1 Corinthians 6:5 (KJV) Surely A Wise Man

1 Corinthians 6:5 (KJV)
I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?

The Apostle Paul, addressing the problems of divisiveness and squabbling happening in the church at Corinth said that it was shameful that the church had not found someone within their own ranks wise enough to “judge between his brothers.” 

It is difficult to believe that this church had no wise men among them. Paul had previously praised them because they “came behind in no gift.” This was a gifted church. In my years of ministry I have found believers who possessed great wisdom even in the smallest congregations. Paul addressed the issue in the form of a question. I think it is rhetorical and I would frame it something like this:

Have they not won anyone with wisdom?Churches exist for outreach. We ought to be growing, if not in numbers, at least in new members. In some cases, those who move away, surrender to the ministry or fall away may be significant enough to prevent a church from being in a constant state of increase. I doubt that God intends churches to be perpetually growing in numbers. At some point the church ought to break off and plant new churches out of its church. Still, there should always be new people coming in to the church.

Have they not trained some to develop wisdom?The church exists not only to reach new people but also to help those new people grow and develop. The Bible assures us that every Christian is bestowed gifts of the Spirit according to the will of God. Those gifts are honed and developed through the teaching and preaching ministry of the church and through the exercise of them in ministering in the church.

Have they not spotted those with wisdom?My personal observation in churches has been that, sometimes, those who possess these spiritual gifts are not trusted to exercise them.

Whatever the reason the Apostle Paul said it was shameful that there were none who could judge between brethren in that church. We live in such a different time than Paul’s but maybe not so different after all. More could be done for the glory of God if we, as members of a local church, trusted those in our church for matters of judgment.

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1 Corinthians 6:5 (KJV) Surely A Wise Man

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