03A – An Inductive Approach to 1 Cor 4 – One Student’s Response

Below you will see the optional inductive “assignment” I gave the members of our Faith Builders Bible Class. We were getting ready to study 1 Corinthians 4, and I suggested some things for them to consider. Below you will see (in regular print) what I asked and (in italics) the thoughtful responses of one brother in our study group. (Check back soon for a new post on how to study the Bible inductively. It will be titled, “The Best Bible Class Experience You Have Ever Had – GUARANTEED.”)

Dear friends,

As you study 1 Corinthians 4 in anticipation of our study this Sunday, March 20, please take some time with the text. Read it over with your spouse, other family members, and/or friends. Pray about it.

You may want to print it out and break it up into paragraph sections so you can underline, add notes, etc.

What are the main points? The Corinthian congregation demonstrably had a problem with not giving glory where glory is due and getting “puffed up”.

What are the key words? Trustworthy, (true) apostles, servant, steward, superior… riches? Comparing?

What words, ideas, or principles are repeated? Heart, faithfulness, dying to self, arrogance …

How would you outline the chapter? You and the New American Standard Bible do an excellent job of that!

What title would you choose? I have a personal weakness in giving titles to parts of letters. I change my mind too much.

What may have been going on in Corinth that needed to be addressed? They are still more secular than Spiritual. Staying with some old perspectives.

What questions do you have about this text? 1. How could the Corinthians get “puffed up” if the Holy Spirit was dwelling in them? 2. In verse 3, the word translated “court” is the word for “day’ in the interlinear Greek reference.
Does this relate to chapter 3 verse 13 more than to a “court” or “daily tribunal”?

If you were teaching others, what points would you make? Even in the first century, the church could have problems growing in spirit and in truth without proper guidance and Spirit influence. “Folks are folks” without the influence of the Holy Spirit. Also, blessed are the humble in spirit.

What practical applications do you see that would help you become a more effective disciple of Jesus Christ? Learn from Paul’s dealings with the first century church – especially with the Gentiles and especially in consonance with the Christ’s teachings and the power of the Holy Spirit. Take agape to heart and mind in every trial and interaction. Truly understand the differences/distinctions/views between worldly and heavenly riches.

Then this brother did a few Greek word studies.

1 Co 4:1 Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy. 

“Regard” – 3049 logízomai (the root of the English terms “logic, logical”) – properly, compute, “take into account”; reckon (come to a “bottom-line”), i.e. reason to a logical conclusion (decision).

3 But to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself.

“Examine” – 350 anakrínō (from 303 /aná, “up, completing a process,” which intensifies 2919 /krínō, “to select by separating/judging”) – properly, to distinguish by vigorously judging “down to up,” i.e. closely examining (investigating) through “the process of careful study, evaluation and judgment

“Court” – hémera: day. Original Word: ἡμέρα, ας, ἡ.

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Without a doubt this brother has already benefited immeasurably from the study of this text, before our class has even begun. To a large extent, what we get out of a study is proportional to what we bring into that study.

Again, be looking soon for a new post on how to study the Bible inductively. It will be titled, “The Best Bible Class Experience You Have Ever Had – GUARANTEED.”

Written by Cory Collins