How Paul Uses Sarcasm to Shepherd the Corinthian Church

There was a church once that was in a large city of importance, both commercially and militarily. This church was in the middle of a prosperous, powerful, and immoral community. It may come as no surprise that the values of the city began to creep into the church. The church was filled with members of differing backgrounds who sometimes got into squabbles over doctrine and the importance of whom they should listen to on matters of faith. Something needed to be done.

Where and when was this church? It was first-century Corinth, and it was Paul who wrote them much-needed letters addressing these issues. In particular, Paul's use of sarcasm to shepherd the Corinthian church serves as a distinctive way to draw attention to their divisions and pride.

Corinth and Today's Church: Things We Have in Common

The problems of the Corinthians were much like ours today. Many of us live in relatively prosperous towns, even rich cities, and immorality surrounds us. Lots of us attend churches with others who don't always share our beliefs. Often churches become divided over those who support one pastor over another. So these letters, written almost two millennia ago, still resonate with us today. When Christians disagree we can still have unity without compromise.

Founding & Leadership Transition

The church at Corinth was established by Paul. It was in the province known as Achaia in Greece, only about 48 miles from Athens. Paul worked there for about 18 months as a tent maker to support himself. After Paul moved on, the church transitioned to a new leader, Apollos.

There were members who said they should follow Paul alone and others who supported Apollos. Paul believed the purpose of all ministers should be to point them to Christ above all else. He knew only God could grow the church (1 Corinthians 3:9).

Paul explained that he planted the seed at Corinth while Apollos watered it, both were used by God. Today, some of us attend churches where, like the Corinthians favoring Paul or Apollos, we have our favorites. Some large churches have senior pastors and associate pastors. Instead of cheerleading one pastor over another, maybe we should celebrate the message over the messenger. Focus on what your pastor is saying, not who it is saying it. Maybe then these divisions wouldn't be so unloving.

Jewish Converts‑Gentile Converts: Tensions

The church at Corinth was made up of both Gentiles and Jews who had become Christians. Disagreements between these two groups came from the many dietary laws the Jewish converts still felt motivated to obey. Many Jewish converts also believed circumcision was still a requirement.

Cultural differences also came into play. Gentiles thought it was fine to eat meat that had been sacrificed to idols, while for Jewish Christians this was traditionally forbidden. Also, Roman culture was dominant at the time in Corinth which valued worldly success and social status above love for one another.

How Paul Uses Sarcasm to Shepherd the Corinthian Church

With that social and cultural background laid out in 1 Corinthians 4:8-13, Paul challenges the Corinthians, He uses irony and sarcasm to expose their inflated sense of importance and their judgment of others, especially Paul and other disciples. We might find it surprising that Paul would use sarcasm. This isn't a license for us to use it, because remember, Paul is writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

The Danger of Pride & Misunderstanding

If you read it out of context, this passage could be quite confusing. Reading the whole chapter helps to understand who the Corinthians were and the problems their church faced. Paul tells them in 1 Corinthians 4:6-7 they have "puffed themselves up", in other words, made themselves proud by claiming to follow one or the other of the apostles.

They were pridefully thinking that they had it all figured out. Paul asks, "What makes you so superior" (1 Corinthian 4:7)? Perhaps the Corinthian church felt it was more important because of the financial and military influence the city held. Do some of our churches today feel they are more importance because of their sheer size or their location?

Paul continues to make the point that anything the Corinthians are boasting about came from God, not from themselves. As Paul has explained earlier in 1 Corinthians 1:31, any boasting that we do should be in the Lord alone.

Paul’s Sarcastic Rebuke

Paul then speaks to them with irony-laden words. He tells them, "So you are already rich" and "You have everything you want" and "You have reigned with kings without us" (1 Corinthians 4:8). Similarly, John says Jesus warns the church at Laodicea in Revelation 3:17, "Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’ and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked." Jesus says if he loves you, he rebukes and chastens you (Revelation 3:19).

The Corinthians were quite satisfied that they had everything figured out. They were spiritually mature, or so they thought. Paul expresses next, without irony, how much he wishes all of this was true. His desire was to reign with them in the kingdom of God that is to come. Paul now proceeds to explain what real servitude to Christ means.

The Apostles’ Example of Humble Suffering

In 1 Corinthians 4:9, he says that he believes God has put himself and the other apostles on display to the world as being last, as men who were condemned to death were in

Roman military parades. They had been made, he says, "a spectacle to the world." In the sight of the whole world, the apostles had been appointed to suffer for the Gospel and that suffering would lead to death.

In verse 10, Paul returns to using irony. He explains that while he is a "fool for Christ's sake" they are wise. He and other apostles are weak but the Corinthians are oh so strong. The apostles are dishonored but they are distinguished. He continues describing the apostles' condition: beaten, poor, hungry, thirsty, poorly clothed and homeless (1 Corinthians 4:11). The total opposite of how he sarcastically describes the Corinthians.

Pastors today should be careful using sarcasm. Things may be said, almost as a joke to get a laugh, like "Well, since you think you are so holy..." but a better way would be to use straight forward scriptural reminders. We can humbly remind people that any gifts or insights we have only come from Christ. His desire is that we put Him first, not ourselves.

The apostles work with their hands, something the Greeks of Corinth would have looked down on. How do the apostles respond to their mistreatment? They respond with forgiveness, endurance, and blessings on those who mistreat them (1 Corinthians 4:12).

The next phrase Paul uses may surprise you. He says they have become "the filth of the world" or "the scum of the earth." Have you ever been called "the scum of the earth?" This is how Paul was regularly treated. In ancient Greek society this is literally the worst thing you could say about someone.

He doesn't use this term to complain, but to contrast the difference between the apostles and how they were viewed, compared to the Corinthians inflated view of themselves. Paul and the apostles were anything but "reigning as kings."

Defining Apostolic Foolishness

Why would Paul say he is a "fool for Christ's sake"? Because in the eyes of the world he was. What worldly wise person would give up prestige, power, and influence to follow Christ? Paul has already said that he has become a spectacle to the world. All of his suffering was on display for everyone to see. He was willing to endure this so-called foolishness for his love of Christ. This foolishness bore fruit bringing thousands to know Him.

Loving Admonition & Application

But then Paul's tone changes completely. In 1 Corinthians 4:14 he says, "I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you." When we preach, teach, or admonish it should never be to shame someone but to lovingly warn them. Paul looked upon the Corinthians as his spiritual children. It was he that founded the church in Corinth. As any loving father would do for their child, he must warn them of spiritual dangers.

When we forget that everything we have is from God, when we fail to acknowledge that we have no power except what he gives us; and when we seek the praise of men over God then we need to be reminded that as far as the world is concerned we are just "the scum of the earth." It is a hard truth that Paul is teaching here. One perhaps we also need to be lovingly reminded of.