1 Corinthians Chapter 4

vs 11

I don't know how much Paul is haming this up, but if he were in prison at the time, he would not be stretching the truth on any of those accounts. Which is really putting the Corinthians to shame.

vs 12

It is very much a Christ-like picture that Paul is building. But it is also in opposition to the situation and attitude of the Corithians.

vs 13

How is it that while the Corinthians are kings of men and rich and happy, the highest ranking Christian authorities go around in rags as the scum of the earth?

vs 14

Well, Paul says he isn't trying to shame the Corinthians (although there's a fair amount to be ashamed of it seems), he instead calls it a warning. Which does put a little bit of a dampener on the sarcasm thing, because sarcasm usually seeks to put the other person down intellectually (at least in our culture - perhaps it meant something else in greek?) and to shame them, but Paul is actually wanting it to be a warning. And he now calls them dear children, an endearing title, which reminds us that sometimes you do have to warn children to change their ways, even if it means belittling them occasionally.

vs 15

I assume the guardians are something to do with angels. It could also be a reflection of the population of the church (globally, not in Corinth itself), but I think even then that might be conflated. Yet Paul doesn't dwell on it - he is more interested in the dynamic of the relationship between himself and the church. He calls himself their father (and now, corelate that with the verse that says to call no man "father"!) because it was he who brought them up in the gospel.

He's assuming a level of authority, demanding a level of respect, and building a level of relationship by calling himself their father.

vs 16

Because he's their dad, they should follow in his footsteps. Which lots of people did when they grew up, of course.

vs 17

So, because Paul can't go back to Corinth at this time, he'll send Timothy, who he knows will imitate Paul, and will be a good example to the church there. Timothy's life will remind them of Paul's life, and Paul's life agrees with his teaching. His teaching is the same all over the churches. But of course, every church isn't the same, with different situations and cultural settings. So what Paul teaches is principles, not actions. What he lives by is principles, not rules.

vs 18

Obviously in a church where individuals were so important that the church was going to split on which servant they followed, a visit from Paul would be a big deal. And yet he was probably delayed from visiting them by being locked up somewhere or beaten half to death or planting another church or something. But that doesn't satisfy some people, because some people think it's all about them.

vs 19

Paul is going to sort out these arrogant gainsayers when he gets there. But he'll only get there when God wills it, and that might not be for some time. Of course, in the meantime these gainsayers might gotten even more powerful. But he's willing to leave that in God's hands.

vs 20

Besides, he seems confident that, due to his position in the kingdom of God, he will be more powerful than them, and that they may just be all talk. Which is of no use to him, and will not protect them against his mighty God-powers.

vs 21

As we know, all children everywhere say "in love, in love!" But it does show the authority Paul has to threaten them. Now, he wouldn't have really gone with a whip (surely! right?) but it does mean that he is prepared to be harsh with them, and he expects that it is his right to do that if he must. But he would certainly prefer to come in love and gentleness, otherwise he wouldn't give them the option.