Beginning in verse 6 of chapter 4, Paul explains the third reason for the divisions and dissensions in the church at Corinth – and it is pride. In the previous passages, Paul has used various metaphors – farm workers, builders, servants, and stewards – to describe himself and Apollos as ministers of the Gospel. He did this so that by his own example, the Corinthians would learn to follow suit and not think too highly of themselves, but practice humility and banish pride.
Read the irony and sarcasm of verses 8-13. Paul is describing the Corinthians in terms of the glory of the future kingdom – enjoying all of its treasure; while he and the other apostles are bearing a cross of suffering. The Bible teaches that suffering always precedes glory – life on earth precedes life in heaven, Passover precedes Pentecost, Yom Kippor precedes the Feast of Tabernacles, repentance precedes rejoicing, and the cross precedes the resurrection. Perhaps the high-flying Corinthians were, as Kenneth Copeland sings, “living the high life!” – living, as it were, in the ‘not yet’ of realized eschatology (that is to say, living in the kingdom before its time). Perhaps the church believed they had received the glorious kingdom of Christ when they received the Spirit of God – and all suffering had come to an end? Certainly the attitude Paul describes in these verses demonstrate that they were living by a theology of glory and not a theology of the cross. in this section Paul urges them to follow his own example in suffering, just as Christ suffered setting the example for all who follow Him.
