Manly Faith

Paul knew the exasperation of spiritual parenthood to these Christians who were acting like babies in 1 Corinthians 4:21 he says, "What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod?" I have in my mind the image of a father standing in the hall way looking into a little boy's room. The boy has been behaving badly and the father is giving quite, direct, gentle counsel for his future behavior. But all the while that he is talking in a measured tone the little boy cannot help but notice the belt held in his father's hand. Paul has been talking with belt in hand. But now the tongue lashing is over and Paul is cinching the belt back up. Now he gives not a word of correction (like most of the book) but five strong words of direction. The spanking is over and now it is time to get on with business.

13 Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 14 Let all that you do be done in love.

Each one of these commands reviews in positive form exactly what is was the Corinthians were not doing. They hadn't been on the alert. They had not been firm in the faith, not manly in their responsibilities, not strong against their temptations and trials, and not loving. We could take our time and do a thorough review of all the lashes Paul has placed upon them throughout this letter but instead let's look ahead to the business they were to get to... This is word of relief really, the correction is over, the direction is given. Paul is saying let's move on. Let's move in this way.