vv.14-21 These verses address the need for the Corinthians to take the correction Paul was administering. In the process, we get a beautiful treatise on spiritual fathers. See the summary at the end of this section!

 

14 Not as chiding do I write these things to you, but as my beloved children I admonish you. v.14 Paul was motivated by concern for them. It was not merely “chiding”, which is complaining out of discontentedness. It was with the same care that a loving father “admonishes” his children. In principle, this is similar to “faithful are the wounds of a friend” (Prov. 27:6). Paul knew that his words would shock and hurt them, but he spoke so strongly out of love. A father is willing to discipline his child because he loves them and knows that it is for their good and blessing.

 

15 For if ye should have ten thousand instructors [‘paidagogous’] in Christ, yet not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus “I” have begotten you through the glad tidings. v.15 It is one thing to have public gift, it is another thing to have a fatherly character in our ministry. If there is going to be power in our ministry, there has to be care in it. The ministry in Corinth was empty of care. They really didn’t have 10,000 instructors in Christ, but even if they did, it wouldn’t meet their true need. Mr. Kelly translates the word ‘paidagogous’ as “child-guides”, or it could be “boy-leaders” or “escorts”. Notice that the Spirit carefully avoids the word “teachers”, which is a different Greek word (‘didaskalous’). Teaching is a gift, and not one to be despised. The point here is that the leaders in Corinth were “guiding” or “escorting” the saints after their own persons, instead of into the truth. They pointed to themselves instead of Christ. A child-guide would lose his job when the child grew up. By contrast, a father desires to see growth. Yet Corinth did have one father figure… Stephanas (1 Cor. 16:15), but they were not acknowledging him or his house. Now Stephanas had joined Paul, and would have personally been absent when this was read. Fathers are willing to speak against evil, and they are willing to put themselves out to encourage the weak. Also, fathers have a way of diffusing strife among children, rather than encouraging a party spirit or competition. A father doesn’t go off in the corner with his favorite brethren. A father will fight to the death for the sake of the gospel, but will be as gentle as a nurse with a young believer (1 Thess. 2:7). Paul is here offering to be their spiritual father! He had “begotten them through the gospel” and was well qualified, but they had snubbed him for better orators, etc.

 

16 I entreat you therefore, be my imitators. v.16 The Corinthians could benefit tremendously from taking the place as Paul’s children. Paul wanted them to imitate himself, but not blindly. He goes on in v.17 to say “of my ways in Christ”. In 1 Cor. 11:1 Paul again says “Be my imitators” and adds “even as I also am of Christ”. Paul wasn’t looking for a following, but for the saints to join him in the path of faith and service, in spite of reproach and shame. This is another thing about fathers; they lead by example.