6 Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that in us you may learn not to exceed what is written, so that no one of you will become arrogant in behalf of one against the other.
7 For who regards you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received
8 You are already filled, you have already become rich, you have become kings without us; and indeed, I wish that you had become kings so that we also might reign with you.
V. 6 - “I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes” - Don’t pass judgment against each other based on your favorite evangelist. Whether it might be McGee, or Moody, or Calvin, or Graham (or in this case - Paul or Apollos) is of little importance. The Gospel is what matters.
Paul is applying this standard to himself, Apollos, Peter and others. He will not judge the ministry of these missionary-apostles. As long as they are preaching Christ and Him crucified, he has no problem with their message.
“No one of you will become arrogant” - No one is to place themselves as better than another. Claiming that high ground is placing your opinion equal with God’s.
Arrogance is not a new problem for believers, or so-called believers. Read through Isaiah or Jeremiah. Note how often it is said the people became arrogant towards God. Arrogance usually comes from not believing God’s warnings - refusing to believe He will do what He said He will do. It is coming to the erroneous conclusion that they can handle whatever God can dish out.
If we say we know more than God, about any situation, we have supplanted God as Lord of our lives. Refusing to obey, either by active rebellion or passive indifference, (That is a succinct definition of ‘sin’) is placing our mind, understanding, and will above the Lord’s. Refusing to place yourself in the proper order of things, with respect to God and His commands, is arrogance. It is refusing to see that it will not end well for you. As an example: I love to play golf, and have a handicap rating of 18 (really good golfers have a “0” handicap). It only takes a couple of holes when playing with a low handicap golfer to know that I have no chance of beating him. It would be foolish to challenge that golfer. Arrogance (stupidity) would tell me that I can take him.
V. 7 - “For who regards you as superior?” - Other than you yourself?
“What do you have that you did not receive?” - What did you do to earn salvation? What did you do that will pay the cost of your sin? How have you made yourself spotless and sinless before the Lord? If you could do that, then you could have a claim. As long as your salvation is given to you by God, there is nothing you can claim. Paul knows: “It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.” (1 Tim. 1:15-16)
“Why do you boast as if you had not received it?” - We all are totally dependent on God’s mercy and patience. “So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.” (Rom. 9:16) God makes the salvation possible. We can respond to His call. “For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.” (Rom. 5:17). The one death - Jesus Christ died for our sin - paid for us all. We have eternal life in Him. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 6:23) Eternal life for you and me has been purchased by His blood.
V. 8 - “You are already filled, you have already become rich” - There is no need to build yourselves up in your or others’ estimation. You accepted Christ as savior - and Paul wasn’t there when it happened! And yet, you are still saved!
“[You] have become kings without us” - Because of Christ, we have all been given a ‘step up’ - we are now children of the living God, the Lord and King of the universe. A king’s children are royalty - and can be kings (or queens) themselves. You are royalty! The Lord and King is your Father who is in heaven. “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have Received Mercy.” (1 Pet. 2:9-10) You were nothing. Now you are someone special!
“I wish that you had become kings” - I think Paul is making a gentle jest here. We are royalty in God’s kingdom. Paul is giving a little elbow in the ribs by telling them if they were made kings here on earth then he would be a king right along side them. Knowing that kingship here on earth is a paltry thing compared to reigning with God for eternity.
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