1 Corinthians 4:15 Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV): “For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.”
Have often times had a hard time with this passage. When I first read it I couldn’t decipher any difference. However, I didn’t allow the passage to be a stumbling block of unbelief. I did though commit the question to God: “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” I then attained peace and have come to understand that I was not ready then, for the answer I sought.
I think I now have come to understand the meanings Paul was trying to convey to the readers of this epistle, concern this passage.
Instructors, teachers are paid for their time and service. They have studied a subject, theology or a form of religion and become accredited and now for money teach. Their motivation is to provide for themselves and others. They haven’t any good or bad intentions to the students to become a better person but only that they have received instruction to the knowledge that was given out by themselves to a satisfactory degree. Very few teachers, professors, I suspect have any concern for the student once the student passes or fails the curriculum presented.
Father’s on the other hand, their motivation is to help develop ones worthwhileness to the work of the ministry. “Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; but have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:1-2. Now to unpack this verse in the way I understand it.
Verse 1; “we have received mercy,” God has allowed one physical life to continue to the hearing of that God is, what He has done in man’s stead, the presentation of the gospel and the result. “we faint not” to give up and become useless to God. “but have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty.” “in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not”. Those who have the knowledge of the truth fail to rightly inform those that will listen to the ways of the devil. The way he works and hides truth, playing to the hearers lusts, no different than he did Eve. “not walking in craftiness” Peter spoke of this when writing : “as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.” 2 Peter 3:16.
Sidebar: “And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.” Ecclesiastes 12:12. With “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 2 Timothy 3:7. I see this as being commentaries, instructional information, how to’s and what to’s, the writings of man. I advise one to use their Bible alone, and do recommend the King James as the version to read. By prayer and supplication to allow the Holy Spirit to teach and instruct the reader in godliness and righteousness. Recommend reading 1 Timothy 6:3-16.
Continuing with “fathers” then; “nor handling the word of God deceitfully;” This is done ignorantly by not: “Studying to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15. We all allow a certain bent or bias at times skew our understandings of the scriptures. But we do have an in dwelt protection: “Let us therefore, as many as be perfect [mature], be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.” Philippians 3:15. We often fail by not responding to what we are being instructed of the Holy Spirit, most likely because we have failed to learn how to listen.
Fathers are to teach, correct, exhort, edify, the pupil to help them to grow; as here, in the things of God. They do it from a point of love. “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity [love], I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity [love], I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity [love], it profiteth me nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-3.
“for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.” 1 Corinthians 4:15. When was Christ begotten? “And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm [Psalms 2:7], Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.” Acts 13:32-32.
To be “begotten through the gospel” is to have heard. Heard what? Does one understand the path to eternal life? Believe that God is; Hebrews 11:6. That without the shedding of blood there isn’t forgiveness; Hebrews 9:22. That all have sinned; Romans 3:23. That one is dead, drawing the wage of sin Romans 6:23a. God’s provision for mans predicament; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19. Why was this sufficient? 2 Corinthians 5:21 and Romans 4:25. Then what is one to believe unto salvation? 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. How does that salvation then come? Ephesians 2:1-10. What is the end result? 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 1:12-14; Ephesians 1:3-6, 2:6, 3:10; Philippians 3:20; Colossians 1:5, 12-13, 3:1-4. Remembering then to: “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Philippians 2:12-13.
So now, is one a instructor or father in Christ?
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