1Cor 3:9 For, I think, God has set forth us the apostles last of all as doomed to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. 7:40 But she is more blessed if she so remains, according to my opinion; but I think that I also have the Spirit of God.
It is significant that here Paul says "I think." This means that Paul was not fully assured. This is not a matter of humility; it is a matter of speaking according to the principle of incarnation. Paul does not say here, "Thus saith the Lord." Neither does he declare, "Brothers and sisters, don't you know that I am speaking in the spirit?" In today's Pentecostalism there is a practice of declaring, "Thus saith the Lord." However, such a practice is not according to the New Testament principle. I believe that Paul knew that his speaking was truly of God. Nevertheless, he said "I think" because he knew that the New Testament principle is the principle of incarnation. According to this principle, God speaks in our speaking. God and man become one. When man is mingled with God in doing a certain thing, that is simultaneously both God's doing and man's doing. Because the words "I think" illustrate this principle, I regard their insertion in verse 9 as very precious. How meaningful it is that God may speak in our speaking! The clause "I think" indicates that Paul was speaking. Nevertheless, in keeping with the principle of incarnation, Paul's speaking was God's speaking. Because Paul and God were one, when Paul spoke, God spoke also. This is the significance of the words "I think" used in this verse. (c) Living Stream Ministry.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Witness Lee, Life-study of 1 Corinthians, pp. 307-308. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA. Please visit us at www.emanna.com. Send comments to: [email protected].
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