1-6; Gal 6:1-3, 7-9]
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