notes

Main point summary

Because in Christ, all things are ours we need not boast in men

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editing

NT

1 Corinthians 3:21-23

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esv

mine

ὥστε μηδεὶς καυχάσθω ἐν ἀνθρώποις•

So j let no one boast in men.

Do not take pride, rely on,depend on, or seek to find life in people.

πάντα γὰρ ὑμῶν ἐστιν,

For k all things are yours,

that is all things are given by God to serve for our good

εἴτε Παῦλος

whether Paul

the example of boasting in a "celebrity" like Paul, who was being compared to others. Yet Paul here says he himself is not to be taken pride in, but he is to serve.

εἴτε Ἀπολλῶς

or Apollos

Paul was compared to Apollos. Paul here says that the role of Apollos is not to be like a celebrity we collect and show off, but to serve our good.

εἴτε Κηφᾶς,

or Cephas

All three, Paul, Peter and Apollos, were being compared and evaluated and taken pride in. People were fighting over who the better leader was. By affiliation, then how they were better because they had the better leader. But again Paul says that even Peter, is to serve for our good not to be taken pride in.

series

εἴτε κόσμος

or the world

incredible to think that God uses everything in this world to serve for our good

εἴτε ζωὴ

or life

God would also use all of life for us

εἴτε θάνατος,

or death

God would even use the end of life for our good

negativepositive

εἴτε ἐνεστῶτα

or the present

God would use every current happening...

εἴτε μέλλοντα•

or the future—

And God would use everything that is about to happen

comparison

πάντα ὑμῶν,

all are yours,

Amazing

ὑμεῖς δὲ Χριστοῦ,

and l you are Christ’s,

Cross ref. Romans 8:16-17 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Χριστὸς δὲ θεοῦ.

and m Christ is God’s.

progression

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ground

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discourse

Notes

Look At The Book LAB lesson: the "Ground": The "ground" is the basis, the reason for why another idea or statement is true or possible. In this case, the "ground" for not boasting in men is that all things in Christ are ours. This is a remarkable ground. For I have often thought that humility or not boasting in men (including myself) is as a result of realising how small and weak we humans really are. This is true but here, in this passage, the basis for humility is not the truth of ourselves without Christ, but is because we have everything, we are actually rich! On the surface of this, it would seem to lead to more boasting. Because I would think that knowing I am rich would make me want to boast even more. But this wealth and riches is from God, not from men. This is already humbling. I also think that there is a dynamic that when we are truly secure in the true riches that God gives, there is no longer any need for false boasting in lesser things like men. That true security humbles and satisfies us. We need not boast in men anymore. Study Questions: 1. What human have bragged about the most recently? Do you speak highly of that person to give them proper honor or has your boasting of them been to exalt yourself as in 1 Corinthians 3:21 ? Recently there was discussion about how one pastor gave a terrible message and another gave a good message. We were speaking highly of the second pastor. I do think we were boasting of ourselves because we were elevating ourselves as evaluators of pastors (gulp!) and priding ourselves for being able to discern who was better (double gulp!). 2. What is the reason Paul gives for not boasting in men? Romans 8:16-17 The reason or the ground for not boasting in men is that all things are ours in Christ. We are rich in the LORD. 3. What does it mean that “all things are yours?” How is it good that death is on the list of things that are yours? How can this reality affect you this week? It means that God has given everything to serve us, to make us better, more holy. Even death is made to serve our good for death brings us instantly into the presence of God, instantly we leave this fallen life.