line of action was parallel with that of the verse quoted in 1: 31. Excellency of speech is

well in its way, but to those who were taking pride in the flesh, who were being

enamoured of the wisdom of this world, the apostle saw in it grave danger.

He had the mystery* of God to declare, but that mystery, like that of Eph. 1:, must be

made known with all wisdom and prudence; carnal believers were babes, babes can only

take the milk of the Word, and therefore the apostle tells us that he reserved the "wisdom

of God in a mystery" for those who were "perfect" (verse 6), and "spiritual"

(verses 12-16). Paul's determination among carnal believers was to preach the offence of

the cross. To realize the teaching of the cross was to give the death blow to the flesh, its

wisdom and its ways. The apostle does not hide from us the fact that he understood the

offensiveness of his doctrine, he reminds the Corinthians that he was with them

Toward the end of chapter 3: the apostle returns to the subject of "glorying in man",

and in chapter 4: returns to the question of his stewardship of truth. Some may have

adversely criticized the apostle's refusal to speak on the deeper subject of the mystery; he

acknowledges that he was in fear and trembling, nevertheless he stood fast to his

In chapter 4: he tells the Corinthians to account of him and his fellow-workers as

"the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God". As a steward of the

mysteries he had to be faithful, even though he might offend some and be misjudged by

others. The opinion of others, he tells us, was to him a very small thing, indeed he did

not judge or examine himself. "I know nothing against myself", he confesses, but this

does not justify him; the Lord is his judge, and when He comes He will make manifest

the counsels of the hearts. All this the apostle declares he had written so that the

Corinthians might learn how wrong it was to say, "I am of Paul", or "I am of Apollos",

that no one be puffed up for one against another.

The determination of the apostle to meet the allurements of the flesh by preaching

Jesus Christ AND HIM CRUCIFIED cost him many tears, and many sorrows. It is a

determination that we do well to remember, and when we know full well that our doctrine

and our message will not be palatable, we must remember our stewardship, our

responsibility alone to the Lord, our utter independence of human opinion, and, whether

men will hear, or forbear, we must preach the Word that the Lord gives us.