Verse 4
Partisanship is a manifestation of human wisdom. All the philosophical schools in Greece had their chief teachers. There was keen competition among these teachers, and there were strong preferences among the students as to who was the best. However this attitude is totally inappropriate when it comes to evaluating the servants of Christ. It is completely contrary to the mind of Christ who Himself stooped to raise others.
"It is sinful for church members to compare pastors, or for believers to follow human leaders as disciples of men and not disciples of Jesus Christ. The ’personality cults’ in the church today are in direct disobedience to the Word of God. Only Jesus Christ should have the place of preeminence (Colossians 1:18)." [Note: Wiersbe, 1:569.]
This section of verses makes it very clear that it is possible for genuine Christians to behave as and to appear to be unbelievers (cf. Matthew 13:24-30; Matthew 13:36-43). The Corinthians’ conduct indicated carnality, not lack of eternal life. Prolonged immaturity as a result of carnality is a condition all too prevalent in modern Christianity. Often we mistake carnal Christians for natural men, unbelievers.
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