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June 13,2007; Paul, Peerless Apostle and Prophet (11 of 15)

Focus Text: 1 Corinthians 4.1-3

Charges against the grand apostle were aplenty; the Jews and the Judaizers were quick to point the finger of blame at Paul. He could have literally consumed all his time in defending himself against the multiplicity of charges against him. However, he had a higher strategy! Rather than waste time with individual charges levied at him, why not go to the tap root of all issues and stop matters there? That is precisely what Paul did when he penned today’s focus text.

“Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.” (1 Corinthians 4.1-3). Only two things mattered – 1) Was Paul a duly authorized steward of the mysteries of God, and 2) Had he been faithful in delivering those mysteries to others? If those two questions could be answered affirmatively, then there was no substance to the charges being hurled at Paul. With these summary words, Paul addressed the situation thoroughly and logically. Would that men would use this same test today in assessing the work of Paul!

Consider some implications of the fact that Paul was a steward of the mysteries of God. He did not make himself a steward; Christ appointed him to that position. If he had been unfaithful as a steward, he would have been “decommissioned.” If that had happened, he would not have possessed the ability to work the signs of an apostle, but that was not the case; the “signs of an apostle were accomplished among you [the Corinthians] with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.” (2 Corinthians 12.12). There was simply no argument against the fact that Paul was a duly appointed and authorized steward of God’s mysteries.

But, what of this fact; what does it mean? A steward is one who oversees the affairs of another. The idea is rooted in the concept of looking after the day to day business matters of a household; the word evolved to mean more than that, but that is where it had its origins. The steward literally had the authority of the owner to transact business in his name; further, he had vested authority as long as he performed his task faithfully (read Luke 16.1-10 to get a feel for the office and authority of a steward). The realm of authority under consideration by Paul is explicitly stated; he was a steward of the mysteries of God; he was overseer of God’s mysteries! Whatever Paul knew of those mysteries, he did not discover them on his own; God revealed them to him (that is the message of Ephesians 3.1-8). Literally then, Paul was authorized to oversee these revealed mysteries and administer them to others through his preaching and writing! Paul was a spokesperson for God as His truths were being revealed and recorded in the New Testament.

I am not a steward of God’s mysteries; they have not been entrusted to me! Neither have they been entrusted to any man living today. They have been revealed, recorded, and preserved as a matter of public record. We have the mysteries of God written on the pages of His Holy Word and it is there that we must go if we are to know and obey truth!

Questions:

1. What objective evidence could others see to verify Paul’s apostleship?

2. What were the signs of an apostle? Were these signs different from the signs possessed by others? If not, what is the significance of the phrase “signs of an apostle”?

3. Considering Ephesians 3, how could Paul’s readers understand his knowledge of the mysteries? (see Ephesians 3.3-4).

4. Why can it be said truthfully that no man living today a steward of the mysteries of God?

"Today's Little Lift" from Jim Bullington

Comfort in Isaiah II (12-14-10)