1 Corinthians 4:19

But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power (KJV)

Then: Paul makes a strong promise as to his intention to come. It depends on the Lord's will, but when he comes he will learn the hearts of the Corinthians. He will be able to see the Lord's power and authority within them, not through speech, but through their everyday behaviors, the church's spiritual level, and through the attitudes of those outside the church. Those are the main evidences of the Lord's power. Baker (p. 75) speaks to another aspect of the power - that which is seen during the presentation of the gospel. If the Lord is there, then the words of the speaker are more than words. No matter the quality of the rhetoric, the power comes with the Lord's presence.

Now: That the Lord is present, does not excuse the speaker from spending time in prayer, study of the Word, study of the people's needs, and working to improve speaking capabilities. Paul himself tells Timothy, "Study to show thyself approved" (II Timothy 2:). No one can stand up and speak when he lacks knowledge and experience with a topic - Christianity or anything else. The Lord does not normally empower nothingness, but he will bless his faithful, diligent workers with his power. He can and does provide opportunities for learning, training, experience, guidance and his constant presence. Sloppiness, blythe neglect or on-going ignorance have no place in the Lord's work force.

Extra source: Cornerstone Biblical Commentary 1 Corinthians (William Baker), 2 Corinthians (Ralph Martin & Carl Toney), ed. by Philip Comfort. Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, c2006.

1 Corinthians 4:13

Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day (KJV)

Then: Paul finishes his list. Being defamed, being stripped of all good intentions and reputations by detractors, rather than becoming angry (Hodge, p. 74) they speak kindly hoping to exhort their adversaries. Their reaction is the same when they are seen as the filth and offscourings of the world because they continually suffer hunger and thirst. It is not a condition which has changed nor, as the Corinthians can infer, likely to change.

Now: The most recent modern day counterpart to Paul is probably Mother Teresa. We don't think of her as hungering or thirsting, but she certainly went among the poor and voluntairily endured signifcant hardships throughout her life. The difference between the poor without Christ and the voluntarily poor with Christ is heartbreaking. Those with Christ have his presence; those without him have nothing. The difference between the rich without Christ and the voluntarily poor with Christ is just as heartbreaking. The worldly rich still have nothing.

Extra Source: Commentary on the First Epistle to the Corinthians by Charles Hodge (Grand Rapids MI: Eerdman's, c1950, 1995) online at http://books.google.com/books?id=p_eicwvOhUAC&dq=Corinthians+commentary+Hodge&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=N5y0XtoVzJ&sig=ho-hOQGsur5Q_AT-t9joFxZjDrc&hl=en&ei=jtQ4S8-tHdOhlAf_t9GeBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CCEQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=&f=false

1 Corinthians 4:9

For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men (KJV)

Then: Paul makes this strong disparaging statement reflecting the world's attitude towards the apostles' daily work. He knows that compared to the Corinthians' comfortable daily schedules, the apostles' life styles contain nothing to boast about. Henry thinks of the Christians arrested and thrown to the beasts or required to fight gladiators in Roman sports arenas.

Now: Modern fight scenes on Saturday Night Live, in violent movies, or in actual sports arenas have not yet reached the "kill" level. As the ten commandments are pushed aside, we might be headed that way. To say that it won't happen is to deny the depravity of human nature without knowledge of God. To keep it from happening requires constant vigilance and dedication to teaching God's Word. God keeps calling his servants. Some answer.

Extra source: Commentary on the Whole Bible Acts to Revelation Vol VI by Matthew Henry online http://www.ccel.org/ccel/henry/mhc6.iCor.v.html