Paul
the apostle told the church members in Corinth when they encountered
“things that pertain to this life,
they should “set them to judge who
are least esteemed in the church”.
Paul
continued to share concerning people “suing” one another within
the church, and in chapter six and verse
five of First Corinthians, Paul asked the church members in Corinth,
“is not a wise man among you”
where we read:
I
speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among
you?
no,
not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?
The
verse begins, “I
speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among
you?” Paul
began with the words, “I speak”
which means
“Paul uttered, spoke and declared” “to
your shame”
or “to the church members' in regard to and towards confusion,
respect and reverence”. “Is it so”
which means
“in this manner, thus and so”, “that
there is”
or “that no one exists” “a wise
man” which
refers to “a skilled, expert, cultivated and learned person”
“among you”
or “along and beside the church members”? Paul meant to pronounce
“shame”
upon the church members because they had not discovered or search for
one “wise man” within
the church.
The
verse continues, “no,
not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?”
Paul added
the words, “no, not one” which
means “not even one certain person”“that
shall” which
means “who will” “be able”
or “have the ability” “to judge”
which means “separate, put asunder, to pick out, select, choose,
approve, esteem, prefer, be of opinion about, deem, determine,
resolve and decree concerning” “between”
or “in the midst and among” “his
brethren”
which refers to “the person's fellow believers who are united to
others by the bond of affection”. Paul went on to ask whether there
was not “one person” who had the ability to “judge” between
the ones who disputed with one another.
When
we meditate upon these words from Paul, we see how he meant to
motivate the church members in Corinth to find “wise men among”
them. Rather than go to the world to “judge” between them,
people in the church should be able to seek out others who are “wise”
when disputes arise. Jesus desires “peace” within His church, and
godly counsel and assessment should be the way to confront
disagreements. Let us keep in mind, people often encounter
differences, and when they do, let us seek for “wise”
people to help resolve them.
Next
time Paul addresses how “brother
goes to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers” within
the church, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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