1 Corinthians 4:15: For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
A child may have many guardians and teachers, but he can have only one father. He has a special relationship to his father that must not be preempted by anyone else. There had been no church in Corinth before Paul came, so that even the second-generation believers in the church were the results of Paul’s effective ministry.
Paul founded the church and Apollos followed him and taught the people. In some way that is not made clear in the Scriptures, Peter also ministered at Corinth. (Perhaps he had not been there personally, but other teachers from Jerusalem had ministered in Corinth as “representatives” of Peter.) God’s children need the ministry of different teachers, but they must never forget the “spiritual father” who brought them to Christ. 1
Application
- Read 1 Peter 5:1-4 to understand some of the responsibilities of the pastor.
- Read Hebrews 13:17 to understand some of the responsibilities of the people.
Thought to Share
Never forget the one who brought the gospel truth to you. – TWEET IT
Prayer
Lord, knowing that I am pleasing You is the only thing that keeps me going when my soul feels so overwhelmed.
1. Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.