1Cor 4:7-8 - Sarcasm? In the Bible? No Way!

7-8 For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it? 8 Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you!

Immature Christians are sometimes scarcely distinguishable from false professors. That is why we are to use discernment, hope for the best, think well of all, and speak the truth to every one with gentleness and reverence. Paul continually hopes and gives the benefit of the doubt to these people despite the outward evidences.

But this is where he turns it up a notch. Make way for a little sarcasm. But not, however, before speaking the truth plainly. He summarizes the poverty of all Christians (indeed, all men) by reminding them that all that is worthwhile and good - all the gifts of grace and light - all the noble and effectual deeds and words that are found in them and by them are gifts of God in Jesus Christ. They didn’t conceive themselves the first time, and they weren’t reborn spiritually by their own effort or merit either. They had no control over their environment, their parents, their talents, their physical attributes, their sex, their intelligence. They were simply born once - then a second time. They sprang from what was created ex nihilo by God alone in eternity. Their rebirth in Christ is a gift. The spiritual life is a gift. They are doubly creatures of God.

If, apart from God you have nothing and you are nothing - literally - then it follows that all that you are is owed entirely to God. So, if there is anything noble or praiseworthy we ought not to think of ourselves as the source. We may be the channel or even the expression, but never the source. We may be the pot, but never the honourable contents.

Against this background of sound teaching concerning the primacy of God in Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit Paul now contrasts their behaviour. He is sarcastic. There’s no use getting all religious and denying it. Paul doesn’t put his hands together and incline his head so that the light will bounce "just so" off his halo. He doesn’t go round the houses or wrap his language in layers of coddling to blunt the effect. Quite the opposite! He gives ‘em both barrels.

The problem includes, but is more than, simply factionalizing into camps over various teachers, and having their loyalties divided from Christ by this. They are thinking that they have a wisdom themselves. They are thinking that because they are specially gifted by God (elect, saved, spiritual gifts) and that these gifts make them something special. Too special to listen to Paul. So special they have moved beyond his “elementary” teaching.

Paul is at great pains to show that the Giver is the only special one and that all gifts derive from Him by grace alone. By grace alone. Undeservedly. Gifts. Do we get it? Did the Corinthians get it?

As for the church today this is exactly the mindset in many places. "God saves us because we are special." No! God saves us because He is special; unique, holy, loving, willing, able. The reason for God’s salvation (which includes His gifts) is not found within his elect, but within God Himself. {1Sa 12:22}

But many of the Corinthians have forgotten what Paul taught about the supremacy of Christ and the fundamentals of the gospel and have moved on to a higher thinking - one that, puffing itself up by going beyond what is written, lends a sort of worldly credence to the propagators. They feel important because they think they sound important. But they are missing the narrow way. It’s all wrong, like much of the Corinthians church’s behaviour. And it’s wrong because they have wandered off into wrong doctrine, either forgetting what was laid down, or going beyond what is written. This is why Paul invariably bases all correction upon right doctrine. He tells people what to believe and then how to behave in the light of that belief. Right belief will lead to right practice - but no amount of mere practice will ever lead to right belief.

So Paul pokes fun at their presumption. It is good-hearted fun, but with a serious intent. He infers that they think they are so accomplished and knowledgeable that he, a mere Apostle and planter of the local church in Corinth, needs to do some catching up with them. They might deign to allow him to approach their throne! After all, if they have attained to such lofty heights as to be virtual kings in the church it might be worth Paul hitching his star to their wagon! Then he could have a handful of the power and the glory, too!