1 Corinthians 3:21-23 "So let no one boast about human leaders..."

“So let no one boast about human leaders. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all belong to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.”—1 Corinthians 3:21-23

Comment:

In much of this letter to the Corinthians, Paul is concerned with defending his own teachings, his understanding of the message and ministry of Jesus Christ, against others who interpret and teach it differently. He was always at odds with Cephas (Peter), especially over the question of whether one had to first become a Jew before becoming a follower of Jesus. And Apollos was another teacher, who had come to the church Paul founded in Corinth, with teachings that differed from his. Paul’s primary purpose in writing the letter is to persuade his Corinthian followers to remain true to the Pauline teachings.   Paul can seem very angry and self-righteous about these issues, but here in this passage, at least, he is able to put the conflicts into a reasonable spiritual perspective that perfectly expresses Jesus’ teachings. Ultimately, he is saying that “human leaders” are beside the point. Each of us is a direct and complete expression of divine potential; each of us is embraced and inspired by a personal connection with the divine. Each of us is the Christ, and the Christ is the essence of God. When we know and remember this—and when we make our choices and heal our conflicts in this certainty—our spiritual purpose and progress are assured. The opinions of others may be helpful or not; but they cannot ever threaten our spiritual truth.   Blessings!

Rev. Ed