SERVIAM- I Will Serve

Today's Epistle 1 Cor 4: 1-5 (as well as Mt 7:1) has been one that has been distorted amongst Novus Ordites, Protestants, and I would even say some Catholics. "Only God Can Judge." (this brief review is based upon the commentary of St. Thomas Aquinas on 1 Cor 4:1-5, perhaps a commentary on Mt 7:1 will be in the future)

There is a large historical context that is missing in much of the modern assessment/understanding:

In this section of the Epistle from St. Paul, he wrote to address divisions, moral issues, and doctrinal misunderstandings within the Corinthian church. The community, situated in the prosperous and cosmopolitan city of Corinth, was influenced by Greek culture, including its love of rhetoric, philosophy, and public debate. These tendencies led to factions within the church, as members aligned themselves with particular teachers (including pagan, IE Apollo) based on their perceived eloquence or status. Meaning they would prefer a certain minister (IE priest) of God over another based upon his rhetoric, and would thus rashly judge and look down upon a lesser minister of God. He is reminding the Corinthians (the faithful) that these apparent "lesser" ministers of God, are still of his royal priesthood, and become Persona In Christi, when dispensing of the sacraments. For if they do not receive Christ ministers, they will not obey them as Christ.

St Paul states this judgment should be reserved to the the Lord, i.e., it is God’s exclusive province to judge whether I am a faithful minister or not, because this pertains to the heart’s intention, which God alone can weigh: the Lord weighs the spirit (Prov 16:2); the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately corrupt; who can understand it? I the Lord search the mind and try the heart (Jer 17:9).

Again when St. Paul states to judge not, he is prohibiting rash judgement. For some things are manifested not only by the evidence of the fact, being notorious, but also by confession or by the proved testimony of witnesses.

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252 viewsDec 22 at 20:05

Today's Epistle 1 Cor 4: 1-5 (as well as Mt 7:1) has been one that has been distorted amongst Novus Ordites, Protestants, and I would even say some Catholics. "Only God Can Judge." (this brief review is based upon the commentary of St. Thomas Aquinas on 1 Cor 4:1-5, perhaps a commentary on Mt 7:1 will be in the future)

There is a large historical context that is missing in much of the modern assessment/understanding:

In this section of the Epistle from St. Paul, he wrote to address divisions, moral issues, and doctrinal misunderstandings within the Corinthian church. The community, situated in the prosperous and cosmopolitan city of Corinth, was influenced by Greek culture, including its love of rhetoric, philosophy, and public debate. These tendencies led to factions within the church, as members aligned themselves with particular teachers (including pagan, IE Apollo) based on their perceived eloquence or status. Meaning they would prefer a certain minister (IE priest) of God over another based upon his rhetoric, and would thus rashly judge and look down upon a lesser minister of God. He is reminding the Corinthians (the faithful) that these apparent "lesser" ministers of God, are still of his royal priesthood, and become Persona In Christi, when dispensing of the sacraments. For if they do not receive Christ ministers, they will not obey them as Christ.

St Paul states this judgment should be reserved to the the Lord, i.e., it is God’s exclusive province to judge whether I am a faithful minister or not, because this pertains to the heart’s intention, which God alone can weigh: the Lord weighs the spirit (Prov 16:2); the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately corrupt; who can understand it? I the Lord search the mind and try the heart (Jer 17:9).

Again when St. Paul states to judge not, he is prohibiting rash judgement. For some things are manifested not only by the evidence of the fact, being notorious, but also by confession or by the proved testimony of witnesses.

BY SERVIAM- I Will Serve