Article from the East Main Messenger, dated 6/8/2025.
…that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written…
1 Corinthians 4:6
Contextually, Paul has been explaining to the Corinthians why they were sinning by revering the ones such as himself, Apollos, and Peter who had taught and baptized them over the Christ to whom they should have given all of their devotion (1 Cor. 1:10-13ff; 1 Cor. 3:1-4ff). Paul’s message which had initially converted them focused on Christ and his sacrifice for them rather than Paul’s own “Ivy League” education (1 Cor. 1:18-31; 1 Cor. 2:2). He did not teach them the gospel in any sort of eloquent way which would have impressed them (1 Cor. 2:1-4a; cf. 2 Cor. 10:10), choosing instead to confirm his message through signs and miracles done by the power of the Spirit (1 Cor. 2:4bff; cf. Mk. 16:20; Heb. 2:3-4). This was done to motivate their faith to be in God’s power rather than in human beings such as himself and his fellow teachers (1 Cor. 2:5). Evangelists such as Apollos and himself were nothing more than servants whom God used to bring about the growth within the church at Corinth (1 Cor. 3:5-11; 1 Cor. 4:1-2). For this reason, Paul did not find much value in the high estimation they placed on him because their judgments of him ultimately mattered little when compared to the judgment of God given on the last day (1 Cor. 4:3-5).
All of the above is what Paul is referring to when he writes, “I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers…” (1 Cor. 4:6a). His overall point seems to be, “If you’re going to put Apollos and myself on a pedestal, then here’s how you should do it. We are nothing more than servants of God. So rather than follow us, follow our example of being servants of God and of the church. Become servants like us who revere no one but the Lord, and it will be of great benefit to you.”
The apostle now gives the reason he has put forth Apollos and himself as examples of Christian service for them to follow. He writes, “…that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written…” (1 Cor. 4:6b). Nothing written in God’s Word has ever commanded or promoted the decision to give allegiance to mere men instead of the Lord; indeed, the exact opposite is recorded in Scripture (Matt. 23:5-12). By glorifying Paul, Apollos, and others instead of Christ, the Corinthian Christians had indeed “go(ne) beyond what is written.”
To go beyond the authority of God’s Word is sinful (Deut. 4:2; Deut. 12:32; Josh 1:7; Prov. 30:6; Rom. 16:17-18; Gal. 1:6-10; Rev. 22:18-19). Everything we do or say must be done in the name of Jesus, i.e., by his authority (Col. 3:17; cf. Acts 4:7; Matt. 21:23). The Holy Spirit inspired all the writers of Scripture (2 Pet. 1:19-21; cf. 2 Tim. 3:16-17) and spoke only what Jesus gave him to speak (John 16:12-15), who in turn only spoke what his Father in heaven gave him to speak (John 12:49-50). Thus, the Bible and the Bible alone is where you will find authority from Christ (e.g., 1 Cor. 14:37). This is very important to understand because it is Christ and his Word which will judge us on the last day (John 12:48; Rev. 20:12; 2 Cor. 5:10; cf. Acts 17:30-31; Eccl. 12:13-14; Rom. 14:10-12). Why “go beyond what is written” when “what is written” is the standard by which our eternal destinies will be determined?
Paul then gives the Corinthians another reason as to why they must “not…go beyond what is written” by putting Apollos, Peter, and himself on unwanted pedestals: “…that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another” (1 Cor. 4:6c). By bragging “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or even (for boasting rights, apparently) “I follow Christ” (1 Cor. 1:12), they were “behaving only in a human way” (1 Cor. 3:3-4) by trying to “one-up” each other. “Why should I follow Apollos like you do? He’s not even an apostle like my guy, Paul.” “Yeah, well, Paul used to persecute the church. Peter was with the Lord from the very beginning.” “Yeah, and he denied Jesus three times. I simply follow Christ, so I’m better than all of you.” Such prideful attitudes led to the very division Jesus prayed would not happen (1 Cor. 1:10; cf. John 17:20-23) and is the antithesis of the humble servant’s heart Scripture promotes (1 Cor. 3:5-7; Matt. 20:25-28).
— Jon
To read Jon’s series on 1 Corinthians from the beginning and many other articles, visit https://predenominationalchristianity.com.