Keep to the Bible

Do not go beyond what is written. It was a saying then and Paul uses it, In many ways it hasn’t changed.

“Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.” Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other.” (1 Corinthians 4 v 6)

But what is written?

We have to go back a few chapters to when Paul and Apollos are described as farmers, then as construction workers on a building and then as servants and stewards. Those descriptions are what Paul is referring to.

Paul is saying don’t be presumptuous but be grounded in what I have written. He didn’t draw on some article that some colleague had written that month. No. His findings were grounded in the Old Testament and he quotes from it as we have seen. Every time he does so he is contrasting the futility of human wisdom with that of the wisdom of God. The same applies today. Don’t go with the wisdom of the world but be guided by the Bible.

In doing so it will prevent the arrogance that was taking place with the Church. Most division is caused by people thinking more highly of themselves, sticking their chest out, puffing themselves up, ‘look at me, listen to my views’.

We don’t want to look at you nor listen to you. We need to keep to the Bible for it is there where God’s wisdom is known.