January 18, 2024
Good day! I am writing a series of short reviews of abbreviated COGR video clips. I am looking for input and comments. If it makes it easier, I will be glad to supply a Word document so comments can be put in the document and we can communicate directly. My email address is lattema@icloud.com. I hope you find these reviews helpful.
Transcript:
“Verse seven, but we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom which God ordained, listen, before the world, unto our glory. I’ll leave that with you. I’ll just leave that with you. The apostles say, and God ordained this wisdom before the foundation of the world, and it was for their glory, all the saints. Yes. But first, the apostles to the glory of the apostles. I should read it again, in case someone babbles along and talks about how this is incorrect. We’ll read it again. Verse seven. This is going to get better, although to me, this is already good, but it’s unfair to you, because I already know what I’m going to say. Verse seven, but we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery. I have to stop. Paul’s preaching. The apostle’s preaching was preaching of inside of a mystery. Even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world, unto our glory. Now that’s either talking about the apostles or the saints, or the saints and the apostles. And if it’s talking about the saints and the apostles, it’s talking about the apostles first, because apostles are first. Is that alright?” (Stephen Hargrave)
Actual text:
6 Now we do speak wisdom among the mature, but wisdom not of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are perishing, 7 but we speak the hidden wisdom of God in a mystery, which God predestined before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew. For if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. [1]
Commentary:
It is best to consider the text first. Stephen inserts the phrase “But first, the apostles to the glory of the apostles.” into the conversation. It is not presented as a direct quote of Scripture, but Stephen makes it the prominent point of the passage, and it is not. He then goes on to emphasize that perhaps this glory is for the apostles, and if it is for everybody, it is certainly for the apostles first. His claim raises a number of questions.
One of our first questions would be what did Paul mean when he said, “for our glory”? In this setting, Paul was speaking of the transformation that occurs in Christ. That is the mystery that is being discussed, and it is further borne out by the discussion of Christ’s crucifixion. In Christ, we become a new creation. We are destined to participate in Christ’s glory at our resurrection. So, glory here does not have the connotation of prestige and honor but of salvation and redemption. Since that is the case, it applies to all who are hearing the message, all the Corinthians. We know that there is no two-tiered salvation, so the apostles receive no special glory. This verse was never about the apostles. It was about the mystery of God, hidden until the incarnation, our salvation.
Stephen’s demand that we should recognize that the apostles are first is more than a misguided desire for historical accuracy. Steven and the other self-proclaimed apostles of the COGR seek prominence. They are the bosses. They, as the twelve end-time apostles, are going to bring in the kingdom of God. Looking at Scripture, how should we view their incessant claims of power and eminence? Is this what we would expect of an apostle?
Below are several verses from the New Testament. Surely, the “end-time” apostles would be accountable for living according to the New Testament. I would encourage the saving of these verses, as so very much of the COGR teaching is the exaltation of the “apostles”. When they begin insisting on their authority, or they run others down, these verses can help provide another perspective.
How should leaders lead?
Matthew 20:25–28 25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Matthew 23:11–12 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Mark 9:35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”
Mark 10:42–45 42 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Luke 14:8–11 8 “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. 9 If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 10 But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. 11 For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Luke 22:24–27 24 A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. 25 Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. 26 But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. 27 For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.
Ephesians 4:2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Philippians 2:3–4 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
James 4:10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
1 Peter 5:2–3 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
1 Peter 5:5–6 5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
[1] W. Hall Harris III et al., eds., The Lexham English Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012), 1 Co 2:6–8.
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