Unit 4 rem early

teacher, but if he finds a second he also uses him, for he is unsated of good things; if he has a third as well, he also comes to the third. Not cutting off one for himself, he says, “I am of Paul,” or “of Cephas,” or “of Apollos.” Since, then, “being filled” suggests that when there are more teachers—Paul teaching, and Cephas, and Apollos—one who leans to one is not helped by all, therefore he says to the Corinthians, “Already you are filled?” Following this is “Already you have become rich?”—as in, “Have you gathered the wealth from Paul’s lessons and no longer need those from Apollos or from Cephas?” Or do you despise all, as stuffed and rich in every word and all knowledge? And following also: “Without us you have begun to reign?” For as far as you could you cut me off from the kingdom—and yourselves too—leaning to one from among the rest. And he does not say “without me” but “without us,” so as to include and make it common; “and would that you did reign, so that we might also reign with you.”

At once, perhaps, he also suggests a mystery at this place. For the lesser come more quickly into the promise, while the more perfect receive the promises later. And I will show this from Scripture: those allotted under Moses first received the promise; those allotted under Joshua later. And of all the righteous it is said, “These all, having been attested through faith, did not receive the promise, God having foreseen something better concerning us, so that they would not be perfected apart from us.” Therefore he says, “Without us you have begun to reign? And would that you did reign, so that we might also reign with you.” For when you the disciples and hearers reign, then it is necessary that we also arrive at the perfect kingdom of God and the Lord Jesus.

1 Cor. 4:9–10: “For I think God has exhibited us apostles last, as sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world and to angels and to human beings. We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honored, but we are dishonored.” Origen says: The more one claims the true and heavenly first places, so much the more, from humility, he becomes last of all human beings. I think the Apostle meant something like this when he said, “To me, the least of all the saints, this grace was given.” Not that in holiness he was less than all the saints—for he neither thought this, nor if he said it would he speak truly—but among all believers he made himself lower, becoming gentle in the midst of all, as a nurse cherishes her own children.

Since, then, the apostles practiced being last by their own choice—and for every good practice, unless God witnesses and fills the practitioner’s will, the good end does not follow through the practitioner—therefore perhaps the Apostle said, “For I think God has exhibited us apostles last, as sentenced to death.” For even if I, he says, and the apostles have acted so that we become last, we still needed exhibition and grace from God to be perfected in being last to the world. And “I think” is as elsewhere he said, “I think I too have the Spirit of God.”

Fitting also for those exhibited last by God is becoming first with God; for it is true that the last become first. Fitting also for them is being sentenced to death. For the more perfectly one lives as a Christian, so much more is he death-bound. When does he not risk danger—reproving the sinner who is often stronger in life and able to punish, visiting places where Christ was not named, and laying a foundation strange and disturbing to hearers? Truly Paul said, “I die daily—by your boast which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

But as I search the word, “sentenced to death” can be taken two ways: one the way already said, by which one must always carry about the dying of Jesus in the body; another, the righteous is death-bound, being conformed to the death of Christ, always dying to the world. So it is fitting that God exhibit the apostles of Christ as both last and sentenced to death.

Then one must see “because we have become a spectacle to the world and to angels and to human beings.” If Paul contends and Peter, the angels of God hurry to this new spectacle to see a human being clothed in flesh wrestling against the principalities,