Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. But I will come to you shortly if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness? (1 Co 4:18–21).
Now some are puffed up
In the writings of the Apostle Paul to various Christian communities, he employs the phrase "puffed up." He does not use this once but multiple times, a recurring theme in his teachings. To understand what Paul means by being "puffed up," it is necessary to examine the context in which he uses this phrase. At first glance, we should think what Paul means by the words puffed up is that some of the brothers and sisters in the Corinthian church had inflated opinions of themselves.
The term "puffed up" is a translation of a Greek word, which literally means to be inflated or swollen. Paul likely uses this expression to describe the individuals in the Corinthian fellowship with an inflated opinion of themselves, often characterized by arrogance, pride, and a sense of self-importance. These individuals may think highly of their own spiritual knowledge, gifts, or achievements, leading them to look down on others and causing division within the community.
Paul addresses the notion of pride and a sense of spiritual superiority over others based on the knowledge that one has. For instance, in Colossae, Paul warns about people who, with confidence, speak about things they know nothing about:
Colossians 2:18: "Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind."
Paul warns against false humility, where individuals might appear humble outwardly but are inwardly filled with pride and false spirituality. However, two other times in this letter to the church at Corinth Paul refers to being “puffed up.” Just a few chapters later, Paul says:
1 Corinthians 8:1-2: "Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know."
In chapter 8 of this epistle, the apostle points out that knowledge leads to arrogance. He warns that accumulating knowledge just for the sake of knowing can be dangerous because it can lead to pride and superiority. However, Paul points out that true spiritual growth comes through love and humility, not knowledge.
In First Corinthians 13, the famous “love chapter,” Paul makes the statement rendered in the King James Version as “Love is not puffed up.” This means that when the Spirit of God is at work in a person's life, the fruit of that is not arrogance, nor does it carry an air of superiority but demonstrates genuine love and humility.
I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power
Imagine a stunning and remarkable bird celebrated for its vibrant and shimmering feathers. This magnificent creature confidently struts around, holding its head high, proudly displaying its splendour. It indeed presents a captivating spectacle to behold. Its regal and elongated neck adds to its majestic appearance, while its small head is adorned with a crest of feathers, accentuating its overall magnificence. The bird's eyes are dark and intense, exuding a sense of wisdom and mystery.
As it moves, the bird emits distinct calls, a combination of squawks and screeches, further adding to its grandeur and allure. The most mesmerizing part of its display is its tail, forming an expansive and fan-like shape with an array of "eyes" that seem to peer back as if guarding the secrets of the universe. This bird's typical description and behaviour have inspired the English phrase "proud as a peacock" as we recognize similarities in ourselves and others.
The more successful a person becomes in any field, the greater the temptation to display pride. It's like pushing out our chest and expanding our arms to take up more space literally. This behaviour echoes the grand display of the peacock, and it's something we must be cautious about, as Paul's criticism of the Corinthians reminds us.
In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul refers to the abundance of "demonstrations of the Spirit" or "manifestations of the Spirit" within the Corinthian church community at Corinth. These spiritual gifts encompass various abilities, such as speaking in tongues, prophesying, healing, and performing miracles. However, evidence suggests that the misapplication or misunderstanding of these gifts contributed to issues of pride and division within the Corinthian church. Paul emphasizes that true spiritual authority and power come from God, not from one's inflated self-perception.
Like the Corinthians, we must recognize that any gifts or successes we may have are gifts from God. We must use them to serve and build up others rather than to fuel our pride. Let us learn from their example and strive for humility and unity within our communities.
For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power
In previous posts, we shared that we were raised as Jehovah's Witnesses but came into the Christian faith at the age of 15, where our first exposure to the gospel was in a charismatic church. We found the notion of God's active presence through the Holy Spirit in today's world and the operation of spiritual gifts within the church particularly appealing compared to the theology of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. First Corinthians 12 became the foundation of our excitement about these demonstrative gifts of the Spirit operating in the church today.
For us, power was always associated with the powerful demonstrations of the Holy Spirit. We based this concept on Acts chapter 1, where Jesus instructed his disciples to go to Jerusalem and wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit, promising they would receive power. However, we now realize that, whether influenced by the teachings we received or our own misunderstanding, we used to view power solely in terms of the miraculous and not in terms of character.
Paul's statement that the kingdom of God is not in word but in power does not refer solely to demonstrative gifts of the Spirit. The Corinthian church had experienced numerous testimonies and evidence of the Spirit's demonstrative power, yet Paul addressed them as spiritual babes. This shows that God's movement through a church or group of people is not solely an indication of spiritual growth but a testament to God's goodness and grace. Paul emphasizes that any gift they receive was given to them and not earned, so they should avoid pride and arrogance.
While we acknowledge that manifestations of the Holy Spirit are indeed displays of God's power, we now understand that Paul refers not only to power demonstrations but also to the power of the Holy Spirit to transform character.
In our younger years, we sought God's power and prayed for it to be evident in our ministry, but in hindsight, our understanding of power and the kingdom of God was limited. Now, with greater maturity, we no longer pray for the power to perform miracles or move mountains. Instead, we seek the power to walk in humility, bless those who curse us, genuinely love others, and forgive those who have wronged us, no matter how grievous their actions or words may be.
Through our journey of spiritual growth and deeper understanding, we have come to value the transformation of our character through the power of the Holy Spirit more than seeking external demonstrations of power. We now strive to embody the qualities of Christ, reflecting His love, forgiveness, and humility in our lives.
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