This scripture sets before us principles too high for us to attain without the direct blessing of God. But there is also a word in this text which is so secular and human that it surprises us. Paul says, “Here is something I greatly ‘wish’ – WISH – even your perfection.” Are Christians suppose to “wish“ for things? I can understand hoping for things and praying for things, but “wishing”? “Wishing” sounds like some sort of illicit covetousness.
But that is only in the realm of our English language. The fact is – the Greek word is found twice in this scripture. And the first use of the word is in verse 7 – “Now I pray to God…” This word is used seven times in the Bible – four times translated “wish,” twice as “pray” and once as “I would that….” James 5:16 – “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” III John 2 – “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” These are both the same Greek word.
For the sake of our lesson, let’s lay aside this potential confusion and just think about what Paul says.
First, there is Paul’s GREAT WISH for the Corinthians.
You can be sure that it would be Paul’s hope for us as well. This was typically Paul – this is what we might expect from him. Paul was never very far from his apostleship. When he was in the midst of the Mediterranean, about to go down with the ship, he was still an ambassador of Jehovah. When he was tanning cattle hides and sewing them into tents he was still an apostle. Paul wanted the spiritual good of those carnal saints in Corinth. So he prayed for them and exhorted them and reminded them of self-evident truths. Paul was always “Paul, the Apostle.” We too are supposed to be consistent like this. And in fact that was Paul’s point in making this exhortation.
His great hope for the Corinthians was very serious. Notice the two words in verse 7 – “approved” and “reprobates.” They are opposites; flip sides to each other. What Paul was saying was that he wished that they all would be acceptable to God. He was not talking about salvation – but of Christian character and service. Paul was serious about his service to the King, and he believed that we should be as well?
Paul’s wish for the Corinthians was COMPREHENSIVE – “Do no evil.” There is nothing particularly profound or complicated about that thought. There are no hidden meanings behind those words – not in English and not in Greek. The Greek word is translated in no other way but “evil.” As I say, it is a rather all-inclusive sort of word, but at the same time somewhat subjective. What if we substitute “sin” for “evil”? – then it says, “Do not sin.” That is probably not incorrect. What if we substitute other words for “do”? Then it might come out “Speak no evil.” It might say, “Think no evil,” or “Imagine nothing evil.”
There are two problems in this idea. First comes the determination of what is “evil.” Your opinion in the matter is not half as important as the Lord’s declaration. But how does the Lord define that word? I am not sure when we stick with the word “evil.” The second problem is “doing it not.” We need to be like a certain little four-year-old of whom I read. Her parents were addicted to Coca-Cola, drinking it day and night. And as a result, so did their four-year-old daughter. After some time the mother felt concerned about the effects of Coke on all of them. Dad was willing to give up the drink, and so was Mom. So they began discussing how they were going to tell and convince their daughter. She certainly wouldn’t understand any of the physiological, psychological or scientific arguments. While they talked she walked in and overheard their conversation. She asked, “Mommy, We don’t like pop any more?” “That’s right,” she said. And the little girl responded quite simply, “OK!” And that was it. We should be like that when we can figure out what the Lord says is “evil.” Determine what the Lord dislikes, dislike it yourself and stop. “Do no evil.”
And then on the opposite side, Paul basically said, “Conform to the truth” – “do the truth.” Truth is something which cannot be destroyed – it is invincible. Lies, deceit, falsehood are like the clouds – here today and gone tomorrow. But truth is like the mountain of God. It can be ignored, it can be canned and saved for a rainy day, but it will always be the truth. If you driving down an icy mountain road at 50 mph and saw a sign, “Dangerous Curve….” You have three options – continue at your current speed and take your chances. You could slow down and prepare for the worst. Or you could speed up and increase the risk of your imminent demise. But whatever you do you will not change the truth of the curve and the sign. It is always best to bring your life into conformity to God’s will and word.
In verse 9 Paul said, “I wish for your perfection” – I pray for your perfection.
What was that again? This word “perfection” may not be what you might expect it to be. You’ve probably heard that sometimes “perfection” is speaking about Christian maturity. Actually there are several words in the Textus Receptus which are translated as “perfect.” And this one is referring to a perfection of unity – “katartisis” (kat-ar’-tis-is). This is a word sometimes used for setting broken bones in order they might mend. Remember the schisms in the church in Corinth? There were still schisms, and they were crippling the effectiveness of that body. Paul was saying, “Be united.”
What is the perfect unity which Paul desires? It involves a LEGAL kind of perfection. How else can we put it, except that God has a standard; He has laws. Just because we are not obligated to reach that standard and keep those laws in order to become Christians, that doesn’t erase the standard. There was a problem in Corinth in regard to pride – some members where noted for their pride. Paul says, “Cast that aside for the Lord’s glory and the sake of the church.” “Be perfect.” There were problems in Corinth related to strife and divisions. In other words, this pride lead to a lack of love toward one another. “I wish even your perfection.” God has standards about honesty; about the quality of a person’s work on the job site. He demands perfection in the area of our tongues, and even our thoughts. He wants us to strive for sinlessness in a legal sort of way.
This “perfection,” however, cannot be perfect until it is sincerely perfect. To reluctantly toe-the-line, is not the same as perfect obedience. A dog on a stout chain and confined to his yard, may not get a chance to eat people, but that doesn’t mean that he is not vicious. The lack of opportunity to sin, doesn’t make anyone sinless. God looks on the heart. And when we use the word “sincere” in regard to “perfection,” we also must use it in the sense of sincerely striving for it as well.
What Paul undoubtedly wished for the Corinthian’s perfect SPIRITUALITY. He wanted them producing a bumper crop of the fruit of the Spirit. He hoped that their love of Christ would continue to grow and that it dropped seeds of love to sprout in other areas of their lives. He wanted them to display a living hope in the return of Christ.
And He wanted them to have a perfect UNDERSTANDING as well. How can we know the truth, when we don’t consistently read and study the Truth. It may be belittled in many church’s, but a good understanding of Bible doctrine is important. It is good to know the Bible – what does God say and teach?
Paul wanted the Corinthians to have perfect TENDERNESS and COMPASSION towards one another. That church was being splintered by a lack of proper love between brethren. No congregation will ever be more than religious social club if its not united in three things – It must perfect – united in Truth – verse 8. It must be united against evil – verse 7. And it must be united in love.