Cross Words: Stewards (1 Corinthians 4:1-21)

I’ve taught 1 Corinthians to both a High School and a college Sunday School class, and both times I used the outline DIMFOR to help us remember the flow of the book.  DIMFOR stands for: Divisions (chapters 1-4), Immorality (chapters 5-6), Marriage (chapter 7), Freedom (chapters 8-10), Orderly Worship (chapters 11-14), and Resurrection (chapters 15-16).  This week we wrap up the first section with a look at chapter 4, which finds Paul getting personal with those who were judgmental towards him.  He’s reminding the Corinthians, who should know better and treat him as the spiritual father that he is, not to dismiss him and consider themselves above his direction and care.  We see Paul at his most sarcastic, even somewhat threatening, as he asks if he should visit them with a rod or with a spirit of gentleness.  Should be an interesting passage to work through!